The Best Conditioners for Dry Hair

The trickiest thing about dealing with dry hair is the sheer number of possible causes. The list of what could be making your hair dull, dehydrated, and frizzy is practically endless and spans everything from genetics to overwashing to hot tools. The causes of dry hair can also compound, meaning that if you have a hair type or texture that is naturally dry (curls and coils, for example) and you regularly heat style your hair, you're going to be dealing with extra crispy strands, explains Adam Federico, expert stylist and R+Co director of content.

At the end of the day, "there's no one common link or factor when it comes to dry or dehydrated hair," says Federico. "It really goes back to the individual, what type of hair they have, and what they may be doing to it at home."

When looking for conditioners to restore and rehydrate your hair health, it's important to understand the two categories that can cause dryness: predisposition (basically meaning you're born this way; shoutout to my fellow curly folks) and external factors. "Individuals with coarse, curly hair may struggle with a natural dryness which commonly occurs within these hair types," says Federico. When it comes to external factors, it's helpful to think of dry hair in terms of what it's missing: moisture. The more moisture you take out, the more you're going to have to put in via products like conditioner. Heat-styling saps moisture from your hair, no matter how much oil you slather on. The same goes for excessive washing, which strips your hair's natural oils as well as dirt, explains Federico.

Hair that's predisposed to dryness can usually handle thicker, creamy products without adverse side effects including greasy build-up. If you fall into this category, you can look for moisturizing conditioners without worrying too much about what's on the label. If, however, you have both a predisposition to dry hair and compound that with external factors like color-treatment or frequent heat-styling, you'll want to look for products with ingredients like protein and vitamins E and C that will strengthen your weakened hair cuticle. The same goes for those whose hair falls firmly in the latter category and are experiencing dryness solely from external factors: look for conditioners with vitamins and oils that protect and strengthen in addition to offering hydration. This is especially true for folks with fine, dry hair which is prone to build-up and breakage.

Once you've determined if your hair's dryness falls into the predisposition or external factor category, you can start sorting through rehydration options that are right for you — including these top picks for conditioners for dry hair.