How to Hydrate Hair: What Your Strands Really Need (and Why Moisture Isn’t the Whole Story)

If your hair looks dull, feels rough, is limp and lifeless or wiry and uncooperative... there’s a good chance it’s thirsty. 

You might be ready to reach for oils, buttery masks and moisture-rich conditioners to quench your parched strands, But MOISTURISATION alone may not do the trick... especially if what your hair really needs is HYDRATION. 

Confused? Most of us think of “moisturisation” and “hydration” as the same thing.  But (and here’s an AHA MOMENT that takes many people by surprise) “moisturisation” and “hydration” are not the same thing, in fact, they’re as different as oil and water. Literally. 

So if you’ve been slathering your lackluster, lifeless hair with oils and masks and not seeing good results, it may be that you’re not answering your dehydrated hair’s cry for “water!”

Let’s break it down in plain English. Hydration = water. Moisturisation = oils. Your hair needs both. And depending on your natural hair type, styling habits, and environment, you might need more of one than the other.

Ready to figure out if water is what your hair is actually craving? Here's a deep dive into hair and hydration!  

Understanding the Importance of Hair Hydration

Hydration (aka water) within the hair strand is the key to keeping your hair soft, elastic, resilient:

Water = flexibility
Water molecules bind to proteins in the hair shaft, making it more pliable, bouncy, and less prone to snapping.

Dehydrated hair = brittle hair
When there isn’t enough water inside the cortex (the inner structure of the hair), the strand stiffens, and you get breakage, frizz, and dullness.

Hydrators (ingredients like  glycerin, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, panthenol) help draw water into the hair and keep it there — but they don’t seal it in. Healthy levels of hydration are critical for hair that’s smooth, silky, supple and resilient. 

Identifying the Causes of Dry Hair

How does hair get dehydrated? When the hair strand is porous and the outer surface layer isn’t sealed tight, water leaches out. Many other factors can accelerate the rate of hair dehydration: 

Environmental Factors

• Cold weather and indoor heating = dry air = moisture loss from hair 
• Sun exposure breaks down the hair’s protective layer
• Wind and pollution dry the outer cuticle, causing it to lift so water escapes 

Heat Styling and Chemical Treatments

• Flat irons and blow dryers evaporate water from the inner strand
• Colouring and chemical treatments damage the cuticle, making it harder for hair to hold onto vital water 

Poor Dietary Habits

• Not drinking enough water? Your scalp shares the loss and it shows in your hair 
• A lack of protein, omega-3s, and vitamins can leave hair dry and brittle from the inside out

Recognising the Signs of Dehydrated Hair

Dehydrated hair doesn’t just feel dry. It behaves differently too:

• 💆 Feels rough, stiff, straw-like
• ✨ Lacks shine and movement
• 🌬️ Frizzes easily
• 🪮 Breaks or tangles more than usual
• 💇 Struggles to hold style

If that sounds familiar, you don’t just need more product—you need the right products, applied in the right order! 

Choosing the Right Products for Hair Hydration

Between masks, serums, conditioners, sprays and new types of hair treatments, sometimes it’s hard to know if a product delivers hydration, moisturisation or both! 

That’s when knowing a little bit about key ingredients used in hydrating formulas helps.

Most hydrating ingredients used in hair care are humectants.

A humectant is an ingredient that pulls water from the surrounding environment into the hair fiber. And, helps hold it!

Look for these powerful humectants in products made for dehydrated hair: 

Effective Hair Hydration Techniques – Layering is key!

Simply pouring water on your head isn’t the way to re-hydrate dull, dry hair. You need to use advanced hair products formulated with ingredients that help draw water into your hair... AND help keep it there! 

1. For best results, apply hydrating products on wet/damp hair. 

When hair is wet, it is actually more porous so hydrating ingredients can penetrate hair more easily, get deep into the inner cortex, grab and hold water where it matters most. 

2. Always apply hydrating products BEFORE moisturising products 

Moisturising products will seal down the cuticles on your hair’s outer surface and can even form an occlusive, water-resistant film.

So once you coat your hair with moisturising ingredients, it’s almost impossible for water-soluable, hydrating ingredients to get inside and work their magic. 

