How to Fix Damaged and Dry Hair in Men

If you have dry hair, chances are that it’s damaged. If you have damaged hair, chances are that it’s dry. Hair damage and dryness aren’t the same thing, but they’re inherently related, and being aware of this relationship can be crucial to keeping your hair healthy and looking its best.

The good news is that preventing dryness, damage and shedding isn’t as difficult as it can seem — in fact, it’s largely about maintaining good hair care habits while avoiding bad ones.

Below, we’ve covered the difference between dry and damaged hair, how your hair can become dry and damaged and several specific hair care habits that can do more harm than good.

We’ve also discussed the steps that you can take to fix dry hair or damaged hair and promote healthy hair growth.

Dry hair and damaged hair aren't the same. Each type of hair damage comes with its own unique obstacles and preferred treatments. Let’s look at them in more detail.

Dry Hair

Dry hair can affect your hair’s appearance, texture, and feel. It happens when your hair loses its moisture and oil, preventing it from maintaining its normal smoothness and shine. 

Your hair naturally protects itself thanks to the 18-MEA lipid layer.

This lipid layer is an oil-based shield that protects the hair cuticle — the outermost layer of your hair shaft. It also helps the cuticle repel water (AKA hydrophobic)

When this layer is damaged, your hair can become hydrophilic, meaning it more easily absorbs water.

While this may seem like a good thing, it can make your hair more vulnerable to damage. If your hair absorbs a lot of water, it stretches, potentially causing it to fracture and lose some of its strength.

So, products that protect your hair from drying out, protect its natural oil or sebum, or generally keep its oils in balance are the best protection against damage.

Damaged Hair

Damaged hair is hair that has already been broken. While it doesn’t necessarily have to be dry first, dry hair is more vulnerable to friction wear.

It’s easier for ends to split, shafts to crack, and hairs to fracture when they’re dry, but heat, chemicals, and anything that pulls or stretches on the follicles like hair ties, clips, and tight hats, can damage hair.

In most cases, the damage can’t be undone, but eventually, the damaged hair will fall out and a new, healthy hair will take its place (assuming you haven’t damaged the follicle itself). 

All types of hair can potentially experience damage. Damage can also affect hair of any color, from dark black to light blonde. But some hair types are more susceptible to particular types of damage.

It pays to know which hair type you have if you want to prevent the damage types that you’re more vulnerable to. 

There are four common hair types:

• Straight hair

• Wavy hair

• Curly hair

• Coily hair

Check out our guide to how to determine your hair type if you’re not sure where you fit.

As for how each hair type looks when it’s damaged, all hair textures experience breakage, split ends, dull appearance, and a lack of volume. After that, though, things can differ from one hair type to another.

Straight Hair

Straight hair is most prone to straight-up breakage. This issue can affect people with all kinds of straight hair, but it’s a particular risk for those with fine hair, which is very fragile. 

Perming or using a curling iron can also remove hair oil and cause hair breakage, so be careful how you style your straight hair.

And because straight hair tends to be finer, remember to protect it from UV rays and other common causes of everyday damage. If you have fair skin, make sure a dermatologist checks your scalp from time to time, because people with fair hair also tend to need more skin care.

Wavy Hair

Fine hair often breaks more easily than coarse hair, since some hair care products can weigh it down. Unfortunately, some wavy hair folks get the worst of both worlds — fine hair that’s also prone to tangles. 

When this hair type gets damaged, it will have split ends and a dull, dry, and brittle appearance. 

Hydrating, deep conditioning, and avoiding friction damage culprits, like tight ponytails, can prevent further damage.

Curly Hair

Damaged curly hair will lose shine and volume, and become frizzy. It’s also much more susceptible to friction damage, as each textured follicle rubs against its neighbors at odd angles. 

Imagine a brittle, tangled headphone cord, and you’ll get the idea. Detangling with a wide-tooth comb and letting your hair air dry can protect its keratin and oil, both of which can reduce future damage.

Coily Hair

Coily hair goes by many names, and you might have accidentally referred to it as curly in the past. But compared to curly hair, coiled hair is typically heavier on the frizz — and heavier, in general. 

Coily hair is the coarsest, thickest hair type. It typically has a medulla layer (a deep, inner layer) in addition to the cuticle (outer layer) and cortex (middle layer) — all of these can be damaged, especially by straightening products and processes, and can cause the hair to break. 

If you like to flat iron your coily hair, conditioning treatments can help repair hair damage.

As we’ve mentioned, hair damage and dryness are not the same thing. Many issues can either cause or contribute to hair damage and hair dryness, and there’s often some overlap. 

