How to Moisturize Your Hair: Tips to Revitalize Hair & Prevent Dryness

How to make dry hair look healthy and hydrated with moisturizing products and home remedies

Co-authored by Patrick Evan and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: December 12, 2022 References

Is your hair becoming dry and frizzy? It might be time to start a more rigorous moisturizing regimen! Many things can cause dry hair—like the changing weather, overwashing, over-styling, color treatments, your hair type, or just a naturally dry scalp, to name a few things. Luckily, plenty of easy home remedies can rehydrate your hair in no time. Read on for a guide to adding moisture to your hair, complete with care tips and product suggestions.

Things You Should Know

Use hydrating shampoos and conditioner, but don’t shampoo your hair daily. Wash your hair every 2 to 3 days and use dry shampoo in between.
Apply hair serum after getting out of the shower and moisturize daily with a leave-in conditioner. Use hair oils once a week for extra hydration.
Use a deep treatment hair mask (or make your own DIY mask) to moisturize, smooth, and soften your hair.

1

Switch to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

Look for gentle hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or argan oil. Use hydrating shampoos and moisturizing conditioners that are specifically designed to moisturize and nourish your hair type. Pick products containing avocado, almond, argan, olive, monoi, coconut, aloe vera, shea butter, or apricot kernel oils, and avoid anything with sulfates (which strip away moisture).^{[1]
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- When you look for shampoos, note that most products designed to hydrate dry hair will be creamy rather than clear.
- Layer your conditioners if you have thick, coarse hair. Use a rich conditioner in the shower, then apply a moisturizing leave-in spray.
- Deep moisturizing products are most helpful if you have curly, thick, or mature hair. If you have fine hair, use lighter products designed for thin hair and only moisturize the ends with conditioner.

2

Rinse your hair with cold water.

Hot water tends to strip your hair of natural oils when you shower. The next time you wash your hair, try turning on cold water before thoroughly rinsing it. It might take a little adjustment if you’re used to hot showers, but heat (even hot water) dehydrates hair. On the other hand, cold water seals in moisture and closes the pores on your scalp, preventing dirt from accumulating.^{[2]
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3

Use dry shampoo instead of washing daily.

Too much washing strips your hair of natural oils, resulting in dry hair. If you usually wash your hair daily, start waiting for a day or two between shampoos. On “off” days, apply a dry shampoo to refresh your hair and stop it from getting too oily too soon. Spray it close to your roots (and scalp), where hair tends to be greasiest.^{[3]
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4

Apply a hair serum after washing.

Hair serum both moisturizes and protects your hair while reducing frizz. Put on the serum while your hair is still damp (but not dripping wet) after shampooing and conditioning in the shower. Warm up the hair serum in your hands for a few seconds, then work it into your hair, starting at the ends and going up to the middle of each strand. Your hair will feel shiny and smooth!
- Don’t apply serum too close to the roots of your hair or scalp; it might make your hair look too greasy.
- You can also add a dab of serum to dry, styled strands of hair to give it some extra luster.

5

Moisturize daily with a leave-in conditioner.

Leave-in conditioner keeps your hair moisturized between washes. For a quick moisturizing routine, dampen your hair with water and then work in the leave-in conditioner from the roots to the tips of your hair. Do this before you add other styling products to your hair for the day and before you heat-style your hair. Leave-in conditioner gives your hair the boost it needs to look hydrated daily.^{[4]
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6

Use moisturizing hair oils 1 to 2 times weekly

Oils can smooth out and rehydrate the dry ends of your hair. Squeeze a few drops of almond, argan, or olive oil for hair and rub it gently onto the ends of your hair. Then, run a brush through your hair in each spot where you applied the oil to work it thoroughly into each strand.^{[5]
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- If you have frizzy hair, you can rub the oil into the full length of your hair to smooth it out. Stay away from your scalp if possible—it already has naturally-made oils.
- If you have curly, dry hair, doing a weekly hot oil treatment can also really help.

7

Hydrate your hair with coconut oil.

Coconut oil has moisturizing properties that keep your hair soft and silky. Fill a plastic squeeze bottle with liquid coconut oil, then squeeze the oil directly onto your scalp. Use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp and the hair closest to your scalp, and let it sit like that for 1 hour. This will immediately add moisture to your hair!^{[6]
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- After an hour, rinse the coconut oil out of your hair with a mild shampoo, followed by a conditioner. You can give your hair this natural DIY moisturizing treatment 1 to 2 times each week.
- Coconut oil works best for anyone with fine to medium-texture hair. Anyone with thick or coarse hair is better off using argan oil.

8

Do a deep treatment hair mask weekly.

Hair masks preserve your hair health while adding moisture and shine. Apply your favorite deep treatment hair mask to wet hair. Once your hair is completely coated in the hair mask, put on a shower cap and let the treatment sit for 30 minutes. Rinse out the hair mask with warm water and let your hair dry as usual.^{[7]
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- If you have deeply damaged hair—whether from heat, coloring, or something else—a hair mask can also repair a great deal of damage and improve the quality of your hair.

9

Create your own homemade hair mask.

