Is your hair prone to breakage and frizz? Does it look dull and feel rough? If any of these hair concerns ring true, the cause may be a lack of hydration in your hair. To help you overcome these hair struggles, we’ll share everything you need to know about how to hydrate hair.
What causes dry hair?
Dry hair can occur as the result of several factors ranging from environmental causes to hormonal imbalances and your hair care routine. If you live in an area with an especially dry climate your hair may dry out from spending time outside, especially during sunny weather. Dry hair may also be related to hormonal imbalances that affect how much oil the scalp produces. Imbalances may cause the scalp to produce less oil than your hair needs resulting in brittle strands.
While the factors above may be out of your control, one dry hair contributing factor you can change is your hair care routine. If your hair care routine involves frequent washes, lots of hot tools, and the use of generic shampoos — making a few changes can make a significant impact on the moisture level of your hair.
Why is hydrating your hair important?
Much like your body needs hydration to look and feel its best, the same also applies to your hair. When your hair doesn’t get enough moisture it can become dry and brittle which contributes to tangling, split ends, and breakage. By giving your hair enough moisture, you help ensure each strand is strong and healthy so it feels soft, looks shiny, and is easy to style.
How to hydrate hair
Moisturizing dry hair isn’t an overnight process with a simple solution, to get adequate hydration you’ll need to utilize a few tips and tricks.
1. Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner
Not all shampoos and conditioners are equally effective at hydrating hair. In fact, many products contain harmful chemicals such as parabens and sulfates that strip your hair of its natural oil leading to dryness. As such, look for a shampoo and conditioner that’s formulated with nourishing ingredients to moisturize dry hair such as our Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner. These products are made to work together, and key ingredients include argan oil and pro-vitamin B5 which help to add hydration, smoothness, and shine.
2. Stop over washing
Washing your hair too often strips away its natural oils without providing enough time to replenish, and this is especially damaging if you’re using a harsh shampoo. Avoid overwashing by taking 1-2 days off between washes. If your hair starts feeling oily, use Dry Shampoo to refresh your hair. When you do wash, use lukewarm water instead of hot because extreme heat dries out hair.
3. Drink plenty of water
Hydrated hair starts with a hydrated body, so make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Note the key here is drinking water to hydrate hair, as caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are actually dehydrating. Furthermore, juices may contain sodium which have the same effect. Health experts generally recommend drinking 11-16 cups of water per day depending on your size, but you should drink more if you’ve consumed a dehydrating beverage or exercised.
4. Cover your hair when outside for long stretches of time
If you plan on spending a day at the beach or being outside for a few hours, consider wearing a hat or scarf over your hair to serve as a protective layer. The sun’s harsh UV rays can easily dry out your hair and contribute to color fading, so cover up if you can.
5. Avoid or dial down heat from hot tools
Hot tools are great for creating unique styles, but the heat they create can be damaging and dehydrating to your hair to the point where breakage and split ends become common. If possible, try to avoid using hot tools by going with a style that doesn’t require them such as braids or buns. When you use hot tools, lower the heat and consider using a heat protectant like our Ghost Prep that moisturizes and provides protection up to 425°F.
6. Use a nourishing oil
If your hair is lacking moisture, it may be because your scalp doesn’t produce enough oil on its own. Some people are intimidated by adding oil because they don’t want their hair to look greasy or weighed down, but using the right type and amount of oil is a great way to moisturize dry hair. If you have dry hair, try our Moringa + Jojoba Treatment Oil which hydrates the scalp and strands while repairing damage. Our nourishing hair oil is proven to reduce breakage by 73% and mend split ends by 64% while sealing in the moisture your hair craves.
7. Sleep with a silk pillowcase
Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture from your hair while you sleep, which dries out strands and contributes to breakage from the friction that occurs as you move throughout the night. If you go to sleep with soft hair but wake up to dry strands and frizz, see if you’re using a cotton pillowcase and if so, consider switching to silk. Unlike cotton, silk won’t draw moisture from your hair and the soft fabric also reduces friction allowing your hair to gently slide instead of aggressively rub.
8. Deep condition with a hair mask
For those with especially dry hair, consider incorporating a deep conditioning hair mask into your routine once a week. Much like with a face mask, a hair mask is designed to sit on your hair and provide nourishment before being washed out. For dry hair, we recommend our Hydrating Mask to add moisture, softness, and shine. To use, apply the hair mask after shampooing and let it sit for 5-7 minutes before washing out. Start by using the Hydrating Mask once a week, but if your strands are still dry consider using it every other wash or as needed.
