If you’re frustrated with frazzled hair that feels like straw, knowing how to hydrate dry hair will turn your tired tresses into luscious locks. The good news is that while it’s a common issue, it can be easily corrected with care and consistency to get it back to a texture that is soft and supple—the perfect foundation to create any hairstyle you desire. We spoke to expert hairstylists to understand the root cause of dry hair, how to avoid it and, most importantly, how to deeply hydrate it.
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Why is my hair dry like straw?
Before we get into the solutions for rehydrating dry hair, first things first—correctly identifying the problem. “The terms dry hair and damaged hair are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually very different,” Adam Reed, hairstylist and founder of Arkive by Adam Reed, tells Glamour. “Dry hair is lacking moisture, whereas damaged hair has a compromised structure, usually through chemical services, excessive heat, or environmental stress.”
An easy way of testing this is checking the current texture of your hair. Dry hair will feel rough and look dull, while damaged hair will feel weak, brittle, and often break. “While damaged hair is often dry, not all dry hair is damaged,” says Jade Laker, senior stylist at Pruners Hair & Beauty and a Paul Mitchell educator.
It’s important to figure out whether the dryness you’re experiencing is due to unintentional damage or a lack of moisture, as treating the issue will differ depending on the cause. “Dry hair needs hydration, while damaged hair often needs strengthening alongside moisture,” Reed says. “Treating one as the other can actually leave the hair feeling worse.”
What is the most damaging thing for your hair?
If you’re suffering from dry, dehydrated hair, you might be unknowingly causing it. “The biggest cause is overwashing without replacing moisture. People often focus on cleansing but forget to replenish hydration,” explains Reed. In addition, excessive heat can also be to blame—everything from using styling tools to hot showers, central heating, and UV exposure, “all of which gradually draw moisture from the hair,” he says.
For Maria Sotiriou, cofounder of Silke London, the most overlooked cause for dry hair is friction. “Hair spends six to eight hours every night rubbing against bedding,” she explains. “Night after night, year after year, that friction gradually wears away at the cuticle, making it harder for the hair to retain moisture and leaving it feeling rough, dry, tangled, and more vulnerable to breakage.”
Lastly, poor scalp health is another lesser-known cause. “Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so looking after your scalp is just as important as caring for the lengths,” says Reed.
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