How To Fix Dry Hair: 7 Tips for Softer, Smoother Strands

Dry hair is a common concern that can affect all hair types and textures, from thin, straight strands to thick, coarse curls. Whether it’s caused by heat styling, chemical treatments, environmental stressors, or simply genetics, dryness can leave your strands dull, brittle, and vulnerable to breakage. That’s the bad news. The good news is that learning how to fix dry hair isn’t as tricky as you may think. It all starts with creating (and maintaining) a consistent haircare routine designed to nourish, hydrate, and protect your strands.

If you’re not quite sure where to start, keep reading. Ahead, we’ll reveal some of the most common causes of dry hair and share our time-tested tips for quenching thirsty tresses.

What Causes Dry Hair?

Dryness can be caused by a range of factors, including your genetics, styling habits, and haircare routine. Some of the most common causes of dry hair include:

• Shampooing too frequently
• Skipping conditioner
• Using the wrong products for your hair type and texture
• Bleaching and coloring your hair
• Heat-styling your hair without a heat protectant
• Showering in overly hot water
• Exposure to dry air

Your genetics can play a role, too—if your parents have dry hair, there’s a chance you will, too. Keep in mind that these aren’t the only causes of dry hair. Some medical conditions can also cause your hair to take on a dry, rough, or brittle feel. If your hair feels drier than usual or the change is sudden (and doesn’t improve with proper haircare), consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor to rule out any underlying health issues.

Can dry hair become healthy again?

In general, dryness is manageable with the right habits and routine. Using hair products for dry hair can help hydrate your strands, replenishing much-needed moisture to improve your hair’s look and feel. The best treatments for dry hair can also help boost shine, smooth your hair, and strengthen weak, brittle strands. But the right haircare routine can only go so far. If you have dry strands, it’s also important to avoid habits that can worsen dryness. That might mean taking a break from your regular blowouts, showering in cooler water, or embracing your natural hue for a bit—at least until your hair feels healthier.

7 Dry Hair Treatments and Tips to Follow

Whether your dryness is due to a specific stressor or you simply have dry hair naturally, these seven tips can help you score smoother, more hydrated, and healthier-looking hair.

1. Switch to a hydrating haircare system

When it comes to caring for dry hair, hydration should be a top priority. One of the easiest ways to address dryness is by using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo and the coordinating L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Conditioner. The duo contains hyaluronic acid and provides up to 72 hours of hydration without any weigh-down for bouncy, healthy-looking strands.

When lathering up, focus your shampooing mainly on your scalp and roots, since that’s the area that needs the most cleansing. When conditioning, take the opposite approach and focus the product mainly on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair.

2. Say no to scalding showers

Spending time in a steamy shower may be enjoyable in the moment, but turning the temperature up too high can lead to hair that feels dry. This is because super-hot water and steam in the shower can strip your hair of essential oils that are important for keeping your mane soft, smooth, and hydrated.

You don’t have to start bathing in freezing H2O, but switching to lukewarm water is a good idea. Cutting down on your shower time can also help—the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises limiting your showers to 10 minutes whenever possible.

3. Make hair masks a part of your weekly routine

You don’t have to wait for your strands to feel dry and brittle to reach for a hair mask. In fact, we encourage deep conditioning around once a week to help nourish, protect, and deeply hydrate your hair. Among our favorite hair treatments for dry hair is the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Treatment. It’s formulated with a protein-infused repair concentrate and melts into the hair fiber, leaving your mane feeling smooth and silky. You can apply it in the shower and rinse it off, or use it as a strengthening leave-in treatment for all-day benefits.

If you’re dealing with damage in addition to dryness, try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm. The rich, indulgent formula deeply conditions, helping to repair up to one year of damage to hair smoothness within a single five-minute application.

4. Use nourishing styling products

If you have dry strands, you’ll want to use a hair styling cream or oil that will work to nourish your hair while also taming frizz. The L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum is a great pick. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and helps to lock in moisture for hair that appears bouncy, plump, and soft. To avoid weighing down your roots, we recommend applying the serum just to your mid-lengths and ends, where the hair tends to be driest. Or, replenish your strands with a leave-in conditioner, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner. It’s made specifically for dry hair and provides long-lasting moisture while helping to detangle, boost shine, and tame frizz.

5. Get regular trims

One of the easiest ways to take care of dry strands is to trim your mane. While it can be hard to make time for trims with a busy schedule, the benefits are totally worth it. Even a small trim can help remove dry, dead ends and give your hair a healthier look and feel. How often you’ll want to pencil in time for a trim depends on your hair type and condition, but generally, once every six to 10 weeks is ideal.

6. Limit heat styling

As we mentioned already, heat styling can wreak havoc on your hair. As such, it’s best to go heat-free whenever you can, especially if you’re prone to dryness. That doesn’t mean you have to retire your blow dryer forever, but you should keep it to a minimum to avoid over-drying your mane. When you do heat-style your hair, be sure to prep your strands with a heat protectant to help shield against damage. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum is a great pick, as it protects against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and leaves the hair soft, silky, and full of healthy-looking shine.

7. Sleep on silk (or satin)

Cotton sheets and pillowcases can pull moisture from your mane, leaving you with drier strands. Instead, switch things up with a silk pillowcase. Not only does it help your hair, but it also feels totally luxurious. Not ready to part with your Egyptian cotton sheets? You can also opt to sleep with a silk scarf around your hair to protect it from dryness, friction, and damage. This simple dry hair solution can make a significant difference in the overall health and appearance of your hair.

How To Find the Right Dry Hair Products for You

If you’re ready to overhaul your routine, finding the right products for your hair’s unique needs is a must. For dryness, we generally recommend looking for products that contain lightweight hydrators, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Oils can be helpful, too, but they’re not for everyone—if your hair is fine or thin, heavier products could leave you with greasy roots.

It’s also important to take your haircare routine into consideration when shopping for new products. If you dye your hair, for example, you’ll want to be sure to use products designed specifically for color-treated hair. To replenish moisture and help protect your color, we love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo and coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Conditioner. The duo provides intense hydration and helps to keep your color pure for up to four weeks.

When To See a Professional

As we mentioned earlier, dry hair can sometimes be related to certain medical conditions. If you’re following all of the tips outlined above and haven’t noticed an improvement in your hair’s look or feel, consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor. They can help determine the underlying cause of your dryness and work with you to pinpoint the best dry hair remedy for your needs.

Next Up: Dry Scalp Treatment: How To Hydrate and Soothe a Dry Scalp

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris