If your hair lacks shine or feels dehydrated and frazzled, chances are it’s dry. To combat that brittleness and get your hair back on track, experts recommend incorporating a shampoo specifically aimed at dry hair into your routine.
We spoke to hairstylists about how shampoo can revive dry hair, what to consider when shopping and how to determine which option is best for you. We also compiled a list of expert-recommended shampoos, highly rated options and shampoos we have tried ourselves.
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Alongside haircuts and professional remedies, incorporating a shampoo that will add moisture to your hair is key, says Brooke Jordan, a hairstylist and co-founder of The Bird House, a salon in Brooklyn, NY. If you’re trying to add moisture and hydration back into your hair with the help of a shampoo, experts recommend considering the following factors:
- Ingredients: A shampoo’s formula — and knowing what ingredients to embrace versus avoid — is one of the most critical factors in adding moisture back into your hair. Look for shampoos with hydrating ingredients like seed oils, coconut oil, shea butter and aloe vera, and avoid formulas with sulfates, according to our experts. Sulfates tend to further dry out hair and can even strip it of color if you have color-treated hair, says Julie Davis, a hairstylist and owner of Eden West Salon in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, opt for a gentle, mild alternative that can cleanse the hair and scalp without causing too much damage, according to our experts.
- Hair type: Knowing your hair type is as important as knowing what ingredients are in your shampoo. Some moisturizing ingredients tend to be heavy oils, while others are lightweight, so what may work for your hair type may not work for others. For example, if you have coarse hair, you will want dense ingredients like shea butter because the hair strands will absorb it. Meanwhile, shea butter may actually weigh down finer hair, so consider using something lightweight like jojoba oil, according to Jenna Pitocco, a hairstylist and co-owner of Love, Dunnette, a salon, in New York City.
- Price: Shampoos can vary widely in cost with drugstore options being the most affordable while salon-grade products will be significantly more expensive. Find your price point and choose something you’re willing to buy three to four times a year, says Illeisha Lussiano, hairstylist and founder of The Way, a salon in New York City.
Below, we rounded up expert-recommended shampoos for dry hair for all hair types as textures, as well as ones we have tried ourselves along with highly rated options that align with our experts’ guidance.
Davines Momo Hydrating Shampoo
What we like
- Suitable for all hair types
- Suitable for all hair textures
- Restores shine
Something to note
- Packaging is not in pump form
A collective favorite of our experts, Davis uses this to help cleanse and treat her weak, dry and fine hair. “Any time I use it, it’s almost like a spa treatment,” says Davis. “I feel like my hair feels so much more moisturized, and it’s a really good reset, especially for dry hair.” Apply the paraben-free shampoo and gently massage it into your scalp and hair until the gel turns into a cream. After rinsing, use the Momo conditioner for the best results, according to Davines.
Oribe Shampoo for Moisture & Control
What we like
- Minimizes frizz
- Defines hair patterns
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Best for thicker hair
- Higher price point
- Packaging is not in pump form
One of Jordan’s favorite hair care lines is Oribe’s moisture control range because it has moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, panthenol and sunflower seed oil to add hydration back into the hair. It’s especially great for those with medium to thick hair and those who have wavy, curly, or coily patterns, according to Jordan. That’s because the shampoo will help define those patterns as well as tame frizz and add shine, according to the brand. You can also pair it with its matching conditioner or hair mask.
Oyin Handmade Honey Wash Hydrating Shampoo
What we like
- Easy to detangle post-wash
- Sulfate-free
- Lower price point
Something to note
- Best for textured hair
- Packaging is not in pump form
If you have coily, dry, highly textured hair or locs, both Lussiano and Freda Brown, a hairstylist and owner of The Loc Shop, a salon in Maryland, recommend using this sulfate-free shampoo. It has quinoa, glycerin, jojoba oil, aloe vera and honey to help cleanse both the scalp and the hair and increase moisture and hydration, according to the brand. Reviewers say their hair is noticeably softer and shinier, and is easy to comb through and detangle. To use, work the product from your roots to your ends once a week or as often as needed.
