Everyone wants the shiny, smooth hair they see in commercials. Unfortunately, stiff hair is a much more common, real-life occurrence. If you’ve recently been struggling with dry, inelastic strands, you’re far from alone. Below, discover the common causes behind hair stiffness and what necessary changes are in order to recover your silky-soft mane.
What Is Stiff Hair?
Simply put, stiff hair refers to any hair on your head that feels rigid or coarse and lacks its usual softness and flexibility. But what does it mean when hair is stiff, exactly? Well, it usually indicates that your strands have lost the moisture and proteins needed to remain soft, shiny, and elastic. No matter what caused the damage, your hair will need extra help to restore its healthy look and feel.
Why Is My Hair So Stiff?
There are several reasons why your locks may feel stiff and dry. But before we dive into the causes of stiff hair, it’s important to know what signs to look out for. Stiff hair often comes with symptoms like:
- Coarse strands that feel rough or straw-like when you run your fingers through them
- Lots of tiny knots from breakage tying your strands together
- Ends that dry immediately after showering because they’re unable to retain moisture
- Hair that appears rigid or clumps together rather than flowing smoothly
Think of these as signs your hair is asking for help beyond what your regular shower routine can offer.
What Causes Stiff Hair?
As mentioned, there are a variety of factors that can lead to hair stiffness. Most of these causes are external (like the weather or your daily styling habits), while others are internal (like your hair type). Sometimes, these reasons may even compound each other. Here are a few common culprits behind stiff hair:
Sunlight
Generally speaking, the sun can make your hair stiff–especially if it’s already damaged and exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Research shows that three or more hours of direct sunlight can cause hair to become more porous. Having high porosity hair means that your strands typically absorb moisture fast but lose it just as quickly. This can make it more susceptible to dryness, brittleness, and breakage, which may be why your hair is so stiff and dry after spending extended time outside.
Swimming
Jumping in a pool might feel great during the summer, but it can sometimes be unkind to your hair. That’s because pools often use chlorine to kill bacteria and break down organic matter. While this chemical helps keep the water clean, it can also wear down the cuticle of your hair. Saltwater dips can also pose a problem—salt can draw moisture from your hair. As such, exposure to both salt and chlorine can result in dryness and an overall rough texture.
Chemical processing
If you’re constantly wondering, “Why does my hair feel stiff?”, the coarse texture may be tied to how often you frequent the salon. Whenever you do anything to permanently alter your hair’s appearance (think bleaching, dyeing, or perming), it can change the texture of your hair. The reason: Chemicals in these types of services break the bonds of your hair, allowing it to take on a new shape or color. It’s important to note that coloring and perming are generally regarded as safe as long as a pro executes them. However, these services can make your hair feel coarse over time.
Heat styling
Starting the day without a hair straightener or curling iron may seem laughable. How else will you have good hair days? But while these tools can create incredible styles, they may also be why your hair feels stiff. Extreme heat can fry the keratin proteins in your hair, which are essential in ensuring it has the strength and structure to maintain its natural softness. Using heat styling tools regularly can cause a brittle hair texture that’s so frustrating.
Hair type
Those with curls and coils tend to be more vulnerable to hair stiffness. This is because natural scalp oils have a more difficult time traveling down the hair shaft to condition the hair properly. In addition, these hair types frequently have a raised cuticle layer, making them more susceptible to environmental damage and moisture loss.
How to Manage Stiff Hair
Fortunately, with a good haircare routine, you can reverse the feeling of stiff hair. The right formulas can help restore softness and manageability and ward off future hair stiffness. But with so many great options out there, narrowing down the best ones can understandably feel a bit overwhelming. To help, we’re breaking down a few of our go-to products from the L’Oréal portfolio of professional brands.
Biolage Professional Ultra Hydra Source Shampoo and Conditioning Balm
Get your healthy-looking hair back on track with a little help from Biolage Professional. Their Ultra Hydra Source Shampoo and Conditioning Balm are specially designed to intensely nourish very dry, thick, and coarse hair. The formulas, which contain cupuaçu butter, aloe, and apricot kernel oil, help optimize moisture balance in the hair and leave it smooth, shiny, and touchably soft.
Good hair day by @Matrix.
