Dry Hair Is Dull, Damaged, And Lifeless—But These Shampoos Can Help

If you have dry hair, less is more when it comes to washing. "Shampooing too often can dry hair out," says hairstylist Courtney Foster. "So a person that has dry hair can maybe skip shampoo for a day or two. This will allow the natural oils from the scalp to moisturize the hair." If you typically shampoo your dry hair every two weeks, Foster suggests washing once a week instead and see how your hair reacts to the change.

Stylist Nick Kersten of Rob Peetoom Salon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, agrees: "I always recommend shampooing as little as possible. Some people like to wash their hair every day, but I would advise leaving at least one day in between. If you have dry hair, one wash a week can be sufficient."

But for those times when you really need to shampoo because you've had a serious sweat sesh or piled on loads of dry shampoo, the type of shampoo you use on your dry hair really makes a difference. Look for moisturizing ingredients like coconut and palm oil, vitamin E, and lipids—and avoid parabens, mineral oils, silicone, and alcohol, explains Maree Perrotta, senior stylist at the James Joseph Salon. Foster also likes moisture-driven ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil, and avocado oil.

And while taking care of your external needs are beneficial, Kersten points out that a poor diet can negatively impact hair. "Your food and drinks consumption can also affect dry hair adversely, especially alcohol, which is dehydrating. It is important that you get enough vitamin A, which is found in fish and vegetables," he says. Foster notes that drinking enough water each day along with hydrating deep conditioning treatments is also beneficial.

Now that you have these expert tips, scroll through to see their picks for the best shampoo for dry hair (on any budget).