What should you know about dry brittle grey hair?

Grey hair can feel coarser or less flexible, and its surface may lose water more readily. Sun, dry air, frequent washing, colouring, straightening and hot tools can add surface damage. A rough feel does not by itself identify a medical condition. Look for associated clues such as scalp scale, redness, itching, sudden shedding, or breakage close to the roots. Those details help a clinician separate fibre damage from a scalp or general health issue.

Use a mild shampoo mainly on the scalp and let the rinse pass through the lengths. Condition the mid-lengths and ends after washing, detangle from the ends upward with a wide-tooth comb, and dry by pressing gently with a towel. Reduce high heat, tight styles, bleaching and overlapping chemical treatments. A leave-in conditioner can reduce friction. Protect hair from strong sun and chlorinated water, and discuss supplements with a clinician before taking them; Hair Supplement Therapy may be one treatment topic to ask about.

Arrange a dermatology review if the change is sudden, continues despite gentler care, or comes with scalp pain, marked itching, thick scale, sores, patchy loss, or noticeable thinning. Seek prompt medical help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or a rapidly spreading painful rash. Bring a list of hair products, colour services, medicines and supplements so the pattern can be assessed accurately.

Could my scalp show irritation or another condition? Is the breakage from the hair shaft or is there shedding from the roots? Should any health or nutrition factors be checked? Which products and colouring practices are least irritating for my hair?