Frizz, split ends, breakage, and a coarser texture are all telltale signs of dry hair. If you’re like me, you may have a naturally drier hair type, or your strands could be dehydrated due to excessive color processing and heat exposure. If this sounds like you, there’s one haircare hero product you need to add to your lineup: moisturizing conditioner for frizzy hair.
Hydrating conditioners are loaded with natural butters, botanicals, and other nourishing ingredients that help lock in hydration to restore luster, softness and brilliant shine to thirsty locks.
In this post I’ll delve into the causes of dry hair and share the very best hydrating conditioners for dry and frizzy hair.
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What Causes Dry Hair?
Dry hair typically feels rough and looks dull. Moreover, it can be tough to style and split ends become more visible. While some people are born with naturally drier hair types, your hair can become parched and brittle due to many external factors. Here are a few possible culprits:
Wrong Hair Wash Routine
Many shampoos and conditioners contain harsh ingredients like sulfates and alcohol, which can strip your hair of its natural oils and leave it feeling dry, frizzy, and prone to breakage. Additionally, washing your hair too frequently or with too hot water can make your hair dull and dry. It's important to prioritize hydrating conditioners and masks to soak your strands in much-needed moisture.
Damage Due to Bleach or Heat Styling
Chemical treatments such as bleaching or frequent heat styling with irons and blow dryers can cause significant damage to your hair. These processes can strip your strands of moisture, weaken the protein structure, and make your hair more prone to breakage. If you frequently color or heat style your hair, don’t forget to use protective products and give your hair regular deep conditioning treatments to restore hydration and prevent further damage.
Weather and Sun Exposure
Environmental factors can also contribute to dry hair. Dry, frigid temperatures, as well as low humidity, can zap moisture from your hair. Additionally, excessive exposure to the sun's UV rays can damage the hair cuticles, making your mane vulnerable to dryness and breakage. Consistently using a moisturizing conditioner and UV-protective hair products to shield your strands from the elements can help maintain your hair’s moisture balance.
How to Choose a Hydrating Conditioner
If you’re like me and struggle with dry, dehydrated strands, a high-quality conditioner formulated for dry hair will become your beauty routine BFF. Here I’ll breakdown how to choose the best moisturizing conditioner for your hair to get your strands looking shiny, healthy, and hydrated:
Identify Your Hair Type
Start with the basics. Wash your hair and allow it to air dry. Once it’s completely dry, observe your strands to determine your natural hair type:
- Straight: no texture or curl
- Wavy: loose, S-shaped curls
- Curly: well-defined curls with varying levels of tightness
- Coily: tight, densely packed coils or spirals
To gain a deeper understanding of your hair type, it’s important to explore your hair structure as well. Take a moment to rub a strand of hair back and forth between your fingertips. If the sensation is subtle or barely noticeable, your hair is likely fine. If you can distinctly feel the hair between your fingers, your hair structure is medium. If the strands feel substantial and noticeable, you have coarse hair.
Identify Your Hair Porosity
Hair porosity is your hair’s ability to soak up and retain products and moisture. You can easily determine if you have low, medium, or high porosity hair by conducting a simple at-home hair porosity test. Here’s how it’s done:
Wash your hair to eliminate any lingering product residue. After your hair is clean and dry, pluck a single strand and place it in a glass of water. If the strand floats to the top of the glass, your hair has low porosity. If the strand swiftly sinks to the bottom, you have high porosity hair. And if the strand hovers in the middle, gradually descending through the water, your hair is most likely medium (or normal) porosity.
Consider Hair Damage and Hydration Levels
When selecting the best hydrating conditioner for your hair, it’s important to consider any existing hair damage you might have. If you regularly process your hair with bleach and color, or use hot tools, your hair is likely on the drier side and potentially suffers from breakage and split ends — so you’ll want to choose a repairing and moisturizing conditioner that can specifically tackle those issues.
Also, consider your protein and hydration levels. Is your hair very lank and gummy-like (meaning it lacks protein), or dry and brittle? Balancing protein and moisture is essential, so the best hydrating conditioners for frizzy hair often contain both.
Best Ingredients and What to Avoid
The best moisturizing conditioners for dry or frizzy hair will deeply hydrate, seal the cuticles for optimal moisture retention, while shielding your strands from future damage. Here are the best ingredients to look for and what you should avoid:
- Natural and organic ingredients, preferably vegan-certified
- Hydrating oils and butters
- Humectants like glycerin or Aquaxyl™ to draw moisture in
- Strengthening micro-proteins to repair damaged cuticles and improve moisture retention
- Antioxidant-rich and protective plant extracts to shield from further damage and dryness
If you’re looking for the best conditioner for dry and frizzy hair I recommend staying away from silicones, sulfates, mineral oils, and parabens. These ingredients can contribute to dryness and product buildup.
The Best Conditioner for Frizzy, Porous Hair
Meet your hair's ultimate hydration station: Moisture Hero™ Conditioner. Formulated to replenish moisture to parched, frizzy, and coarse hair types, this deeply nourishing conditioner for dry hair nurtures thirsty strands to leave you with soft, shiny, and frizz-free locks. Organic pomegranate extract, jojoba seed oil, Theobroma cacao seed butter, and powerful Aquaxyl™ boost hydration, while prebiotic inulin and vegan micro-proteins strengthen the cuticle to lock in moisture. That makes it the best conditioner for frizzy hair with high porosity if you ask me. For best results, pair it with the ultra-hydrating Moisture Hero™ Shampoo.
The Best Conditioner for Dry, Brittle Hair
If you’re prone to breakage and split ends, Split Fix™ Conditioner is the perfect formula for you. This hydrating conditioner for dry hair forms a protective shield around brittle strands, while natural botanicals like organic aloe vera, cocoa butter, and acai deeply nourish from within. Fatty acids from jojoba esters work their magic to combat split ends while reducing further damage and fraying. The result? Luscious, high-gloss locks that will grow long and healthy without breaking.
This protein-free conditioner is perfect for those looking for an extra hydration boost if protein heavy products make your hair brittle.
Extra tip: You'll save 15% by purchasing it together with the gentle Split Fix™ Shampoo, when choosing the Duo pack.
The Best Conditioner for Dry Curls
Are you gifted with natural curls, waves, coils? If so, I’ve found the best moisturizing conditioner for your beautifully textured locks. Curl Crush™ Conditioner is a hydrating conditioner that works for all curl patterns. Blended with moisturizing botanicals like organic aloe vera and bamboo extract as well as strengthening rice protein, this formula fortifies and softens curls, boosts definition, and minimizes frizz. For best results, use it with Curl Crush™ Shampoo.
Or if you’re looking to take a break from your go-to curl shampoo, I recommend trying a low-lather cleansing conditioner (A.K.A: co-wash) like Curl Crush™ Co-Wash to gently cleanse your hair and scalp while replenishing much-needed moisture to your curls.
The Best Conditioner for Dry Bleached Hair
From beachy balayage to glamorous platinum, blonde is certainly fun! However, regularly bleaching your hair comes with its setbacks: this harsh chemical damages the hair bonds and weakens your strands, making them more likely to split and snap.
A deeply moisturizing conditioner is key for combating the unwelcome side effects of bleach. Enter: Enriched Blonde™ Silver Conditioner. This creamy purple conditioner for dry, bleached hair uses a unique violet-colored pigment to neutralize yellow, orange, and brassy tones, while moisturizing ingredients leave bleach-damaged locks looking and feeling healthier, shinier, and stronger than ever. For optimal brightening results use it in combination with Enriched Blonde™ Silver Shampoo.
The Best Hydrating Conditioner for Thin Hair
Ready to make thinning hair a thing of the past? Grow Perfect™ Conditioner can help. Blended with active ingredients like AnaGain™, energizing caffeine, and organic rosemary oil, this hydrating conditioner wraps limp strands in lightweight moisture and helps slow down excessive shedding by boosting blood circulation and stimulating hair growth. I suggest pairing it with the sulfate-free Grow Perfect™ Shampoo for a targeted multi-step routine that helps stop hair loss in its tracks.
The Best Moisturizing Volume Conditioner
Many have the misconception that well-moisturized locks and bouncy volume cannot be achieved simultaneously. I thought so too until trying Volume Wizard™ Conditioner. This lightweight hydrating conditioner for fine hair makes your hair soft and nourished while adding airy volume thanks to its content of wheat protein, glycerin and shea butter. As it has a lightweight, non-greasy formula it works great for fine or low porosity hair. For maximum body, pair it up with Volume Wizard™ Shampoo.
Common Mistakes with Using Conditioner
When it comes to using conditioner, we may think we have it all figured out — but there are still some common mistakes to avoid. Here some common pitfalls to avoid when applying a hydrating conditioner:
Applying to the Roots
The golden rule: avoid applying conditioner for dry hair directly to the scalp, unless you're using a specialized product like Scalp Delight™ Detox Conditioner, which contains lightweight oils, and can be applied to your scalp without weighing hair down.
Not Squeezing out Excess Water
Don’t apply conditioner to soaking wet hair as the product tends to slide off. This prevents proper penetration and coating of the hair fibers. Before applying conditioner be sure to wring out any excess water from your mane.
Rinsing Immediately
Allow the moisturizing conditioner to work its magic by leaving it on for at least 2 minutes before rinsing. This gives the product enough time to penetrate and nourish your hair.
Not Detangling
If you have thick or curly hair, comb the conditioner through your strands to ensure even distribution and better product absorption. It's also the perfect moment to gently detangle your curls and minimize frizz.
Ignoring the Instructions
Always read the instructions on the bottle, as different products may have specific guidelines and usage recommendations tailored to their unique formulations.
Hydrating Deep and Leave-in Conditioners
When it comes to managing excessively dry or frizzy hair, even the best moisturizing conditioner might not be enough. To douse your locks with extra nourishment, incorporating leave-in conditioners, hair oils, and hydrating masks into your routine is essential.
Like when choosing a daily moisturizing conditioner, you need to target your specific hair type and texture when choosing the right deep conditioning hair mask. Moisture Hero™ Hair Mask provides deep hydration to dry and frizzy hair, whereas Curl Crush™ Hair Mask works wonders to balance moisture and protein levels on textured hair types. If your hair is looking limp and lifeless, try Protein Repair™ Hair Mask to diminish breakage and provide long-lasting strength.
If you’re dealing with exceptionally dehydrated strands, the best leave-in conditioners for dry hair like Split Fix™ Leave-in Conditioner will help replenish moisture and stop split ends from worsening. If pesky flyaways and frizz are a constant battle, use a conditioner for frizzy hair in tandem with a nourishing botanical-packed hair oil such as Moisture Hero™ Hair Oil to smooth coarse hair and frizz.
5 Extra Tips to Care for Dry Hair
You’ve now done the work and found the best conditioner for your dry and frizzy hair. But there are a few other helpful tips you can follow to keep your locks looking shiny, hydrated, and sensationally smooth. Here’s what I recommend:
1. Avoid Heat
Minimize heat styling as much as possible. Opt for heatless styling techniques or, if you must use heat, always apply a heat protectant beforehand to shield your hair from damage.
2. Dry Right
When drying your hair, take a gentle approach. Avoid rough towel-drying, which can cause friction and lead to frizz. Instead, use a soft bamboo hair towel or an old T-shirt to blot and squeeze out excess moisture.
3. Brush Gently
Handle your hair with care when brushing, especially if you have curls. Detangle knots gently, preferably when your hair is wet and coated with hydrating conditioner to prevent breakage and preserve the integrity of your curls.
4. Skip a Wash
Avoid over-washing your hair, as frequent washing can strip away natural oils and exacerbate dryness. Find a washing frequency that works for your hair type and consider incorporating natural dry shampoos or co-washing as alternative options to refresh your mane between washes.
5. Do a Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Consider incorporating treatments like Moisture Hero™ Pre-Shampoo Balm into your routine. These moisture-boosting treatments, applied before shampooing, offer additional nourishment and hydration, further preparing your hair for the cleansing process.
By using the best conditioner for dry and frizzy hair and following these essential tips, your locks will be looking smooth, shiny, and wonderfully frizz-free in no time.
