Why Does My Dyed Hair Feel Like Straw?

Why does My Hair Feel Like Straw After Coloring?

Anyone who chooses to dye their hair knows that it feels horrible when wet. If you wash it and don’t apply conditioner each time, your hair becomes frizzy, breaks easily and feels like dry straw. While the color may look fantastic, the dye itself might be damaging the hair.

What Is Hair?

Each hair strand has several layers, all tightly bundled in the center and protected by shingle-like cuticles on the outside.

Your hair grows from the follicle in your skin, not from the end. It adds about ¼ inch per month and keeps growing for about six years. Hair will fall out naturally after that time, and a new hair will grow in its place.

How Does Dyeing Damage My Hair?

Most people assume hair dye simply washes over hair, leaving a colored stain behind. But that’s not what happens. For the color to set permanently, it must get through the hair’s natural defenses.

Commercial hair dyes use ammonia to lift the layers of the cuticle, so the color can penetrate and take effect. This leaves an open gap on the hair shaft. The peroxide (or bleach) in the dye removes your natural color, and this is what leaves your hair feeling like straw.

The new color bonds with the inner core of the hair and in theory should remain in your hair, even after you shampoo. The problem is this: each time you expose your artificial hair color to shampoo and water you’re losing some of the hair dye. The type of shampoo you use makes no difference; getting the hair wet and applying any shampoo will strip away artificial hair color. Therefore, you must continue to dye your hair to maintain the artificial color.

Repair Your Dyed Hair

The easiest way to repair damaged dyed hair is to cut it off and start over. If you don’t want to go with an extreme bob for a while, you might consider a high-quality human hair wig or hair extensions as a suitable or alluring alternative.

If that doesn’t work for you, the first thing to do is rid yourself of hot styling tools. Resign yourself to doing without hair dye and other hair chemicals for a while.

Temporary relief is possible with conditioners and DIY treatments like olive oil or hot avocado oil. Apply to hair, cover with a shower cap for 30 to 40 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. You can also put 10 drops of tea tree oil in your hands and apply to your towel-dried hair. Leave in and style.

Whatever remedy you try, remember that it is only temporary. Once the damage is done, nothing will completely repair your hair.

If your hair is damaged beyond repair and you’re suffering from hair loss, Transitions member hair restoration studios offers affordable hair restoration services custom tailored to your individual hair loss and thinning needs. If your life has been disrupted by hair loss and thinning hair, and you are considering trying a wig or hair replacement solution, we encourage you to contact your nearby Transitions member hair loss center today to schedule a private, one-on-one consultation to help you determine what the best solution is for your particular needs.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/8-ways-youre-damaging-your-hair
https://www.bustle.com/articles/137016-what-hair-dye-actually-does-to-your-hair-according-to-science
http://www.cosmopolitan.in/beauty/news/a9008/does-changing-the-colour-of-your-hair-damage-it/
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/11/hair-color-basic-beauty-science/
http://womenshair.about.com/od/problemhairadvice/ss/How-To-Repair-Damaged-Hair-Five-Steps-To-Repairing-Damage.htm#step6
https://www.matrix.com/Blog/9-Ways-to-Repair-Treat-and-Fix-Damaged-Hair