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What is dull hair?
Dull hair is hair without shine. These hair lack moisture and are dry, which makes them frizzy in look. It can be due to many reasons like improper diet or applying harsh chemical products. Exposure to the sun for long hours also reduces the moisture of hair and makes them dry.
Dull hair or dry, lusterless hair is the problem faced by almost every person at one or another moment of life. Lack of shine of hair makes a person’s look foggy.
Role of Keratin Hair
Hair is made up of keratin. The strength of hair depends on its keratin content. Keratin is a protein, it is made up of amino acids.
Health and regeneration of hair after wear and tear depends on its keratin content.
Keratin is produced by the cells known as keratinocytes, present in the layers of the scalp skin.
Hair shaft and its protective covering are known as inner root sheath and outer root sheath are also strengthened by the keratin present in them.
The cortex of hair root is 95% of keratin.
Long keratin chains provide elasticity to the hair and protect them, make them water-resistant
Causes Behind Dull Hair
Most important reason behind dry and lackluster hair is unhealthy and weak hair.
If hair is healthy than day to day wear and tear of hair can be repaired and the shine of hair remains maintained.
Some important causes of unhealthy hair are-
Nutritional deficiency
Improper diet, deficient in essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals.
Protein deficiency leads to a decrease in the keratin content of hair and leads to frizzy hair.
Vitamins like Vitamin D, B12, C, and vitamin E are important for the hair. Their deficiency affects the growth of hair and thus weak hair are produced which got damaged easily and becomes dull.
Essential fatty acids are needed for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and also have role in the shine of hair.
Minerals like Iron and zinc also plays important role in health of hair.
Excessive use of chemicals
Harsh chemicals damages cuticle of hair shaft and make them rough and dull. It may be in the form of shampoo, hair colour, gels or other cosmetic products.
Shampoo used for routine purpose must be Ph balanced. Ph of 5.4 is ideal i.e. it should be slightly acidic in nature. Alkaline nature of shampoo makes hair dry and brittle.
Hair colour must be of good quality. Chemicals used in hair colour must be of safe nature, ammonia and peroxide in hair colour make them harmful for hair and hair becomes dull.
Some of the gels used for frizzy hair makes hair look good for short period of time, they damage hair shaft and results in dry and brittle hair.
3. Damage to hair due to any environmental factors like pollution, excessive exposure to the sun, swimming in chlorinated water, taking steam and sauna without cap, Hair wash with hot water also makes hair dull.
4. Too much use of straitening machines, blow-drying hair with warm machines also damages hair.
5 Home Remedies To Fix Dull Hair
First thing to make hair healthy by improving diet. It should be rich in protein. Vegetarians can add pulses, beans, sprouts, Paneer( Cottage Cheese), yogurt and other milk products to their diet. Dry fruits like almond and dates provides essential fatty acids and improve hair texture. Non vegetarians can include eggs, Fish, chicken to increase protein content in their meals.
Second to add food supplements like multivitamins ( Vitamin B complex, Vit D, Vit E etc.), omega 3 fatty acids, iron and calcium. Whey protein supplements is also a good option.
Third is to protect your hair from the too hot or too cold weather, also rainy season makes your hair dull. Use of cap or cloth to cover the hairs in extremes of weather is beneficial.
Fourth is to apply coconut oil on the scalp, it has properties to protect cuticle of hair by covering it. Oiling the scalp before doing shampoo is also a good habit to protect hair.
Fifth is to avoid application of harmful chemicals and also avoid frequent straightening of hair, they burn the hair shaft and thus makes hair dull permanently.