Sunday, November 2, 2008

Dry Hair: How to care for and treat Dry Hair

By Jennifer Summers

You need to select the right hair shampoo and conditioner for your hair type to get the best possible results from your hair care routine. We are aware of hair that is in good condition. It shines, it is simple to care for - it just looks good. The appearance of your hair is one of the features over which you can have complete power over. You can alter the shape, colour, length and style of your hair according to the age you wish to come across. The style, length and condition of hair all contribute to how we notice the people we come across.

Dry hair is hair that does not contain enough moisture. This is usually because the cuticle has become heavily weathered and porous, so that the cortex cannot retain water. It shows up more in long hair than in short, simply because the hair has been growing for longer and therefore has weathered more. It is more common in women than in men, because women are more likely to wear their hair long. The dryness may come to affect more of the hair if it is given repeated chemical treatments, particularly perming, and especially perming associated with bleaching/colouring.
Your hair is dry if:
* it looks dull
* it feels dry or rough
* it tangles easily
* it is difficult to comb or brush
* it has been treated chemically (permed, bleached or colored)
* it is liable to split ends
* it is dry and frizzy. If your hair matches any of these criteria, you should choose a shampoo and conditioner that are designed for dry hair.

Wage war on the damage from the use of heat-styling, environmental pollution, chemical treatments and colouring. Deep-condition your hair often. Keep your hair shiny and strong by replenishing lost moisture. Use quality products and wash your hair often. Moisturizing Shampoos and Conditioners are the correct products - Ideal for very dry hair. Restoring lost moisture from blow-drying.

Most importantly - do not forget to condition it well. Products to use: Leave-in Conditioners and Re-constructive Detanglers - A leave-in conditioner is ideal for building shine and body to straight hair and for taming. Cut the ends regularly by a skilled hairdresser, to stop split ends. Dry hair feels dry and it lacks shine and can be difficult to style. Dry hair responds to intensive conditioning.

Very little water can enter into or out of the cortex in a regular, undamaged hair shaft. This is because the cuticle enveloping the cortex is in one piece. But if your hair has been processed too frequently the cuticle scales might not return to their usual tightness and its defence is lost. Over-porous hair is dry, and you are likely to develop split ends. The damaged cuticle is brittle and deteriorates as time goes on. After washing your hair be gentle with the brushing, drying and combing.

Look for a bottle that says: Moisturizing or Replenishing. It is prepared to be kind to dry, damaged hair. These hair shampoos are heavier on the moisturizing constituents, sometimes leaving a very thin film of conditioners on the hair to help keep it silky and smooth. They work best on dry, frizzy, damaged hair. - 16004

About the Author: