If your hair is brittle and dry, it may be time to give your locks a moisturizing makeover. Hair that is very dry may be the result of shampooing too often, coloring, perming, blow-drying or swimming in chlorinated swimming pools, says Jack Myers, director of the National Cosmetology Association. Use home treatments to reverse the damage you've done to your hair and make your hair silky and more manageable.
Shampoo Less Often
Although you may feel it's necessary to shampoo your hair every day, it may actually be doing more damage to your hair, says Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., a dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences. Instead of lathering up every time you shower, wash your hair only a few times a week. Each time you shampoo, you strip your hair of its natural oils, which help it stay shiny and hydrated. If you must shampoo your hair every day, use a moisturizing conditioner immediately afterward.
Mayonnaise
If you're looking to deep-condition your hair, look no further than your refrigerator. Steven Docherty, senior art director at New York's Vidal Sassoon Salon, suggests using mayonnaise as a conditioning treatment. Coat dry hair entirely with a generous amount of mayonnaise, then leave the treatment in for up to an hour. Mayonnaise will begin to drip as it gets warm, so wear a shower cap or towel around your hair to prevent staining your clothing. Rinse the mayonnaise out in the shower and shampoo your hair as you usually would.
Brush Carefully
If your hair is dry, it is not as resilient as usual. To help prevent breakage and split ends, do not brush your hair when it's wet, says medical website KidsHealth.org. Wait until your hair is completely dry, then use a natural-bristled hairbrush to carefully detangle hair. Using a natural-bristled hairbrush, like a boar-bristle or wood-bristle brush, will prevent more breakage than a brush with plastic bristles. Teasing hair by brushing it in the opposite direction will also promote breakage and split ends, says KidsHealth.org.
Member Comments