Factors like poor nutrition, an unhealthy lifestyle, and UV exposure can all mess with your hair and lead to both dryness and damage. 

While your hair’s texture can tell you a lot about how to style and care for it, you’ll benefit just as much from learning about your hair and scalp issues.

Common health-related factors that might damage hair include:

• Nutritional deficiencies. These can stop your hair from getting the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to grow properly. 

• Medications. Retinoids, beta-blockers, and blood thinners, can cause your hair to become thinner than normal.

• Medical conditions. Health issues like hormonal imbalances or thyroid problems can impact your hairline.

These factors may affect your hair texture, your hair’s protein content, and the rate at which your hair grows. In some cases, they can contribute to dull hair or forms of temporary hair loss, like telogen effluvium.

Many environmental causes of hair damage and hair dryness might not be a surprise to you, because the same things that can harm your skin can also damage your hair. 

Common environmental factors that can damage your hair include: 

• Excessive sun exposure (which is a major source of harmful ultraviolet radiation) 

• Exposure to cigarette smoke 

• Frequent high heat styling

• Frequent exposure to chlorine 

• Chemical treatments (like perms, relaxers, or bleaches) 

These habits can strip away your hair’s protective lipid layer, causing it to become dry and more prone to damage. 

If you’re worried about damaged hair and want to take action to improve your hair health, we’ve got good and bad news.

The bad news is that damage to your hair follicles caused by excessively tight hairstyles, extreme heat, or chemical treatments can be difficult to fix — even irreversible. Once a hair follicle has been harmed, the damage is often done. 

The good news is that most forms of temporary hair damage are fixable with some changes to your habits. 

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the most effective ways to promote hair growth and prevent damage are as follows:

• Use the right shampoo

• Stop over-washing your hair

• Don’t skip the conditioner

• Get regular trims

• Try a hair mask

• Avoid vigorously towel-drying your hair

• Skip extreme styles

• Avoid heat

• Hair vitamins and supplements

Let’s look at each one of these in more detail.

Use the Right Shampoo

Your choice of shampoo doesn’t just affect the way your hair smells and feels — it also has a big impact on your hair’s texture, thickness, and ability to properly deal with damage and moisture. This has to do with something called sebum.

Sebum is a natural oil secreted by your sebaceous glands. When sebum builds up on your scalp, it can cause your skin to become too oily and give your hair a heavy feeling, but you need some of it to protect your hair. 

Many shampoos contain harsh ingredients that can dry out your hair and scalp, increasing your risk of developing damaged hair.

Try to choose a shampoo that’s formulated for your hair type, especially if you have bleached or artificially colored hair. If possible, look for a shampoo that also contains ingredients that stimulate growth and promote extra thickness. Our Volumizing Shampoo and Dandruff Detox Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo are worth checking out.

If most over-the-counter shampoos seem to upset your scalp and hair, consider switching to a sulfate-free shampoo. This type of shampoo may be less likely to cause irritation or negatively affect your hair’s ability to stay soft and smooth. 

Our Hair Thickening Shampoo uses saw palmetto to clean your scalp and hair while controlling the buildup of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause male pattern hair loss. 

Stop Over-Washing Your Hair

While washing your hair is good in moderation, washing with shampoo too frequently can strip away excess oil and expose your hair cortex, cuticle, and other hair layers to damage.

When you wash, take care not to overdo it by applying too much shampoo. Instead, squeeze a small amount of shampoo into your hand, then gently massage it into your scalp and hair roots before rinsing it out from your hair.

In general, it’s best to wash your hair whenever it starts to feel oily or dirty. Depending on your lifestyle, this could mean washing every day, every other day, or on a significantly less frequent basis.

Make sure to focus on shampooing your scalp, not the tips of your hair, as this is where sebum is most likely to build up over time.

Don’t Skip the Conditioner 

In addition to washing your hair, it’s important to apply conditioner after you shampoo. Conditioner coats your strands of hair, providing extra protection and stopping your hair from feeling overly dry or prone to breakage.

To get the best results from conditioner, apply it to wet hair after you’ve thoroughly washed out your shampoo. You can also use a leave-in conditioner to keep your hair feeling extra soft and smooth after your shower.

If you have thin hair and find that conditioner weighs it down too much, make sure to apply the conditioner to the tips of your damp hair, not to your scalp. 

If applying conditioner is too time-consuming for you, try applying a two-in-one shampoo, which can clean and condition your hair at the same time. 

