Dry Hair|Expert Tips and Advice
How to Moisturise Dry Hair
Dry hair can be frustrating. It impacts the look and feel of your hair. Plus, it affects the hair’s flexibility and elasticity.
Hair flexibility and elasticity are essential for styling. Dry hair loses flexibility make it difficult to style. That means knowing how to moisturise dry hair is not only vital for getting your hair in the best shape. Adding moisture will make it easier to style. Plus, it will hold the style for longer.
I’ve been working with hair for over 35 years, and I can tell you adding moisture to dry hair is not as difficult as you might think.
I’ve worked with many hair types and different products over the years. In my experience, the best way to hydrate dry hair is to build a routine of cleansing and moisturising with good quality dry hair products. Not dissimilar to your skin.
In this blog, I share the telltale signs of dry hair. You’ll discover the best products for dry hair and how to build a good hair care routine as I share my tips on how to moisturise dry hair.
Dry Hair |The 5 Telltale Signs of Dry Hair
Before we talk about how to moisturise dry hair, its worth a quick heads up on how to spot dry hair. There are telltale signs of dry hair. If you recognise these signs in your own hair, it’s time to get proactive with adding moisture.
1. Your Hair has Lost its Shine
When hair becomes dull, it’s because the cuticle, the outer layer of the hair, has lifted. This is a sign of dry hair. When the hair has sufficient moisture, the cuticle lies flat, giving the hair an even surface that feels smooth and reflects light making the hair shiny.
2. You have Split Ends
Split ends are a sure sign of dry hair. Hair is older at the ends and more prone to breakage. Feeding moisture into the mid lengths and ends with a good quality deep conditioner will reduce split ends.
3. Rough Texture
If your hair feels rough, it’s dry. When you know how to moisturise dry hair and the cuticle becomes hydrated, locking in moisture, hair feels soft and silky.
4. Breakage
If the hair is breaking, it is seriously dehydrated and has lost elasticity. Getting moisture back into the hair is vital and a routine of deep conditioning will help the process of bringing balance back to the hair.
5. Your Hair is Difficult to Style
If you find your hair has lost its manageability and responsiveness when styling, it’s dry. Hair that has the right levels of moisture has some stretch that enables styling and hold.
Moisture Boost |How to Add Moisture to Hair
1. Do shampoo and condition hair regularly.
For most people, that means 2-3 times a week.
2. Don't skip conditioner.
Hair and skin are both proteins. A simple routine of cleansing and conditioning will help build moisture.
3. Do use a weekly hair mask treatment.
A deep conditioning hair mask gives hair extra moisture. I recommend a weekly treatment.
If your hair is excessively dry, you can use Restore and Shine Hair Masque twice a week for the first two weeks. After that, use weekly as part of your hair care routine. You can leave Restore and Shine Hair Masque on for 10 minutes and then rinse. Alternatively, try leaving the Restore and Shine Masque on for a few hours or even overnight to help boost moisture.
Below is my guide by hair type showing how long to leave Restore and Shine Hair Masque on your hair. The timings aren’t fixed but they give you my recommendations and I suggest you see what works best for your hair. If you are using another manufacturer’s deep conditioner, you should follow their instructions.
- Fine, dry hair – a maximum of 2 hours
- Coarse, dry hair – you can leave it on from 2 hours to overnight.
- Grey, dry hair – hair tends to be finer as we age, so unless your hair is very coarse, I recommend no more than 2 hours.
- Dry, curly hair – if your hair is curly and thick, over night will be fine. For fine curls, I recommend a couple of hours.
- Dry, colour treated hair -overnight if your hair is thick/coarse. Otherwise, from 2 to 4 hours. Try a plastic cap to add heat intensity to the treatment.
4. Do turn down the heat.
Choose a cooler setting on your hairdryer making it less drying for the hair.
4. Do use moisture-boosting styling products
Use my moisture-boosting styling products to add moisture to your hair as you style.
5. Do give your hair a break.
Air dry hair once a week. Why not combine this with deep conditioning hair treatment?
6. Don't overdry your hair.
A common mistake is to dry the hair for too long. Reduce drying time by at least one minute and see how your hair responds.
6. Do choose a natural styling product that conditions hair as you style.
Styling products have moved on. There’s no need to use products with harsh chemicals. My styling products that condition hair as you style.
7. Do make sure you have a balanced diet.
Eat plenty of nutrient-rich fruit and veg.
8. Don't let your body become dehydrated.
Drink water. What’s good for the body is good for the hair.
9. Do sleep on a satin or silk pillow.
The slippery texture of a satin or silk pillow will help avoid knots and breakage.
