If you’re frustrated with frazzled hair that feels like straw, knowing how to hydrate dry hair will turn your tired tresses into luscious locks.
The good news is that while it’s a common issue, it’s one that can be easily corrected with care and consistency to get your hair back to a texture that is soft and supple – the perfect foundation to create any hairstyle you desire.
We spoke to expert hairstylists to understand the root cause of the issue, how to avoid it and, most importantly, how to hydrate dry hair. Keep reading to find out more.
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Why is my hair so dry like straw?
Before we get into the solutions for rehydrating dry hair, first things first, correctly identifying the problem. “Dry hair and damaged hair are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually very different,” Adam Reed, hairstylist and founder of Arkive by Adam Reed tells Glamour. “Dry hair is lacking moisture, whereas damaged hair has a compromised structure, usually through chemical services, excessive heat or environmental stress.”
An easy way of testing this is checking the current texture of your hair. Dry hair will feel rough and look dull, while damaged hair will feel weak and brittle and will often break. “While damaged hair is often dry, not all dry hair is damaged,” says Jade Laker, senior stylist at Pruners Hair & Beauty and Paul Mitchell educator.
It’s important to figure out whether the dryness your experiencing is due to unintentional damage or a lack of moisture as treating the issue will differ depending on the cause. “Dry hair needs hydration, while damaged hair often needs strengthening alongside moisture,” Adam continues. “Treating one as the other can actually leave the hair feeling worse.”
What is the most damaging thing to your hair?
If you’re suffering with dry, dehydrated hair, you might be unknowingly causing it. “The biggest cause is overwashing without replacing moisture. People often focus on cleansing but forget to replenish hydration,” explains Adam. In addition, excessive heat can also be to blame – everything from using styling tools to hot showers, central heating and UV exposure, “all of which gradually draw moisture from the hair.”
For Maria Sotiriou, co-founder of Silke London, the most overlooked cause for dry hair is friction. “Hair spends six to eight hours every night rubbing against bedding,” she explains. “Night after night, year after year, that friction gradually wears away at the cuticle, making it harder for the hair to retain moisture and leaving it feeling rough, dry, tangled, and more vulnerable to breakage.”
Lastly, poor scalp health is another lesser-known cause. “Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so looking after your scalp is just as important as caring for the lengths,” adds Adam.
If none of these causes resonate, there are more common causes – including water quality (particularly hard water) as well as underlying health issues like hypothyroidism.
How do you fix extremely dry hair?
The good news is that whatever the cause is, having dry hair isn’t permanent and is a totally fixable issue. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that dry hair needs rescuing – in reality, it needs looking after,” says Adam. “Healthy hair isn’t created by one miracle product, it’s built through simple, consistent habits. Small things. Big differences.”
As well as hydrating shampoo, he suggests investing in a good leave-in conditioner to treat the problem. “It’s one of the hardest-working products in your routine because it continues protecting and hydrating the hair throughout the day.” He suggests Arkive The Bond Leave-In Treatment as a preventative product, rather than a cure.
We also love Olaplex No.5 Leave In Moisturize and Mend Leave In Conditioner, Fenty Hair The Water Boi Leave In Conditioner and
