Let’s talk hair health. Unlike dry skin, it’s usually pretty obvious when your hair is dehydrated. It looks dull, frizzy, stiff, tangled, and thin. And that’s not to mention the breakage!
For most of us, silky, shiny hair is at the top of our beauty goals list. However, this isn’t a one-product-fits-all issue.
No matter what that conditioner bottle promises, one change won’t reverse your hair health issues. Don’t get discouraged just yet, though—that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Just as we need a solid body and skincare routine, our hair deserves its own regimen to achieve our desired look and feel. To give you a solid place to start, we’re sharing our comprehensive guide to hydrated, healthy hair.
Here’s how to get shine so good you’ll need a personal wind machine and lighting crew:
How to Add Moisture to Dry Hair for Silky, Shiny Strands
Before we get into your hair care routine, let’s talk about why hair gets dry in the first place. If you can pinpoint the root cause of dehydration, it’s much easier to fix the issue and boost overall hair health.
What Causes Dry Hair?
Over-Washing
This is a big one. Your hair has natural oils that are meant to keep it hydrated. However, overwashing can strip your hair, leaving it completely dehydrated. This is especially true if you’re using clarifying shampoos and conditioners or dousing it in steaming hot water.
It’s recommended that you wash your hair only 2–3 times a week, depending on your hair type. Straight, thin hair can usually go with fewer washes, whereas thick, curly hair may need it more often. Just pick a flow and assess how your hair looks and feels—adjust as necessary.
Heat Styling
High temperatures pull moisture from your hair. This weakens the cuticle, making your hair dry, brittle, and prone to split ends. And no, this isn’t just from salon blowouts. It also happens when you use a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron, or any other heated tool on your hair at home.
When possible, go for heatless styling options. Choose tools like overnight hair curlers, foam rollers, claw clips, U-pins, and hair sticks to style your hair.
And don’t worry, we’re not saying you can’t ever use heat styling tools. But when you do, you should definitely apply a heat protectant to reduce any damage.
Chemical Treatments
Chemical hair treatments break down your hair’s natural proteins and open the cuticle. This makes it difficult for your strands to retain moisture and can lead to dry, brittle locks.
To keep your hair healthy, keep coloring, bleaching, perms, and relaxers to a minimum. When you do get these treatments, ask for bond-builders to be added to the mix to protect your cuticle.
You can also request a low-volume developer—it’s slower to lift but retains moisture that still gets the job done. Also, avoid double-processing by layering different treatments.
Sun and Wind
The environment around us can wear down our hair just like it does our skin. UV rays from the sun can degrade hair proteins, and wind can lift and roughen the cuticle. This makes it much harder for your hair to retain moisture.
UV-protectant hair products, hair oil, and protective clothing like hats can be really helpful. With a proper hair-care routine, you can effortlessly manage the wear and tear from the sun and wind.
Chlorine and Saltwater Exposure
If you’re a swimmer or beach girly, your hair can suffer without the proper care. Chlorine, which is a type of bleach, is a harsh sanitizer. Even in small amounts, it can strip your hair of natural oils. Salt isn’t necessarily the safer choice, either—it can pull moisture out of your strands just as easily.
To combat this, always wet your hair completely with clean water before getting into a body of water. If your hair is already saturated, there is no room for chlorine or saltwater to get in.
Low Humidity
When the air is too dry, it pulls moisture from everywhere, including our hair and skin. This makes hair brittle and prone to breakage.
For dry air in the house, keep humidifiers running consistently—especially overnight. For outside static, use leave-in products and protective clothing to keep your hair moisturized.
Product Buildup
Styling products make your hair look amazing at the moment. Unfortunately, though, these products can penetrate deeply into the hair shaft and coat each strand. If they are not properly washed out, the heavy silicones, oils, and gels can block moisture from getting in.
To prevent this, reevaluate your hair-washing routine to break down and remove buildup. Using a clarifying shampoo (occasionally!), a shampoo brush, and washing twice can make a big difference.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Your hair needs vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats to stay hydrated and strong. When you’re low in things like iron, zinc, omega-3s, biotin, or vitamin D, your scalp can’t produce enough natural oils—and the strands themselves become weaker and more prone to dryness.
If you suspect this might be an issue, talk to your doctor about nutrient testing. A good multivitamin, balanced diet, and proper supplementation (if needed) can bring moisture and shine back to your strands from the inside out.
Hormonal Changes
Hormones play a huge role in how much oil your scalp produces.
When estrogen, thyroid hormones, or cortisol are out of balance—during postpartum, perimenopause, high-stress seasons, or thyroid issues—your scalp may produce fewer natural oils.
This can leave your hair noticeably drier, duller, and harder to manage. To combat this, support your hormone health, manage stress, and speak with your doctor about any major shifts. When doing so, it’s much easier to get your moisture levels (and your hair) back on track.
Aging
As we age, our scalp naturally produces fewer oils, and our cuticles thin—ultimately preventing moisture retention. This is why many people notice their hair getting drier and weaker over time.
Like with most of the other things on this list, you can combat this with good haircare! If your scalp isn’t providing enough moisture, hydrating products can step in to help restore healthy, youthful hair.
