6 Simple Reasons Why Your Hair Feels Like Straw + Easy Fixes
Hi Cindy, I’ve been wrestling with a hair dilemma that’s driving me up the wall. No matter what I do, my hair has this persistent straw-like texture that’s neither here nor there. I don’t use a ton of styling products, and I’m pretty regular with trims. What might be causing this and what I can do to bring back the softness?
Janice Fisher
Bakersfield, CA
Hello Janice,
Hair often feels like straw because it loses moisture. Many things can cause this dryness, such as poor hair care habits or changes in the environment.
Straw-like hair is not only dry and easy to break, but it also looks messy and is hard to style. I spoke with Jillian Allen, a hairstylist at Bespoke Salon in Phoenix, AZ, to find out who struggles with this problem the most.
She said, “Both men and women can have dry, fragile hair at any age, but it usually happens more as you get older. If you suddenly notice changes in your hair, it’s a good idea to see a doctor because it might be a sign of a health problem inside your body.”
Luckily, several ways to fix dry, brittle hair don’t require a prescription. In this article, you’ll learn:
I’ll discuss improper shampooing, chemical treatments, environmental factors, and other possible culprits.
Your hair might feel like straw for one or several reasons. I’ll share how to narrow down what’s affecting your hair.
Use a hydrating non-sulfate shampoo, regularly deep condition, and eat a healthy diet. You’ll find detailed instructions for every tip provided.
Wondering how to keep your hair soft after showering? Or maybe why your hair feels like straw during pregnancy? You’ll find answers to all your questions.
What Causes Hair to Feel Like Straw?
Straw-like hair can happen for many reasons. Many different things can make your hair feel dry and rough.
Too much heat styling, washing hair the wrong way, and using harsh chemicals often damage hair. Stress and poor nutrition inside your body can also cause problems. (source).
Your surroundings can damage your hair, making it dry and rough. Hot weather, too much sun, dry air, and cold winds can all change how your hair feels.
I talked with Jillian about other reasons why your hair might be affected, even if you don’t use chemical treatments.
She explains, “Natural hair can feel dry and brittle for many reasons. Usually, using hot styling tools too often without heat protection makes hair dry out and get damaged.”
But dry, brittle hair might also signal a thyroid issue. Hormones control how fast your cells work, including those in your hair follicles. If your hormones are out of balance, your hair may get thinner and break more easily.
New medicines, steroids, or anesthesia may also change how your hair feels or looks.
Both scientists and hairdressers say many different things can make your hair feel dry and rough like straw.
Why Does My Hair Feel Like Straw?
Straw-like hair often means your hair is very dry. These are some main reasons why your hair might feel rough, dry, and break easily:
1. You Use Excessive Heat to Style
Using heat styling tools such as hair straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers too often can make your hair dry and rough like straw.
Too much heat removes the hair’s natural moisture. This makes hair dry and brittle over time. It can also lead to split ends, causing hair to feel rough and straw-like (source).
Before styling your hair with heat, apply a heat-protective spray or gel to help prevent damage. Lower the heat setting to avoid burning away your hair’s natural oils and proteins.
2. Your Home Has Hard Water
You might be surprised, but the water in your home can really change how your hair feels. Hard water makes hair dry, rough, and weak. Soft water keeps your hair smooth, shiny, and healthy-looking.
If your hair stays dry and rough despite trying different things, you should test the water quality in your home.
Hard water has minerals that make hair dry, frizzy, and hard to style. Calcium can build up around hair roots. This buildup weakens hair strands and may slow down new hair growth (source).
Using soft water to wash your hair helps keep it smooth, shiny, and easy to style. It prevents mineral buildup and harmful residue that can dry out your hair or make your scalp itchy.
Soft water makes it quicker and easier to create lather when washing your hair. You will need less shampoo compared to using hard water. This helps reduce the amount of dandruff your scalp produces.
3. You Spend a Lot of Time Swimming Outdoors or in Pools
Swimming often in pools or outdoors exposes your hair to chlorine. Chlorine removes your hair’s natural oils, making it dry and rough like straw. It also weakens your hair, which can lead to split ends (source).
When swimming, keep your head above the water to stop chlorine from harming your hair. Wearing a swim cap can also help shield your hair from chlorine damage.
After swimming, rinse your hair right away. Then, wash it using a shampoo made for swimmers and apply a deep conditioner.
My top pick is the Swimmers Wellness Collection by Malibu. This set has a shampoo that removes chlorine, a deep conditioner, and a strong treatment for tough chlorine build-up. It is safe for kids, completely vegan, and cruelty-free.
4. You Get Regular Chemical Treatments
Chemical hair treatments can upset the natural oils in your hair. Procedures like rebonding, perming, Keratin, bleaching, and dyeing may cause your hair to become dry and break easily.
Chemical treatments can break down the protective outer layer of your hair strands. This may harm the hair follicles and, in serious cases, cause scalp problems or even hair loss.
