How To Hydrate Hair

9/01/2024

We all want bouncy, shiny, lustrous locks and we know that proper hydration is key - but getting your hair care routine just right can be a tricky feat. Hair damage can creep up on you quicker than you might think, making once-hydrated hair look dry and dull. Luckily, you don’t need to accept dehydrated hair or make drastic changes to your hair - hasty chops included! Moisturising your locks to achieve shine and bounce can be straightforward with the right tips and tricks. No matter your hair type, learn how to have hydrated hair with simple product swaps and technique tweaks.

What does dehydrated hair look like?

To properly hydrate hair, you first need to know what dehydrated locks look like, so a quick dip into hair science is in order. Each strand of hair consists of several layers: the outer layer is the cuticle which seals in natural oils (sebum). These act as a natural moisturiser and protectant for the hair. Sun exposure, over washing and chemical treatments like perms and lightening can all lead to lower levels of natural oils, causing dryness, frizz and breakage. Dehydrated hair tends have a flat, dull appearance and typically involves split ends. Luckily, shine and bounce can be brought back with hydrating hair products.

How to hydrate hair for all hair types

All hair types need a certain amount of added moisture, so developing a hair care routine centred around hydration can help you maintain gloss and growth all year round. You can also support your mane with some small tweaks to your hair care habits like these:

Seal in moisture with a nourishing hair oil like Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir.
On sunny days, protect your mane from UV rays with a hat or scarf.
Trim down on heat styling by letting your strands air dry every now and then.
Reap the benefits of heat protectant spray before styling with hot tools.

Next, get the breakdown on how to have hydrated hair for each hair type.

How to hydrate dry hair

An intensely nourishing hair mask is one of the most powerful steps to hydrate dry and frizzy hair. With a weightless formula made from 98% natural origin ingredients, Fructis Hair Food Aloe Vera Hair Mask is a multi-use product that leaves a smooth, shiny finish.

Pamper dry locks with a weekly dose of moisture by applying the mask to the lengths of wet hair after shampoo, then rinse after 5 minutes.
Give a badly dehydrated mane a little extra TLC by switching out your regular conditioner for Fructis Hair Food Aloe Vera Hair Mask.
Touch up moisture between washes by using the mask as a leave in conditioner, focussing on the mid-lengths and ends.

How to hydrate curly hair

Natural curls are generally drier than straight locks, and each strand might have a stronger cuticle – so you can be a little more generous with conditioner. But to prevent that weighed down look, strategic application is the key to caring for curly locks. Keep curls bouncy and soft with natural formulas, like the completely vegan, deeply nourishing Fructis Aloe Vera Hair Food Conditioner. Use a wide toothed comb to evenly distribute the product through your mane, starting at the hair ends and working your way up to avoid pulling and tugging from the root. After rinsing, flip your head over and scrunch your locks upwards to encourage the return of your curls – then air dry to so they stay intact.

How to hydrate coarse & thick hair

Hydrating coarse, thick hair can be difficult for two reasons: thick hair means dense growth, so making sure every strand is covered in whatever hydrating product you’re using takes time. Coarse strands typically have a low porosity – so water doesn’t penetrate the hair fibre easily. Learning how to use a hair mask is one of the best things you can do to hydrate hair with low porosity and high density. A deeply nourishing, high performance conditioning mask might become your hair’s new best friend. The Fructis Hair Food Nourishing Banana Hair Mask is specifically designed for dry hair types using 98% natural origin ingredients that can deliver intense moisture to coarse, thick locks.

How to hydrate fine hair

It’s easy to use too much hair product by accident, but it can have a major impact on fine hair – weighing your locks down and resulting in a drab, flat look. Learning how to use a shampoo bar makes it easy to control how much product goes onto your hair, which can be a game changer for fine strands. If you have fine locks, thirsty for moisture, hydrate hair with the nourishing vegan formula of Aloe Vera Hair Food 2-in-1 Shampoo Bar. Simply wet both your mane and the shampoo bar, then massage through the roots and lengths before rinsing to hydrate hair and reveal softer, healthier looking locks.

Now you know how to hydrate your hair, take your mane to the next level by learning how to get thicker, healthier hair.