Tight Hairstyles
If you wear your hair in tight hairstyles every day, that constant pulling can weaken your strands. All of that stress makes your hair more prone to dryness and breakage.
Rough Brushing
Aggressively brushing your hair can eventually scrape away the cuticle. It also creates friction that leads to moisture loss, split ends, and frizz.
To help, avoid brushing your hair when it is soaking wet and be gentle with your strokes to distribute oils throughout your hair. It is also a good idea to use a natural bristle brush.
How to Moisturize Dry Hair
Oil your hair before washing.
Applying oil like coconut oil or jojoba oil before shampooing protects your strands from being stripped of their natural moisture.
Avoid washing your hair too much.
As we mentioned earlier, washing too often removes too many natural oils. These are how your hair stays naturally moisturized. Wash those away too often and it will inevitably lead to dryness.
Stretching washes give your scalp time to rebalance and your strands time to rehydrate. Find the rhythm that keeps your hair clean and nourished. Usually, 2-3 times a week is best.
Only apply shampoo to your scalp and mid-lengths.
Your scalp is where oil and buildup collect—not your ends. Because of that, to cleanse and retain moisture, shampoo only the top half of your hair.
This allows you to attack impurities without stripping the driest parts of your hair for no reason. They still get washed, but by the suds traveling down the strands as you rinse. It’s a much gentler process and allows your ends to keep their natural moisture.
Don’t wash out your conditioner right away.
Conditioner needs time to soak in and hydrate the hair shaft. So, we recommend letting it sit for a minute or two. This ensures it locks in moisture before being rinsed down the drain.
Of course, always use a high-quality moisturizing conditioner for the best results. Try something like OUAI Conditioner or Kérastase Nutritive Lait Vital. Use code SKINNY15 for 15% off Kérastase.
Do weekly deep-conditioning masks.
Deep conditioning hair masks deliver rich, concentrated hydration that regular conditioners just can’t match. They repair dryness from the inside out and leave your hair softer, shinier, and more resilient.
Try using Olaplex Rich Hydration Mask or Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask once a week for a big boost in hydration and protection.
Always rinse in cold water.
Cold water seals the cuticle, locking in the moisture you just added. It gives your hair a smoother, shinier finish and helps prevent frizz. So, skip the hot water and do a quick cold rinse.
Only use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair.
Wet hair is fragile and stretches easily, making it more prone to damage. A wide-tooth comb glides through without tugging, helping strands stay intact and hydrated.
If you have lots of tangles, actually start with your ends and work your way up. This prevents the “bunching” of knots at the bottom that can lead to breakage.
Hydrate with leave-in conditioners or creams.
Leave-in hair moisturizers add an extra layer of hydration that lasts long after your shower, so your hair looks healthy all day.
These helpful products add moisture, smooth frizz, soften hair, and strengthen the cuticle while you wear them. Perfect for anyone whose ends always feel thirsty.
For recs, we like K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask and Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner.
Always use a heat protectant before using a tool.
Use a heat protectant every time you heat style your hair. It creates a shield between your beautiful locks and the high temperatures.
This simple step keeps products for your hair from having to “fix” unnecessary damage later, reducing dryness, breakage, and split ends. Try Gisou Heat Protectant or Living Proof Heat Styling Spray as your go-to heat protectant.
Apply hair oil to your ends every day.
Ends are the oldest, driest part of your hair. Adding moisture with hair oil throughout the day can make a big difference!
Just a few drops of oil keep your hair soft, shiny, and less prone to breaking. We like Fable & Mane HoliRoots Oil and Crown Affair Hair Oil.
Sleep on a silk pillowcase.
Silk reduces friction that can pull moisture from your strands while you sleep. So, sleeping on a silk (or satin) pillowcase keeps your hair smoother, softer, and less frizzy overnight.
Take care of your scalp, too.
A healthy scalp produces the natural oils your hair needs for moisture. Gentle exfoliation, regular scalp massage, and targeted hydration result in shiny, well-nourished strands. Moisture starts at the roots.
And, good news, you don’t need pricey massages for incredible results. Just check out “How to Use a Scalp Massager for the Best Hair of Your Life” for proof!
Add Beauty Salt to your morning water.
We’ve talked a lot about hydrating your hair from the outside, but internal hydration is just as important. Your hair relies on nutrients and steady hydration levels to produce natural oils and maintain moisture. The reality? Most of us don’t get enough minerals and electrolytes through diet alone.
That’s where The Skinny Confidential Beauty Salt comes in. It delivers the essential minerals your body needs to stay properly hydrated, which supports scalp health, elasticity, and moisture retention.
A scoop in your morning water is an easy way to give your hair the inside-out hydration it needs to look and feel its best.
For more on this game-changing supplement, read our full post on “Beauty Water” in your morning routine.
Keeping your hair hydrated involves prevention, repair, and consistent daily maintenance.
Small, intentional habits can completely transform the look and feel of your hair. When you protect your strands, nourish them properly, and stay consistent with your routine, silky and shiny hair becomes your new normal.
If you want to level up your beauty routine even more, check out The Skinny Confidential Shop. From exfoliating brushes to brow peptides, you’ll find something that’ll help you reach every beauty goal.