10. Do squeeze out excess water.
Use a towel to gently blot the hair before applying a conditioner or a hair mask. Conditioner slides off wet hair. Make sure you get the full benefits.
11. Don't get into hot water.
Washing hair in warm water is less drying for hair.
12. Do see your stylist for regular trims.
Keeping on top of dry ends will prevent splitting.
Dry Hair |What Makes Hair Dry?
Understanding the structure of the hair helps in understanding how to add moisture to dry hair.
Every strand of hair comprises multiple layers; the cuticle, the outer layer, is made of keratin, and it protects the inner layer of the hair, the cortex. The cuticle, a protective layer, comprises tiny scales, almost like tiles on a roof. Over time the cuticle naturally lifts and breaks.
Breakage is made worse by external factors such as sunshine and heated styling.
The cortex is a protein and holds water at the centre of the follicle. When the cuticle lifts, the cortex loses moisture. That results in hair losing its shine, breaking or splitting and becoming dry. When you think about it, there are lots of external factors that can damage the outer layer of the hair.
Heat contributes to moisture loss in hair. Always use the hairdryer on a cooler setting and look at options such as partially drying your hair with the hairdryer and then leaving to air dry. However you dry your hair, it’s vital not to over do it. I recommend experimenting with different options and seeing what works best for your hair.
Our hair can also become drier due to internal changes in our bodies. From hormones to ageing, they all have an impact on hair hydration.
Dry Hair| Tips and Take Aways
1. Deep Conditioning Smooths the Hair
Each strand of hair comprises multiple layers. If the cuticle (outer layer) lifts, the inner layer loses moisture, making hair dry. Deep Conditioning added moisture to the inner layers and smooths the outer layer of the hair to retain moisture.
2. Where's my Hair Shine?
You can tell hair is dry when it’s lost its shine, has split ends or breakage, is difficult to style, or the texture feels rough. Adding moisture to your hair with a deep conditioner will tackle the symptoms of dry hair.
3. Dry Hair can be a Result of External and Internal Factors
Many things can lift the cuticle to make our hair dry; environment, colour treatments, heated styling, ageing, hormonal changes, diet can all play a part.
4. A Weekly Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Treatment is Essential
Hydrating hair is simple. Build a routine of shampooing, conditioning and treating your hair with a weekly hair mask treatment. Hair loves routine. Remember, moisturising dry hair isn’t a quick, one-off fix. It takes time. But it’s worth it, and your dry hair can become healthy, shiny hair.
5. Add Moisture with your Styling Products
Keep heated styling to a minimum, use styling products that add moisture and turn down the heat on your hairdryer and in your shower. Avoid heavy oils, waxes and hairsprays.
6. Stay Hydrated
Treat your hair like your skin. Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet and drink plenty of water.
7. Deep Condition your Hair for Longer
Keep your hair mask on for longer to get more moisture, don’t use more product.
I know how to moisturise dry hair from many years in the hair business. I believe that the deep conditioning hair mask is the most vital product in any hair care routine. But it’s not only about what you use it’s also how you use it. I recommend regular weekly applications. Little and often works best. For example, Restore and Shine Hair Masque comes in a 200ml jar. Each application should be around 10ml, slightly less for short or fine hair. That means each jar gives you 20 applications.
Leave Restore and Shine Hair Masque on for 10 mins and rinse. If you want to increase the moisture in dry hair, there’s no need to use more product. Leave it on for longer.
Dry Hair Products| Shop the Blog
- Add Shine
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- Speed up Drying Time
- Target Split Ends
- Add Shine as you Style
Add Shine as you Style
- Hair Shine Treatment
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Dry Hair | About the Author
Norris Ogario
Norris Ogario is founder and Creative Director of Ogario London. Developed in his London salon, the Ogario London haircare products reflect his belief that hydration is the key to fixing most hair problems. Hydrated hair can be styled with ease. Plus, hydration leaves hair shiny and healthy. Norris has over 35 years of hair know-how. With expertise in all hair types; from dry hair to fine or grey hair, from frizzy to damaged or bleached hair, curly hair and afro hair, Norris offers his expert advice.
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About Us
Ogario London is a salon developed range of natural hair care products. Because we are passionate about our products, delivering the best results is at the heart of what we do. Do you have questions about our products? Or, would you like advice on the best products for your hair type? Maybe have another question about how to look after your hair? If you do, please get in touch at info@ogariolondon.com.
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Beauty Bible Recommends Ogario London Hair Masque Hair Treatment
Restore and Shine Hair Masque was awarded best hair mask in the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible Awards. As an independent hair care brand, we are incredibly proud to be recognised alongside some of the industry’s biggest haircare brands. Because I spend time ensuring that our products deliver the best results, I couldn’t be happier to get this review and win this prestigious award.
