How to Prevent Dry Hair

Last Updated: August 6, 2024 References

Dry and damaged strands can instantly ruin your appearance, not to mention the overall health of your hair. By incorporating a few maintenance techniques to your hair care routine, you can prevent dry hair before all the washing, drying, and styling leaves your locks dehydrated and brittle.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Shampooing and Conditioning

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1
Use a hydrating shampoo. There are many different kinds of shampoo on the market, but choose a shampoo that specifically contains moisturizing properties aimed at restoring dry hair. Look for shampoos that are labeled as “hydrating,” “moisturizing,” or “replenishing.” ^{[1]
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Research source} Shampoos that contain oils hydrate hair really well.
- Some shampoos contain cleansing ingredients such as alcohol and sulfates that can effectively clean your hair, but can also cause your hair to dry out. Try to avoid shampoos that have sulfate ingredients or buy shampoos that specifically are labeled “sulfate free” and “alcohol free.” ^{[2]
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- You could also try using a gentle shampoo made for babies. Baby shampoo has a gentle formula that can cleanse your hair without washing away your natural hair oils. ^{[3]
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Space out shampooing your hair. Frequent shampooing can wash away the natural oils from your hair that keep your strands moisturized. ^{[4]
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Expert Source

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} If you wash your hair every day, try washing your hair every other day, or even every couple of days. ^{[5]
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Research source} This will allow your hair to naturally retain its oils and stay hydrated.
- If you’re concerned about your hair being oily looking, consider using dry shampoo in between your washes. ^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Noël Reid-Killings
  Celebrity Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} Dry shampoo can liven up the look of your hair without having to shampoo it.
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3
Condition your hair after shampooing. Conditioning your hair after you shampoo is an easy way to add extra moisture to your hair. Conditioners, by nature, are meant to add hydration to hair, but look for conditioners that are specially formulated for dry hair. ^{[8]
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- Be sure to focus adding the conditioner to the ends of your hair; the part of your hair that is most likely to be dry and damaged.
4
Apply a deep conditioner to your hair. Using a deep conditioner a few times a month can add even more moisture to your hair. Deep conditioners contain natural ingredients like oils but also contain man-made ingredients like proteins and polymers that help hydrate hair. ^{[9]
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Research source} Before shampooing, add a deep conditioner to your hair, and use your hands and fingertips to completely cover your hair, especially the ends. Leave the deep conditioner on your hair for at least 15 minutes, then rinse out the conditioner. ^{[10]
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- Deep conditioners work especially well for adding shine to previously dull and damaged hair.
A hair mask works much in the same way as a deep conditioner. The mask is used to coat the hair for a period of time, adding moisture and nutrients to your strands. Hair masks can be made out of all sorts of natural ingredients like eggs, yogurt, bananas, mayonnaise, avocado, and pumpkin, just to name a few. ^{[11]
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Research source} Coating your hair with different natural oils, butters, and teas can also help hydrate and soften hair.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Protecting Your Hair

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1
Be gentle when drying your hair. Rather than intensely rubbing your hair with a towel, or immediately blow drying your hair, consider trying to squeeze most of the water out, then letting your hair air dry. ^{[12]
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- You could also try drying your hair with an old t-shirt, as a t-shirt fabric is gentler to your hair than a towel. Drying your hair roughly with a towel can cause damage to the outer layer of your hair strands. ^{[13]
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2
Protect your hair before using hot tools. The heat from your styling tools can cause significant damage to your hair, ultimately making your hair dry and brittle. Protect your hair from the heat by adding a protective product to your hair before using your hot tools. ^{[14]
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Research source} Heat protectants can come in sprays, serums, and gel-like formulas.
- This protective protect will lend a barrier between your hair and the heat from the styling tools.
Since the ends of your hair are most likely to be dry and damaged, keep your ends healthy by getting regular hair trims every few of months. Cutting the last ½ inch off from the ends of your hair can help your hair look even and healthy, reduce split ends, and remove the most damaged portion of your hair.
4
Rinse out harsh chemicals. Swimming in chlorinated pools and bodies of salt water can significantly dry out your hair. Be sure to rinse your hair after swimming in these water environments so the chemicals don’t sit on your hair and suck out the moisture. ^{[15]
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- Consider wearing a swim cap if you are going to be swimming in pools with chlorine, or salty bodies of water.
5
Shield your hair from the sun. Before going outside to spend the day in the sun, spray a protective sunscreen onto your hair so the sun’s intense heat and UV rays don’t dry out and damage it. ^{[16]
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- Or, you could try keeping your hair covered with a wide brim hat. ^{[17]
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Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

Sun can be damaging to hair. "If you’re out in the sun for hours at a time during the summer, put a treatment mask in your hair and leave it in, in a bun or a ponytail. Just find those moments in the week to really focus on hydrating your hair and putting moisture back into it."
Consuming foods that are high in protein, vitamins, and healthy fats is a good way to promote healthy hair from the inside out. Foods like leafy greens, fruits, fish, and wholes grains contain essential fatty acids and vitamins that help to nourish not only your body, but also your hair. ^{[18]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Avoiding Drying and Damaging Practices

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1
Avoid brushing wet hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your damp hair. Since hair is more fragile when it’s wet, brushing your hair with the bristles of a brush increases the chances of breaking your hair.
- If you do brush your hair, brush your hair when it’s dry, and use a boar bristled brush. ^{[19]
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  Research source} Boar bristled brushes do a good job of bringing hair oils from the top of your head downward, effectively moisturizing dry ends.
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Avoid using hot tools. The temperature from styling tools can cause heat damage to your hair. Try styling your hair in other ways that don’t require you to use a blow dryer, flat iron, or curler. Consider styling your hair in braids, buns, or twists so you can give your hair a break from the heat. ^{[20]
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- If you must use hot tools to tame your hair, consider lowering the heat settings. Some hot tool heat settings go all the way up to 450°, which is significantly high considering water only has to reach 210° to boil. ^{[21]
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Avoid damaging hair treatments. Any kind of chemical hair treatment (including dye jobs, highlighting, lowlighting, perms, relaxers, etc.) causes damage to your hair. ^{[22]
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Research source} This chemical damage can, in turn, cause your hair to become fragile and dry. If you can, avoid chemical treatments altogether, especially if your hair has had more than one treatment at a time.
- Giving your hair a break from the chemicals will allow your natural hair to grow out which should be healthier and more hydrated.
- If you must dye your hair, consider using a dye with either low amounts of ammonia, or no ammonia at all.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Should I use coconut oil in my hair to restore moisture?

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist
Noël Reid-Killings is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Noël New York Salon & Boutique. With over a decade of experience, Noël specializes in curating and customizing hair solutions for all hair types and textures. She has worked with countless A-list celebrities including Alicia Keys, Ciara, Yara Shahidi, and Simone Missick. Her work has been featured on makeover shows and in magazines including Essence, Sophisticates Black Hair, Teen Vogue, Elle, 21Ninety, WWD, POPSUGAR, Allure, The Cut, The Huffington Post, and Swaay.

Noël Reid-Killings

Celebrity Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Coconut oil is okay to use—it will definitely give you some strength to your hair and help hold in moisture. The most important thing is to not overuse it though. Using it too often, like every day, can be a bad thing. It should be more of an occasional treatment.

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Can I hydrate my hair using natural ingredients?

Community Answer

Yes, there are many available recipes online for hydrating hair using hair masks and rinses made with natural ingredients. Foods such as nut oils, mayonnaise, eggs, honey, milk, lemon, along with natural seeds, butters, and teas can all be used to nourish and moisturize hair.

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Why does hair get dry in the first place?

Community Answer

Hair becomes dry for two reasons. Either your scalp isn't producing enough oil to condition your hair, or the cuticles that protect hair and lock in moisture are damaged. The scalp naturally produces less oil as we get older. Luckily, you can take steps to reduce cuticle damage.

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Diet and lifestyle are also a part of keeping healthy hair.

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Consult your hairdresser for some more hints on how to prevent dry hair.

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Warnings

If you are allergic to any ingredients, make sure your hair products don't contain those ingredients.

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Don't use too much of any product, that can make your hair look greasy and weigh down your hair.

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How to Prevent Dry Hair

Steps

Shampooing and Conditioning

Protecting Your Hair

Avoiding Drying and Damaging Practices

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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References

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