Every stylist has a version of this conversation: a client comes in complaining about dry, straw-like hair and wants a product recommendation. Nine times out of ten, my first question isn't about their shampoo — it's "how much water are you drinking?"
Nobody wants to hear that the answer might be that simple. But it often is.
Your hair is the last to get hydrated
Your body has priorities, and your hair isn't one of them. When you're dehydrated, your body routes water to your organs first — brain, kidneys, liver. Hair and skin get what's left over, which is often not much. You can apply every hydrating mask on the market, but if you're running on coffee and three glasses of water a day, you're fighting a losing battle from the inside out.
What dehydrated hair actually looks like
It's not always obviously dry. Sometimes it's hair that won't hold a curl. Sometimes it's color that fades faster than it should. Sometimes it's that rough, stiff feeling even after conditioning. The hair strand itself is about 10-15% water by weight — when that drops, everything about how your hair behaves changes.
Clients who travel a lot notice this more. Airplane cabins run around 10-20% humidity. A few cross-country flights a month and your hair is basically in a dehydrator.
The Chicago factor
We get both extremes here. Summer humidity that makes everything swell (hello, frizz). Winter cold that sucks every drop of moisture out of your hair. Add indoor heating from November through April and you've got six months of artificially dry air working against you.
This is why we lean so heavily on Davines NOUNOU for our clients — it's the most effective hydrating line we've found that doesn't weigh hair down. The conditioner in particular works without the silicone-heavy approach most drugstore brands take.
What actually helps
Drink more water. I know, groundbreaking advice. But aim for half your body weight in ounces daily — it makes a noticeable difference in hair texture within 2–3 weeks.
Use a humidifier in winter, especially in your bedroom. Your hair and skin will thank you by March.
Deep condition weekly. Not monthly, not "when you remember." Weekly. K18 once a week keeps bond integrity strong, and a good moisture mask (we like Davines NOUNOU Hair Mask) handles the hydration side.
Stop washing every day. Most people don't need to shampoo more than 2–3 times a week. Every wash strips natural oils that protect the hair shaft. If your roots get greasy between washes, dry shampoo is your friend.
When it's not just water
If you're hydrating properly and your hair is still dry and brittle, it might be something else — thyroid issues, iron deficiency, medication side effects. We see this more than you'd think. We're not doctors, but we know when to say "this doesn't look like a product problem — you might want to get bloodwork done."
Good stylists pay attention to the whole picture, not just the hair in front of them. That's part of what we do at Reverie Salon in River North — we look at your hair in context, not in isolation.
