Lock in Moisture: The Best Conditioners for Dry Hair

Dry hair is never a cause for alarm. In fact, it could be your hair’s normal state, and that’s a-okay. What matters is that you’re using the right products to support dryness with the most effective ingredients so your thirsty locks won’t turn into damaged chaos. That’s why using the best conditioners for dry hair should be essential to your hair care routine. Get ready for the silkiest, healthiest hair of your dreams. But first, here’s what might be causing your strands to be particularly parched.

Reasons for Needing the Best Conditioners for Dry Hair

There are several reasons for hair to be dry or become dry; therefore, it’s a very common occurrence. Curly hair types are especially familiar with feeling less softness than those with normal or oily hair. This is because our scalp is responsible for naturally sealing and softening each strand by producing a waxy substance called sebum. And in curly hair, sebum hangs around at the scalp instead of moving down the hair shaft.

Trying to brush this important oil through a dry head of curls is a recipe for frizz and breakage. It’s also not recommended by experts. Other causes of dry hair are mostly lifestyle-related:

• Chemical processes (color, highlights, perms, etc.)
• Heat styling
• Dry climates and sun exposure
• Saltwater and chlorinated water
• Excessive shampooing/using drying shampoos
• A medical issue may cause dry hair, so check with your doctor to confirm

Finally, not using conditioner to replace all that lost moisture is why your hair feels brittle and like a handful of hay. No judgment here, but never shampoo your hair without replenishing it with the best conditioners for dry hair. Here are the top picks that will suit your specific needs.

The Best Conditioners for Dry Hair

For General Dryness – Whether you’ve been spending lots of time at the beach or need an everyday conditioner that’ll work for all occasions, throw Davines’ MOMO Moisturizing Conditioner into your rotation. It’s lightweight but concentrated, so you can customize how much product to work through your dehydrated mane.

Davines sources its key ingredients from small farms to support environmentally friendly practices. The benefits of their sustainable practices get passed on to your hair from vitamin A and C-rich Cartucciaru melon and jojoba oils and extracts. Panthenol and glycerin also plump and strengthen hair with optimal hydration and softness. Consider this your all-purpose choice among the best conditioners for dry hair.

Get Defined Curls – From waves to coils, hair elasticity is important for every type of curly hair. Healthy elasticity means that hair can stretch and spring back when you pull down on a curl, so hair is strong enough to hold up to regular handling and heat styling. Support this vital component with Davines’ LOVE Smoothing Conditioner.

It helps define curls and control frizz by imparting incredible moisture and nutrients. Its key ingredient is the sustainably sourced Minuta olive from Italy, which provides additional support from fatty acids and antioxidants. Use this conditioner for a satisfying, bouncy comb out, and leave it in for up to 10 minutes for a deep weekly treatment.

A Fine Boost – Those with fine hair usually need to find effective products that add volume but not weight. This holds true for the best conditioners for dry hair as well. Fine hair can still get rich moisture without sacrificing the life and movement of texture that usually has difficulty holding a style.

The UNITE Boosta Conditioner allows hair to maintain volume by allowing its vegan ingredients to work on the entire length of the strands from root to tip. This tropically-scented formula checks all the boxes of a nourishing conditioner with its combination of softening argan oil, shea butter, and additional hydrating cruelty-free botanicals. Use the entire Boosta line for maximum sustained volume and multidimensional shine for fine hair.

Blonde Maintenance – Can a product be among the best conditioners for dry hair if it can’t multitask? Tackle dryness and maintain your brightest blondes and foxiest silvers with Sachajuan’s Silver Conditioner. It has a violet hue to neutralize yellowing and brassiness that might occur from sun or heat exposure. And this silky conditioner benefits your tresses, whether natural or out of a bottle. You’ll also get nourishing hydration, maximum shine, and UV protection from algae extract and antioxidants that protect your color long after you’ve left the shower.

Intense Damage Repair – Brittle hair, spit ends, and dullness are signs that you’re dealing with more than just run-of-the-mill dryness. Damaged hair can be a huge bummer, but along with using the best conditioners for dry hair, there are plenty of ways to overcome it without having to chop all your length off (although regular haircuts should still be on the agenda).

The award-winning Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner will take your hair a step closer to recovery with patented technology that replaces the broken bonds that are apparent in splits and forks along the hair shaft. This pH-balanced conditioner may be used daily for intense repair and offers noticeable improvements in manageability and shine. And it only takes three minutes with each application before rinsing.

If you don’t need such serious repair, use a protein-rich conditioner that will fortify hair against further damage. R+CO’s Atlantis Moisturizing Conditioner has the vegetable proteins, rice bran, and amino acids you’re seeking. This triple-threat vegan conditioner also contains panthenol, maracuja, and acai seed oils to lock in moisture, and it has a scent that’ll take your mind into a tranquil space. This is where it will remain, knowing your hair’s health is fully supported.

Need More Moisture?

You can complement the best conditioners for dry hair by also using a moisturizing shampoo, a routine hair mask, a leave-in conditioner, or styling cream. They all work together to keep hair soft and hydrated regardless of your lifestyle. You can learn more about these products and how to use them at our Beauty Resource Center. And speaking of lifestyle, make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods as well! Your hair will be quenched from the inside out.