9 Reasons Your Hair Is So Dry in the Winter and How to Fix It

In a world where shiny, bouncy, lush hair is the ultimate goal, dry, brittle hair can feel like such a bummer. To add insult to injury, many of the most coveted hair colors and styles can actually lead to more dehydrated strands. Such is the reality of chemical and heat damage, not to mention tension-related breakage. So, what’s a girl (or guy) to do? Gain a firm understanding of why your hair is so dry in the first place.

Here, stylists, trichologists, and a dermatologist break down the causes dry hair, how to nurture dehydrated strands, and when professional intervention may be necessary.

Meet Our Expert

• Adam Federico is the vice president of technical education at R+Co.

• Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist, hair colorist, and founder RootCauseScalpAnalysis®️.

• Franck Izquierdo is the cofounder of IGK Hair Care and the owner of IGK Salons.

• Iris Rubin, M.D. is a Harvard-trained dermatologist and the founder of SEEN.

• Kerry E. Yates is a certified trichologist and the founder of Colour Collective,

Common Causes

Dry hair might seem as simple as a lack of moisture in your strands, but common causes of dry hair stretch beyond whether or not you’re conditioning enough. According to trichologist Bridgette Hill, a VERB partner, dry hair is the result of both internal and external factors. Cause

• Chemical damage

• Harsh haircare products

• Hairstyling habits

• Prescription medicine intake

• Diet/nutrition

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

• Hormonal imbalance

• Age

• Genetics
  

IGK Hair Care co-founder Franck Izquierdo agrees, noting that overwashing the hair, using harsh ingredients, and heat styling too frequently (and especially without protection) can wreak havoc on the hair.  “Washing hair too often strips natural oils, leaving it dry and prone to breakage, and using shampoos with sulfates or sodium chloride can dehydrate the hair by removing too much oil,” he explains. “And frequent use of hot tools like straighteners or curling irons can damage the hair cuticle and cause moisture loss.”

But that’s not all. According to Izquierdo, dry hair can also be the result of cold weather exposure. “During colder months, the dry air pulls moisture from the hair, leading to brittleness and frizz,” he explains. “Cold air can also slightly lift the hair cuticle, preventing moisture from staying locked in.”

While much of the conversation on dry hair surrounds the strands, R+Co Vice President of Technical Education, Adam Federico, says it’s important to consider the scalp, too. “Scalp health can also play a role in dehydration—if the scalp isn’t functioning correctly, hair can become dehydrated and dull,” he explains. 

Here’s where it gets tricky: Treating your scalp for dryness can actually lend to drier strands if not done so with care. “When managing unwanted scalp conditions such as dry scalp, flakiness, or dandruff, most over-the-counter and prescription topicals and shampoos help manage the scalp condition yet deplete moisture from the hair fibers causing dry frizzy hair,” Hill points out. “The reality is that dry flaky scalps need moisture just as much as actives to combat flakes. Haircare solutions like dandruff shampoo are essential to offering a one-step formulation that does not compromise the hydration and care of hair fiber while combating flakiness yet retaining the moisture of both the scalp microbiome and hair.”

How hair type effects dryness.

All hair types can experience dryness. That said, all of the stylists and trichologists we spoke with agree that curly, coily hair types are the most susceptible. “Curly hair is naturally drier, which means it requires more intense moisture replenishment—without proper care, curls can become frizzy, brittle, and prone to breakage,” says Harvard-trained dermatologist and the founder of SEEN, Dr. Iris Rubin. “The shape of the strands makes it challenging for oil to travel down the hair shaft.”

Fine hair is also susceptible to becoming dehydrated. “Fine hair can easily become dry and brittle, especially if it’s exposed to excessive washing, heat styling, or chemical processing,” Rubin warns.

Another reason fine hair becomes dry? It gets overwhelmed by styling products. “While it’s easier for oil to move down straight strands, fine hair is more prone to buildup from frequent washing or styling products, which can strip the hair of moisture over time,” Federico points out. 

How to moisturize dry hair.

Caring for dry hair is all about being gentle with every aspect of your haircare routine from washing and styling, all the way down to the way you sleep on it.

For starters, Izquierdo says to limit how much you suds your strands. “Wash your hair only one to two times a week to preserve natural oils,” he suggests. 

While in the shower, Federico says to be mindful of the products you use. “Stick to a haircare routine to combat stressors,” he says. “Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid, which attracts and locks in water molecules. Coconut oil extract and sunflower seed extract penetrate deep into the hair shaft to soften and moisturize, while vitamin E both conditions and acts as an antioxidant, which will prevent damage incurred due to environmental stressors.”

