How to Hydrate Hair

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References Approved

Dry, brittle hair is not only difficult to manage, but it can easily turn into a bad hair day. Fortunately, it is easy to hydrate hair, and you don't necessarily have to run out to the store and buy special products. All it really takes is a few changes to your hair care regime. If you'd like to get fancy, you can make a few simple masks using ingredients from your fridge and cupboard. With some time, love, and care, your hair will be healthy, strong, and hydrated once again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Hair

1
Limit how often you heat style your hair and use a lower heat setting when you do. Blow drying, straightening, and curling your hair too often can cause it to become brittle and dry. Using too high of a temperature can also cause damage. If it is not too cold outside, consider letting your hair dry naturally. If you must heat style your hair, use a heat protection spray first.
- Consider using ionic hairdryers. They infuse your hair with negatively-charged ions, which help seal moisture into your hair.^{[1]
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- Use a lower heat setting or temperature on your hairdryer, straightener, or curling iron. It will take longer to get the style you want, but it will be kinder to your hair.
- Don't blow dry, straighten, or curl your hair every day. Even with a heat protection spray, too much heat can be damaging. Experiment with different hairstyles, such as natural curls, braids, ponytails, etc.
2
Use the right shampoo and conditioner, and avoid anything that contains silicones and sulfates. Choose shampoo and conditioner intended for your hair type. In most cases, this will be dry or curly hair; if you have fine, dry hair, however, use shampoo and conditioner meant for fine hair. Look for products that contain aloe vera or apricot kernel oil for extra moisture and hydration.^{[2]
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- Avoid washing your hair with hot water. Hot water can strip your hair (and skin) of its natural oils and moisture, leaving it feeling dry and dull.
- Silicones may help make your hair look shiny and smooth, but they can only be removed with sulfates. If you don't remove them properly, they will lead to build-up, which can cause your hair to look limp and dull. Sulfates are harsh, cleaning agents found in many household cleaners. They are great at removing silicones, but they also leave hair feeling brittle and dry.
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3
Don't wash your hair every day. It may sound gross, but washing your hair only twice or thrice a week is actually better for your hair. The more often you wash your hair, the drier it will become. If you must wash your hair every day, consider co-washing where you wash your hair using just conditioner. You wash your hair with shampoo only 2 or 3 times a week.
- Take care of how you wash your hair. Use shampoo mostly on your scalp, and conditioner mostly on the ends of your hair.
- If you have thick, coarse hair, consider using a regular, rinse-out conditioner first, and then applying a leave-in conditioner after you step out of the shower.^{[3]
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- If you have mature hair, leave a deep conditioner in your hair (under a plastic shower cap) overnight. Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner in the morning as usual.^{[4]
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- Co-washing is great for curly hair since it will keep your curls hydrated and make them less frizzy.
4
Limit how often you dye, highlight, perm, or relax your hair. All of these styling techniques use chemicals, which can cause your hair to become brittle and dry over time. While there is little you can do when it comes to doing perms safely, there are a few things you can do to dye, highlight, or relax your hair in a less-damaging way:^{[5]
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- Consider an ammonia-free hair color. You will likely have to go to a salon to get it professionally done, but it will be much kinder and gentler on your hair. If you have mature hair, use a hydrating/moisturizing hair dye.
- Consider getting a balayage done instead of regular highlighting. Balayage highlights your hair only from midway down. Because the roots are left natural, you don't have to do touchups as often. It also looks more natural.
- Consider a chemical-free relaxer. It will still be harsh on your hair, so it is best not to do it too often, but it will be gentler than the usual chemical method.
5
Protect your hair from the elements, especially the wind and sun. Both of these can cause your hair to become brittle and dry. If it is a hot, sunny day, spray your hair with a UV protection spray or wear a hat; you can also wear a hat or hood during the winter to keep your hair from drying out. Here are some other things you should keep in mind:^{[6]
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- Apply a rich, conditioning cream and a swim cap before going swimming. This will keep your hair from drying out in chlorinated water.
- Use a rich, moisturizing conditioner during the winter. Add a deep-conditioning treatment once a week to your hair care regime for extra hydration.
6
Take care of how you brush your hair. Always brush your hair starting from the ends, and never straight down from the roots. Also, never brush your hair while it is wet, as this can easily rip or tear it. Instead, gently comb your hair out using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. Once your hair is dry, you can brush it out using a wide-toothed comb (recommended for curly hair types) or a natural, boar bristle brush (this will help redistribute your hair's natural oils).^{[7]
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- If you need to, use a detangling spray or cream to make brushing easier.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making and Using Masks and Treatments