Hairstory New Wash
What we like
- Conditions hair
- Comes in other formulas
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Packaging is not in pump form
A go-to product for Pitocco is this co-wash cleansing cream that washes and conditions your hair at the same time. It uses oils like jojoba seed oil and aloe leaf juice to cleanse the hair, while ingredients like glycerin help condition, according to Pitocco. It’s also available in a deep formula for oily hair and a rich formula for extremely coarse or dry hair, says Pitocco.
Saltair Moisture Bound Hydrating Shampoo
What we like
- Suitable for all hair textures
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Lower price point
Something to note
- Best for normal to thick hair
I consistently use and rebuy this moisturizing and hydrating shampoo to make my dry and damaged wavy hair feel soft and hydrated. I gently massage it into a lather before rinsing and follow it up with its accompanying conditioner. When my hair is feeling extremely dry, I use it twice a week and like that it leaves behind a subtle scent of sandalwood, amber and musk.
Crown Elements Silky Clean Shampoo
What we like
- Minimizes frizz
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Best for locs
- Packaging is not in pump form
This Silky Clean shampoo is great for smoothing away frizz and bringing back moisture to the hair, says Brown. It has a water-based herbal infusement, aloe vera, glycerin and vitamin E to help combat dryness and potential breakage, according to the brand. “This is my go-to no matter what stage [my clients’] are in the locking process,” says Brown. “My hair and clients’ hair feels great after I use it and you can see and feel that difference.”
Ceremonia Deep Moisture Shampoo
What we like
- Best for all hair textures
- Minimizes frizz
- Extends time between washes
Something to note
- Best for thick hair
If you have thick hair or need additional moisture, consider using this shampoo, which has a 4.4-star average rating from over 200 reviews at Ceremonia. The yucca extract cleanses the hair and scalp, while cupuaçu butter, aloe vera and squalane help hydrate it, according to Ceremonia. The formula also has witch hazel, which removes excess oil from your scalp to help you extend the time between washes, according to the brand. If you have thin hair, consider Ceremonia’s Weightless Hydration Shampoo, which helps with hydration without adding oils or butters that will weigh down your hair.
R+Co Atlantic Moisturizing B5 Shampoo
What we like
- Best for all hair types
- Prevents breakage
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Scent is strong for some
- Packaging is not in pump form
This R+Co shampoo, which comes recommended by Davis, uses antioxidants like vitamin B5 and vitamin E for scalp and hair hydration, and nettle extract to add shine, reduce frizz and prevent breakage, according to the brand. It’s suitable for all hair types, and reviewers say it helps soften their hair, making it feel and look healthy.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
What we like
- Defines curls
- Minimizes frizz
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Best for thick hair
- Best for curly hair
- Packaging is not in pump form
If you have thick and curly hair, consider this shampoo that uses water, coconut oil, aloe vera and shea butter (among other ingredients) to cleanse, moisturize, reduce frizz and define curls, according to the brand. Reviewers say this creamy shampoo, which has 4.5-star average rating from over 19,700 reviews on Amazon, is gentle on the scalp and even helps create soft and shiny curls without adding conditioner.
JVN Nurture Hydrating Shampoo
What we like
- Suitable for all hair types
- Helps oily and flaky scalps
- Sulfate-free
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
If you deal with dryness, dull hair or extremely frizzy hair, consider using this shampoo, which has a 4.6-star average rating from over 250 reviews at Sephora. Suitable for all hair types,reviewers say it leaves their hair feeling silky, shiny and manageable with less frizz. They also say this helps combat naturally oily and flaky scalps since it’s gentle and leaves their scalp looking and feeling healthy so that they can go longer between washes. This is because it has ingredients like aloe leaf juice to hydrate the hair and scalp, while other ingredients focus on moisturizing, strengthening and adding shine, according to the brand.
What we like
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Lasts a long time
- Restores shine
Something to note
- Best for damaged hair
- Best for thicker hair
- Packaging is not in pump form
Pitocco recommends this formula because it doesn’t leave her client’s hair feeling heavy. Suitable for color-treated coarse, thick and chemically-treated hair, this shampoo uses coconut-derived ingredients and macadamia seed oil to cleanse hair. To hydrate and moisturize, it has aloe vera and Tasmanian sea kelp, according to the brand. Reviewers say one bottle lasts a long time and with each shampooing, their hair is left feeling soft and shiny.
Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo
What we like
- Softens hair
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Sulfate free
Something to note
- Best for fine and thin hair
- Scent is strong for some
- Packaging is not in pump form
Reviewers say this shampoo hydrates their hair and leaves it silky and soft without weighing it down or giving it a greasy/oily appearance. The creamy lavender-scented shampoo hydrates fine, dry hair and maintains scalp health and does so because its formula includes jojoba, green tea and sage, according to the brand. This shampoo has a 4.6-star average rating from over 7,200 reviews on Amazon.
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When determining which shampoo is best for your dry hair, our experts recommend keeping your hair type and ingredients in mind when shopping.
IngredientsIt’s just as important to know what to avoid as it is to know what ingredients are best, so you don’t further dry out your hair.
Ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera and seed oils help add moisture to the hair. (If you are concerned about your hair becoming too greasy or weighed down after using a shampoo with oil, look for formulas with lightweight oils like argon, jojoba, grapeseed or sea buckthorn oils, according to Jordan.) Formulas with antioxidants and vitamins, like vitamin b5 and its derivative known as panthenol, are also great for those with dry hair, according to Jordan. Panthenol is an ingredient known for penetrating the hair and providing long-lasting moisture, says Jordan. Brown likes to look for water as one of the first ingredients on a bottle because “that’s going to be the number one source for moisture,” she says.
Opt for gentle formulas that are free of harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens and silicones. That’s because sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) can be irritating and drying, while parabens are preservatives that tend to dry out your hair, according to experts. Silicones can sometimes create a waxy coating that can give a shiny initial appearance, but in actuality, it is suffocating the hair, according to Davis.
Color safeNot every shampoo is color-safe, so some formulas might strip and remove color. Consider options that will help the longevity of your hair color by checking if it’s color-safe or looking at the ingredient list for things like sulfates, which can dull and strip the hair color, according to Pitocco. Color-safe shampoos also tend to have more moisturizing agents and hydrating properties to combat any dryness that hair dye can cause, says Pitocco.
FragranceMany shampoos have fragrances; avoid ones that have “added fragrances” as compared to formulas with natural fragrances that come from the ingredients themselves, since these can exacerbate dryness, which will combat your journey to soft, shiny and moisturized hair, says Jordan.
Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to determine if you have hair, including observing the look and feel of your hair.
- Mirror check. Step in front of the mirror and go through your hair section by section to completely take in everything you see and feel. You may have dry hair if your hair doesn’t hold shine and looks lackluster. If you notice the feel of your hair isn’t soft, but it's still manageable to brush and style with a couple of tangles here and there, you may have dry hair.
- Go to a professional. When in doubt, seek out expert help. Hairstylists are trained to evaluate and determine the status of a client’s hair and are great sources of information. They can also help guide you to some treatment plans to help you regain hydration and moisture.
Your hair may be experiencing a dry spell for a variety of reasons, including your environment, physical changes, damage to the hair, a lack of oil and even genetics.
Environmental. This can be seasonal changes, a change in climate, or humidity. These changes can cause your hair to feel dry quickly. For example, you may experience this while on a short vacation or during cold months when you run the heat in your home, says Davis.
Water intake. One of the biggest reasons you may be experiencing dry hair is because you’re not consuming enough water, according to Brown. If your water intake is low, it can manifest the issue to the outside and can affect the moisture of your hair, says Brown.
Lack of natural oil. The natural oil in your hair provides moisture and hydration, but when you lack that oil, it may cause some dryness. This can result from overwashing your hair — with excessive shampoo use, you are stripping the oil from your scalp and hair, says Pitocco. Product buildup from items like dry shampoo may also be blocking the follicles on your hair, restricting the production of this natural oil, according to Pitocco.
Physical changes. If you begin taking medications or are experiencing a disruption in your hormones, dry hair may be a side effect, according to Davis.
Genetics. Sometimes, you may naturally have dry hair, says Pitcocco. For those with coarse or thicker hair, those strands tend to be more prone to dryness, according to Jordan.
