Why is my hair so dry? Ah, an eternal query in the quest for healthy strands, especially during the winter. A quick search reveals everything from hormonal changes to harsh products and heat styling to lack of humidity as contributors to dry hair, meaning it’s often a mix of causes and possible solutions. Here, we’ve tapped stylists and specialists to weigh in on why it’s happening and what to do next.
What are the common causes of dry hair?
“There are many causes for dry hair, including winter weather, heat styling, age, environment, health problems, or just a naturally dry scalp,” says Dr. Yael Halaas MD, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist who tackles the issue in-office with treatments like Hydrafacial Keravive (a circulation-boosting purification process) and at home with an emphasis on regular care. “Just like our faces, our scalps can be as complex,” she says.
In the salon, stylists recognize familiar reasons for damage to the strand itself. “High-heat styling tends to be the biggest culprit for hair drying out, not to mention holding sprays or if a heat protectant is not being used,” says Yusef Williams, a New York City–based hairstylist to clients like Rihanna, Lizzo, and Bella Hadid. Dyeing and straightening treatments add another level. “Hair that is color-treated or chemically treated becomes very vulnerable during the process,” he notes, adding that layering on products can restrict moisture without a routine scalp detox. “Hydration cannot penetrate through the buildup, and over time, the hair can become brittle and dry from the lack of hydration,” he explains. Products that rebalance the microbiome and pH levels, like Nutrafol’s new essence, encourage healthy scalp function.
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How can you hydrate different hair textures?
Reparative masks, conditioning washes, hair oils, heat protectants, and serums have the potential to topically address moisture levels when tailored to your hair type. “For my clients with textured hair, I highly recommend a leave-in hair treatment,” says hairstylist Dhairius Thomas, who counts Serena Williams and Ziwe as clients. “If the hair is in a protective style, usually installed anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, use a hydrating oil with a nozzle—Wild Growth hair oil is one of my favorites.” For fine hair types, Thomas likes to add a lightweight serum while hair is still damp for “shine and moisture without weighing the hair down.” Conditioning treatments are what stylists consider a must for dyed or processed hair (Dr. Halaal loves them, too), and Erin Ahern and Caitlin Carnahan, who cofounded Chicago’s City and Shore Studios, factor it into the salon experience. “I always recommend a deep conditioning treatment after a color service to replenish any moisture that has been lost,” says Carnahan, with Ahern adding that the Iles Formula mask they’ve been testing is “absolute perfection.”
For many artists, they’re the litmus test for what works. “Personally, I have thick and dyed blonde hair, so I like to use a mask or treatment every time I condition—but I excessively rinse out,” says Los Angeles–based hairstylist Matthew Collins, who works with clients like Mandy Moore, Kristen Bell, and Camila Mendes. He also uses hair oil between washes on the lower ends of lengths and counts the K18 nourishing molecular repair mask as a favorite product. Williams, too, joins the artist movement backing K18’s mask (he’s now an ambassador to the brand), which sports patented peptide technology along with Sephora’s clean seal of approval. “I use it for all hair types,” he says. “It really penetrates and addresses any damage that tends to make the hair feel dry or brittle.”
Be Mindful With Your Wash-Day Routine
“I tell all my patients to never over wash their hair, use very little to low heat, and always finish rinsing with cold water so that the hair shaft is locking in the nutrients,” says Halaas. As for how often to shampoo different hair types, Williams calls this “a Goldilocks scenario” that requires self-evaluation. “You have to get it just right,” he explains. “Heavy product users and people with buildup can wash more frequently and will benefit from using a clarifying detox shampoo periodically.” Thomas agrees that detoxing has its place, even if it seems counterintuitive, and that “curly or natural textured hair can go longer than a week before wash day,” while finer hair types should wash when natural hair oils start to weigh down strands. “Your scalp tells you when it’s ready to be washed,” notes Ahern, who says that greasy roots are indeed the tell. “That’s a sign that the scalp is lubricated, and now anything beyond that will become build-up.” Carnahan suggests looking for moisturizing ingredients like hydrolyzed silk and hydrolyzed rice proteins like those found in Viori’s waterless bars, which work well for all textures thanks to rice water (TikTok’s favorite hair elixir). Consider your tap water, too. “I have just started to use a Jolie filtered showerhead that has helped to purify the water coming out of my shower,” says Collins of the attachment that’s quickly gained a cult following for removing harsh chlorine, not to mention heavy metals and contaminants, from raining down on hair daily.
High-Tech Heat Tools and Protectants are Essential
Since heat styling is one of the main causes of dryness, intelligent tools and protective serums are essential. “I myself love a good blowout,” says Halaas. “However, I always make sure to use a good heat protectant.” Ahern describes heat-protective barriers as “SPF for your hair,” like Olaplex’s No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, which is silicone-free, antioxidant-infused, and designed to work for all hair types. In regards to how to balance your heat styling, Collins recommends a 50/50 approach: “50% of the time use styling tools, then the other 50% let your hair dry naturally or diffuse, so you avoid extra heat damage,” he says. Then, of course, come the sources of heat themselves, and he’s a Dyson loyalist. “The Supersonic blow-dryer focuses on high airflow to dry rather than high heat,” he explains, adding that it measures heat 40 times a second to ensure it never reaches damaging temperatures. The same tech is infused into the brand’s Airwrap curler, which Thomas likes for its ability to skip a step: “Tools like the Dyson Airwrap and the Tymo Ionic straightening hair brush are great for styling dry hair because both work without additional blowdrying,” he explains. It’s an argument to maintain the tech in your life beyond screens.
Silky Accessories Are Best
Sometimes, preventing dry hair is in the details. “I love using my Aquis after shampooing,” says Williams of the microfiber wrap. “It leaves behind the perfect amount of moisture in the hair and sets the stage for any treatments and cuts my drying time when styling.” Even the brush you use matters. “For dry or damaged hair, choosing a brush is crucial,” says Thomas, who likes Wetbrush Go Green Oil-Infused Shine Brush “because it evenly distributes natural oils and locks in moisture—just do not use this brush with a blow dryer.” Ahern encourages incorporating silk scrunchies and pillowcases into day-to-night routines to help avoid further damage. “You should also be using a silk pillowcase to preserve the health of the shafts of your hair,” Halaas confirms, noting that she likes DefenAge Mulberry Silk Pillowcase at home. However, Collins has a more specific preference: “I love a satin pillowcase,” he says “I find it tangles my hair much less than silk.”
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