1
Use a store-bought deep conditioning treatment once a week. After you have washed your hair, apply a deep conditioner and tuck your hair under a shower cap. Wait for 15 to 30 minutes before washing the deep conditioner out.^{[8]
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2
Make and use a simple spray-on conditioning treatment. Fill a spray bottle two-thirds of the way with water, and one-third of the way with a leave-in conditioner. Close the bottle and shake it to mix everything up. Spray the mixture into your hair until it is damp, then apply a rich, conditioning cream.
3
Use a hot oil treatment for something quick and easy. Heat up 1 to 2 tablespoons (14.8 to 29.6 ml) of oil (like coconut oil or olive oil) and comb it through your hair. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Once the time is up, rinse the oil out, then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
- If you have very thick or very long hair, you may need to use more oil.
- To make the mask even more effective, sit under the hot sun or a dryer. The heat will help your hair absorb the oil better.
- Alternatively, you can apply the oil to your hair, wear a plastic shower cap, and sit under a hair dryer for a similar effect.
4
Try a simple honey and coconut oil mask. Place 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of coconut oil into a microwave-safe dish. Heat them in the microwave until the coconut oil melts, and stir to combine. Comb the mask through your hair, then tuck your hair under a plastic shower cap. Wait 30 to 40 minutes, then rinse the mask out using warm water and shampoo.^{[9]
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- If you don't have any coconut oil, you can use olive oil instead.
- Honey is wonderful for hair because it helps seal in moisture.
5
Make a honey, oil, and yogurt mask to hydrate and strengthen your hair. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of olive oil, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey, and ¼ cup (65 grams) of plain, Greek yogurt. Apply the mask to your damp hair, then tuck your hair under a plastic shower cap. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash the mask out with warm water and shampoo.^{[10]
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6
Try a nourishing avocado and oil mask if your hair is brittle and dry. In a small bowl, mash together a ripe avocado and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of olive oil. For extra nourishment and hydration, add 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey. Apply the mask to damp hair, then tuck your hair under a plastic shower cap. Wait 15 to 60 minutes, then wash the mask out.^{[11]
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7
Make a banana-honey mask to hydrate your hair and prevent breakage. In a blender, combine 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil. Keep blending until the mixture is smooth and there are no banana clumps. Comb the mixture through your hair and massage it into your scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and wait 15 minutes. Wash the mask out once the time is up.^{[13]
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- The banana in this mask will help restore your hair's elasticity and prevent breakage.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Health

1
Eat plenty of foods that contain silica for healthy hair. One of the reasons why hair might turn dry is because it is unhealthy. You can restore your hair's strength and shine by eating enough silica, a mineral found in asparagus, bell peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, and other vegetables.^{[14]
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2
Make sure that you get enough protein and vitamins. Meat is an obvious source of protein, but so are other foods as well, including eggs, yogurt, and beans. Vitamins A, B, C, E, and K are also very important for hair and are found in fruits, grains, and green, leafy vegetables.^{[15]
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- In addition to vitamins, make sure that you also get enough of beta-carotene, folic acid, magnesium, and sulfur in your diet.
3
Eat foods that contain essential fatty acids to combat dryness and brittleness. Essential fatty acids are mostly found in fish, including herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna. They are also found in avocados, flaxseed, olives, and nuts.^{[16]
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4
Drink around 6 to 8 cups (1.5 to 2 liters) of water each day. Not only is water important to your body's health, but it is also important to your hair's health. If you don't drink enough water, your skin and your hair will be dry.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What helps dry hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Conditioning regularly and drinking plenty of water can help reduce dryness. Avoiding heat styling as much as possible is also important.
Question

Can you over moisturize your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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Yes, hair with too much moisture will look flat, limp, and possible greasy. To avoid this, use conditioners and products designed for your hair type and stay away from your roots when applying them.
Question

How do I stop my hair from being dry?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Dry hair is usually the result of chemical treatments or heat styling, so to reduce dryness, cut back on these techniques. Try air drying your hair and reduce the chemical services you receive.

Warnings

Not every method will work for everyone as everyone's hair is different. What might work for your friend might not work for you.

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Give masks and products time to work. Not everything will work after the first time you try it. Give a treatment a month before judging it.

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