3. Follow hydration with moisturisation to seal the deal! 

Flooding hair with hydration is vital to restoring strength, resilience, suppleness. But ensuring that interior hydration lasts means locking down the cuticle layer with a moisturising, emollient topcoat. 

Many advanced formulas, like Color Wow Money Masque and Money Mist do double duty, restoring optimal hydration AND sealing it tight with a superlight but super-tight surface sealant. 

The Best Formulas for Revitalising Dehydrated Hair 

Even if you religiously use a rinse-out conditioner every time you shampoo, your hair might need an extra hydration boost, especially if you have naturally dry dehydrated hair (like most curly and textured hair, or hair that has been chemically treated). 

New, advanced hair products can saturate dehydrated strands in minutes with major texture-transforming results. 

Deep Conditioning Treatments/ Masks 

An occasional intensive treatment  is the way to flood your hair with hydration. For best results, use once a week and leave on for up to 20 minutes. 

Try: Color Wow Money Masque

Loaded with powerful humectants and water-grabbing ingredients like Blue Sea Kale that go deep into the cortex to restore silky suppleness to dry, straw-like strands.

Leave-In Conditioners

These lightweight sprays help boost hydration and reduce frizz. Look for ingredients like:

• Aloe
• Glycerin
• Panthenol

Try: Color Wow Money Mist

A fast, easy multitasker that hydrates and moisturises, plus detangles, fights frizz and provides heat protection. This superlight mist is ideal for all hair types especially dry, dehydrated fine or thin hair that can get weighed down by heavy moisturising formulas.

DIY Hair Hydration Remedies

Homemade Hair Masks

Some people swear by “refrigerator-based hair care” to restore hydration. Could these be recipes for success for your parched locks? 

Avocado + Banana

• 1/2 ripe avocado + 1 ripe banana + 1 tbsp olive oil
• Blend, apply to damp hair, leave 20 mins, rinse

Yogurt + Honey

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tbsp honey
• Mix, apply mid-length to ends, leave 15 mins, rinse

Natural Oils and Their Benefits

Most natural oils are not great “hydrators” because they are too viscous, and have large molecules can’t penetrate hair and get into the inner cortex.  A few exceptions that can help restore hydration are:

• Coconut oil: Helps reduce protein loss
• Jojoba oil: Lightweight and scalp-friendly

Ingredients/products to avoid if you have dry, dehydrated hair 

How to Include Hydration in Your Hair Care Routine

Daily:

On shampoo days, always apply a hydrating conditioner on wet hair.

On non-shampoo days, refresh dehydrated hair with a product that works on dry hair to deliver hydration AND moisture, like Color Wow’s Pop & Lock serum. 

For curly or textured hair, Curl Wow’s Flo-etry is a rich blend of oils with a unique delivery system that allows them to penetrate deep within hair.

Weekly:

Deep condition with an intensive hydration treatment like Money Masque to saturate hair with a long-lasting infusion of rich hydration.

Protective Hair Styling Tips

• Use a heat protectant every time you style. Every Color Wow styling product intentionally has heat protectant built into the formula, so there’s no need to buy and use another heat protectant formula. 
• Air dry when possible
• Products that contain UV protectant like Pop & Lock help guard hair from dehydration. 

Expert Tips for Long-Term Hair Health and Hydration

• Use clean, residue-free shampoos to prevent buildup
• Make it a habit to hydrate first, then seal with a lightweight oil or moisturising product. 
• Be consistent with treatments
• Adjust your routine seasonally and based on changes in your styling practices 
• Avoid layering too many products heavy moisturisers that create greasy build up 

Conclusion: Healthy Hair Starts with Hydration

Dry hair isn't something you have to live with. By understanding the difference between hydration and moisturisation—and choosing the right products to hydrate hair plus add vital moisture to smooth, seal and lubricate—you can transform dry, dull strands into hair that looks and feels glossy, luxe and smooth.

Read other hair health tips and tricks on the Blog:

• How to Use Rinse-Out Conditioner
• How to Get Rid of Scalp Buildup
• Your Ultimate Guide to Leave-in Conditioners