| Hair normally has a moisture content of | | | | the best ways to avoid dry hair. |
| approximately 10%. If your hair's moisture | | | | Lastly, consider what goes on with the rest of |
| content drops below this level the key is to | | | | your body. Many times dry hair indicates a poor |
| increase the hair's ability of attract and retain | | | | diet or even mild dehydration. Always drink plenty |
| moisture. This is accomplished by using | | | | of water, eat a balanced diet of good proteins, |
| moisturizers. Good one have "humectants" that | | | | fats and carbohydrates, and consider vitamin and |
| not only replace lost moisture but actually attract | | | | mineral supplements. Vitamins A, C, E, and calcium |
| moisture and retain it in the cortex of the hair. | | | | are all good for treating dry hair. |
| Essential fatty aids (EFA's) are great moisturizers. | | | | How to treat Dry Hair |
| t. Now since "genes" have given me dry hair, I | | | | - Mayonnaise makes a great conditioner. If you |
| have done some research on the big Dos and | | | | have enough time, leave it on for an hour and |
| Don'ts for dry hair and some treatments that | | | | you will like the results. If you are in a hurry, even |
| they claim actually work. Not that I'm admitting to | | | | 5 minutes of this goo will help. |
| doing anything harmful to my mane, I vow to try | | | | - Limit washing to once every four days and use |
| some, maybe even all, of these Dos and Don'ts. | | | | a high-quality conditioner to treat dry hair problem. |
| Can't hurt right! Feel free to do the same and | | | | - A natural leave-in solution is to take a couple of |
| please let me know your results so we can | | | | drops of safflower oil and run it through dried hair |
| compare notes. | | | | from roots to ends. |
| Dry hair should be washed with a gentle shampoo. | | | | -Jojoba oil or coconut oil work as a great deep |
| Massage the scalp to stimulate the follicles and | | | | conditioner. For that matter you can use just |
| loosen dandruff/dirt that may be clogging the | | | | about any oil. Apply the oil, wrap your hair with |
| pores. This will allow sebum, produced by the | | | | plastic wrap and cover with a towel to keep the |
| sebaceous gland, to be released from the pores | | | | heat in. Rinse with cool water, shampoo, condition |
| and hydrate each strand of hair. After massaging | | | | and voila. |
| the scalp, roll a clump of hair between your hands | | | | - Condition your hair: Dry hair can be benefited |
| from the root downward to the ends to cleanse | | | | greatly by the use of conditioners after |
| properly. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and | | | | shampooing. The outer layers of the hair or |
| follow with a conditioner to remove all shampoo | | | | cuticles peel away the shaft, resulting in split ends. |
| residue. | | | | Conditioner glues these cuticles back to the shaft |
| Dry hair is often caused by too much time in the | | | | and lubricates them. It also prevents static |
| sun, chlorine, salt water, over-shampooing, | | | | electricity, thus preventing its frizzy appearance. |
| permanents, heat styling, or neglect. Protection | | | | - Avoid heat: Heat appliances like blow-dryers, |
| from the elements is the next step in treating dry | | | | electric irons and curlers damage the hair. Instead |
| hair. Consider using a conditioner with an SPF of at | | | | of blow-drying the hair, you can pat dry with a |
| least 15, or even better, wear a hat when out in | | | | towel. Replace electric curlers with unheated |
| the sun. Use a swimming cap while in pools or salt | | | | plastic rollers that were used in a bygone era. |
| water, and always rinse hair thoroughly after | | | | Straighten the hair by wrapping the slightly damp |
| swimming. | | | | hair around the cold rollers and leave them on for |
| Heat styling such as hair dryers, curling irons, and | | | | about ten minutes. To curl the hair or to give |
| hot curlers all cause dry hair. Perms, bleaching and | | | | them a wavy appearance, use sponge rollers |
| color treatments cause dry hair as well. Although | | | | overnight or sleep with moist braids. |
| we like our curls and colors, going natural is one of | | | | |