Tester feedback: “I thoroughly enjoy how this dynamic curl duo helped whip my curls into shape and tame them without adding additional product after washing out a blowout,” says social media manager Bianca Richards. “The scent is super tropical with notes of milky mango, creamy coconut, and sweet papaya, which all remind me of visits to Puerto Rico.”
Key shampoo ingredients: coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, cocamidopropyl betaine | Key conditioner ingredients: coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, argan oil | Scent: mango, coconut, papaya
Best Budget: Raw Sugar Living Moisture Smoothie Shampoo and Conditioner
Why it’s worth it: If you’re trying to stay within a tight budget, Hawkins suggests Raw Sugar Living’s Moisture Smoothie Shampoo and Conditioner. “This product is packed with natural ingredients such as coconut, agave, and sweet almond milk to hydrate and nourish dry hair, leaving it soft and shiny,” he says. Along with those heavy-hitting moisturizers, both formulas contain shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and macadamia oil for maximum conditioning benefits. The sulfate-free shampoo won’t over-strip your hair of its natural oils, either, so you can use it every day without worry.
Key shampoo ingredients: coconut milk, agave, sweet almond milk, shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate | Key conditioner ingredients: coconut milk, agave, sweet almond milk, shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, macadamia oil | Scent: coconut
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes dry hair?
Dry hair is, according to Hawkins, caused by lack of moisture, which can be attributed to a long laundry list of factors. Our delicate strands come by a lot on a daily basis, including overexposure to harsh chemical treatments and environmental stressors like cold weather and dry heat at your home or office, according to Ruszczyk. “Frequent washing or using products that strip moisture can deplete the scalp’s natural oils,” adds Lordet. According to all three experts, your hairstyling tools can also cause dryness. “Heat-styling tools, like flatirons and blow-dryers, can damage the hair cuticle, leading to moisture loss,” says Hawkins.
How can I minimize dry hair?
Both Lordet and Hawkins agree that incorporating hair treatments and products with moisture-replenishing ingredients is key to enhancing the look and feel of your hair. “To combat dry hair, look for ingredients that hydrate and restore moisture balance like argan oil, coconut oil, aloe vera, glycerin, panthenol, and honey to help restore moisture, reduce frizz, and keep hair looking healthy and shiny,” says Lordet. Hawkins is also a fan of shea butter, which he calls “incredibly moisturizing and helps to smooth frizzy, brittle hair.”
Meet the experts
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?