Like with shampoo, it can take a little bit of time to find the optimal conditioner for your hair and scalp. Our Thick Fix Conditioner is formulated specifically to protect your hair while creating an environment that’s ideal for hair growth. And if you’re having issues with dry or damaged hair, try our Max Volume Conditioner. 

Get Regular Hair Trims

In addition to caring for your hair with high-quality shampoo and healthy habits, frequent trims are a good idea. This doesn’t just keep your haircut fresh — it reduces split ends and other signs of damage.

Choose a local hair stylist that understands the type of look you want and try to get a trim every few weeks.

Try a Hair Mask

While there’s no evidence that using a hair mask can stimulate hair growth or prevent thinning, applying a moisturizing mask to your hair every now and then may help support a healthy scalp and keep your hair from becoming overly dry.

Hair masks are essentially regular conditioners on steroids — supportive, nourishing masks that provide your hair with extra moisture. It can smooth frizzy hair and flyaways, all while replenishing moisture. 

You can use masks on every type of hair, from straight hair to curly hair. Learn more in our guide to hair masks. 

Wondering "Is Vaseline good for your hair" as a fix for dry, damaged hair? We've got the answer for that too.

Avoid vigorously towel-drying your hair

It might look good in the movies, but drying your hair with an aggressive rub-down can damage your hair via friction. This may also lead you to wonder if headphones cause hair loss.

In fact, putting any form of pressure on your hair follicles can potentially cause damage, as it’s an easy way to tug on the follicles and affect your hair’s ability to grow. 

Whenever possible, try to let your hair dry naturally rather than using a towel. If you have short hair, this is generally easy to do by simply letting it sit once you’re out of the shower. If your hair is on the longer side, try to wrap it in a towel instead of aggressively rubbing it dry. 

Skip Extreme Styling 

There’s nothing wrong with styling your hair. But extreme styling habits can cause your hair to become overly dry, brittle, and weak.  

Some styling habits, such as pulling your hair back tightly, can even cause forms of hair loss like traction alopecia. 

To maintain healthier hair, avoid any styling techniques that involve the constant use of harsh styling products. It’s also important to avoid brushing your hair too aggressively, especially when it’s still wet (for example, after showering).

While it’s okay to style your hair in moderation, give it plenty of time to relax and rest. If you use gel, wax, or other styling products, make sure to wash them out at the end of the day and give your hair plenty of days off in which it can recover. 

Beat the Heat

Anything that heats up your hair, be it a blow dryer or heat styling tool for either straightening or curling, has the potential to cause heat damage that can affect your hair’s strength and texture.

These tools can damage your hair’s internal structure. This could leave you with a brittle head of hair that’s prone to fuzz and lots of unwanted flyaway hair strands. 

To keep your hair healthy, avoid excessive levels of heat exposure. If you use a hair dryer or a hot tool for styling, only ever use it at the lowest temperature setting. When you’re blow-drying your hair, hold it as far as you can from your hair and scalp. 

Take Hair Vitamins and Supplements

One of the most effective ways to supply your hair with the nutrients it needs for growth is to eat a balanced diet that’s full of hair-friendly foods. Our guide to the best foods for hair growth shares several ingredients that you can add to your diet for healthier, stronger hair.

You can also use supplements to improve your hair growth. Although these shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for a healthy diet, they may have a positive impact on your hair’s health and fit easily into your hair care routine. 

Our biotin gummy supplements, for example, contain several vital nutrients to promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. 

Dry or damaged hair can be concerning, but it’s usually manageable with the right hair care products and healthy habits. 

Let’s recap what we know about damaged hair in men:

• Dry hair and damaged hair aren’t the same thing. But they do often happen together.

• Dry hair is more prone to damage. And damaged hair is more likely to become dry. If you have bleached hair, dyed hair or hair that’s naturally prone to dryness, use the techniques above to restore its shine and moisture.

• If you’re worried that your dry or damaged hair could be a sign of a medical issue, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider. The same goes for overly brittle hair, this could be a sign of a nutritional deficiency.

• See a doctor if you’re noticing early signs of hair loss. If you’re starting to develop a receding hairline or notice hair thinning, you may want to consult a healthcare professional to get to the root cause.

Approximately 50 percent of all men develop male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), which is characterized by thinning hair at the crown or a receding hairline.

If you’re starting to lose hair, you can take action by using our range of hair loss treatments for men, including evidence-based hair loss medications such as finasteride and minoxidil. 

You can also access a variety of hair growth products in our Hair Power Pack, which combines FDA-approved medication with hair care products, hair health supplements, and more.