Hair Composition

The main component of hair is keratin.  Keratins are proteins and long chain amino acids that compose 65-90% of the total hair fiber by weight. 

Dryness in hair can be attributed to a number of different factors; environmental, hair care and dietary factors are but a few of the factors. 

Hair Care

The equipment used to style hair can be very drying and damaging.  Hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons and electric rollers can all cause dryness and damage.  Chemical treatments including perms, coloring, bleaching and relaxing can all cause dryness in hair.  EXcessive use can lead to hair loss in some people.

Excess shampooing can create dryness as well, it is no longer considered beneficial to wash your hair everyday. 

Adding a conditioner can help improve the quality of hair.  There are hundreds of commercial conditioners on the project, but household mayonnaise can create rich, moisturized hair. Add the mayonnaise for 5-60 minutes to your hair for a conditioning effect. 

Dry hair is often at the tip of the hair, so frequent trims can improve the overall look of the hair. 

The environment can be extremely damaging to hair.  The UV rays from the sun can cause dryness and damage.  Swimming without a swim cap can create damage from the chlorine in the pool. 

Dietary and nutritional deficiencies can also cause dryness and damage to the hair.   
Vitamin B12 and Vitamin A can have significant impact on hair quality.  Medications, illness, cancer treatments and minerals or deposits in the water can increase hair dryness as well.

Home Remedies for Dry Hair

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps dry hair in a number of ways.  Often dandruff goes hand in hand with dry hair.  Use a spray bottle to spray apple cider vinegar on your hair or use a basin with diluted apple cider vinegar to soak the hair.  The apple cider vinegar will treat the dandruff, will improve the sheen of the hair will help control frizziness and damage.

Beer

Rinsing your hair in beer will improve the shine, the smell will vanish quickly but the shine will linger. 

Hot Oil Treatment

Create a homemade hot oil treatment by adding freshly chopped rosemary leaves to coconut oil warmed, the placed on the hair for 30 minutes – then shampoo with an acidic shampoo. 

Alternatively olive or safflower oil can be used for the hot oil treatment.   Rosemary, lavender, cedar or sandalwood essential oils can also be used for the hot oil treatment. 

Super Shampoo

Once a week create a super shampoo by adding baking soda (2 tablespoons) to 4 cups of distilled or filtered water.  Use the mixture to scrub the scalp clean of dead skin cells, dandruff or product residue.  Then rinse with apple cider vinegar diluted in the distilled water. 

Zinc

Increasing dietary zinc or adding supplemental zinc to the diet can improve the quality of hair and reduce the appearance of dryness.