Dry hair feels brittle when you touch it and lacks the luster and bounce of healthy strands. If your hair is parched, consider adding a spray-in sunscreen designed for hair with an SPF 15 or higher to protect your hair when you're outdoors. Sun damage can exacerbate dryness and make dry hair even worse. Changing your shampoo may help restore your hair to health, too.
Identification
Dry hair can be caused by dry weather, too much heat styling, soaking up sunshine and even your genes, explains dermatologist Marianne O'Donoghue on CNN Living. While styling products and conditioners can help smooth dryness-related damage and boost shine in dehydrated locks, choosing the right shampoo may make the biggest significant improvement because shampoos can penetrate your hair more effectively than other products, notes beauty writer Marissa Gold in "Ladies' Home Journal."
Key Ingredients
The best shampoos for dry hair contain ingredients that attract and hold moisture, like ceramides and panthenol. Botanical ingredients are also good choices, says Paradi Mirmirani, a dermatologist in Vallejo, California, in "Fitness" magazine. "Ladies' Home Journal" recommends orchid and coconut milk as good botanical ingredients for hydrating hair. If you're confronted with a list of unfamiliar ingredients, opt for shampoos that describe themselves as "moisturizing" or "hydrating" on their labels.
Expert Insight
If you're shopping for a shampoo for dry hair, "Ladies' Home Journal" recommends Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo as a good option. Aussie Cleanse and Mend Shampoo is another moisturizing choice, according to "Fitness" magazine. CNN Living gives high hydration marks to Marc Anthony Ultimate Moisture Replenishing Shampoo.
Technique
The way you use your shampoo is almost as important as the shampoo itself. Don't shampoo every day, and don't over-lather when you do, warns Ashley Javier, a celebrity stylist for Kerastase, in "Fitness" magazine. Even a moisturizing shampoo can strip hair's moisture if you use it too often. Instead, use just a few drops to massage your scalp -- the only part of your hair that gets really dirty most of the time -- and save heavy-duty shampooing for times when your hair really needs it.
Considerations
If your hair is very dry, consider alternating a moisturizing shampoo with an affordable conditioner when you wash your hair, recommends Mary McConnell, a researcher for the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, on the "Good Housekeeping" magazine website. McConnell recommends applying a generous amount of conditioner and massaging it vigorously into your scalp, then rinsing your hair before applying your regular conditioner. Scrubbing your scalp gets it clean, while conditioner doesn't strip hair's moisture the way shampoos can.
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