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14 Shampoos and Conditioners That Hydrate Dry Hair

 

Dry hair is no joke. When left untreated, it can potentially lead to damage and breakage. To prevent this, it’s important to repair and nourish dry hair from the start—before it could get worse. “Dry hair is mainly caused by heat styling, chemical salon services, sun exposure, and cleaning hair too frequently,” explains Amy Abramite, creative director and stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

To combat this, look for a power-packed shampoo and conditioner that specifically target dryness. You’ll want ultra-moisturizing ingredients, like coconut oil and shea butter, as well as strengthening ingredients like biotin and panthenol. And make sure to follow up with a conditioner for an extra boost of hydration.

Here, the best shampoos and conditioners for dry hair.

 

Best Overall: Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo

Thirsty strands won’t know what hit ‘em with this replenishing shampoo. Infused with shea butter and aloe vera juice, it softens and conditions in just one wash. Apply from roots to ends, and be extra assertive when massaging your scalp to help dislodge any buildup or residue.

Pair it with the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Conditioner (view at Ulta) for the best results.

Best for Scalp Health: WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

The secret to healthy strands? A healthy scalp. Detoxify the root of your hair with this apple-cider-infused shampoo. It essentially clears the scalp of debris and buildup to promote better hair growth. And, with keratin proteins, it nourishes your hair to improve manageability and elasticity.

Pair it with the WOW Apple Cider Conditioner, which is included in this set.

“Break the daily habit of shampooing every day and shampoo every few days to ensure maximum moisture retention,” explains Abramite. “Place shampoo at the scalp and lather where oil tends to build up and skip the ends. Let the suds run over the remaining strands instead of placing it directly on the ends for a gentler cleanse.” This will help you keep more of your hair's natural oils. 

Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

You may think of Olaplex as a brand synonymous with damage control—and you’d be right. This daily shampoo acts as a master repairer, fixing hair issues with a formula coveted by hairstylists and colorists. What users love the most is how healthy their hair feels after washing. Just remember that a little goes a long way with this potent formula. 

Pair it with Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (view at Sephora) for the best results.

Best for Split Ends: Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Shampoo

No matter the weather, this smoothening shampoo formula prevents frizz and split ends. Get a load of vitamin-rich sea buckthorn berry, the hero ingredient that fortifies and repairs your hair. And as an added perk, omega-7 helps to promote the production of collagen for better-feeling hair.

Pair it with Amika Velveteen Dream Anti-Frizz Smoothing Conditioner (view at Sephora) for the best results.

Best for Frizz: Davines LOVE Shampoo

There's nothing wrong with frizz, but some would prefer a smoother look and that's fine too. With dryness often comes frizziness, so reach for this shampoo that tackles both. When lathered up, it gives hair a gentle cleanse and deposits natural active ingredients that help to bring back shine, elasticity, and smoothness. Reviewers found that with regular use their hair’s texture felt silkier and softer.

Pair it with Davines LOVE Conditioner (view at Davines) for the best results. 

Best for Fine Hair: Kérastase Paris Bain Volumifique

Fine, dry hair can be extra vulnerable. Treat it with a shampoo formula that thickens while it hydrates. Not only does it strengthen your strands, but it also encourages the hair fiber to expand for more volume.

Pair it with the Kérastase Resistance Conditioner for Damaged Hair (view at Sephora) for the best results.

Best for Thick Hair: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo

Thick hair, while enviable, comes with its challenges. Because there’s more hair, that means there’s likely more dryness and damage, especially at the ends of the hair. Combat those concerns with this innovative co-wash formula—it intensely cleanses for a clean scalp and deeply conditions for glossy, smooth strands.

Pair it with Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask (view at Sephora) for the best results.

Best for Curly Hair: Curls Dynasty Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo

Just one look at the ingredient list and you’ll know this shampoo is the right one for you. From organic aloe juice to avocado oil to organic cocoa butter, you’re getting a plethora of hydration from a variety of ingredients. Reviewers love that while it was moisturizing, it was effective at removing excess scalp buildup.

