Split ends. Frizzy hair. Damaged. To avoid the dire consequences of dry hair, it’s important to know how to moisturize your hair. While most hair moisturizing advice and styling products work for everyone, there are right and wrong ways to deal with dryness. The secret to moisturizing your hair is to choose a product (or three) that contains the right ingredients for your hair type.
So if you don’t know where or how to begin your journey to moisturizing your hair, we can help. Below, experts explain how to treat dry hair of all types and textures. The road to healthy hair starts here.
Causes of dry hair
First, how does hair get dry? Marisa Garshick, MD, MDCS board-certified dermatologist, says dry hair occurs when the scalp doesn’t produce enough natural oils or the hair loses moisture. This can be caused by a number of different things, such as excessive heat styling, chemical treatments like hair dyes or relaxers, and harsh ingredients in hair care products. Garshick also lists environmental factors, such as sun or dry weather, chlorine in swimming pools, and a decrease in oil production with aging, as factors that can contribute to dry hair.
Dry hair can happen to anyone, but your hair type and texture can affect how well your hair retains moisture. As Carrie Williams, certified trichologist and education director at Sacred, explains, thin hair can be more susceptible to dryness from heat styling and over-washing, while oily hair can also become dry. Conversely, thick hair can have difficulty absorbing moisture evenly, resulting in dry ends. Curly and frizzy hair is naturally more susceptible to dryness because it has fewer pores, making it harder for natural oils to reach the hair roots and for nutrients to penetrate effectively.
How to Moisturize Thin Hair
The key to moisturizing thin hair is to strike the right balance between lightweight ingredients and nourishing ones. “Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera that provide moisture but don’t leave a greasy residue,” says Garchik. “Use lightweight conditioners and avoid heavy oils or creams. A no-rinse conditioner spray or volumizing conditioner can also help add moisture without damaging your hair.”
She recommends products like Vegamour Hydra-8 Weightless Repair Oil, which works to strengthen hair without damaging it. As an added bonus, it controls frizz and boosts shine.
how to moisturize thick hair
The thicker your hair is, the more ingredients it needs. Garshick says to look for products that contain shea butter or coconut oil and argan oil to deeply moisturize your hair, penetrating the shaft and locking in moisture. You’ll want to use a moisturizing shampoo (she likes Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo) and conditioner, and try deep-conditioning once a week. Hair masks rich in oils and proteins can help restore moisture, and oil-based serums can lock in moisture after cleansing. Try a conditioning mask, like Color Wow’s Money Mask Deep Hydrating and Strengthening Hair Treatment or Fable & Main’s Hollyroots Hair Oil.
How to Naturally Moisturize Curly Hair
For thick hair, you need products and ingredients that provide intense hydration. Williams recommends looking for ingredients like moringa oil, squalane, and argan oil to define curls and provide deep moisture to prevent dryness. Something like Sacred Hydrating Lotion will lock in moisture and boost shine.
Garshik loves the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Trio, a complete hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in system that uses moisture-rich ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil to nourish curls.
How to Moisturize Your Hair as You Age
As we age, our hair can become dry and brittle. Janine Luke, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Loma Linda University, explains that the hair cycle changes with age, causing longer hairs to grow shorter and sebum production to decrease. Hairs can also become smaller in diameter, which can lead to hair becoming dry, brittle, and damaged, Luke says.
Garshick recommends looking for hydrating and strengthening products with ingredients like collagen, niacin, peptides, and argan oil, and using products like Kerastase Anti-Aging Shampoo to moisturize and soften hair.
DIY Solutions and Other Tips
In addition to using the right products in your hair care routine, there are a few habits you should develop to help your hair retain moisture, as well as DIY treatments you can use. Williams recommends limiting heat styling because blow dryers, curling irons, straighteners, and other hot tools can strip away moisture. (If you must style with hot tools, be sure to use a heat protectant.) She also says to opt for lukewarm water instead of washing your hair with hot water and to get regular trims to keep your hair healthy.
Luke explains that you can steam your hair at home using a portable steamer or a heated hair cap, which will allow water and other hair care ingredients to penetrate your hair better. For those looking for a simple DIY solution, she recommends using hair oil.
Hair oiling has been used for centuries in many parts of the world to moisturize hair, reduce dryness, add shine, and protect hair from environmental stressors. And it’s easy to mix, so as Luke said, you can use a variety of oils. For example, jojoba oil has a high concentration of vitamin E, which helps protect skin and hair from oxidative damage. Coconut oil is a well-known emollient that penetrates the hair roots to lock in moisture. Argan oil also contains vitamin E, which provides antioxidant benefits in addition to hydrating the hair. Simply choose the oil you want to use and comb it through.
