Dry Hair: How to care for and treat Dry Hair

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 doesn't have enough moisture. This is normally because the cuticle has become heavily weathered and porous, so that the cortex cannot hold on to water. It appears more in long hair than in short, purely because the hair has been growing for longer and as a result has worn more. It is more widespread in women than in men, since women are more likely to sport their hair long. The drying out may come to have an effect on more of the hair if it is given constant chemical treatments, for the most part perming, and especially perming connected with bleaching/colouring.
Your hair is dry if:
* it looks lacklustre
* it feels dry or coarse
* it snarls easily
* it is tricky to comb or brush
* it has been treated chemically (permed, bleached or colored)
* it is liable to split ends
* it is dry and frizzed.
If your hair meets any of these conditions, you should opt for a hair shampoo and conditioner that are specifically 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.

Most importantly - do not forget to condition it well. Products to use: Leave-in Conditioners and Re-constructive Detanglers - A leave-in conditioner is ideal for building shine and body to straight hair and for taming. Cut the ends regularly by a skilled hairdresser, to stop split ends. Dry hair feels dry and it lacks shine and can be difficult to style. Dry hair responds to intensive conditioning.

Very little water can enter into or out of the cortex in a regular, undamaged hair shaft. This is because the cuticle enveloping the cortex is in one piece. But if your hair has been processed too frequently the cuticle scales might not return to their usual tightness and its defence is lost. Over-porous hair is dry, and you are likely to develop split ends. The damaged cuticle is brittle and deteriorates as time goes on. After washing your hair be gentle with the brushing, drying and combing.

The bottle should read: Moisturizing or Replenishing. These types of shampoos are heavier on moisturizing, and can leave a very fine film of conditioner on your hair to help keep it smooth and silky. They are formulated to be easy-going on dry, damaged hair. Working best on: Dry, frizzy, damaged hair.