Pair it with Curls Dynasty Give Me Slip Blast Hydration Conditioner (view at Target) for the best results.

Best for Breakage: Leonor Greyl Paris Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou

Sometimes, you want your wash routine to feel less like a routine and more like an experience. And that’s where this ultra-creamy shampoo comes in. With a texture that feels like a conditioner, this formula breaks down and gets rid of debris, while ingredients, like collagen and silk protein, tame frizz and seal in hydration.

Pair it with the Leonor Greyl Crème de Soin à l’Amarante (view on Amazon) for the best results.

Best Splurge: Oribe Gold Lust Repair 7 Restore Shampoo

A combination of hair-loving ingredients—we’re talking notables like biotin and argan oil—is hiding within this vanity-worthy bottle. The formula does everything from hydrate your strands to smoothing out hair’s cuticle, so it’s an ideal pick to encourage overall hair health.

Pair it with Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner (view at DermStore) for the best results.

Best Drugstore: OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

One of my favorite go-to haircare brands is OGX—it’s affordable and effective. And this shampoo is no different. It delivers proteins derived from egg whites into your hair to help strengthen brittle strands while it moisturizes with organic coconut milk and coconut oils.

Pair it with OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner (view at Ulta) for the best results.

Best Budget: Garnier Whole Blends Replenishing Shampoo with Virgin-Pressed Olive Oil & Olive Leaf Extracts

The key ingredient olive oil restores softness and flexibility back to your hair in this gentle formula. Free of silicone, which can weigh hair down, the virgin-pressed olive oil and olive leaf breathe new life into your hair by moisturizing it from within.

Pair it with Garnier Whole Blends Leave-In Conditioner Legendary Olive (view at Walmart) for the best results.

Best for Shine: Drunk Elephant Cocomino Glossing Shampoo

Byrdie Associate Editor Holly Rhue loves this color-safe shampoo and we can see why. It features ingredients like a coconut amino acid blend for bounce and flexibility and panthenol, a pro-vitamin b5, for strength and manageability. Reviewers report that their hair felt squeaky clean after cleansing, but not stripped.

Pair it with Drunk Elephant Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner (view at Sephora) for the best results.

Best Sulfate-Free: Mielle Organics Babassu Conditioning Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Free of sulfates and parabens, this conditioning shampoo doesn’t strip hair of its natural oils and moisture. Instead, it delivers even more hydration by way of babassu oil, a fruit-derived moisturizer that penetrates the hair follicle and restores it.

Final Verdict

Look no further than these shampoos and conditioners to help revive your dry, tired strands into healthy, hydrated ones. Our top pick, Maui Moisture’s Heal + Hydrate Shea Butter Shampoo, instantly hydrates hair after only one wash due to it’s Infusion of shea butter and aloe vera juice. However, if your hair is extremely damaged, Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is your best bet. The super potent formula fixes strands with a formula raved on by hairstylists and colorists. Finally, if your hair has a ton of breakage, Leonor Greyl Paris Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou repairs breakage and increases hydration with ingredients like collagen and silk protein.

What To Look For In a Shampoo or Conditioner for Dry Hair

Hydrating Ingredients

To repair dry strands, Abramite recommends shampoos and conditioners that contain coconut oil, argan oil, and shea butter. “Coconut oil moisturizes and softens dull, coarse hair and prevents protein loss by nourishing and strengthening it with vitamins'', she explains. “Argan oil contains vitamin E for silky soft strands and shea butter locks in moisture with vitamins A and E to heal and seal the cuticle, preventing breakage.” 

Avoid Sulfates and Harsh Ingredients

Sulfates and other harsh ingredients strip hair of natural oils. They can be very drying, which is exactly what you're trying to avoid. You want the shampoo to increase moisture and repair hair, not do the opposite.