Before we get into the solutions for rehydrating dry hair, first things first, correctly identifying the problem. “Dry hair and damaged hair are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually very different,” Adam Reed, hairstylist and founder of Arkive by Adam Reed tells Glamour. “Dry hair is lacking moisture, whereas damaged hair has a compromised structure, usually through chemical services, excessive heat or environmental stress.”

An easy way of testing this is checking the current texture of your hair. Dry hair will feel rough and look dull, while damaged hair will feel weak and brittle and will often break. “While damaged hair is often dry, not all dry hair is damaged,” says Jade Laker, senior stylist at Pruners Hair & Beauty and Paul Mitchell educator.

It’s important to figure out whether the dryness your experiencing is due to unintentional damage or a lack of moisture as treating the issue will differ depending on the cause. “Dry hair needs hydration, while damaged hair often needs strengthening alongside moisture,” Adam continues. “Treating one as the other can actually leave the hair feeling worse.”

If you’re suffering with dry, dehydrated hair, you might be unknowingly causing it. “The biggest cause is overwashing without replacing moisture. People often focus on cleansing but forget to replenish hydration,” explains Adam. In addition, excessive heat can also be to blame – everything from using styling tools to hot showers, central heating and UV exposure, “all of which gradually draw moisture from the hair.”

For Maria Sotiriou, co-founder of Silke London, the most overlooked cause for dry hair is friction. “Hair spends six to eight hours every night rubbing against bedding,” she explains. “Night after night, year after year, that friction gradually wears away at the cuticle, making it harder for the hair to retain moisture and leaving it feeling rough, dry, tangled, and more vulnerable to breakage.”

Lastly, poor scalp health is another lesser-known cause. “Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so looking after your scalp is just as important as caring for the lengths,” adds Adam.

If none of these causes resonate, there are more common causes – including water quality (particularly hard water) as well as underlying health issues like hypothyroidism.

The good news is that whatever the cause is, having dry hair isn’t permanent and is a totally fixable issue. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that dry hair needs rescuing – in reality, it needs looking after,” says Adam. “Healthy hair isn’t created by one miracle product, it’s built through simple, consistent habits. Small things. Big differences.”

As well as hydrating shampoo, he suggests investing in a good leave-in conditioner to treat the problem. “It’s one of the hardest-working products in your routine because it continues protecting and hydrating the hair throughout the day.” He suggests Arkive The Bond Leave-In Treatment as a preventative product, rather than a cure.

We also love Olaplex No.5 Leave In Moisturize and Mend Leave In Conditioner, Fenty Hair The Water Boi Leave In Conditioner and K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask with the most important thing to note, hydrating formulas. “Ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, ceramides and nourishing plant oils,” Adam says on what to look out for.

According to Maria, the most effective way to remedy dry hair is to start before you put shampoo in your hair. “A pre-shampoo oil treatment, or an elasticity-supporting treatment such as an elasticizer, helps prepare and protect the hair fibre before cleansing,” she says. “They help provide lubrication and reduce friction during washing.” Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Intensive Treatment or Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil are great choices.

Another important fix is to avoid unnecessary friction that can hinder rescuing your dry hair. “You can invest in the best treatments, masks, and haircare routine, but much of that work can be undone overnight without protection,” she says. “Hours of friction against bedding can disturb the cuticle, increase moisture loss, and leave hair feeling dry, rough, and more vulnerable to damage.” To avoid this, she suggests investing in a silk bonnet to sleep in like Silke London Silk Bonnet to reduce friction which “allows the cuticle to remain smoother and more aligned so the hair can better hold onto the hydration and nourishment you have worked to put back in.”

Patience is key when it comes to rehydrating dry hair, so don’t expect results overnight. “Dry hair isn’t something you permanently fix, it’s something you manage well,” explains Adam. “Just like skincare, hair changes with the seasons, your routine and your lifestyle. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. Small habits repeated regularly will always have a greater impact than one intensive treatment.”

If you’re following the experts’ advice and cutting back on washing and deep conditioning to treat the issue, you can expect to noticeable results within 2-4 weeks – this may vary from person to person, depending on your hair type. For complete restoration, it can be anywhere from 2-3 months. While it sounds like a long time, this is the first step on the road to hydrated hair and you’ll get to the soft and glossy summit before you know it.