Keeping your hair moisturized is no easy feat. Aside from the fact that certain textures are more prone to dryness to begin with (looking at you, curly-haired friends), on any given day, it feels like there are a zillion different things threatening our hair’s hydration levels—like the sun, hot tools, shampoos with heavy detergents, excessive brushing, and chemical treatments, to name a few. And because dry hair can take on a few different characteristics, it may not be immediately obvious that your strands are dying of thirst… which means you’re likely ignoring the root cause of some of your most annoying concerns.
To help you get things back on a well-hydrated track, we chatted with Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, and Kerry Yates, trichologist at Colour Collective. Keep reading for the tell-tale signs that should tip you off to the fact that your hair needs more moisture, plus exactly the steps you need to take to properly quench those strands.