I've Always Had Dry Hair, But These Top-Rated Shampoos and Conditioners Are Literally Game Changers

Formulated specifically with coarse, wavy and frizzy hair in mind, this shampoo really helps to restore moisture to dry hair without weighing it down. It’s rich, yes, but doesn’t feel at all heavy and does a brilliant job of cleansing hair all the way from your scalp to the very ends. The key ingredients are hydrolysed elastin and an anti-static conditioning agent called guar which work together to restore elasticity to brittle strands while leaving hair looking silkier and smoother.

One of the biggest issues with having dry hair is that dull, flat, frazzled appearance that comes alongside the dehydration. This new launch from L'Oréal Paris manages to tackle that without relying on harsh ingredients or heavy butters to restore shine. Instead, it uses glycolic acid—an AHA that’s typically used within skincare—to penetrate the hair shaft and inject it with conditioning agents before sealing the hair cuticles with a gloss complex. My hair looks so shiny and sleek since using this, and anyone with porous or dull hair would really get on well with it.

This moisture-boosting shampoo from Amika uses a whole host of hardworking ingredients to really infuse dry hair with nourishment. There’s hyaluronic acid and squalane to really rehydrate parched strands alongside polyglutamic acid and bio-fermented coconut water to help reduce breakage and strengthen the hair. And alongside all of those hi-tech ingredients, the formula itself is impressively long-lasting—leaving hair feeling soft, strong and well-moisturised for up to 3 days between washes.

Free from silicones, sulphates and parabens, Living Proof has always been one of my favourite hair brands for everything from washing to styling. However, I’ve recently switched from their No Frizz line to their Restore range and my hair is thanking me for it. Infused with the brand’s patented ‘healthy hair molecule’ also known as OFPMA, this shampoo deeply cleans hair without leaving it feeling stripped. In fact, it moisturises, boosts shine and leaves my hair feeling really nourished and repaired.

This shampoo is the equivalent of a big glass of water for dry hair. Not only does it leave your hair and scalp feeling super soft and clean, but the intensely moisturising formulation makes use of mango butter, coconut oil and pomegranate seed oil to soften and smooth the most frazzled of strands. The rich fatty acids penetrate the hair shaft to really restore moisture levels. And, even better, a whole host of delicious essences like ginger, cardamom and cocoa mean that your hair is left smelling incredible after washing.

If your dry hair is a result of heat-styling or colour processing then this reparative shampoo can’t come more recommended. It is absolutely packed with carefully considered ingredients that wouldn’t look out of place in a serum—there’s niacinamide to repair and improve hair health, hydrolyzed wheat protein to condition, and a vitamin and protein complex to reduce breakage and care for the scalp. Its lightweight yet gets the job done and both hair and scalp will feel conditioned and cared for. Highly impressive considering the affordable price point.

I have been using this conditioner for years and can truly attest to what an incredible conditioner it is if you have dry hair. In fact, its versatility is what makes it so brilliant—if your hair is feeling only slightly dry then just leave it on for a minute, but if it’s brittle and breaking then leave it on for 3 or 4 minutes to really boost hydration. It uses hydrolysed quinoa, baobab seed oil and creamy coconut to really infuse strands with softness and it’s a great option if your dry hair is also prone to knots and tangles.

This affordable conditioner is one of the best for dry hair in that it ticks all of the boxes when it comes to seriously moisturising ingredients. There’s sunflower, jojoba and coconut oils alongside a rich helping of cocoa butter—making it a great option for curly or Afro hair types who might need an extra dose of intense hydration. The texture is almost mask-like and means that it really coats every single strand of dry hair to leave it softened and replenished.

Yes, it’s expensive, but Oribe is one of my favourite hair lines for a truly luxurious at-home hair care experience—and their Moisture & Control line is remarkable for dry hair. This deeply conditioning formulation uses shea butter, olive oil, illipe butter and hydrolysed vegetable protein to smooth damaged cuticles and split ends and nourish dehydrated strands. Your hair will be left so sleek and silky-smooth and it’s particularly brilliant if you have hair that’s prone to frizz or flyaways post-washing.

We often think of dry hair being an issue that thicker and coarser hair types struggle with, however this lightweight conditioner from Kérastase has been specially formulated with fine to medium hair types in mind. It focuses on restoring the hair’s natural moisture barrier without weighing it down, therefore there’s lots of light-yet-hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to really improve hair health. Finer strands will be strengthened and less prone to breakage, and you’ll be able to glide your fingers through your hair thanks to how conditioner and detangled it is after use.

Bed Head By TIGI is one of those salon brands that used to get a lot of love and has slowly slipped off the radar for many. However, I think that a lot of their products are really efficacious and are surprisingly affordable too. This conditioner for dry hair really softens, smooths and hydrates and you can really feel the difference once you’ve rinsed it out. Plus, it smells so, so good.

This high street conditioner for dry hair has been coined a bit of a dupe for Olaplex, and while the ingredients list doesn’t quite match up it does do an incredible job at caring for damaged, dry hair with split ends. It uses citric acid to nourish hair from roots to tips and to coat every single strand with sleek, glossy nourishment. I feel like it really delivers on longevity too—whenever I condition with this my hair looks smooth and moisturised for days afterwards.