Dry hair can be the result of environmental damage, styling, chemical treatments or your natural hair type. Adding moisture to your dry hair can help make it softer, shinier, and improve its overall condition, while protein treatments may temporarily repair damage. You can opt for purchased treatments to use at home, make your own treatments from ingredients in your kitchen, or visit a salon to care for your dry hair.

Moisture and Protein

There are two basic components to dry hair treatment; moisture and protein. Moisturizers are appropriate for naturally dry or damaged hair, while protein will benefit chemically damaged hair. Moisturizing ingredients include coconut oil, olive oil, nut butters, like shea nut butter or the fatty fruit, avocado. Protein treatments may use wheat, soy or silk protein, while homemade options may include eggs or yogurt.

How Treatments Work

Moisturizing dry hair treatments make the hair less brittle, flyaway and prone to breakage. Adding moisture to your dry hair can make it more manageable, shinier and softer. Protein treatments temporarily smooth the cuticle of the hair, filling in damage to each individual strand. Protein can leave the hair quite stiff and should be used with care and along with moisturizing hair treatments.

Put Your Hair on a Schedule

If you have dry hair, you should wash less frequently and use a daily conditioner designed for dry hair every time you wash or in between shampooing. Use a deeper conditioning treatment at least once or twice a week. Oil treatments can be used weekly, bi-weekly or once a month. Protein treatments can be used every two weeks on severely damaged hair or once a month on naturally dry hair, according to Long Healthy Hair Advisor.

Homemade Options

While you can purchase all sorts of dry hair treatments, you also have the ingredients you need in your pantry. Try warming olive oil and working through dry hair. Wrap your hair in a hot towel or sit under a hood style hair dryer for at least 30 minutes, then shampoo away the oily residue. As an alternative, rub mayonnaise through your hair and leave in place for at least 15 minutes, then wash away, recommends the DailyGlow website. Bananas, avocados and eggs can also be used as hair treatments for dry hair.

Preventative Maintenance

No amount of deep conditioning or protein treatments will help your hair unless you treat it gently. Avoid heat styling and chemical treatments as much as possible. Consider a generous trim to remove damaged locks and prevent further splitting of the hair shaft. Wear a hat and use hair care products with sunscreen to reduce further environmental damage to your fragile hair.