Dry hair care
Dry, coarse and brittle hair requires comprehensive care, which includes choosing the right cosmetics and implementing the right diet. For dry hair care, products rich in emollients are ideal, as they will create a fatty layer around the hair to retain moisture. Cosmetics for dry hair should include a variety of emollients, including fatty alcohols, vegetable oils, butter and waxes.
How do emollients work? Their main function is to protect the scalp and hair from excessive water loss. They have the ability to absorb moisture from the air and, at the same time, form an occlusive layer on the surface of the hair, which helps maintain an appropriate level of hydration and protects against mechanical damage. Emollients also reduce the harmful effects of external factors, i.e. toxins or microorganisms. Cosmetics with emollients are a lifesaver for dry hair and dry scalp. Their magical action closes the hair cuticles and nourishes the scalp deeply.
The list of beneficial emollients to look for in formulas must definitely include fatty alcohols, e.g. cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oils, including coconut, sunflower, sweet almond and grape seed oils, as well as butter, e.g. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (shea butter), Persea Gratissima Butter (avocado butter), Theobroma Cacao (cocoa butter). You can also find wax emollients in shampoos and conditioners, which are easily recognized by their name, which usually includes the word cera, cerifa or wax, e.g. Cera Alba (beeswax) or Euphorbia cerifera wax (Candelilla wax).
What else to look for in formulas for dry hair products? Proteins such as milk protein, hydrolyzed milk protein, hydrolyzed silk, sericin, silk amino acids, hydrolyzed keratin and collagen are certainly beneficial. There are also humectants. These include: glycerin, royal jelly, panthenol, urea, aloe vera extract and propylene glycol.
