How to Moisturise Hair: Expert Tips for Hydrated, Healthy Strands

Dry, brittle hair is one of the most frustrating hair struggles. It looks dull, feels rough, and tangles or breaks at the lightest touch.

But before diving into solutions, let’s clear up a common misconception: hydration and moisturisation are not the same thing.

• Hydration means replenishing water inside the hair shaft (the cortex). It gives hair flexibility, softness, and bounce.
  

• Moisturisation means adding emollients/lubricity inside the hair shaft, PLUS sealing in the hydration (water) with oils, emollients, or film-forming ingredients so it doesn’t escape.
  

Think of it like this: hydration is the core “drink of water” your hair needs, while moisturisation is the “lid on the water bottle” that keeps it from evaporating.

Both are essential, but confusing them—or focusing only on one—can leave your hair either thirsty or heavy.

This guide will focus on how to moisturise hair effectively: first ensuring proper hydration and internal moisturisation, then locking it all in with the right products, treatments, and habits.

(If your concern is weakness or breakage rather than dryness, see our companion post on how to strengthen hair).

Understanding How to Moisturise Hair + Why it Matters

What is Hair Moisturisation?

Hair moisturisation is the process of adding lubricity to strands and, importantly, locking in hydration so strands stay supple and smooth. Without it, water inside the cortex evaporates quickly, leaving hair dry and brittle.

Importance of Moisturising Hair

When hair is properly moisturised, it:

• Maintains elasticity and resists breakage.
  

• Looks shiny, soft, and smooth.
  

• Is less prone to friction, frizz and tangles.
  

Without a “hydrophobic” seal of non-aqueous moisturisation (that is, non-water soluable material) vital hydration is lost almost as soon as it’s added.

That’s why a balanced hair care routine always includes both hydration (water-based products) and moisturisation (oils/emollients to seal).

Hair’s Natural Source of Moisturisation 

Our scalps produce natural moisturisation known as sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands attached to each hair follicle. As it’s secreted, sebum travels down the hair shaft, coating it with a thin, protective layer of oil.

This natural oil helps lock in moisture, add shine, and protect the hair from drying out or becoming brittle.

How much sebum your scalp produces is based on your genetic make-up and skin type. However — and this is key — the amount and effectiveness of sebum as a natural moisturiser for your hair depends on hair texture and length.

Identifying Hair Types and Moisturisation Needs

Different hair textures and strand configurations need different levels of moisturisation,

Straight Hair

Sebum travels easily down straight strands, which is why this hair type can often feel “greasy” within a day or two of washing. 

Light, hydrating conditioners applied sparingly are best for this hair type. 

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair has bends that slow sebum distribution, so it may feel dry in patches.

This hair texture benefits from evenly distributed light hydration and moisturisation to encourage waves and reduce frizz. 

Curly Hair

Curly hair naturally struggles with dryness because sebum has trouble traveling down the twists and turns of the shaft.

This hair type needs hydration to promote suppleness, internal lubricity to renew bounce and moisturisation to seal in softness and shine.

Coily Hair

Coily textures are the driest of all because tight curls make oil distribution nearly impossible.

These strands need intense hydration from humectants plus rich moisturisation from oils and emollients to prevent brittleness.

Hair Porosity and Its Impact on Hydration and Moisture Retention

Porosity—how open or closed your hair’s cuticle is—affects how well your hair absorbs and retains hydration.

• Low porosity hair: Cuticles are tightly closed, making it hard for water to enter. Hydrating mists and lightweight leave-ins work best, followed by occlusive topical moisturisation. 
  

• Medium porosity hair: Absorbs and holds water more easily, so a balanced routine of hydration + moisturisation keeps strands in optimal condition.
  

• High porosity hair: Often the result of damage; cuticles are wide open, so hydration escapes quickly. Rich conditioners, treatment masks and topical oils are essential to lock in moisture.
  

👉 Curious about damage and porosity? Read more in our guide on how to repair damaged hair.

