Dry Hair Repair: How to Repair Dry Hair at Home

Dry hair usually builds up from small things: hot showers, a harsh shampoo, a flat iron, the first weeks of heating season. So dry hair repair mostly means changing those habits. Below you'll find a quick way to tell what your hair is missing, and a weekly routine to repair dry hair so it feels soft and looks shiny again.

What makes hair dry in the first place

Healthy hair is covered by a thin outer layer, the cuticle, that lies flat and keeps moisture in. Your scalp's natural oils coat the strand and add a little extra protection. Hair turns dry when that outer layer gets roughed up, or when those oils are stripped away faster than your scalp replaces them.

The usual causes:

Washing too often or with very hot water. Hot water and strong cleansers rinse away the oils your hair needs.
Heat styling with blow-dryers, flat irons and curling irons, especially without a heat protectant.
Color, bleach and relaxers, which lift the cuticle so moisture escapes more easily.
Weather: dry indoor heat in winter, sun and wind in summer.
Friction from rough towels, cotton pillowcases and tight hair ties.

Dry or damaged? How to tell

Dry hair and damaged hair often go together, but each needs something slightly different.

Dry hair feels rough and looks dull, but it still stretches and bounces back when wet. It mostly needs moisture from richer conditioning, oils and butters.
Damaged hair also snaps easily, has split or frayed ends, and stretches without bouncing back when wet. It needs moisture plus protein, like keratin or pea peptide, to feel stronger.

To check yours, take a single wet strand and stretch it gently. If it stretches a little and springs back, your hair is mostly dry. If it stretches a lot and then snaps, it's damaged as well, so build some protein into your routine.

Shea butter in a wooden bowl, a halved avocado, honey, rosemary, a wooden comb and a cream silk scarf on linen

How to repair dry hair: a simple weekly routine

Wash less often, and with cooler water. Two or three washes a week is plenty for most dry hair. Use lukewarm water and finish with a cool rinse.
Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, which cleans without stripping as much natural oil. Work it into the scalp and let the suds run through the lengths. Our guide to sulfate-free shampoo for frizzy hair explains why it helps.
Condition after every wash. Apply conditioner from mid-lengths to ends, comb it through and leave it on for two or three minutes before rinsing.
Use a mask once a week in place of your conditioner, and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Very dry hair can take one twice a week.
After washing, put a leave-in or a few drops of a light serum on damp ends. It keeps them soft until the next wash.
Two or three nights a week, smooth a leave-in treatment through dry ends before bed, so it works for hours while you sleep.
Go easy on heat. Air-dry when you can, use the lowest setting that works, and put on a heat protectant before any hot tool.
Trim the ends every 8 to 12 weeks. Split ends can't be glued back together, and a small trim stops them from traveling up the strand.

Products for dry hair, step by step

Four products cover the routine for most dry hair:

To cleanse, the Pomegranate Sulfate-Free Smoothing Shampoo washes gently and doesn't leave hair squeaky.
To condition, the Strengthening Conditioner with Rosemary & Vervain is a creamy formula that softens rough ends and makes combing easier.
For the weekly mask, the Nutritive Repair Hair Mask has argan, coconut and macadamia oils plus keratin for a deeper dose of moisture.
For overnight care, the Overnight Repair Leave-In Serum has shea and murumuru butters, argan and avocado oils and pea peptide, and leaves dry ends smoother and softer by morning.

L'emarie Overnight Repair Leave-In Serum, 8.6 oz.
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Repair dry hair in winter

Winter air is dry outdoors, and the heating makes it drier indoors. Both take moisture out of hair, so it often feels driest from November to March. A few changes help in those months: wash a little less often, switch to a richer mask, wear a silk or satin-lined hat or scarf, and run a humidifier in the bedroom if the air is very dry. Static is another sign of dryness, and a drop of leave-in on the ends usually calms it.

Everyday habits that keep hair from drying out

Squeeze water out with a microfiber towel or an old T-shirt instead of rubbing.
Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase, or tie long hair in a loose braid.
Use soft scrunchies instead of tight elastic bands.
Detangle from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb, and don't comb dry hair that has no product in it.
Protect hair from sun and chlorine with a hat and a rinse after swimming.

How long does it take to repair dry hair?

Most people feel a difference after the first mask or overnight treatment: hair is softer and easier to comb. Give a new routine four to six weeks for a lasting change. The oldest, most worn ends will look best after a trim. For a closer look at masks, read our guide to using a hair mask for dry, damaged hair, and for night care, our guide to overnight hair treatments.

Shop the routine: Overnight Repair Leave-In Serum · Strengthening Conditioner · Nutritive Repair Hair Mask

Frequently asked questions

Can dry hair be repaired?

Dry hair can feel and look much healthier again with gentler washing, regular conditioning, a weekly mask and less heat. Split ends can't be mended, so trimming them is part of the routine.

What is the fastest way to repair dry hair?

A deep conditioning mask left on for 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a leave-in on damp ends, makes the quickest difference in softness. An overnight treatment gives the product even longer to work.

How often should I wash dry hair?

Two or three times a week suits most dry hair. Washing every day removes the natural oils that help keep it soft. Curly and coily hair often does well with even fewer washes.

Is oil good for dry hair?

Light oils like argan or jojoba help seal moisture into damp hair and add shine. Use just a few drops on the ends, since too much can leave hair greasy and attract dirt.

Should I use protein or moisture for dry hair?

Mostly moisture. If your hair also snaps easily or stretches without bouncing back, add a protein treatment, such as a mask with keratin, once a week.