Split ends. Tangles. Breakage. To avoid the dire consequences of dried-out strands, knowing how to hydrate your hair is essential. And while it’s true that most hair-moisturizing advice and styling products can be applied to everyone, there’s still a wrong and right way to combatting dryness. The not-so-secret secret to hydrating hair is picking out a product (or three) with the proper ingredients that work best with your hair type.
So if you don’t know where or how to start your hydrating hair journey, we’ve got you. Below, the experts break down how to approach dry hair for every type and texture. The road to healthy hair starts here.
Causes of Dry Hair
How does hair dry out in the first place? According to Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, dry hair happens when your scalp doesn’t produce enough natural oil or when your strands lose moisture. The causes for these can be due to a number of different things, such as excessive heat styling, chemical treatments like hair dyeing or relaxers, and harsh ingredients in hair products. Garshick also lists environmental factors like sun exposure or dry weather, chlorine from swimming pools, and oil production decreasing as we age as some of the other things that can cause hair to dry out.
Dry hair can happen to anyone, but your hair type and texture do affect how your hair retains moisture. As Kari Williams, certified trichologist and Cécred’s head of education, explains, fine hair can dry out easily from heat styling and overwashing despite it being more prone to oiliness. Thick hair, by comparison, can struggle to absorb moisture evenly, leading to dry ends. Curly and coily hair are naturally more prone to dryness as they have low porosity, making it difficult for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft and for nourishing ingredients to penetrate effectively.
How to Hydrate Fine Hair
The key to hydrating fine hair is finding that perfect balance between lightweight and nourishing ingredients. “Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera, which hydrate without leaving a greasy residue,” says Garshick. “Use a lightweight conditioner and avoid heavy oils or creams. A leave-in conditioner spray or a volumizing conditioner can also help add moisture without making hair flat.”
She recommends something like the Vegamour Hydr-8 Weightless Repair Oil that works within the strand to strengthen hair without weighing it down. And as an added bonus, it smooths out frizz and boosts shine.
How to Hydrate Thick Hair
The thicker the hair, the richer the ingredients need to be. Garshick says to look for products with shea butter or coconut and argan oil to provide deep hydration that will penetrate the hair shaft and keep moisture locked in. You’ll want to use a moisturizing shampoo (she loves the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo) and conditioner, and try to incorporate a weekly deep-conditioning treatment. Hair masks with rich oils and proteins can help restore hydration, and oil-based serums can seal in moisture after washing. Try a conditioning mask like Color Wow’s Money Mask Deep Hydrating & Strengthening Hair Treatment or Fable & Mane’s HoliRoots Hair Oil.
How to Hydrate Naturally Coily and Curly Hair
Like thick hair, you’ll want products and ingredients that deliver intense hydration. Williams suggests looking for ingredients such as moringa oil, squalane, and argan oil to provide deep moisture to define curls and prevent dryness. Something like Cécred’s Moisture Sealing Lotion will lock in hydration and boost shine.