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

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.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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4

Apply a hair serum after washing.

7

Hydrate your hair with coconut oil.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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9

Create your own homemade hair mask.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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10

Make a DIY aloe vera spray.

12

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

14

Use ammonia-free hair dyes.

  1. 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]
    • 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.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Do you have a favorite DIY hair mask?
    Patrick Evan
    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
    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
    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.
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About This Article

Patrick Evan
Co-authored by:
Professional Hair Stylist
This article was co-authored by Patrick Evan and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. 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. This article has been viewed 145,287 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: December 12, 2022
Views: 145,287
Categories: Conditioning Hair
Article SummaryX

To add moisture to your hair, try using a leave-in conditioner. Rub it thoroughly into your damp hair and leave it to dry. Or, massage liquid coconut oil into your hair. Alternatively, use a hair mask. Work some mashed avocado, bananas, honey, or mayonnaise into your hair. Then, cover it with a shower cap and leave it for 30 minutes before you rinse it out. Use a leave-in conditioner, oil, or a hair mask every 2 to 3 days to keep your hair moisturized throughout the week. If you shampoo every day, try cutting back to every 2-3 days, since shampooing can strip moisture from your hair. For more tips from our Hair and Beauty co-author, including how to detangle your hair, read on!

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