“For dry hair, it’s best to use a shampoo that contains natural oils and plant extracts. Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City, told SELF. Regarding the ingredients to avoid, Toss told me to avoid products containing sulfates and parabens. This is because sulfates can strip hair’s natural oils, while parabens can irritate the scalp and even dry and damage it.