4 Ultra-Nourishing Hair Treatments for Dry Hair
When it comes to boosting hair health, rich moisture is key. It helps your color glow, keeps frizz at bay, and leaves every strand feeling touchably soft. However, dry hair is a common complaint for any type of mane – and it becomes even more troublesome when your hair care products aren't working as hard as they should.
So, how do you moisturize parched hair effectively? Here, we break down four dry hair treatment regimens that will breathe new life into dry, brittle hair – whether it's dull, damaged, color-treated or prone to breakage...
First, What Causes Dry, Dehydrated Hair?
There are two types of dry hair. The first is caused by a slowed-down production of oils, which can happen as we get older or because of genetics. The scalp produces sebum that moves its way down from the roots to the tips of each strand. The less sebum produced by the hair follicles, the less moisture there will be through the ends of your hair.
The second type of dryness is consequential. It's a symptom of damaged, overprocessed hair, whether that's caused by heat, chemical processing or everyday wear and tear. The trick for fixing this type of dryness is breaking bad hair habits and then finding the right hair products to restore moisture and get back on track to healthy hair.
Try these ready-to-go regimens...
Your Treatment for Dry, Damaged Hair
If your dry hair is caused by damage – whether it's hot tools, UV rays, chemical treatments or friction at play – you need hair repair products that work from the inside out. That's where ULTIMATE REPAIR comes in; it rebuilds the hair cortex with the power of AHA, while a dose of Omega-9 fatty acids nourishes the outer layer of the hair cuticle. Here are your treatment steps:
1. Prep with a Gentle Shampoo
ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is a step-one staple when dealing with fragile hair, as it cleanses damaging debris away, including those caused by environmental factors. Its luxurious lather also sets your hair up for the next nourishing steps in your wash day regimen, so each strand is ready to receive all the goodness of your conditioner and hair mask. Massage it in gently, breathe in the calming scent, and rinse.
2. Apply a Deep Conditioning Mask
Deep conditioners and masks are non-negotiables for damage. While regular conditioners are great for lightweight nourishment, these healing heavyweights deliver intense hydration to restore parched hair. Use ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask to reverse the effects of thermal, mechanical and environmental damage. The creamy treatment uses smart conditioning agents to identify and treat the areas that need it most. It also leaves your hair 6x easier to detangle¹, so you can style your hair without the added stress of tackling knots.
3. Use *This* Leave-In Treatment
Not just any leave-in conditioner will do; you need ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The supercharged mist repairs hair damage in 90 seconds², making it one of the most powerful remedies around. It's also easy to use. After washing your hair, blot it dry with a microfiber towel, and then mist your treatment from root to tip – a light, even veil will be enough. After 90 seconds, your hair will be ready for styling, with the potent blend not just healing existing damage, but preventing future wear and tear, too.
Your Treatment for Dry, Frizzy Hair
Dry hair = frizzy hair = dull hair. They all go hand-in-hand, and the frizzier your hair is, the less shiny and healthy it's going to appear. So, focus on treatments that keep hair hydrated, super-smooth and glossy. ULTIMATE SMOOTH is your go-to regimen, powered by Omega-9 and Squalane to give hair its glow back.
1. Massage in a Moisturizing Shampoo
Very gently – so you don't encourage any extra frizz – massage ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo into roots, lengths and ends. Its rich foam rinses impurities without stripping hair of moisture, and it even neutralizes dulling metals with its built-in Metal Purifier. A true multitasker.
2. Apply a Shine-Enhancing Treatment
Enveloping dry, frizz-prone hair in its sumptuously creamy blend of Omega-9 and Squalane, ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask is your answer to soft, smooth, touchable hair. Let it absorb for at least five minutes (make it 10 if your hair is extra frizzy!), ensuring you've squeezed out any excess water first, so the treatment is deeply absorbed. Then, rinse to reveal healthier hair that radiates irresistible shine.
3. Finish with a Gloss-Boosting Hair Oil
Complete your treatment regimen with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, an indulgent elixir that gives all hair types instant luminosity. It nourishes in 30 seconds for smoothness that lasts up to three days³, so you can work a swishy, silky mane from one wash day to the next. It also delivers thermal protection, acting as a UV filter and heat styling protectant to shield parched hair from drying aggressors.
Your Treatment for Dry Hair Prone to Breakage
If hair breakage is your biggest hair concern, you need a treatment that strengthens hair from root to tip. Fragile hair strands will love Fusion, a hair stylist-approved line that gives you deep hydration and resilience, so the risk of split ends and broken hair is reduced. These are your steps:
1. Avoid Harsh Shampoos
Brittle hair is the stepping stone to breakage and split ends, and it happens when natural moisture is stripped from the hair shaft, leaving it ultra-fragile. That's why the gentle approach of a hydrating shampoo is a must. It will protect strands from drying out, while still removing impurities and product build-up for fresh, clean, healthy hair. Try Fusion Intense Repair Shampoo, which also boosts your hair's resilience against breakage. Massage it into wet hair, and then rinse with lukewarm water (never hot water!), so your hair is ready for the intense moisture of your mask.
