Preventing Dry Hair

Dry hair is caused by heat and the elements, so the first step is prevention: Try to avoid using overly hot dryers and heat-styling implements, and wear a hat or scarf if you're going to be exposed to sun or wind for a long time (at the beach or skiing, for instance). Don't wash your hair every day -- unless you have an oily scalp, only shampoo often enough to remove dirt and buildup, about two or three times a week.
When you wash your hair, use shampoos and conditioners that contain humectants . Leave the conditioner on your hair as long as possible. About once a week, do a deep- conditioning treatment.

Restoring Softness to Dry Hair

If you have naturally dry hair, you need a good conditioning treatment with lots of moisture. Look for conditioners with shea or cocoa butter, or massage 1/4 teaspoon of warm olive oil through your hair once a week at night, starting at the ends and working up to the roots. If your hair is dry due to color or perming, use a conditioning treatment containing protein, a fundamental building block, to repair and rebuild chemically treated hair.