Porosity. Porosity refers to the hair's ability to absorb product and moisture, according to Brown. “Low porosity is typically when a hair does not really absorb moisture and treatments very well, so it may take a long time for your hair to get wet,” says Brown. Some people have to wet their hair for a longer time before their hair is fully saturated, compared to someone with high porosity which won’t take very long at all, according to Brown.
There is no magical schedule when it comes to washing your hair; most experts agree that you should shampoo when you actually need to, which varies by your hair type and texture.
“Once you've started to see an actual presence of oil, usually it's time to wash,” says Davis. You don’t want to wash your hair daily since excessive washing will strip oil from your scalp. You also want to give your hair time to replenish oil between washes. However, you do not want to go too long without a wash and cause product buildup, which can further dry out your hair, according to Davis.
For those with locs, natural, coarse or textured hair, you may find yourself extending the time between washes compared to other hair textures and types. For women of color with loose natural hair, Brown recommends washing once a week. However, if you have locs, there is no need to wash every day or weekly; you can get away with a shampoo every two to three weeks, according to Brown.
If you feel the need to shampoo every day because of lifestyle factors like daily workouts, Pitocco recommends showering with wet hair and scrubbing your scalp without shampoo. This will break up any standing oil, grease and sweat, according to Pitocco. After doing these scrubbing motions, take a Wet Brush and work it through your hair to distribute those oils down to the tips of your hair. This helps release density at the scalp and move it down to the ends while also hydrating the hair, says Pitocco.
Aside from salon services and introducing a shampoo specifically for dry hair into your routine there are other treatments you can do at home.
Brushing. Your scalp naturally produces sebum; by working a brush through your hair and scalp, you will help distribute that oil and make your hair less dry, according to Pitocco. “That natural oil is one of the most moisturizing and beneficial hydrating agents that you can use on your hair at all,” says Pitocco.
Hair masks. You can incorporate a hydrating and moisturizing hair mask in your routine once to twice a week to help deep condition, according to Davis. You can use some masks on dry hair before you shampoo and condition, while other masks can stand in place of your standard conditioner. Hair masks have a creamy heaviness, which requires you to rinse them out making it great for all hair types except for those with locs since the product can remain trapped in the hair, says Brown.
Hair oils. Hair oils are not a one size fits all treatment for all types of dry hair, according to Brown. After trying out an oil with the guidance of your hairstylist, you can start incorporating it on to wet or dry hair, and you can even do so before going to bed using it as an overnight treatment, according to Davis. For people with locs, adding in a hair oil can also help with aesthetic benefits like taming flyaways and minimizing frizz, says Brown.
Leave-in conditioners. To continue adding moisture to your hair, consider using a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in conditioners typically have humectants, such as glycerin, which helps attract moisture and hydrate your hair. They also have other ingredients, like oils, that can help create a protective barrier to lock in moisture, according to Jordan. You can use this on top of your standard in-shower products or in place of your standard conditioner, which is a great option especially if you have combination hair, says Jordan. If you have locs, coarse or textured hair, your usage may vary, according to Brown, who says you can use one every other day for added moisture if needed.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Julie Davis is a hairstylist, artistic director and owner of Eden West Salon in Charleston, South Carolina. Her areas of expertise include balayage, French haircutting, color and extensions.
- Jenna Pitocco is a hairstylist and co-owner of Love, Dunnette, a salon in New York City.
- Brooke Jordan is a hairstylist, co-founder and creative director of The Bird House, a salon in Brooklyn.
- Illeisha Lussiano is a hairstylist and founder of The Way, a salon in New York City. Her areas of precision haircuts, color, intricate protective styles and freestyles along with bridal and editorial styling.
- Freda Brown is a hairstylist and salon owner of The Loc Shop, a salon in Mount Rainier, Maryland. Her areas of expertise include styling and maintaining natural hair and locs.
Bianca Alvarez is an associate reporter covering skin care and hair care, whose recent stories include roundups of the best shampoo for damaged hair and clarifying shampoos. For this story, she interviewed experts and researched highly rated shampoos for dry hair that were in line with expert guidance.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
Bianca Alvarez
Bianca Alvarez is an associate reporter at NBC Select.
