Genetics determine many aspects of your hair including hair color and even whether your hair is prone to be oily, dry or anything in between. When dealing with dry hair, there are several different methods you can try to help introduce moisture back into the hair, creating a healthier looking and feeling hair strand.
Washing Frequency
The active ingredients in your shampoo could be one possible reason for your dry hair. Each time you wash, the surfactants in your shampoo help release dirt from your hair along with the protective oils that help prevent moisture loss at the same time. To combat the drying effect of some shampoos, the National Institutes of Health suggests limiting the amount of times you wash your hair each week to as little as only once or twice a week.
Hair Appliances
Hair appliances such as blow dryers, curling irons and straighteners that use heat to work can pull moisture from your hair, leaving it dry. Removing these appliances from your daily routine, or using them less often, can help your hair retain its natural moisture. You can also adjust the way that you use the appliances by choosing lower heat settings if they are available.
Humidifiers
If you live in an area of the United States with either very dry summers, or winters where the humidity drop significantly, you may find during these times that your hair can feel dry and unhealthy. Your home heating system can also remove moisture from the air, which removes moisture from your hair as well. To help offset the effects of these climates, use a humidifier in your home to reintroduce moisture into the air, which can slow down the effects of the climate on your hair strands.
Conditioners
Hair conditioners can also combat problems with dry hair. Conditioners have varying active ingredients that may help relieve dry hair. For example, many contain humectants that help attract and hold moisture in the hair. Others may contain essential fatty acids such as safflower oil, which mimics the protective effects that the body's natural sebum oil typically would provide. Still others may include thermal protectors such as heat absorbing polymers, which help protect the hair from the drying effects of heated appliances such as blow dryers and curling irons.
Hot Oil Treatments
Periodically a hot oil treatment performed either through an at-home kit or preferably by a professional at a salon can help address problems with dry hair. In this treatment natural and essential oils, such as olive, coconut, jojoba and jasmine, are heated in a bottle and applied directly to the hair strands. The heated oil sinks into the hair strands helping restore moisture and overall protection to the hair.
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