Dry Hair Care: The best products, shampoo and treatment for dry hair

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Dry Hair Information and Advice

If you are to get the best possible results from your hair care routine, you need to choose the correct hair shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. We recognise hair that is in good condition. It shines, it is easy to manage - it just looks good.

The appearance of the hair is the one feature of the body over which we can have direct control. You can change the length, shape, colour and style of your hair according to the age you wish to appear, and the economic and social status you want to claim.
The style, length and condition of hair all play a part in how we perceive the people we meet.

Dry hair is hair that does not contain enough moisture.
This is usually because the cuticle has become heavily weathered and porous, so that the cortex cannot retain water.
It shows up more in long hair than in short, simply because the hair has been growing for longer and therefore has weathered more.
It is more common in women than in men, because women are more likely to wear their hair long. The dryness may come to affect more of the hair if it is given repeated chemical treatments, particularly perming, and especially perming associated with bleaching/colouring.

Your hair is dry if:
* it looks dull
* it feels dry or rough
* it tangles easily
* it is difficult to comb or brush
* it has been treated chemically (permed, bleached or coloured)
* it is liable to split ends
* it is dry and frizzy.
If your hair matches any of these criteria, you should choose a shampoo and conditioner that are designed for dry hair.

* Combat the damage of chemical treatments, colouring, heat-styling and environmental pollution by deep-conditioning your hair on a regular basis. This will help replenish lost moisture and keep locks shiny and resilient.

* Clean your hair frequently, using good-quality products.
Product: Moisturizing Shampoos and Conditioners - Good for very dry hair. Restores moisture lost in blow-drying.

* And most importantly - remember to condition it well.
Product: Leave-in Conditioners and Re-constructive Detanglers - A light leave-in conditioner is great for creating shine and body to straight hair and for taming.

* Have the ends cut regularly by a skilled stylist, so as to prevent weathering effects such as split ends.

* In a normal, undamaged hair shaft, very little water can get either into or out of the cortex. This is because the cuticle covering the cortex is intact. But if hair is processed too many times the cuticle scales may never return to their original tightness and the protection they once offered is lost. Over-porous hair is dry, and tends to develop split ends. The damaged cuticle is fragile, and the damage worsens as time goes by.

* Dry hair feels dry. It does not shine and is difficult to style. It responds to intensive conditioning, however.

* Careful brushing, drying and combing after washing are important.

The bottle says: Moisturizing or Replenishing
That means: It's formulated to be gentle to dry, damaged hair. These shampoos are heavier on the moisturizing ingredients, sometimes leaving a very thin film of conditioners on the hair to help keep it silky and smooth. Works best for: Dry, frizzy, damaged hair.