Daily Hair Care Routine for Moisturised Hair

1. Selecting the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Moisturisation starts in the shower. Use a sulfate-free shampoo that cleans without stripping natural oils. Follow with a conditioner that not only hydrates but also smooths the cuticle to lock water in.

💡Pro tip: Color Wow’s Color Security Shampoo is residue-free, so unlike “moisturising shampoos” that contain stay-behind conditioning agents, it doesn’t leave build up on hair. Color Security Conditioner instantly detangles and smooths the cuticle without heaviness.   

2. An Added Measure of Moisture: Leave-In Conditioners

Leave-ins boost the benefits of hydration AND moisturisation. Many contain humectants (to attract water) plus lightweight oils or occlusive emollients to lock it in. 

💡Try: Color Wow Money Mist, a nutrient rich hydrating mist that works on all hair types to detangle, defrizz, smooth, seal and provide silky suppleness. 

Apply evenly through damp hair to keep hydration sealed until your next wash.

3. Weekly Deep Moisturising Treatments

Benefits of Deep Conditioning

Daily conditioners help maintain silky softness, but deep conditioners go further. They infuse the cortex with water-binding ingredients (hydration) and coat the cuticle with emollients (moisturisation).

Different Types of Deep Conditioners

• Hydrating masks: Packed with humectants like aloe, honey, and glycerin to replenish water inside the strand.
  

• Moisturising masks: Contain oils and butters (like shea or avocado) to seal water in.
  

• Balanced formulas: Combine both hydration and moisturisation for a complete treatment.
  

💡 For salon-level results at home, try Color Wow’s Money Masque.

It floods hair with deep hydration while sealing the cuticle for luxe, lush, supple, frizz-free strands.

How to Apply Deep Conditioning Treatments

1. Start with clean, damp hair.
   
2. Apply evenly from mid-lengths to ends.
   
3. Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute.
   
4. Leave on for 15–30 minutes.
   
5. Rinse with cool water to help lock down the cuticle.
   

Natural Oils and Their Benefits

Popular Oils that Provide Moisturisation for hair 

How to Apply Oils for Maximum Benefits

• Always apply on damp hair, never bone-dry. Oils lock in hydration, they don’t create it.

• In a pure isolated state, oils can be extremely heavy and greasy. Look for hair products formulated with the right percentage of oils for best results.

• Use sparingly—too much can make hair greasy.
  

• Focus on mid-lengths and ends.

Curl Wow formulas for curly/textured hair feature ideal concentrations of bio-compatible oils. The range is designed to moisturise curls from pre-shampoo detangling to glossy, bundle-building stylers. 

(Every oil marked “*” is found in the Curl Wow range, which features ground-breaking Profaxil-18 complex to break down large oil droplets so they can penetrate hair  for ideal curl moisturisation benefits.)

Avoiding Common Moisturising Mistakes

Misuse of Products

Using oil on dry hair won’t hydrate—it just lays on the surface, sealing in the dryness so hair can actually be greasy and brittle at the same time!  Always hydrate first, then moisturise to lock it in.

Over-Moisturisation and Its Effects

Heavy oils and butters can weigh hair down. Balance is key: hydration + enough moisturisation to help lubricate, provide slip, defrizz and seal—but not suffocate.

Importance of Hydration and Diet

Hydration isn’t just topical. Drinking water and eating a nutrient-rich diet supports elasticity from the inside out.

Seasonal Hair Moisturisation Tips

Moisture is the key to soft, shiny, healthy hair—but remember, hydration and moisturisation are not interchangeable.

• Hydration = restoring water inside the strand.
  

• Moisturisation = lubricating inside and sealing that water in.
  

Optimally healthy-looking hair needs BOTH! And with the right routine of hydrating, moisture infusing formulas,  you can transform brittle, unmanageable hair to silky, supple, stronger strands with a super-healthy-looking glow! 

Read more hair care tips and tricks on the blog:

• How to Hydrate Hair: What Your Strands Need
• What Causes Frizzy Hair?
• Leave-in Conditioners: Your Ultimate Guide