how to tell if your hair is dry or damaged
your strand symptoms: brittle, dull, hay-like hair. the diagnosis: here’s where it gets tricky...you may have dry hair, damaged hair, or both. to reach the final verdict—and your perfect reparative routine—we tapped amika pro educator Mallory Savery to break down the differences. keep reading to learn more about dryness vs. damage.
in this article:
before we jump in, go ahead and conduct a quick buoyancy test to determine whether your hair is dry or damaged.as per Mallory’s instructions, take a small wet strand of hair from your head. pinch it with your fingers and gently pull at it. if it returns to its original length, it’s healthy! if it doesn’t return and instead stretches longer, it’s dry. if it snaps, it’s damaged.
now that you’ve got your results (and if you have healthy hair—congrats!), let’s get into it.
what is dryness?
TL;DR: dry hair lacks moisture.
we can’t talk about dryness without talking about porosity. dry hair can be low, medium, or high porosity, but low porosity hair types have the most trouble absorbing moisture.according to Mallory, dry hair is caused by your environment or changes in your environment. living in a hot, dry climate, exposing hair to lots of sun, swimming in chlorine often, or washing your hair too often can all make your strands more vulnerable to dryness.
the solution: we recommend using moisture-rich products—bonus points if they’re silicone-free! our hydro rush intense moisture collection checks off both those boxes (among others). infused with squalane and hyaluronic acid, our hydro rush collection deeply hydrates coarse, dehydrated, and low porosity hair, leaving hair more moisturized for days. plus, the silicone-free formulas allow the nutrients to easily soak into strands. Mallory also recommends wearing a hat when out in harsh sun, minimizing chlorine exposure when swimming, and washing hair less frequently.
what is damage?
TL;DR: damaged hair lacks protein.
once again, porosity plays a role in hair damage. high porosity hair types tend to be more prone to damage because it means their cuticle is wide open. hair breakage and split ends rare both typically a result of hair that’s been damaged.
the cause: “damaged hair is caused by breaking the hydrogen bonds in your hair cuticle,” says mallory. so how do those hydrogen bonds break? from mechanical force like brushing your hair too hard (especially when it’s wet), overexposure to heat, chemical services, or wearing hairstyles that are too tight.
the solution: damaged hair needs strength and proteins to help build back the broken bonds of your hair strand—which is why we recommend the kure collection. supercharged with bond cure technology, plant butters, and vegan proteins, the kure repairs, strengthens, and hydrates hair. It’s great for all hair types and high porosity hair! to really put an end to damaged strands, Mallory says your best plan of action is to be gentle when brushing and combing your hair, especially when it’s wet as that’s when your strands are at their most fragile. using silk scrunchies instead of tight elastics is better for your hair, and when you are wearing it up, aim for it to be in a looser tension. wearing protective styles like braids or bonnets when sleeping can also reduce hair damage. and, finally, Mallory advises to lower the heat on your hot tools. together, these efforts can help to reduce damage over time and restore your strands to a healthier, more resilient state.