Split ends. Tangles. Breakage. Knowing how to moisturize your hair is essential to avoid the dire consequences of dry hair. While it’s true that most of the advice and styling products for moisturizing hair apply to everyone, there’s a right and a wrong way to combat dryness. The not-so-secret secret to moisturizing your hair is choosing a product (or three) with the right ingredients that work best for your hair type.
If you’re not sure where or how to start your hair moisturizing journey, we’re here to help. Below, experts detail how to tackle dry hair of all types and textures. Your journey to healthy hair starts here.
Causes of dry hair
So what causes dry hair in the first place? According to Marisa Garshick, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, dry hair occurs when your scalp doesn’t produce enough natural oils or your hair loses moisture. This can be caused by a variety of things, including excessive heat styling, chemical treatments like hair color or relaxers, and harsh ingredients in hair care products. Dr. Garshick also cites environmental factors like sunlight, dry weather, chlorine in pools, and decreased oil production as we age as contributing factors to dry hair.
Dry hair can happen to anyone, but your hair type and texture affect how well it retains moisture. As Kari Williams, certified trichologist and director of education at Secredo, explains, fine hair can easily become oily, yet dry out easily from heat styling and over-washing. Thicker hair, in contrast, has a harder time absorbing moisture evenly, leading to dry ends. Curly and coily hair is inherently more prone to dryness because it has less porosity, making it harder for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft and nutrients to penetrate effectively.
How to Moisturize Fine Hair
The secret to moisturizing fine hair is finding the perfect balance of lightweight and nourishing ingredients. “Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera, which will moisturize without leaving a greasy residue,” says Garshick. “Use a lightweight conditioner and avoid heavy oils and creams. Leave-in conditioning sprays and volumizing conditioners can also help moisturize without making your hair flat.”
She recommends products like Vegamour Hydr-8 Weightless Repair Oil, which works from within your strands to strengthen them without weighing them down, with the added bonus of taming frizz and adding shine.
How to hydrate thick hair
The thicker your hair, the richer the ingredients you need. Garsick says to look for products with deep-moisturizing shea butter, coconut, or argan oils that penetrate the hair shaft and lock in moisture. Use a moisturizing shampoo (Garshick swears by Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oil Shampoo) and conditioner, and incorporate a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Hair masks rich in oils and proteins will help moisturize, while oil-based serums will lock in moisture after washing. Try a conditioning mask like Color Wow’s Money Masque Deep Hydrating & Strengthening Hair Treatment or Fable & Mane’s HoliRoots Hair Oil.
How to Hydrate Naturally Curly Hair
Just like with thick hair, you’ll want products and ingredients with intense moisturizing benefits. Williams recommends looking for ingredients like moringa oil, squalane, and argan oil, which provide deep hydration to define curls and prevent dryness. Something like Secreto’s Moisture Sealing Lotion will lock in moisture and boost shine.
