If you struggle with dry, damaged hair then you might be wondering what you can do to bring it back to its healthy, shiny state. Everything from environmental conditions to the wear and tear of everyday styling can contribute to dry and dull strands. If you’re ready to breathe some life into dry hair, you’re in luck because we’re covering everything you need to know, including:

• The signs of dry hair
• The causes of dry hair
• How to moisturize dry hair at home
• When to see a doctor about dry hair
• The best hair products for dry hair

What are the signs of dry hair?

When hair is dry, it’s lacking the proper moisture that it needs to keep it looking shiny and feeling silky smooth. Dry hair may look dull or feel rough to the touch, and it also might tangle more easily. If you’ve noticed your hair feeling staticky, that’s another indication your hair might be short on moisture.

What causes dry hair?

“Dry hair is most often due to improper or aggressive care and handling, but it can also be due to the lack of the proper amount of moisture and natural oils,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “Exposure to the sun, cold weather, overwashing your hair or washing with hot water can all leave your hair looking and feeling dry.” Exposure to pollution, chemicals or swimming in a chlorinated pool can also disrupt your hair’s natural oils.

How can I moisturize dry hair at home?

The best hair products for dry hair contain humectant ingredients that help draw moisture into your strands, as well as oils to help seal in that moisture and help improve the look of shinier, smoother hair. Hydrating shampoos, hair oils and styling creams are products you can use daily to help improve dry hair, while intensive treatments such as hair masks and conditioning treatments can be added to your routine when you’re in need of a boost of extra nourishment.

The 7 best hair products for dry hair

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner

Nourishing dry hair can start in the shower with this hydrating shampoo and conditioner from Pureology, a hair care brand specifically formulated for color-treated hair, which is known to struggle with dryness and brittleness. This product pair features Pureology’s Advanced Hydrating Micro-Emulsion Technology to help revitalize dry hair. . This hydrating shampoo also contains aloe and glycerin to help replenish lost moisture, while the conditioner helps protect and soften hair with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil.

L’ANZA Keratin Healing Oil Hair Treatment

Apply this styling oil to still-wet hair after shampooing and conditioning to help add shine, body and moisture. A formula of babassu seed oil to help hydrate hair, Abyssinian flower oil to aid in detangling and keratin to add shine makes it one of the best products for dry hair. It also contains antioxidant-rich coffee seed oil to help provide hair with natural protection against UV rays and environmental pollution.

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream

To infuse dry hair with moisture while adding shine and definition for styling, give this hydrating hair cream a try. Moroccanoil’s signature ingredient, argan oil, helps nourish dry hair, tames flyaways and gives hair lightweight hold for blow-drying or other heat-styling. It also has behentrimonium chloride, which is an ammonium salt that helps defrizz hair and tame static.

Redken All Soft Mega Hydramelt Leave-In Cream

Looking for lightweight moisture that won’t weigh your hair down? This fast-absorbing, moisture-boosting hair cream does the job with Redken’s own Nourish Complex, which contains aloe vera, glycerin and sacha inchi oil—derived from a protein-rich South American nut with star-shaped pods—to help infuse hair with much-needed hydration and lock it in for a softer, shinier look and feel. Just apply it to freshly washed, towel-dried hair before styling as usual, and we think you’ll agree it’s one of the best products for dry hair out there.

Phyto Specific Rich Hydrating Mask

If you have curly, coiled or relaxed hair that’s also dry, this hair mask is formulated just for your mane. A rich blend of shea butter, meadowfoam seed oil, castor oil along with clover honey and mallow extract works together to help balance your hair’s moisture content. Apply it to damp hair, comb through and then rinse after five to fifteen minutes. The result? Softer, smoother strands that tangle less and shine more.

Surface Bassu Hydrating Oil

If you appreciate multitasking products that help simplify your routine, this versatile oil deserves your attention. Not only is it one of the best products for dry hair, but you can also use it as a moisturizing body and face oil as well. The key ingredient is babassu oil, which is extracted from the seeds of babassu palm, which has earned the name “tree of life” for its potent moisturizing qualities.

Rene Furterer Tonucia Replumping Conditioning Mask

Specially formulated for mature hair that’s feeling dry, this gel mask contains tamarind seed extract, a plant-based hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate by drawing moisture into your strands. Orange peel oil helps seal in moisture and also gives this hair mask its signature citrus scent. After you wash and condition, apply it to towel-dried hair for two to five minutes before rinsing and styling per usual.

When to visit a doctor about dry hair

If you’re noticing an ongoing issue with dry hair, consider checking in with your primary care physician. “In some cases, dry hair can be a symptom of thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies or other issues, so your doctor can help rule out any underlying medical conditions,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Is your skin craving moisture as well? You can learn all about the hydrating powers of humectant moisturizers in our blog post “Hydration 101."