There are many different ways to moisturize your hair. Here are 11 tips to help you find what works best for your hair type, texture and routine.
- Use a Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner System
First things first, using a shampoo and conditioner system that’s formulated to replenish your strands with moisture is perhaps the most crucial hair moisturizing tip to follow. After all, when the goal is to hydrate your hair, why wouldn’t you cleanse and condition with products that are meant to do just that?
- Use a Deep Conditioning Hair Moisturizer
Sometimes your hair will need an extra dose of moisture besides a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. In these instances, reach for a hydrating deep conditioner.
- Turn Down the Water Temperature When You Shower
As wonderful as a piping hot shower may feel, it isn’t doing your hair (or your skin) any favors. Washing your hair with water that’s too hot can actually strip it of its natural oils, which leads to strands that are dry and brittle to the touch. The solution is simple — turn down the temperature just until you hit lukewarm. Follow this lukewarm rule every time you wash your hair and your mane will be better for it.
- Use a Nourishing Hair Serum
Your moisturizing hair routine should go beyond the shower. After you’ve stepped out of the shower and your shampoo and conditioner (and deep conditioner) have done their job to fight dryness, it’s time to turn to a hair serum for help. Much like a hydrating face serum is a must for defending against dry skin, the same goes for your hair.
- Use a Hair Oil
Hair oil is a great way to seal in moisture after you’ve applied your hair serums and creams. Simply apply a dime-sized amount of oil onto the lengths and ends of damp hair. Use more or less product as needed, depending on the length of your hair and how dry it’s feeling.
- Use Dry Shampoo to Refresh Strands
Instead of washing your mane every day, which can be awfully drying, use a dry shampoo to refresh your roots and extend the time you can go between washes. This is especially helpful if your roots are oily but the lengths and ends of your hair are in need of more moisture.
- Use a Heat Protectant
It’s no secret that heat styling is a moisture killer. In order to better protect your hair from the temperatures of your hot tools, heat protectant is of paramount importance.
- Take a Break from Hot Tools When You Can
We love hot tools, but if your strands are feeling particularly parched, it could be a good idea to avoid heat styling whenever you’re able to. Doing so doesn’t have to mean rocking a less-than-perfect hairstyle, either. Instead, we recommend air-drying your strands for a relaxed, laidback look or trying out a heatless hairstyle.
- Use a Hair Mask
On those days when your strands are feeling and looking limp, reach for a hair mask that’s formulated to fortify extremely damaged hair. Apply to wet hair after you shampoo and massage the product through your lengths and ends. Leave on for three and five minutes, then rinse out completely.
- Never Brush Your Hair When It’s Wet
According to the AAD, your hair is at its most fragile when it’s wet, so in order to keep it healthy, you’ll want to avoid brushing it until it dries. What you can do while your hair is wet is use a wide tooth comb to gently detangle damp strands. The wide spaces between the teeth of the comb are gentler on the hair than a brush and help to minimize tugging. Before you start, use a soft T-shirt to slightly dry off your strands, then start carefully combing from your ends up, working through any knots as you go.
- Get Frequent Trims
You’ve heard it before but we’ll say it again: Getting regular trims is one of the most important things you can do to keep your strands healthy. When you wait too long in between haircuts, split ends inevitably begin to form, causing hair to break in every which way. When this happens, your hair tends to dry out too, so as a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to get your hair trimmed at least once every three months. If you want to keep length, opt for hair dusting over a traditional haircut. In between cuts, make sure to follow all of the aforementioned tips to keep your hair as healthy (and split end-free) as possible.
Via: Lorealparisusa.com