How to Hydrate and Moisturise Dry Hair

What causes dry hair?

Dry hair is typically caused by a lack of moisture or natural oils. Some hair textures are more prone to dryness than others – like curly hair, which is naturally more porous. However, there are various external stressors that can dehydrate anyone’s hair and scalp, such as:

• Extreme weather
• Excessive heat styling
• Chemical processing
• Over-washing
• Harsh hair products
• Continual exposure to chlorine, salt water, and hard water
• Not getting regular trims

10 hair hydration tips

Knowing how to hydrate dry hair involves using the right hair care products and developing healthy hair habits that promote moisture retention.

Read on for our top ten tips on how to rehydrate your hair.

1. Switch to a nourishing shampoo and conditioner

In terms of how to moisturise dry hair, hair care products enriched with highly nourishing ingredients are essential. The Kérastase Nutritive collection uses ultra-hydrating ingredients such as niacinamide, glycerin, and plant-based proteins to moisturise dry strands and support hair vitality.

To enhance hair hydration, switch to a nourishing shampoo and conditioner like the Nutritive Bain Satin Riche for Very Dry Hair, and Nutritive Lait Vital Conditioner for Dry Hair, respectively. Both products work tirelessly to replace lost moisture and promote softer, smoother, more resilient strands.

2. Apply a hydrating hair serum

If you’re battling dehydration, you can use a hair serum to lock in moisture along your lengths and ends. The Nutritive Fibre Food Hair Serum for Dry Ends is a deeply hydrating leave-in serum that replenishes your ends and reduces breakage.

When we talk about how to hydrate hair, we tend to focus on our lengths and ends – but a healthy growth environment is also key. This is where scalp serums come in.

The Nutritive Scalp Food Hydrating Scalp Serum is a powerful vitamin serum that helps regulate and protect the scalp, delivering lasting hair hydration from root to tip.

3. Use hair masks regularly

Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and therefore suffer from the most dryness. So, one of the most effective methods for how to moisturise hair is to implement hair masks alongside your hydrating shampoo and conditioner.

Our Nutritive Masquintense Riche for Very Dry Hair has a rich, creamy texture to nourish hair fibres at the core. You can even take your hair mask treatment to the next level by applying it under a shower cap or plastic wrap. This creates heat that will further open up the hair cuticle and allow the product to penetrate deeper.

4. Protect hair from hard water

We know that a lot of external stressors can impact hair hydration, so it’s important to recognise what might be drying out your strands.

One such culprit? Calcium deposits from hard water. Over time, these minerals accumulate on strands, making them more porous and dehydrated.

The Première collection has been developed to mitigate the effects of calcium buildup on damaged hair. The Première Decalcifying & Repairing Hair Shampoo removes calcium deposits on damaged or over-processed hair to minimise breakage and fortify strands from within. Pair with the Première Repairing Conditioner for Damaged Hair to intensely nurture dry ends and promote more supple, flexible strands.

5. Moisturise your ends with an oil treatment

Hair oils are formulated to target dryness and support hair hydration, in turn improving shine, gloss, and bounce. These hydrating hair products can be applied on damp or dry strands to aid with styling or enhance moisture overnight.

Our versatile, beautifying hair oil, the Elixir Ultime Refillable Hair Oil, is suitable for all types of dry hair to deeply nourish ends and minimise frizz. Apply as a pre-cleanse, pre-blow dry, finishing, or touch-up oil.

6. Limit your use of heat styling tools

It’s no secret that heat styling tools can dry out the hair and may lead to heat damage. If possible, try to reduce your use of heat styling in general – opting for heat-free hair styles that embrace your natural texture instead.

If you are going to reach for a heat styling tool, always prep your hair with a heat protectant first. The Nutritive Nectar Thermique Blow-Dry Cream for Dry Hair is a hydrating anti-frizz blow dry cream that will provide essential moisture while protecting hair from heat. You can also use the ‘cool’ function on your blow-dryer to lock in any conditioning agents and close the hair cuticle.

7. Give your hair a rest from chemical treatments

Any hair that undergoes chemical processing – including bleaching, colouring, perming, and relaxing – will experience some damage and dryness.

But damage from chemical treatments can be more extensive: and brittleness, fizziness, split ends, breakage, and increased hair fall may all occur. Take control of your hair hydration by taking a break from chemical processing while your hair is in recovery mode.

8. Stretch out your wash days

Too many of us have become accustomed to the idea that our hair needs daily washing.

So, how often should you wash hair?

Daily washing can often remove the hair’s natural oils and risk overloading strands with product. Instead, try to leave a few days between washes – though you can adjust as needed based on how fine or thick your hair is.

9. Avoid rinsing with hot water

Washing hair with water that's too hot can lead to hair concerns such as a dry scalp, frizzy texture, dryness, and breakage. This is because hot water can make hair more porous and dry out strands, leading to brittleness and breakage.

To maintain hair hydration, wash your hair with lukewarm water, and rinse out your shampoo and conditioner using either lukewarm or cold water.

10. Get regular trims

Sometimes, dry strands can’t be salvaged with hydrating hair products alone. Once your dry hair has developed split ends, they can rise up the hair shaft – leading to more breakage.

Regular trims are crucial to prevent further damage to the hair shaft. Visit a hairdresser for a trim every six to eight weeks to help maintain a hydrated, healthy-looking, frizz-free mane.

If you’re keen to learn more about hydration for curly hair specifically, explore our extensive list of curly hair tips, next.