8 Hair Hydration Tips for Dehydrated Hair

Ever wonder why your hair is so dry? From dull, brittle-looking locks to split ends, dry hair can easily put a damper on your mood. And if you’ve been trying every technique you can think of to restore order to your strands with no avail, you’re probably not sure where to turn next. In that case, dryness may not be what you’re dealing with. You may actually have dehydrated hair, and this hair condition comes with its own rulebook.

Think about it: Has your hair care routine been falling short lately? If so, a lack of hair hydration may be the main cause. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn things around in the hair department. All you need are the right hair care tips to restore your strands. Follow along as we share everything you need to know about how to hydrate hair.

WHAT DOES DEHYDRATED HAIR LOOK LIKE?

If you’re trying to tell if you have dehydrated hair, taking a look at your strands should help. Hair that lacks hydration typically looks dull and feels rough. In appearance, it’s very similar to dry hair.

To help identify if you have dehydrated hair, answer these questions: Do you notice that your hair feels super dry after the wash process? Does your hair struggle to retain moisture after using moisturizing hair care products? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it sounds like you may have dehydrated strands.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEHYDRATED HAIR AND DRY HAIR

Dehydrated hair may be a little confusing because it’s so common for people to refer to dehydrated and dry hair interchangeably. With that said, one of the best ways to distinguish the two from each other is to explore what causes dehydrated hair. The main culprit for dehydrated hair is none other than a lack of water. Simply put, your body needs water when it’s dehydrated to function. And without proper hydration, your strands won’t be able to retain any moisture.

On the flip side, dry hair comes with its own share of causes. Everything from excessive exposure to chemicals in relaxers, hair dyes, and other hairstyling products can cause dryness as they strip away your hair’s natural oils. Failing to wash chlorine out of your hair and using heat styling products consistently can also cause dry hair to occur. 

What it boils down to is that dehydrated hair needs water or moisture, and dry hair needs oil. (Wondering about dry skin vs. dehydrated skin? The same thing is true: It’s all about water and oil!)

HOW TO HYDRATE HAIR

If you’ve been asking yourself how you can hydrate your hair, it’s time to listen up! Below, we’re sharing eight hair hydration tips to help you rejuvenate dehydrated strands in a breeze.

1. USE A HYDRATING HAIR CARE SYSTEM

The key to getting your dehydrated mane back on track is all about boosting your strands with hydration. And the easiest way to get the job done is to rely on a hydrating hair care system like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Conditioner. This duo works wonders to infuse hair with hydrating nourishment sans the weighed down feel. As a result, hair is transformed from dull and lifeless to soft and lustrous. 

To use, massage the shampoo onto wet hair, suds up into a thick lather, and rinse. Follow up by applying the conditioner, leave on for one to two minutes, then rinse. 

2. DON’T SHY AWAY FROM DEEP CONDITIONERS

If you’re working with dehydrated strands, you’ll want to douse your hair in hydration every chance you get, and adding a deep conditioner into the mix is a great way to do so. Deep conditioners go the extra mile to provide your mane with more thorough conditioning and leave you with hair that’s extra hydrated. Consider trying out the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Rapid Reviver Deep Conditioner. Formulated with 20 percent conditioning serum and camellia and sunflower oils, this pick helps to hydrate each strand for silkier, softer hair.

3. ALWAYS USE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

A great way to amp up the hydration is to enlist the help of a leave-in conditioner. This offering helps to provide hair with long-lasting hydration, which is just what your dehydrated strands need. The L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Oil-in-Cream comes right in handy to hydrate and nourish hair in only one use. Simply rub a dime-sized amount of cream between your palms, work through the lengths of damp hair, and style as desired. 

4. DITCH HOT SHOWERS

Hot water is a great way to wind down after a long day, but it isn’t the answer to how to hydrate hair. See, super-hot H2O can easily strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving you with drier hair, which while different from dehydration, isn’t what your hair needs. Switching to lukewarm water will be a real lifesaver for your strands.

5. PROTECT YOUR HAIR AT NIGHT

One of the worst things you can do when dealing with dehydrated hair is not to protect your locks at night. You may not be aware, but sleeping on cotton sheets and pillowcases can also remove moisture from your hair. See, cotton is a pretty absorbent material. So, stay ahead of the game and cover your strands with a silk scarf or sleep on silk sheets and pillowcases to protect your mane as you get some shut-eye.

6. AVOID HEAT STYLING

It can be hard to say no to your heat tools, but when hair hydration is an issue, it may be best. The truth is, heat styling can wreak havoc on hair that’s lacking hydration. Everything from split ends to further loss of moisture can become a factor. That’s why it’s smart to stock your arsenal with heat-less styling products like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse. Simply apply an egg-sized amount to your damp strands, scrunch, and go! Once dry, you’ll have soft and bouncy curls to enjoy without the fuss.

Of course, if your hairstyle naturally calls for the use of hot tools, we won't stop you—as long as you take the proper protective measures. Always protect your strands with a heat protectant before applying heat.

7. USE A HYDRATING HAIR MASK

One of the best products for dehydrated hair is a hydrating hair mask. Come on, hydration is right there in the name! A few times a week, swap your conditioner for a mask that can help hydrate your strands. Leave it on as directed, making sure not to wash it out too quickly, so you can reap all the benefits. For curly hair, try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Curls Re-Nourish Mask, pairing it with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Curls Shampoo.

8. VISIT YOUR DOCTOR

If you find that none of the tips above are helping you care for your dehydrated hair, it may be time to visit your doctor and see if something deeper is going on.

Next: 4 Dry Scalp Remedies