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Hair Care Routine For Dry Brittle Hair

Tasha Nelly| Dec 25, 2025 | 4 mins read

Let’s be honest, when your hair is dry and brittle, nothing breaks your heart more. Your styles don’t last, your ends stay crunchy, and your strands shed at the worst times. But before you spiral, know this: dry hair isn’t a forever thing. With the right routine, you can revive your hair from dull and fragile to hydrated and thriving. Here’s a quick, no-nonsense guide to help you bounce back your mane to lustrous wonder.

When your hair's dry, brittle and breaking faster than it’s growing, nothing feels right. Right? Even your twist-outs don't pop, silk press doesn’t last, your ends stay rough, and every style just sheds more hair than before. You have to admit that it’s time to make some changes in your hair care routine.

But don't stress, dry hair isn't a life sentence. A good routine can bring your hair back to life – soft, shiny, and strong.

Here’s a simple guide to building a hair routine that works if you're dealing with dry, fragile hair:

1. Hydrating Shampoo

A lot of hair products claim to add moisturiser, but forget that dry hair needs hydration. Dry, brittle hair needs water and not just oils. So, start with a shampoo that has ingredients like:

Aloe vera
Glycerin
Coconut cleansers
Hyaluronic acid (yep, for your hair too!)

Avoid shampoos with strong sulfates if your hair is already weak – they'll just strip what little moisture you have left.

Wash-day tip:

Shampoo twice.
First, to remove buildup, next to let the good stuff sink in

2. Deep Condition

If your hair’s super dry, regular conditioner won’t cut it. Grab a deep conditioner and leave it on long enough to really work.

Look for masks with:

Shea butter
Avocado oil
Honey
Babassu oil
Silk proteins
Hydrolyzed keratin

Add some heat (a hooded dryer, a steamer, or a warm towel) for 15–20 minutes. Heat helps open things up, allowing moisture to penetrate deep into the roots. You’ll feel the difference right away.

3. Add Protein

Weak hair usually needs moisture, protein, or both. If your hair:

Snaps easily?
Lacks bounce?
Feels mushy when wet?
Refuses to hold a style?

...you might need protein.

Go for light proteins to strengthen without stiffness:

Silk protein
Wheat protein
Rice protein

How often?

Maybe once a month, unless your stylist says something different.

Too much protein makes hair worse, so balance is important.

4. Master the LOC or LCO

Seal that moisture in!

LOC/LCO can be a lifesaver for dry hair.

LOC (Liquid → Oil → Cream): good for thick, kinky hair.
LCO (Liquid → Cream → Oil): better for finer hair.
Liquid means your leave-in conditioner.
Cream adds moisture.
Oil seals it all up.

Keeps moisture from disappearing fast.

5. Trim Those Ends

Split ends can’t be fixed with products. No serum or oil will magically glue them back together. A clean trim:

Stops breakage from creeping up
Makes hair look thicker
Keeps styles looking good
Helps you actually gain length

If it’s been months since your last trim, go get one.

6. Protective Styling

Protective styles aren't bad if you do them right.

Moisturize beforehand
Avoid super-tight braids
Pick styles that aren't too hard on your hair
Keep your scalp clean
Don’t leave styles in forever

If you want extra length, good extensions can help.

7. Use Oils for Sealing, Not Moisturizing

A common mistake. Oil doesn’t hydrate – water does. Oil locks hydration in!

Good hair oils for sealing:

Jamaican black castor oil
Almond oil
Grapeseed oil
Argan oil

Use oils after you've already added moisture.

8. Heat? Less is More

Too much heat dries hair out, but some heat (like with deep conditioning) can help. If you use heat:

Always use a heat protectant
Keep the heat low
Don’t go over the same spot over and over
If your hair is really dry, limit heat to once a month

9. Sleep Smart

Cotton pillowcases steal moisture from your hair. Switch to:

Satin or silk pillowcase
Satin bonnet
Silk scarf

This reduces friction and keeps moisture locked in all night.

Indique Blogs

5 Ways To Sleep Comfortably With Natural Hair Wigs

10. Stay Consistent

Dry hair won’t get better overnight. You should see changes within:

A week → softer hair
A few weeks → less breakage
A month or so → stronger, shinier hair

Stick to the routine, and you’ll see real results.

Conclusion

If your hair is dry and breaks easily, simply using moisturizing products isn't enough. You need a whole routine focused on giving it moisture, making it stronger, and keeping it safe. If you wash your hair the right way, get enough protein, seal in the moisture, trim it regularly, and style it in ways that keep it protected, your hair can change from being dry and weak to being soft, strong, and healthy.

Also, if you use hair extensions or hair wigs from Indique’s PURE, SEA, and Remix Collections, you can stop your hair from getting even drier. Indique extensions don’t need a lot of product or special care, so they help your hair stay healthy instead of harming it.

Healthy hair means hair with moisture. And hair with moisture is happy hair!