If you are to get the best possible results from your hair care routine, you need to choose the correct hair shampoo and conditioner for your hair type.

Your hair is dry if:

* it feels dry or rough
* it tangles effortlessly
* it is hard to comb or brush
* it looks lifeless
* it has been chemically treated (permed, bleached or colored)
* it is likely to have split ends
* it is dry and coarse.

You should select a shampoo and conditioner that is targeted at dry hair if your symptoms match any of the above pointers. Dry hair is hair that does not hold an adequate amount of moisture. This is more often than not because the cuticle has become worn and permeable, so that the cortex cannot keep hold of water. It shows signs more often in long hair, because the hair has been growing for a greater length of time and has therefore weathered more. It is more general in females than in males, for the reason that women more often wear their hair long. The dryness can influence more of the hair if it is given repetitive chemical treatments, such as perming and bleaching/colouring.

Combat the damage of chemical treatments, colouring, heat-styling and environmental pollution by deep-conditioning your hair on a regular basis. This will help replenish lost moisture and keep locks shiny and resilient. Clean your hair frequently, using good-quality products. Cut the ends regularly by a skilled hairdresser, to stop split ends. Dry hair feels dry and it lacks shine and can be difficult to style. Dry hair responds to intensive conditioning.

Very little water can enter into or out of the cortex in a regular, undamaged hair shaft. This is because the cuticle enveloping the cortex is in one piece. But if your hair has been processed too frequently the cuticle scales might not return to their usual tightness and its defence is lost.

Over-porous hair is dry, and you are likely to develop split ends. The damaged cuticle is brittle and deteriorates as time goes on. After washing your hair be gentle with the brushing, drying and combing.