2. Apply a Strengthening Hair Mask
After gently blotting away excess water with a microfiber towel, smooth Fusion Intense Repair Mask through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. It harnesses amino acids as the key ingredient to nourish the cuticle – your hair's protective layer – and you can push the benefits even deeper by wrapping hair up in a towel while it absorbs. Let thirsty hair drink it in for five minutes before rinsing with warm water. A follow-up blast of cool water will encourage the hair cuticle to lie flat for stronger, more manageable hair.
Your Treatment for Dry, Color-Treated Hair
While the Wella color portfolio is formulated to be kind to all hair types, hair that is naturally prone to dryness may need a little extra nourishment. To ensure you get the best out of your shade, follow a color care routine; one that protects the pigment, while hydrating strands from root to tip.
1. Ask for WellaPlex in the Salon
Caring for colored hair starts in the salon. Whether you're booked in for highlights, toner or a glossing service, ask for Wella's bond builder PLEX ingredient to protect hair from damage during the coloring process. It's already built into BlondorPlex, our bond-strengthening lightener, for up to 97% less breakage⁴. So, you get up to nine levels of lift and a dose of nourishment.
Or, if you're booked in for color, your stylist can mix WellaPlex directly into your formula. No matter the shade you choose, this advanced hair treatment reinforces each strand's structure to keep your hair healthy and strong. Pro tip: Take the WellaPlex No3 Hair Stabilizer home with you to enhance the bond-building effects. If you fear damaged hair, this powerful treatment will ensure your dream shade radiates natural shine.
2. Wash with Color-Safe Hair Products
Choose a hydrating shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioning treatment that are designed to maintain your shade. We love ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo, Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner and Structure+ Mask. Together, they give you 8 weeks of color protection⁵ while keeping hair smooth, shiny and more manageable. Plus, because the mask is packed with the PLEX bonding agent, it helps to reconstruct hair bonds after coloring.
3. Use Color-Depositing Conditioners
Purple shampoo is a staple for anyone maintaining their blonde hair, as it harnesses a violet pigment that neutralizes brassy, yellow tones in between salon visits. But if you want a nourishing alternative, try Color Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde. It cools down excess warmth in blonde hair, while conditioning your hair with a blend of Avocado and Argan Oil. In fact, it comes in a range of shades, so it's not just for blondes. From Caramel Glaze to Copper Glow, it's your answer to shinier hair and a 10-minute tone touch-up.
More Dry Hair Treatments
Best Dry Hair Treatment for Fine Hair
For weightless conditioning that locks in moisture, try INVIGO Volume Boost Crystal Mask. The translucent mask is packed with Cotton Extract and Spring Force Polymers to soften and hydrate while adding fullness to fine hair. It works fast, too; simply smooth it through the lengths and ends of damp hair (avoiding the roots), let it work for five minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water to reveal a blow-dry-ready mane.
Best Dry Hair Treatment for Coily or Curly Hair
All the hair treatments above are ideal for curly and coily hair, so whether you want to repair hair or elevate shine, there's a hydrating regimen for you. But if improving definition is your number one goal, you can also add NutriCurls Deep Treatment to your weekly wash schedule. It gives your natural hair texture the love it deserves with a blend of Jojoba Oil, Panthenol and the unique Nourish-In Complex. Do your detangling while the mask is on and working its magic; you'll find it easier to separate knots for a frizz-free, beautifully defined look.
Best Treatment for a Dry Scalp
Get to the root of dry hair (literally) by focusing on a hydrated, healthy scalp. If dry strands and a tight scalp are troubling you, it's time to add a scalp mask to your regimen. Reach for INVIGO Balance Sensitive Mask, a fragrance-free blend that harnesses hydrating Allantoin, helping to alleviate itchiness and leave your hair and scalp feeling cared for and refreshed.
Best Treatment to Rehydrate Really, Really Dry Hair
If you have dry, coarse hair that's highly porous – meaning it absorbs yet loses a lot of moisture, like a sponge – try mixing your dry hair products for boosted results. Get a scoopful of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask in your hand, then add a few drops of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. Mix them together and smooth through lengths and ends for intense hydration that smooths the hair fiber. After five minutes, rinse with lukewarm water followed by a quick blast of cool water. Nourished, healthy-looking hair is guaranteed with this caring custom blend.
¹ On wet hair, vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
³ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.
⁴ When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, vs. Blondorplex alone.
⁵ When using Structure+ Mask.