The Good. Clean. Fun.™ BLOG

Is your hair feeling dry and lackluster as of late? If so, we’re here to help. Parched strands don’t have enough moisture and oil to maintain their typical shine and texture. While there are several root causes of dryness, the good news is there are an equal number of solutions to help bring your mane back to life. Let’s get into it.

What Causes Dry Hair?

For the most part, the leading causes of dry hair are preventable, so understanding what they are can help you prevent thirsty strands in the first place. Read on to discover the main culprits of dry hair.

Excessive Chemical Services

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with coloring, straightening, or perming your hair, these services can weaken the hair shaft’s cuticle when performed in excess. With that said, be mindful of how frequently you’re booking that next appointment or mixing up your own product. 

Not Using the Correct Hair Care Products

It’s vital you use the right shampoo, conditioner, and treatment products for your hair type — especially if it’s colored or highlighted — to ensure your strands are getting the optimal amount of moisture and nutrients. The same goes for styling products. You also don’t want formulas that leave a residue or buildup that could lead to dryness.

Excessive Use of Hot Tools

While we love a good blow-dry style or sea-swept waves, excessive use of hot tools can cause dry, heat-damaged hair that appears dull and brittle. 

Not Getting Regular Trims

Infrequent trimming or cutting can lead to split ends, which gives the hair a drier look and feel. 

Environmental Stressors

While you have less control over what Mother Earth has in store, ultraviolet exposure, wind, and excessive heat can lead to dryness. 

Salt Water and Chlorine

Chlorine and the salts in ocean water damage the cuticle and dry out your hair, leading to breakage. 

How to Moisturize Thirsty Tresses

Dry tresses? That’s okay! It happens to all of us. Here are our eight go-to tips to restore and rehydrate parched strands. 

Featured: Better Natured®’s Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner

Tip #1: Use the Right Haircare Products

Moisturizing dry hair starts with the right products, such as Better Natured®’s Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. Since our shampoos are SLS/SLES-free (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate free), we replaced these ingredients with clean synthetic surfactants to create a rich lather. This formula is perfect for leaving dry hair feeling soft and moisturized. For salon-worthy results, quench dry hair with our hydrating conditioner, which makes moisture-sapped strands feel repaired. 

Give your hair a spritz of Better Natured®’s Hydrating Leave-In Milk for an extra moisture boost. It’s a multi-tasking product that hydrates, softens, detangles, smooths, amps up shine, and protects against your hot tools while providing all-day moisture. Use our Damage Repair Strengthening Leave-In Cream for parched, brittle, and damaged strands. This lightweight leave-in hair cream smooths and strengthens* hair while resisting frizz-inducing humidity for over 24 hours. Shielded from future damage, your hair will feel 3X stronger* and more resilient. 

*Against combing breakage on damaged hair vs. a non-conditioning shampoo.

Carve out a little extra time (approximately three to five minutes minimum) to use a deep conditioning treatment like Better Natured®’s Moisture Replenishing Masque, infused with protective lipids that mimic those found in naturally healthy hair. It provides dry, brittle, or over-processed tresses an epic dose of moisture while taking the struggle out of detangling and making combing a lot easier — 14 times to be exact.

Tip #2: Layer Your Products in the Correct Order

How you layer your haircare products is also essential. Apply any leave-in conditioning products before any styling aids to effectively soak into damp — not sopping wet — hair more efficiently while providing a foundation for your styling products. 

Tip #3: Shampoo Less Frequently 

Try to avoid the temptation to wash your hair every single day. Invest in moisture-wicking hair bands to absorb extra moisture if you're a workout enthusiast. Rely on hats and scarves as go-to accessories when your hair feels less than fresh. On non-wash days, sprinkle a little of our Fresh Dry Shampoo Powder to absorb oil between washes and boost the life of blowouts. It leaves no trace of white residue behind — just that feel of freshly lathered hair in no time flat.

Tip #4: Protect Your Hair From the Elements

Live in a dry climate? Headed on a sunny beach vacation? Protect your tresses from dryness by wearing a hat or head scarf. Keep your hair moisturized with our Hydrating Leave-In Milk.

Tip #5: Prep Your Tresses Before Taking a Dip

Before taking a dip in the pool or ocean, protect your tresses from the dryness of chlorine or salt water by wearing a swim cap or applying a generous amount of our Color Care Deep Conditioning Balm or Damage Repair Strengthening Leave-In Cream. Don’t forget to adequately moisturize your hair after your swim, too. 

Tip #6: Get Regular Trims

Styling, frequent brushing, and chemical treatments can lead to dry, split ends that make tresses appear frizzy. Don’t neglect to get regular trims. Aim for a trim every eight to 10 weeks to maintain your length. If you are trying to grow your hair, try to get away with it every 12-16 weeks, providing the health of your hair is not compromised. 

Featured: Fresh Dry Shampoo Powder

Tip #7: Take a Break from Hot Tools

Lay off the hot tools when you can. As mentioned, high heat can accelerate fading.

Plan ahead, let your hair dry (perhaps shooting the roots with some heat for volume), and straighten and curl when necessary. Extend your look with dry shampoo, keep your hair in a loose bun or braids when sleeping, and invest in a silk pillowcase to keep frizzies at bay. You can also experiment with cool tools like Velcro rollers, foam rollers, ribbon wraps, and soft pillow rollers. 

Tip #8: Space Out Your Chemical Treatments

There’s no need to avoid coloring your hair. Even if you’re coloring your hair at home, wait at least four to six weeks between your next session. If you’re using the right products for dry hair, you can keep your hair hydrated and lustrous.