Excess sun exposure, product buildup and wintery weather can all cause thirsty, dried-out hair. If your hair feels like straw, don't reach for the scissors -- restore its softness with a moisturizing treatment. Both homemade and commercial fixes can hydrate hair, and the right styling techniques keep tresses from drying out.
DIY Remedy
Honey attracts moisture and locks it into hair. To make your own dry-hair treatment, combine 1/4 cup of honey with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add a raw egg yolk or a tablespoon of mashed avocado to replenish your hair's keratin. Massage the mixture into damp hair. Wait for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.
Commercial Treatments
After shampooing your hair, treat it with a hydrating conditioner that contains keratin or plant-derived moisturizers. Don't rinse right away -- instead, use warm air from a blow dryer to help the conditioner penetrate your hair. After a few minutes of blow-drying, rinse your hair in the shower. Alternatively, use a leave-in conditioner for all-day hydration. Once or twice a week, apply a moisturizing hair mask. Hair masks that contain palm oil, shea butter or murumuru butter increase your hair's elasticity and add shine.
Styling Tips
Heated styling appliances, such as blow dryers and curling irons, dry out hair. Let your hair air-dry, if possible or apply a heat-protecting product that contains dimethicone or phenyl trimethicone before using a hot tool on your hair. Opt for a brush that has natural bristles instead of plastic ones. Brush the ends of your hair first to remove tangles and then brush from the roots all the way down. Schedule a trim for your hair every six to eight weeks to get rid of dry, damaged split ends.