There are many causes of damaged hair, including improper diet, excessive styling and blow drying, excessive coloring, and exposure to the elements. The good news is that professional quality shampoos designed to treat your hair do exist, and the best ones come directly from your trusted salon stylist. Here are some other ways to prevent and treat hair that has been damaged in the interval between your regular salon appointments.

One thing that anyone can do is make a home hair treatment to help repair some of the damage, particularly to the ends of the hair which tend to be the driest and more prone to breakage. To make this shampoo, you will need two tsbp. of olive oil, and one egg yolk. Mix well and coat hair beginning at the end and working upwards.

You can also apply a salon quality deep conditioning Vitamin E treatment at home. Most salons have special versions of these treatments that they can apply to your hair during your next appointment, so be sure to ask your stylist about whether this is an option for you.

When you use your hair dryer, set it to the lowest heat setting possible, and the same holds true for irons. Believe it or not, warmer air does not necessarily dry your hair faster, it is the volume of air that really aids the drying process, not the temperature; unless you are standing outside in freezing temperatures, of course.

You can also cut down on the frequency of your shampooing. Instead of shampooing and conditioning every day, try doing this only two or three times a week, which will help to stop over drying. Leave in conditioners can be used on alternate days as well.

If you are a swimmer, be sure to rinse and shampoo your hair immediately after swimming in chlorinated or salt water, as this can dry hair out and make it brittle. After you wash, try silicone oil or leave in gloss for instant shine, and always use a comb, not a brush, on your damaged hair, since brushes tend to exacerbate hair breakage.

Be sure to always look for shampoos and conditioners specially designed to treat damaged hair, and above all, be patient. For most people, depending on the extent of the damage, it can take a few months before your hair is fully repaired and restored to its original brilliance, but the end results will be worth the wait.