Why is My Hair So Dry? 7 Common Culprits

1. A Nourishing Shampoo is Needed

Shampoo does so much more than simply wash your hair; it sets the scene for your whole regimen, deciding how well your conditioners, masks and leave-in treatments will work. The ideal formula should rinse away impurities without stripping oil away from the protective layer, so choose a gentle yet effective shampoo that targets your biggest concerns.

If your dry hair is prone to frizz, we recommend ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo, with a luxe lather that nourishes your hair from the inside out by harnessing Squalane and Omega-9 fatty acids. Or, if you suspect your thirsty strands are the result of hair damage, use ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo to get the condition back on track. It's packed with a skincare-inspired blend of powerful ingredients, including AHA, which repairs bonds within each hair strand, and Omega-9 to replenish the outer layer.

If you're asking, “Why is my curly hair so dry?”, consider co-washing for a gentler cleanse. NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner cleanses and conditions curly and coily hair types in a low-foam, intensely nourishing cream. It's packed with Jojoba Oil and Panthenol to top up moisture levels and boost definition, so not only do your curls and coils feel clean and balanced, but your hair texture stands out in the most beautiful way.

2. You're Skipping a Weekly Hair Mask

If you're not using a hair mask every week, now is the time to start. While conditioners are ideal for lightweight nourishment, a deep conditioning treatment is the answer to your silkiest, healthiest hair. Its rich, concentrated ingredients penetrate the hair shaft to deliver transformative effects, no matter if your dry hair was caused by damage or is a side effect of frizz.

When you suspect hair damage is behind that brittle feel, try ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. It's a creamy, dreamy formula that's brimming with AHA and Omega-9 for a deep-down injection of care. Plus, it uses smart conditioning agents to identify and treat the areas that need the most care, leaving hair healthy, balanced and 6x easier to detangle*.

3. Your Hair is Highly Porous

Porosity relates to your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. Put simply, when it's highly porous – meaning there are gaps and tears along the hair shaft – water is able to escape from your hair strands with ease. This can happen for a whole host of reasons, whether it's down to wear and tear or simple genetics, so you may need to switch up your hair care routine if you want to keep that moisture locked in.

The most essential hair product in your kit is a leave-in conditioner or leave-in treatment. Because it isn't rinsed out like traditional conditioners, it has more time to ‘plug' the gaps in highly porous locks. Try misting ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue through clean, damp hair and allow it to absorb before moving on to styling. Spritzed on after ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and Conditioner, it repairs hair damage in 90 seconds*, leaving you with 99% less breakage*.

4. Your Hair Needs UV and Heat Protection

Heat styling is the answer to some of the most coveted looks around, but without a heat protectant, it can lead to heat damage – cue hair breakage, split ends and dryness. Why does this happen? Because, when excess heat is applied to your hair, the protective oils on the outer layer can be stripped away, leaving your strands fragile with a rough, coarse texture.

But you need heat protection that works for you; a styling product that enhances the natural beauty of your hair, which is why we offer a range of heat styling products to keep hair in check. If you want a targeted shield that feels weightless, EIMI Thermal Image is the perfect solution, teaming lightweight shine with heat protection up to 220°C 430°F.

If you're dealing with hair damage, go for a richer formula, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In. The delicate cream protects against five key common hair struggles: breakage, UV rays, heat, mechanical damage and excess frizz. It's the perfect hair product for a blow-dry, but because it's light and sinks in fast, you can also apply it to dry hair before using your flat iron or curling iron.

For frizz-defying styles, use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. The hair oil-meets-serum nourishes in 30 seconds for smoothness that lasts up to 3 days*. Plus, it comes with a built-in UV shield, so every kind of heat damage is kept at bay. It's your ultimate multi-tasking hair care product.

5. Cold Weather Has Sapped Strands of Moisture

Is it winter? Is the weather dry and cold? Then harsh temperatures could be causing the hair cuticle to lift, which allows much-needed moisture to make its way out of strands. Add in hoods and scarves that cause friction, as well as the stress of central heating, and the cooler months are officially dry hair's worst nightmare.

The good news is that there are simple ways you can boost nourishment when mercury plunges. The first is with a hair mask, using a creamy formula that replenishes lengths and ends. Treat weather-beaten hair to ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask, which harnesses a concentrated blend of Squalane and Omega-9, giving you inside-out care to keep staticky frizz at bay.

To get the most from your mask, shampoo and towel-dry your hair first, ensuring it's just damp – not soaking wet – so the nourishing ingredients can be deeply absorbed. Then, while the mask is on, wrap your hair up in a towel to take the benefits to the next level. It should be left on for at least five minutes for intense absorption, then rinsed out thoroughly.

After that, hair oil is needed. You'll love ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum for its luxe texture, its smoothing powers, and its irresistible shine – even in cold temperatures. For best results, focus this sumptuous formula through the mid-lengths and ends only, taking time to make sure extra stressed tips get an extra dose of hair oil. Then, top up with half a pump in between washes if needed. It's lightweight enough to be quickly absorbed, leaving hair with the silkiest look and feel.

6. A Color Maintenance Routine is Missing

Colored hair needs a little extra care to look its healthiest, as lightening and toning locks can leave the lengths more vulnerable to dryness. So, if you regularly head to the salon for a fresh balayage or a toning session, make sure you're using color-safe hair products at home.

Our stylists recommend the ColorMotion+ collection, which will protect your color from further damage and fading, while dialing up nourishment in your dry hair. The ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo and Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner are a dullness-defying dream team, boosted by a dose of antioxidants that keep fading, drying free radicals at bay.

Then, as a weekly treat, reach for the Structure+ Mask. It's packed with our bond-strengthening WellaPlex ingredient to strengthen your hair structure and target brittle, breakage-prone strands. The rich, creamy formula also delivers on nourishment, so with weekly use, you're left with a shinier, more manageable mane and up to 8 weeks of color protection*.

7. The Scalp and Roots of Your Hair are Dry

Healthy hair starts at the root. So, when your scalp becomes dry – whether that's due to damaged hair follicles or harsh weather – your lengths may start to look and feel dehydrated too. This is because your sebaceous glands won't be producing enough oil to hydrate both the scalp and lengths. These scalp oils are vital, as they travel down the hair shaft to provide nourishment and protection from root to tip.

So, what can be done? It all depends on why you think your scalp might be dry. If you suspect it's due to a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, it's important to seek medical advice or contact a trichologist. But if you think scalp dryness is the result of external factors, like extreme weather, an at-home scalp mask may help to get hydration back on track.

For this, we recommend INVIGO Senso Calm Sensitive Scalp Mask. With moisture-magnet ingredients like Allantoin, the refreshing treatment provides immediate relief to an irritated scalp. All you have to do is massage it into the roots of your hair, work it through to the lengths, and allow it to absorb for five minutes. Rinse thoroughly and repeat weekly to keep your scalp calm and cared for.

Looking for more ways to level up your hair care routine? Then check out Wella's virtual consultation tool. Like having your hairstylist on 24/7 speed dial, it builds your bespoke hair care regimen in minutes.