In addition to a solid hydrating shampoo and conditioner combo, Federico recommends incorporating a weekly mask. “Hair masks are formulated with higher concentrations of active ingredients designed to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft,” he explains. “They often include added proteins and oils, which work to repair and nourish the hair from within, addressing issues like dryness, damage, and brittleness.”

Outside of the shower, Rubin recommends forgoing heat styling in favor of air-drying. “In an ideal world, skipping the heat styling altogether would be the best way to care for dry hair, but I understand that’s not an option for most of us,” she admits. “When possible try to minimize heat. Otherwise, use the lowest setting that works for your hair with a heat styling tool, and always use a heat protectant before reaching for the blow dryer, curling iron, or flat iron. These products create a barrier between the heat and your hair, reducing moisture loss and preventing damage.”

You’ll also want to be conscious of how you style your hair. Overall, Hill says easing tension is a must for dry hair. “Everything from too-tight ponytails to braids and cornrows can put excess tension on the hair fiber,” she warns. “Excess stress on the hair fiber prevents the hair from retaining moisture.” As such, she recommends switching up your style every day. “Try wearing a high ponytail one day and a low ponytail the next,” she suggests. And whenever possible, opt for gentler hair accessories, such as claw clips or silk scrunchies.

Additionally, Hill says to be extra gentle when brushing your hair. While a lighter hand helps, the brush you use is most important. “Choose a boar bristle brush or one that has a mix of plastic and boar’s hair bristles,” she says. “The idea is to stay away from metal brushes, which can abrasive to hair fiber and scalps.”

Lastly, make sure to bolster your beauty sleep for your strands. “Use satin and silk pillowcases to keep the cuticle flat and seal in moisture,” Hill recommends. “You can also sleep in pre-shampoo treatments applied to dry, dirty hair to aid in protecting the hair fibers from being stripped of oils, as well as to encourage the cuticle layers to remain as intact as possible.”

Ingredients to prioritize (and avoid) for dry hair.

We briefly touched on a few ingredients that nourish and aggravate dry hair. Trichologist Kerry E. Yates, founder of Colour Collective, offers a handful more worth working into your routine, plus a few to steer clear of.

Beneficial Ingredients for Dry Hair

• Tamanu Oil provides deep hydration to the strands, enhances the hair's natural luster, and makes it easy to work with, Yates says.

• Aloe Vera is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture to the strands and makes them supple and pliable, Yates says.

• Panthenol, or vitamin B5, helps hair retain moisture, according to Yates.

• Glycerin draws moisture to the strands while also creating a protective barrier, Yates says. 
  

Damaging Ingredients for Dry Hair

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine is often used in place of sulfates. It can cause contact dermatitis, leading to an itchy and inflamed scalp and over time, follicle damage, Yates says.

• Sodium Chloride (aka salt) is a cheap filler that can dehydrate the hair and scalp. Yates says.

• Silicones can clog the follicles and weigh down fine, thin hair, making it appear oily and lifeless, Yates says.
  

When to seek professional help.

Dry hair can feel like a major downer but it’s important to be patient with the process of rehabbing it. “Depending on hair type and texture, establishing deep treatment routines consistently for four to 12 weeks allows for the hair fibers to retain the proper balance of moisture, lipids, and proteins necessary for proper hydration,” Hill says.  

With that in mind, if you’re being gentle with your strands—washing less often, using hydrating products, and brushing with care—and you’re still experiencing dry, breakage-prone strands, it’s time to consult a stylist, trichologist, or dermatologist. A stylist will be able to determine if your haircare routine is to blame, while trichologists and dermatologists can suss out any underlying skin or hormonal factors affecting your strands. 

The Takeaway

“Hair is a fabric, not a living cell or organ, and therefore has no true ‘health quotient,’” Hill says. “Hair strands are literal protein threads, once they protrude out of the hair follicle, it becomes a fine fabric. Hair can be pretty, shiny, strong, and well-cared for.  I equate hair fiber care to dry cleaning. Think about how we treat our delicate and luxury fabric items. Hair fiber, through my lens as a trichologist and running philosophy, should be treated like the delicate customized textile that it is.”

In other words, be gentle and preventative. “Prevent further damage by adjusting the hairstyling habits that created the problem and implement practices that promote hair health and nourishment to the hair fiber,” Hill says. 

“It’s all about understanding your hair type and tweaking your care routine to keep it balanced and hydrated,” Federico adds. “Look for indicators of an unhealthy scalp, such as itchiness, flaking, and even dehydrated hair—but also, try to give your scalp some TLC before it reaches this point. Create a scalp and hair routine similar to the skincare routine that you currently have. For example, shampoo, conditioner, scalp tonic, hair serum, and/or heat protector for daily use, and a scalp scrub and mask for weekly use.” 

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