10 home treatments for dry hair

1. Pay close attention to your shampoo: One of the main reasons for dry hair is very frequent shampooing. After all, shampoos contain harsh cleansing ingredients that can strip your hair of the natural oils which help retain its moisture. For people with dry hair, the ideal shampoo should have a pH balance of between 4.5 and 6.7.

2. Be gentle with your hair: Dry hair is fragile and can get damaged very easily. So be good to your hair and treat it gently. Don’t scrub it too hard when washing and try not to tug or pull at it. Don’t scrub with your fingernails, as you will irritate your scalp. Use your fingertips to wash and lather your hair when shampooing, and remember that using your fingertips to massage your scalp will also help activate those important oil glands.

3. Use conditioner: After all, dry hair needs moisture. Always choose conditioners for your hair that contain little or no alcohol, as alcohol will only dry out your hair even more.

4. Use hot oil treatments: Hair care professionals recommend using hot oil treatments to repair dry and damaged hair.

5. Brush and comb your hair less: Brushing your hair too frequently will only cause it to break and fall out more. Dry, damaged hair is even more susceptible to damage from brushing than other hair types. When you do brush your hair, do so gently, and only use a comb on wet hair. It is also very important to choose the right kind of brush -- brushes with rubber-tipped bristles are a good choice.

6. Stay away from heat: People with dry and damaged hair always wonder about the effect that hair dryers and other hair styling tools have on their hair. Hair curling rods are the most damaging thing you can use on dry hair. If you don’t have time to let your hair dry naturally, keep your hair dryer on its lowest setting.

7. Space hair care treatments out as much as possible: If you got a perm on Saturday, colored your hair on Monday and then styled it with a hair curling rod on Wednesday, your hair is fated to become dry and damaged.

8. Try vinegar: There are lots of ways to enliven dull hair with vinegar. Vinegar is not only a great conditioner, it also boosts cleanliness and shine. Add just one tablespoon of vinegar to your hair while you are rinsing it after washing. In fact, keep a small bottle of vinegar in your bathroom, that way you will always have it on hand. Bring it with you on your travels, too. You can also use vinegar to help get rid of dandruff. Massage vinegar into your hair and scalp a few times a week, before shampooing.

9. Use eggs for shiny hair: For clean and very shiny hair, try cracking an egg into some tepid water and then lather it into your hair. Rinse with warm water. For very damaged hair, try this: Mix together three eggs, two tablespoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of vinegar. Massage this mixture through your hair and then place a shower cap over your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes. Later, wash as normal with shampoo.