How to Fix Crunchy Hair - Tips to Fix Dry Ends - Garnier How to Fix Crunchy Hair - Tips to Fix Dry Ends - Garnier

Crunchy Hair: How To Prevent Stiff Crunchy Curls

Has this ever happened to you? You’re doing a last-minute mirror check before heading out and while fiddling with your do, you hear a faint crackling noise. Suddenly, you realize you have crunchy hair! Even after diligently following all the golden rules on curly hair care, you may still be wondering, “Why is my hair crunchy?” Well, we’ve got the lowdown on fixing crunchy hair once and for all.

Typical Signs of Crunchy Hair

Crunchy hair mainly refers to how it sounds and feels, but there are a few other clues that will tip you off.

Rigid Hair
Crunching Sounds
Frizziness
Brittle Ends
Loss of Shine
Tangles and Knots
Unmanageable Locks
01
Rigid Hair
It’s windy outside but your hair doesn’t move, or it feels stiff and you can’t get a comb through it.
02
Crunching Sounds
You can actually hear crunchy hair making noise when you run your fingers through it or move your head.
03
Frizziness
There’s a fuzzy halo around you head, lots of flyaways, and general unruliness.
04
Brittle Ends
You notice dry ends that may be forked (split ends), bent, and/or dramatically tapered.
05
Loss of Shine
An odd cast of dullness has taken over: crunchy hair has a hard time reflecting light.
06
Tangles and Knots
No matter what you do, your brush is constantly tripping up on painful knots and untamable tangles.
07
Unmanageable Locks
You often find yourself wondering how other people’s hair looks so put-together because your curls are downright disobedient.

Why is your Hair Crunchy?

What’s to blame for the noisy state of your hair? Below are the top four things your crunchy hair is probably trying to tell you.

Dryness
Heat Damage
Environmental Factors
Styling Products
01
Dryness
One potential factor of crunchy hair is a lack of moisture. Your hair can look parched and have dry ends, even if you use conditioner and/or apply an after-shower hydration treatment.
02
Heat Damage
Anyone with curly hair knows it’s notoriously heat-averse. High temperatures can come from hot water, styling wands, blow dryers, and long days in the sun.
03
Environmental Factors
Crunchy hair can also be caused by elements in our environment like UV rays, wind, pollution, air conditioners, and radiators.
04
Styling Products
Gels and sprays that are used to set your ringlets can stiffen up when dry. While styling products are good at keeping curls in check, they also tend to make hair crackle and crunch.

How to Soften Crunchy Hair

Breaking the crunchy hair cycle is all about adding moisturize and nutrients at these 5 stages of your hair care routine. Our sulfate-free Curl Nourish lineup is a star-studded option, plus these pro tips will have you softened up in no time.

Cleanse Carefully
Hydrate Crunchy Hair
Detangle Gently
Improve the Texture
Protect when Styling
01
Cleanse Carefully
Wash with a gentle yet effective shampoo that won’t strip your natural oils. Curl Nourish shampoo is a great choice, plus Garnier has an extensive collection of shampoos that address other hair care issues as well.
Go to product
Garnier Fructis
Curl Nourish Shampoo
Curl Nourish Shampoo
02
Hydrate Crunchy Hair
Don’t skip the moisturizing conditioner step of your curly hair routine. Check out our range of conditioners and choose one that best fits your needs.
03
Detangle Gently
Carefully detangle after conditioning with a wide-toothed comb. A leave-in treatment like Pure Clean Detangler can make it much easier. Read more about it in our article on how to detangle curly hair.
Go to product
Garnier Fructis
Pure Clean Detangler
Pure Clean Detangler
04
Improve the Texture
Defining treatments are a curl’s best friend. Not only do hair treatments improve the texture, but they also add definition without creating crunchy hair or dry ends.
05
Protect when Styling
We’ve already talked about protecting your hair from heat. If you still want to reach for the hot tools, shield your curls with a flexible-hold protector like Flat Iron Perfector.
Go to product
Garnier Fructis
Flat Iron Sleek Straightening Mist
Flat Iron Sleek Straightening Mist

Crunchy Hair FAQ

  • Can crunchy hair be saved?
  • Why is my hair crunchy after dyeing?

Garnier Commits to Greener Beauty

LEARN MORE