Is There Really A Difference Between Frizzy And Dry Hair?

Dealing with hair troubles can be overwhelming and painful. Having broken and damaged tresses can lead to split ends and difficulty styling your hair. Brushing hair that's damaged can be almost impossible when it becomes when it all gets jumbled and tangled up. The solution to hair troubles like this could be hair products that combat tangles and mess. However, to adequately fix any damaged or unruly hair, you need to know the main problem you are having. Like with your skin, there are plenty of reasons why your hair might be acting strange. Some of the most common issues are the fact that your hair could be oily, dry, frizzy, or damaged. While some of these may manifest on your hair the same way, they could be due to various reasons.

Frizz is one of the main symptoms that your hair is no longer healthy or smooth. While many write off this symptom as a case of dry hair, it's not always a related issue. Treating hair frizz and dry hair could be similar but tend to have minor differences. Once you know which problem plagues your hair, treating dry or frizzy hair will be easier.

The main difference between frizzy and dry hair is that one is a symptom of another. Frizz is a sign that your hair probably lacks moisture. While it's not the only cause, dryness could lead to frizz. Sean Steigerwald, Head R&D Scientist at Kao USA Inc, explains via John Frieda, "Frizzy hair is the effect of different individual hair fibers running in multiple directions, which is why frizzy hair has a rough feel to it. As a result, hair appears dry and frizzy instead of smooth and defined." When the outer layer of the hair strand, otherwise known as the hair cuticle, lifts, the moisture in the strand shrivels the hair. There are plenty of reasons other than dryness that can cause frizz in your hair, including humidity, thick hair, and the curliness of the hair.

On the other hand, dry hair is due to a lack of natural hair oils when they have been stripped from the hair. This occurs when you overwash your hair or blow-dry it too often. Without the proper natural hair oil, your hair becomes dry and lacks luster. You'll notice your hair is dry when you start seeing symptoms like frizz, split ends, flatness, and dullness. If you're used to having voluminous hair with shine and suddenly wake up to dull hair, your hair may have become dry. 

Treating frizzy and dry hair is simple, as long as you can give your strands the care it needs. To remedy frizz, apply a deep conditioning mask to your hair at least once a week. A hair mask can add moisture and nutrients back into your hair and protect your strands against heat damage and frizz. Making other lifestyle choices, like switching your towel and pillowcases, can also reduce the friction your hair receives. Regular towels and pillowcases can harm your hair by pulling and tugging on the strands. Switching to silk pillowcases and softer fabrics in your towels will help soften the damage on your hair, reducing frizz. If you're already suffering from frizz, hair oils or balms can help soften these problems temporarily.

For a similar reason, dry hair could be fixed by adding the strands with moisturizing products. If all of your dry hair is concentrated towards the bottom, you'll want to get your hair trimmed regularly. Trimming off the split ends is key to keeping your hair healthy and moisturized near the scalp. You'll also want to be careful with overwashing your hair if you're hair is suddenly dry. Dryness could signify that you're shampooing your hair too much and needs to reestablish the hair oils. Give your hair a break with less washing so natural hair oils can come back and lubricate the strands.