Matrix Food For Soft
Wave goodbye to hair stiffness when using the Matrix Food for Soft haircare line. All the products in the range (including shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, and mask) are formulated with hyaluronic acid and avocado oil and leave hair seven times more moisturized for up to 72 hours.* Bonus: The brand’s vegan formula is suitable for use on color-treated hair. Learn more in our Matrix Food for Soft Review.
*when used as a system of Food For Soft Shampoo, Conditioner, or Mask & Oil vs non-conditioning shampooRedken All Soft
Many experts point to Redken’s All Soft system when clients ask how to fix stiff hair’s feel without a trip to the salon. While we love all the products in this collection, we’re especially fond of the multi-tasking All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment to help manage the symptoms of stiff, brittle hair. This leave-in traps moisture molecules into the strands, seals hair’s cuticle layer with an acidic pH, and protects against hot tool temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Pair it with the rest of the All Soft ensemble for best results.
Biolage Professional Strength Recovery
The Biolage Professional Strength Recovery line is another great option for those seeking a solution for hair stiffness. The vegan squalane-powered formulas help repair damage and strengthen hair to nix the breakage that can accompany stiff, brittle strands. But don’t just take our word for it—see why one editor swears by it in our article, Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Restored My Damaged Hair.
Mizani Moisture Fusion Mask
Give your hair an instant hydration boost (sans the heavy residue) with this creamy rinse-out mask from Mizani. Made with dry curls and coils in mind, the Moisture Fusion Mask provides deep conditioning results after just a single use. Simply work the argan oil, cupuaçu butter, and honey-infused formula into your hair after shampooing. Then, cover your hair with a plastic cap for at least 15 minutes. Rinse it out after your timer goes off and towel dry for optimal results.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset
In the never-ending quest of how to make hair less stiff, consider Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Ultimate Reset collection. From a hair mask that helps reset your hair after chemical services to an overnight serum that can help strengthen your strands while you sleep, the lineup boasts many high-end, luxury haircare formulas to add to your arsenal ASAP.
How to Prevent Hair Stiffness
The truth is, there isn’t one universal solution for how to fix stiff hair—it usually depends on what’s causing your hair’s straw-like feel. While reaching for the right haircare products is part of the equation, a handful of other healthy haircare habits can help keep stiffness from recurring:
Care for your hair before and after swimming
First, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests wearing a protective cap when swimming to minimize your hair’s exposure to damaging water. If a swim cap isn’t available, be sure to rinse the chemicals or saltwater from your locks with fresh water immediately after taking a plunge. When you hop in the shower later on, lather up with a dedicated swimmer’s shampoo, followed by a deep conditioning treatment to keep hair stiffness at bay. For the latter, we love Biolage Professional’s Hydra Source Hair Mask to help revive dry strands for more shine and manageability.
Safeguard your strands from the sun
We’ve already established that the sun can make your hair feel rough and stiff to the touch. Before heading outside, apply a haircare formula that offers UV protection, like Pureology’s Color Fanatic Leave-In Hair Treatment Spray. The spritz contains the brand’s patented AntiFade Complex® (an exclusive blend of sunflower seed, vitamin E, and a UV filter) to help fight color-depleting environmental effects. Don’t forget to pop on a tightly woven hat to stave off harmful UV rays (your skin will thank you, too).
Protect your locks from hot tools
Making simple styling changes, like using heat protectants and limiting hot tool use, can also help prevent stiffness from returning. As a quick refresher, heat protectants form a barrier between hot metals and your strands to reduce the chance of drying out your hair without compromising your final look. (Hint: the aforementioned Pureology spray also offers heat protection.) For those days when your hair needs a break, experiment with the latest and greatest heatless hairstyle tutorials.
Snip off frayed ends
Last but not least, once you’ve restored your hair to its full softness, it’s time to banish those split ends that can often result from dry, brittle strands. It’s the last step in making your hair look and feel its best after sun exposure, chemical treatments, or styling damage. Plus, it keeps damage from traveling further up your hair shaft and requiring a more intense chop.
Next Up: How to Moisturize Hair: 13 Tips to Hydrate Hair
Header photo credits (left to right): @redkenpro and @matrix
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