DIY hair masks are just as effective at hydrating and softening hair. Choose from your favorite hair mask ingredients (or use the ones you have available) and make a hair mask for yourself at home. Just like store-bought masks, you can do this once each week. Common moisturizing ingredients include banana, pumpkin seed oil, honey, shea butter, olive oil, and even raw egg!^{[8]
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- Banana mask: Blend 1 ripe banana with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil and apply the mask to your wet hair and scalp. Then, rinse it off after 15-20 minutes.
- Pumpkin and honey mask: Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of pumpkin seed oil with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) each of honey and coconut oil. Apply it to wet hair and wait 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.
- Shea butter mask: Warm up the shea butter in your hands before massaging it into your hair and scalp. Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse it with a mild shampoo.
- Raw egg mask: Blend 1 raw egg with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil. Then, rub the mixture into your hair and scalp and cover your head with a towel. Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes before rinsing it off.

10

Make a DIY aloe vera spray.

Aloe vera moisturizes hair, and the spray can be applied daily. Blend ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of aloe vera gel with 1 cup (240 mL) of water.^{[9]
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- Aloe also prevents hair damage caused by the sun’s harmful rays, so this spray is great protection outdoors.
- Lavender stimulates hair growth—and, of course, adding it to your homemade moisturizing spray will make your hair smell great all day!

11

Minimize heat-styling your hair.

Heat styling tools dry your hair out through repeated use. It’s best to avoid them altogether if you want to preserve the most moisture in your hair. If you can’t, ionic tools (including ionic hair dryers, ionic hair straighteners, and ionic hair curlers) help water molecules penetrate deeper into your hair, rehydrating it once it’s dry. Always coat your hair with thermal protective spray before using heat tools!^{[10]
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- Use low, gentle heat settings whenever possible on your heat styling tools, even if they’re ionic.

12

Use a boar bristle brush and a wide-tooth comb.

Metal brushes can damage dry hair, causing it to lose moisture. Invest in a boar bristle brush and a wide-tooth comb if you can, and use them to detangle and style your hair. The comb makes it easier to detangle hair without tearing it (which saves moisture), while the brush distributes natural oils evenly throughout your hair.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
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- Don’t brush your hair while it’s still wet, if possible. Wet hair is more delicate and tears easier than dry hair when you run a brush through it.

13

Try hairstyles that don’t require heat.

Protective hairstyles keep your hair clean and moisturized longer. As a bonus, they typically don’t require any heat to style, so your hair is protected from thermal damage. Experiment with different hairstyles and find ones you like. Try making braids, tying your hair up in a bun, or doing a chignon hair style.^{[12]
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- Be sure you completely detangle and moisturize your hair with a cream or serum before doing your hair like this.

14

Use ammonia-free hair dyes.

Ammonia and other chemicals are damaging to hair. Coloring your hair or getting perms, relaxers, and chemical smothers dries out your hair. Consider doing these rarely to avoid drying out your hair, and choose chemical-free or ammonia-free hair colors when you do—since they're less damaging to your hair.^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- Try a balayage if you like highlights but don’t want to dry out your hair with repeated coloring. This style focuses on highlighting the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and requires less-frequent retouches.

15

Wear a scarf or hat over your hair.

Wind, sun, chlorine, dry air, and saltwater cause hair to dry out faster. Cover your hair with a hat or tie a scarf in your hair if you encounter any of these conditions or elements. You should also increase your conditioning and moisturizing routine before and after exposure to damaging conditions.^{[14]
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- If you know you’ll be in the sun, spritz your hair with a leave-in hairspray with UV protection.

16

Take vitamins to nourish your hair.

Vitamin A and C, biotin, and iron keep your hair healthier and less dry. If you want your hair to look fresher and healthier every day, vitamins are an easy way to improve your hair while helping out the rest of your body! Look for vitamin A and vitamin C, biotin supplements, and iron supplements. You can also take omega-3 supplements for healthier hair.^{[15]
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- Some prenatal vitamins contain biotin, iron, and vitamins A and C.

Expert Q&A

Question

Do you have a favorite DIY hair mask?

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist
Patrick Evan is the Owner of Patrick Evan Salon, a hair salon in San Francisco, California. He has been a hairstylist for over 25 years and is a Thermal Reconditioning Specialist, dedicated to transforming difficult curls and waves into sleek, straight hair. Patrick Evan Salon was rated the Best Hair Salon in San Francisco by Allure magazine, and Patrick's work has been featured in Woman’s Day, The Examiner, and 7x7.

Patrick Evan

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Apple Cider vinegar is great for shiny hair! The low pH closes the cuticle and creates a glass-like surface. After using a clarifying shampooing, apply a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts water mixed in a spray bottle. Massage from your scalp to your ends, let sit for 5-10 minutes, rinse, and follow with your favorite conditioner. Use this no more than once a week
Question

For added moisture, do you like leave-in conditioner or oil?

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist
Patrick Evan is the Owner of Patrick Evan Salon, a hair salon in San Francisco, California. He has been a hairstylist for over 25 years and is a Thermal Reconditioning Specialist, dedicated to transforming difficult curls and waves into sleek, straight hair. Patrick Evan Salon was rated the Best Hair Salon in San Francisco by Allure magazine, and Patrick's work has been featured in Woman’s Day, The Examiner, and 7x7.

Patrick Evan

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Both have their place. Depending on the client we will recommend one or the other but sometimes both. If you think about skin care, you use a toner and a serum, not necessarily one or the other. The same goes for your hair. Sometimes you need a leave-in to equalize porosity, and sometimes you need an oil for nourishment.
Question

Can I use coconut oil for plaiting my hair?

GuineaDaPig

Community Answer

You can use coconut oil for anything, really. It's healthy for your hair and might 'straighten' your hair a bit too.