What to Look For
Dry hair is caused by a lack of moisture in the hair, and lack of moisture is caused by damage from heat, styling and environmental influences. To restore moisture to your hair, you need to choose a shampoo that both moisturizes and cleanses the scalp without removing the natural oils. To do this, you want to avoid harsh cleansers and chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Thiosulfate, Sodium C14-16, Olefin Sulfonate, Alkyl Sodium Sulfate, Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate , TEA-Dodecylbenzene, Sodium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate.
Common Pitfalls
The most common mistake people make when buying a shampoo for dry, brittle hair is assuming they have to spend a lot of money and trusting product labels. Just because a shampoo says it is moisturizing or hydrating doesn't mean it is.
Where to Buy
Shampoo for dry, brittle hair can be purchased from a drug store, grocery store, online, beauty supply store or a big box retailer like Target or Wal-Mart. Target carries an array of everyday and designer brand shampoos at reasonable prices, so it is a good place to look for a shampoo that meets your needs.
Cost
There are a number of shampoos that rate well with consumers for dry, brittle hair; L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss costs between $3 and $5, Purology Hydrate costs between $25 and $30, and Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo costs about $4.