Curly hair is prone to drying as its coiled structure prevents sebum distribution to the hair tips. Rough styling without prepping the hair with a detangler and heat protectant can lead to dry hair.
Cuticle layers are typically raised and do not tend to lay flat on curly hair. Because of this unique property, it tends to shine less than straight hair and not feel as smooth, In addition, because of the uneven cuticles, it also allows moisture to escape more easily, leaving your curly hair prone to dryness.
The primary cause of straw hairs is a lack of moisture and proper conditioning, as the hair fibers become hardened and stiff. To restore healthy hair, it is essential to maintain adequate moisture levels at all times. This can be done by using mild cleansing products and rich moisturizing formulations.
Curls tend to be naturally dry, even when you take care of them. Due to their spiraled shape, it's harder for the natural oils produced from your scalp to travel down and coat the strands, which is why they can get so frizzy.
Curly hair needs both protein and moisture to stay healthy and strong. Our hair is made up of 91% protein. Protein is useful for strengthening and also for repair.
Without sufficient protein, hair will feel soft, lack the strength to hold up curls, and when wet, overstretch. But conversely, protein overload can lead to brittle, straw-like hair that hardly stretches at all and easily breaks. When hair breaks, it may appear it is not growing much or at all when in fact it is.
LACK OF SOFTNESS
Silky-soft hair is not only beautiful but a sign of healthy curls. Damage and dryness can leave your hair feeling rough and prickly. Take the ends of your strands and brush them against the side of your cheek. Do they feel soft and smooth like a paintbrush or scratchy like steel wool?
Washing your curls everyday can remove the natural oils of your curls and makes it difficult to retain moisture. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wet your hair. "Rinse and condition more often; shampoo less," Hallman advises.
If you wake up to hair that is dry, you can apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream. Simply wet your hair and apply a small amount of product. This will help to smooth the frizz and give your curls a nice boost of moisture.
Sleep with a silk or satin bonnet, scarf or pillowcase. Dry your hair as much as you can with a t-shirt or towel, like PATTERN's microfiber towel for curly hair. Seal in the moisture with a conditioner, so it stays tangle-free. Add in oils to help prevent natural hair breakage.
Incorrect treatment of wet hair can lead to a straw-like feeling once you step out of the shower. Things to consider that could be causing these results post-shower are the products you use during the washing process, incorrect brushing, the hardness of your water and how you dry and style your hair.
The hair will lose shine and look dull. You will have more frizz than normal, a wiry, stringy type of frizz. You may notice additional shedding, due to the hair breaking when brushing.
Unfortunately, this causes the hair to absorb and release moisture faster than normal—producing tangled and frizzy strands. In order to seal the gaps and tears, you will need a hair protein treatment to strengthen your strands. If you notice hair is limp and stringy, without bounce, you could have a protein deficiency.
You may be deficient in protein if you find that your hair has started to get stringy, limp, or sticky. The minerals and proteins in hair will be increased using natural hair products and protein treatments, which will help rebuild and strengthen natural hair strands.