Overview:
The Dos and Dont's of Hair Hydration
Don’t overwash your hair (but do get a good shampoo)
While most people will say you should wash your hair everyday, we’ve always been of the belief that you need to do what’s right for your scalp and hair - and everyone is different - so if that’s washing every night, so be it. The key here is to get a good gentle shampoo and conditioner that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils. So automatically, we’re going to be reaching for a sulfate-free shampoo. The surfactants don’t actually harm you but that squeaky clean feel is actually stripping your hair of its oils and leaving it (high and) dry.
Apart from being sulfate-free, you also want to look for shampoo formulas that include other nourishing ingredients like rich oils or beneficial vitamins, proteins and antioxidants. A good shampoo is really the best way to hydrate dry hair, considering how much damage a lesser quality one can do.
And always, always, ALWAYS follow up with a good conditioner - unlike shampoo, your hair can’t ever get enough of that. If you have an oily scalp and drier ends, focus the efforts of your conditioner from your mid-lengths to ends.
Products to try:
Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo
This sulfate-free option is also infused with Moroccanoil’s signature antioxidant-rich argan oil to really boost your hair hydration. It’s also got vitamins A and E in the lineup plus a moisture-attracting red algae to top it all off. The result? Shiny, soft, manageable hair. It comes with a matching Hydrating Conditioner and you can also save some money by shopping the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner Duo Pack.
Evo The Therapist Hydrating Shampoo
Australian made, sulfate and paraben-free and an instant hydration shot for your hair - what’s not to love about The Therapist? As the name suggests, it treats your hair by gently cleansing, moisturising and strengthening from within using glycerin, hydrolysed wheat protein and argan oil. You’ll see softness, shine and more manageability. Pair it with The Therapist Hydrating Conditioner.
Vitamins A and B5, coconut oil, aloe vera, hydrolysed rice protein and pear extract - these are just a few of the hydrating (and potent) vegan ingredients that make this one of our favourite shampoos. You’ll see the difference right away. Don’t forget the Hydrate Conditioner as well to help seal the hair cuticles, smooth any flyaways and frizz and help detangle your hair.
Do get yourself a good hair treatment
Hair treatments are truly the best way to hydrate dry hair and we can’t get enough of them. They go above and beyond your conditioner by incorporating active ingredients that work to repair the hair from within and give it an extra strong hydration boost. For example, if you have chemically treated hair or love your hot tools a bit too much, you’ll find that you also have dry hair as a result because of the structural damage it does to your hair strand. Once the cuticle layer is damaged, it’s harder to retain moisture and leads to frizz and visible dryness.
So that’s where hair treatments come in. After you wash your hair with your new gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, you’ll want to infuse it with all the good stuff like proteins and oils so you can hydrate it and repair the cuticle. We’d recommend a good once a week deep treatment hair mask and also a leave-in treatment that you can pop in and go for daily maintenance.
Leave-in and go
Vivant Revitafoam
You know all those things associated with dehydrated hair? This moisturising foam fixes that all - and almost instantly as well! Apart from adding much needed hydration, it visibly helps with frizz, flyaways and it even helps detangle hair! The foam formula makes it super lightweight so you don’t have to worry about it being heavy or appearing greasy. Simply comb through your hair and go.
A cult favourite among our customers as well as the hair gurus, this leave-in moisturiser helps seal the cuticle and as a result, reduces split ends too. It uses a similar lineup of vegan ingredients that the Nak Hydrate Shampoo uses but also includes nutrient-rich baobab and agave extracts to help with repairing the hair strand.
That once a week deep treat
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
This mask is like an instant shot of hydration designed for medium-thick dry hair. It’s filled with the brand’s signature argan oil, which is rich in vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidants to nourish your hair. It also has natural humectant, glycerin as well as linseed oil, another fatty acid that improves hair health. All you need to do apply in towel dried hair and leave for five minutes! Use 1-2 times a week and add an extra few drops of Moroccanoil Original Treatment for even more hydration.
De Lorenzo Essentials Treatment Equilibrium Masque
If you know, you know. Once you try this deep repair treatment masque, it’ll be hard to beat. The whole Essentials range by De Lorenzo uses rich plant-based oils, antioxidants and pure botanical extracts to replenish moisture lost through wind, sun and chemical treatments. This particular dry hair saviour uses organic rosehip and oat peptides to restore and nourish dry, damaged hair to its former glory.
Don’t burn your hair to a crisp
This is a simple one but also probably the hardest ask: give your hair a break from hair appliances. We know, we know - how can you tame your hair if you can blow dry or straighten it? All we’re asking is to give it a small break to see how it can help with re-hydrating your hair.
In its place, we’d recommended giving air dry creams a go. As we mentioned earlier, damaged hair strands find it harder to retain moisture so these styling creams are designed to re-hydrate your hair and soothe it so it dries with less frizz and feels softer too.
But if you absolutely need to reach for that hair straightener, use a heat protectant spray to prep and protect your hair beforehand.
Products to try:
Pureology Hydrate Air Dry Cream
This cream uses Pureology’s advanced hydrating micro-emulsion technology to deeply hydrate and revitalise dry hair while jojoba, green tea and sage conditions the hair. It also has soy, oat and wheat proteins to help strengthen, rebuild and repair the hair strands. So apply and brush through damp hair for help with frizz control, hydration and medium hold. It’ll even help cut down drying time!
Redken No Blow Dry Just Right Cream
This cream uses Air-Tex technology with flexible polymers for styling hold and control but still with effortless movement plus it uses quick-dry polymers for faster drying time.So apply in damp hair and it will help control frizz, give you that soft-touch, no product feel.
Now you know the best way to hydrate dry hair...
So now you know the dos and don’ts and the best way to hydrate dry hair, give some of these tips a go and add these products to your routine. While it’s a long journey to nourish your hair back to health and hydration, we promise if you put down those hot tools and pick up the right products, you’ll see softer, hydrated hair in no time.
Shop hair care, hair treatments and styling products for dry hair on Oz Hair & Beauty with Afterpay and Zippay today.
(Header image via @bethconlinhair)