After using any chemical treatment, take extra care of your hair. If you don’t, your hair may become dry and rough like straw every day.
5. Your Nutritional Intake is Off-Balance
If your diet lacks enough nutrients, it can affect the health of your hair.
Vitamins, protein, and essential fatty acids are important for healthy hair. If you lack these nutrients, your hair may become dry, break easily, or even fall out.
These are some top foods that help your hair grow strong and healthy (source):
6. You Brush or Comb Aggressively
Brushing your hair too hard can harm it. It may lead to uneven oil spread, breakage, and split ends. Rough brushing also puts stress on your hair, causing you to lose more strands each day.
If you brush your hair 100 times every day, it may be time to reconsider this habit.
Brushing your hair too often creates friction, which can weaken it and lead to hair loss.
Stop brushing once your hair is smooth and free of knots. Brushing too much can damage your hair.
Begin brushing or combing your hair from the tips. If you find tangles, do not push the brush through. Gently use your fingers to untangle the knots. You can also apply a leave-in conditioner or hair detangler to make it easier to comb.
After clearing tangles from the tips of your hair, move up a few inches and brush downward again. Take your time and handle your hair gently. Keep repeating this process until you reach your scalp and your hair is fully detangled.
How to Fix Dry, Straw-Like Hair
Once you understand what might be causing your dry hair, you can start working to improve it. I spoke with Jillian, and she shared her best tips. She said, “You can try several home remedies before talking to a doctor.”
First, choose a quality strengthening shampoo and conditioner like Olaplex or The Kure by Amika. Also, try not to wash your hair too frequently.
Second, add a weekly treatment like K18. Then, try to use hot tools less often. If you do use them, always apply a heat protectant first.
If you follow all these tips and your hair still doesn’t get better after two months, it might mean the issue is related to hormones.
Give Your Hair Some TLC
Your hair deserves the same care as the rest of your body. Taking time to care for it can make your hair look much healthier and more beautiful.
Hair care is more than just washing, conditioning, and styling. It also means brushing or combing gently, rinsing your hair well after swimming, and eating a balanced diet with enough vitamins.
To repair dry, straw-like hair, try these gentle hair care tips:
Take Preventative Action
Take steps early to stop your hair from looking dry and straw-like.
Use a mild, nourishing shampoo to wash away dirt and buildup from your hair each day. After that, apply a good leave-in conditioner to protect your hair, add shine, and highlight its natural beauty.
I suggest using It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin. This product makes hair stronger and easier to comb. It also cuts down frizz, adds moisture, and restores lost protein to your hair.
To avoid losing protein, try not to use heat-styling tools too often. Use your blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron only once or twice a week if possible. Save heat styling for special events.
Apply a heat-protectant like Oribe Balm D’Or Heat Styling Shield before using heat tools. It protects your hair from heat damage, strengthens it, and helps reduce frizz and flyaways.
Consult With Your Doctor
If you followed all the tips above but still see no improvement, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. Health issues such as alopecia, hirsutism, anorexia nervosa, autoimmune thyroid problems, and similar conditions can make your hair dry and straw-like.
A healthcare provider can identify why your hair is dry and brittle. They will also give you the right treatment to help fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my hair soft after showering?
For softer hair after a shower, use a high-quality leave-in conditioner. My favorite is It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-in Plus Keratin. It is full of nutrients and moisture that your hair needs. It keeps your hair soft without making it heavy or greasy.
Not interested in adding a new product? Use a microfiber towel to dry your hair, then let it air dry. This helps make your hair softer.
Why is my hair suddenly like straw?
Sudden changes in your lifestyle can quickly make your hair dry and brittle like straw.
When you move to a new place, visit somewhere unfamiliar, change what you eat, or begin or stop taking medicine, these things can often cause problems.
What foods help dry, brittle hair?
To help prevent dry and brittle hair, include foods high in:
These foods are leafy greens, citrus fruits, fish, eggs, nuts, and lean meats.
Why does my hair feel like straw after bleaching?
Bleach removes your hair’s natural oils, making it dry, rough, and brittle like straw. It harshly breaks down hair proteins to lighten the color. This leaves your hair weaker, more likely to become dry, frizzy, and easily damaged.
Why does dry shampoo make my hair feel like straw?
Dry shampoo may leave a thin film on your hair, making it feel rough and look like straw. If you use too much, your hair can appear dull, dry, and even change color.
Why does my hair feel like straw during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, your hair might feel dry and rough like straw. This happens because pregnancy hormones can change your hair’s texture, making it coarse and brittle. The good news is these changes are temporary. After pregnancy, your hair usually returns to normal.
Is your hair feeling dry and brittle while you are pregnant? Use a deep conditioner each time you wash your hair. It helps fight dryness and adds protein, omega-3s, and other nutrients. These work together to make your hair stronger and look healthier.