You have about 100,000 hairs that hang in a delicate balance between health and damage, according to the Nemours Foundation. If a hair's outer layer is healthy, its inner layers are protected from damaging elements such as heat and chlorine. However, if that top layer has become damaged, the whole hair can appear dull and be prone to breakage. Many habits can lead to a head full of damaged hair, but some habits can help restore it.
Step 1
Visit your hair salon every six to eight weeks. Your hair stylist can help you maintain a healthy head of hair by trimming off the driest, most damaged ends. While you're at the salon, you can also inquire about any chemical treatments that you're interested in. According to the Nemours Foundation, a trained stylist should be able to tell you about which chemicals are best for your hair type.
Step 2
Buy a gentle shampoo. The best shampoo for dry hair should have a pH between 4.5 and 6.7, says Discovery Health. Typically shampoos that are formulated especially for dry hair will have a pH in that range. Anything higher may allow moisture to evaporate.
Step 3
Shampoo two to three times each week. Any less, and you may not sufficiently stimulate your scalp's oil glands; any more, and you risk stripping many of those important oils from your hair, says Discovery Health. When you shampoo your hair, focus on the roots and scalp and avoid scrubbing your hair shafts and ends.
Step 4
Apply a conditioner every time you shampoo. Use one that contains very little or no alcohol. To find the right product, do a sniff test; a product with no fragrance tends to have less alcohol. To reap the most benefits from your conditioner, towel dry your hair to remove excess water. Keep the product in for one to two minutes in the summer and three or more minutes in the winter before rinsing.
Step 5
Apply a deep conditioner weekly. You may buy one formulated for dry and damaged hair or visit your salon to get a deep conditioning treatment, but some homemade treatments may be just as effective. Planet Green, a Discovery Communications company, suggests combining ½ cup of organic buttermilk, 1 organic egg yolk, 1 cup of plain organic yogurt and 1 tsp. raw coconut oil; apply it to your hair, and leave it in for 30 minutes or more, then rinse it off with warm water.
Step 6
Brush gently with the right bristles. Too much brushing and brushing too harshly can fracture your hair. Only use a broad-toothed comb when your hair is wet, and brush down in one-inch segments starting from the ends when your hair is dry. Discovery Health recommends using a boar-bristle brush or a "vent" brush with rubberized tips.
Step 7
Turn down the heat on your styling tools. Using blow dryers, straightening irons and hot rollers can cause your hair to dry out quickly. Don't use them if possible, but use a low setting and don't pull or stretch your hair if you must use one of these tools.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle shampoo, formulated for dry and damaged hair
- Conditioner, alcohol-free
- Deep conditioner
- Broad-toothed comb
- Brush, with rubberized tips or boar bristle
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