When hair feels like straw, it’s often because the cuticle isn’t sealed, causing frizz and breakage. Your once soft and smooth strands can become rough, dull, and damaged. This is often due to environmental factors, incorrect products, chlorine, or over-usage of hot tools. According to Valery Joseph, a master hairstylist from New York and Miami, treating these issues quickly is important. With proper care, your hair can be restored to its shiny, healthy brilliance.
Reasons Why Your Hair Feels Like Straw
Chemical Processing:
Frequent chemical processing like covering grays, highlighting, or bleaching can leave hair bonds damaged and make your strands dry and coarse over time.
Lack of Moisture:
Skipping conditioner can cause lack of moisture, leading to rough, straw-like strands. Keeping hair shiny requires moisture.
Heat Styling:
Regular use of hot tools reduces hair’s elasticity, causing it to feel dry and look damaged.
Bad Products:
Using subpar products with sulfates or alcohol can make hair even drier, as noted by Raven Hurtado, a Chicago stylist at Maxine Salon.
Chlorine & Salt:
Swimming in chlorine or salt water can cause minerals to be absorbed into your hair, making it feel fragile.
Sunshine:
UV rays from the sunshine damage hair. Use products with UV protection to prevent further harm.
Unkept:
Skipping maintenance like shampoo, conditioning, and weekly trims leaves hair looking unkempt and damaged.
lack of moisture
Wavy hair tends to be more porous than straight hair, meaning it loses moisture more easily. When hair lacks moisture, it becomes dry, rough, and brittle, giving it a straw-like appearance and making hair thins at ends. The best solution is to use a deep conditioning mask for 30 minutes, providing the necessary hydration to transform your hair into something more nourished and healthy. Afterward, use a high-quality sulfate-free conditioner during subsequent washes to retain those moisture levels.
damaged cuticles
The outermost layer of your hair shaft is called the cuticle. Heat styling, chemical treatments, and environmental damage can leave the cuticles damaged and raised, making your hair lose smoothness and softness. This creates a straw-like texture. A long-term solution is to restore the internal structure with a plex treatment. This repairs the broken bonds and helps your hair retain moisture, making it more manageable, resilient, and visibly shiny and healthier. Many wonder, “does conditioner cause hair loss?”—the answer is no. Conditioners help nourish and protect your hair.
YOUR natural hair oils have been stripped
Natural oils act as your hair’s armor, keeping it moisturized and creating a protective layer on the shaft. This barrier shields hair from UV rays, pollution, and harsh weather. These oils also reduce friction, preventing tangling and breakages. They contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that nourish the follicles, enhance your hair’s texture, and keep your scalp healthy. When these natural oils are stripped, your hair becomes dry, takes on a straw-like texture, and may lead to hair that is flat on top and poofy on bottom.
How to Treat Straw Hair
Understanding the causes of straw-like hair can prevent your strands from becoming rough and dull. If your hair already resembles straw and you’re looking to revive its shine, consider these expert recommendations.
Lay Low on Processing & Styling
The biggest contributor to straw hair is chemical processing and heat styling. Avoid bleach, highlights, and hair dye, especially if your dark brown hair looks red in sunlight. Give your hot tools a break and try heat-free styling. Let your hair air dry 25% to 75% before using a blow dryer. If you need to use heat, apply a heat protectant and lower the heat setting, as advised by Hurtado.
Use a Leave-In Hair Bonding Treatment
Crownhiars suggests using a bonding leave-in treatment once or twice a week, depending on your hair’s condition. Try Olaplex No.0 Intensive Bond Building for deep repair. Alternatively, Hurtado recommends IGK Antisocial Overnight Dry Mask, a unique option that softens hair without needing to wash or restyle. Just spray it after a blowout and it won’t ruin your style while strengthening and repairing strands. Ever wondered, why does blonde hair turn brown? It’s often due to environmental factors and pigment changes.
Switch to High Quality Products for Damaged Strands
Some people can use any shampoo, but to fix straw hair, it’s time to switch. Choose a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner designed for damaged hair. Alternatively, find a hair care system that suits your specific type, like dyed, bleached, blonde, or curly hair.
Slather on a Deep Conditioner
Using a nourishing hair mask once a week is essential if your hair feels straw-like due to lack of moisture. Hurtado recommends Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning mask. It helps repair damage and split ends while providing protein and moisture to strengthen hair. This deep conditioning treatment is key to restoring softness and preventing further damage.
Wash Sparingly
Crownhiars suggests you cut back on how frequently you wash your hair as it strips the strands of natural moisture. If your hair feels straw-like, reduce the number of times you wash each week by one or two. Most people, unless they have fine hair, can wash just once or twice a week and still have it look clean and fresh. After a few weeks of washing less, your hair should come back to life.
See Your Stylist
If you struggle with straw hair regularly or face serious damage, reach out to a stylist. If your hair has breakage, becomes matted, or tangled, seek professional advice. As Valery recommends, a stylist can guide you on the proper steps to correct the damage. Options like keratin treatments can provide a protective coating that seals the hair. In-salon steam treatments can also penetrate deep into the cuticle for lasting repair.
Conclusion
When your hair feels like straw, it’s often due to a lack of moisture, heat damage, or chemical treatments. By adjusting your hair care routine, such as using deep conditioners, reducing heat styling, and switching to high-quality products, you can restore your hair’s health. Consulting a professional stylist can also provide treatments like keratin or steam therapies to repair damage. Regular care and hydration are key to keeping your hair soft and shiny.
FAQ’s
Can you fix hair that feels like straw?
When hair feels like straw, it’s usually because it lacks moisture. To start solving this problem, focus on your haircare regime. Swap out old products for something new, and make sure to include a nourishing treatment or mask to restore your dry locks.
How do you fix hair that feels like straw after dying it?
After dyeing, use conditioners or DIY treatments like olive oil or hot avocado oil. Apply to hair, cover with a shower cap for 30 to 40 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil, massage into towel-dried hair, and style.
Why does my hair feel like straw as I get older?
As hair gets older, its texture gradually changes. It becomes drier, coarser, and thinner over the years. The oils in the scalp also decrease, leading to dry and frizzier hair that lacks nourishment.
Why does my hair feel like straw hard water?
Hard water contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. These metals can leave your hair feeling dry and not completely clean, even after shampooing.
