Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a hydrating hair treatment?
Here’s the deal—extra moisture leads to healthy hair and softer strands. Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, highlights the power of humectants like hyaluronic acid (commonly found in skin care) in hair care. “It revives dry strands and restores softness in just one minute,” she explains. “Just like your skin, your hair loses moisture daily—from heat styling, environmental stressors, and even washing. Without proper hydration, it becomes dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.”
According to Emily Claire, a colorist and Davines educator at Rob Peetoom Salon in NYC, treatments typically fall into two categories. “The first is surface-level cosmetic treatments, like hair masks and leave-in conditioners, that offer temporary shine and softness. The second is bond-building reparative treatments, like K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask and Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector, which work at the molecular level to repair serious damage,” she explains. Still, whether the benefits are short-term or long-term, any hydrating hair treatment can be valuable.
How are hydrating hair treatments different from regular conditioners?
“A hair mask [for example] is very similar to a daily conditioner in that it restores the hydration of the hair after shampooing,” New Jersey-based hairstylist Michelle Cleveland told Allure. “However, a mask contains higher concentrations of vitamins, oils, and butters that will penetrate deeper into the hair when left on for longer periods of time than a traditional conditioner,” she said. “The result is a higher level of hydration to the hair, which ultimately leads to repairing dry, damaged, and/or dehydrated hair.”
So, while you shouldn’t ditch your standard conditioner altogether—it’s an important part of regular maintenance—your hair will look and feel even more hydrated when paired with an intensive treatment buddy.
What is the best thing to rehydrate your hair?
To rehydrate your hair, Holland Hager, a colorist at Flore in Los Angeles, recommends starting with a sulfate-free, moisturizing shampoo. From there, “follow with a deep conditioning treatment, then finish by applying a lightweight hair oil or a leave-in conditioner to help lock in moisture and keep your hair soft,” she says.
How do I deeply hydrate my hair?
Say it with us: Condition, condition, condition. To get well-hydrated hair, Hager suggests applying a nourishing scalp oil before washing your hair, then using “a rich, moisturizing conditioner with every wash.” She also recommends using deep conditioning treatments twice a week “to restore moisture, improve softness, and support overall hair health.”
What is the best treatment for dry hair during menopause?
If menopause has left your hair drier, it’s likely time to make some changes in your routine—in more ways than one. Externally, it’s best to “limit heat styling to help prevent dryness and breakage,” says Hager; she also recommends sleeping with a silk or satin pillowcase or bonnet for the same purpose. Internally, “support healthy hair from within by eating adequate protein and talking with your healthcare provider about the supplements that are right for your individual needs,” she says.
Meet the experts
- Emaly B, a colorist and founder of Beauty Supply in New York City
- Christin Brown, a colorist who specializes in curly hair
- Emily Claire, a colorist and Davines educator at Rob Peetoom Salon in New York City
- Michelle Cleveland, a hairstylist based in New Jersey
- Angelo David, founder of Angelo David Salon in New York City
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
- Holland Hager, a colorist with Flore in Los Angeles
- Jerome Lordet, a hairstylist based in New York City
- Mia Santiago, a hairstylist based in New York City and Ohio
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best hydrating hair treatments, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair experts—many of whom want shinier, healthier-looking hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet..
