We’ve tested dozens of products on different hair types to find the best hair moisturisers in the UK – whether you have dry hair, curls, coils or damaged locks
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Most of us are aware that to keep our skin hydrated, we need to use serums and moisturisers, but did you know it’s just as important to use a hair moisturiser if you want to leave your locks looking their best?
If you want your hair to stay healthy then you need to keep it moisturised.
Hydrated hair is happy hair and without moisturising your hair you could be faced with split ends, frizz, brittleness, a rough texture and a dull and lifeless appearance.
What’s more, there are lots of ways you can dry out and damage your hair, such as sun exposure, using styling tools, swimming in chlorine, using hot water to shower, and that’s just to name a few.
When it comes to the best hair moisturiser we’re not just talking about your locks either. It’s also important for your scalp too.
In fact, the health of your scalp will determine the health of your hair. It needs to be massaged and hydrated to be comfortable and healthy and if you don’t use hair hydration products then your scalp may become very dry, itchy and flaky.
With all of this in mind, below we’ve handpicked what we consider to be the best hair moisturisers in the UK to suit all budgets and hair types.
From £14 | Buy now
Olaplex If you need a hair moisturiser to repair coloured hair, or you need a hair moisturiser for heat-styled hair, this Bond Maintenance Conditioner from Olaplex is a great option.
It’s likely your frequent colouring and styling has left your hair dry and potentially brittle so you need Olaplex’s blend of science-led actives, found in this conditioner, to boost your hair’s hydration and get it back to a healthy condition.
This is a great hair moisturiser for bleached hair in particular because it helps strengthen the bonds weakened by the bleach.
This repairing quality makes it also a great hair moisturiser for frizzy hair and a conditioner that helps split ends.
We love that with all its hair repairing qualities it’s also a hair moisturiser that’s vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
FURTHER READING: The ultimate Olaplex guide: What is Olaplex and what does it do?
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£7.99 | Buy now
Noughty Noughty’s Moisture Boost conditioner is a stylist-recommended hair moisturiser for an amazing price.
A winner of two beauty awards, this is one of the best conditioners for dry and damaged hair. It’s a 97% natural hair moisturiser that’s silicone-free, too.
The ingredients include shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil and Noughty’s unique blend of plant oils that will help to improve the suppleness, smoothness and shine of your hair.
We love that this is also a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free hair moisturiser so if you’re looking for hydrating goodness for your locks, this is a budget-friendly, ethical option to try.
FURTHER READING: Best conditioner for all hair types and budgets
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£72 | Buy now
Grow Gorgeous Before you gasp at the price of this hair moisturiser set, remember you’re getting four hair hydration products for repairing hair in one.
It’s no surprise the Grow Gorgeous New Repair Collection has scored so highly in hair moisturiser reviews because each product in the line is packed with hair-hydrating ingredients that really make a difference.
In the collection you’ve got the:
The collection contains a range of hair moisturising ingredients from cupuassu, shea and murumuru butter that will condition your hair and help lock in moisture.
Bio-functional peptides and amino acids from Carob Tree target damage to help strengthen your hair while Baobab Seed Extract nourishes your individual strands of hair.
Then there is Tung Wood and rapeseed oil to help reduce any frizz you have and protect against heat damage.
The whole of the Grow Gorgeous range is formulated without parabens, sulphates, silicones, phthalates or mineral oil, making it a great natural hair moisturiser. These are also vegan hair moisturisers, so it’s win, win!
FURTHER READING: Best hair oils for thinning hair | How to hair oil
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£26 | Buy now
Christophe Robin This hydrating shampoo features some of the best ingredients to moisturise your hair.
Aloe vera works as a physical barrier between your hair and the damages the environment can cause while drawing moisture from the air to keep your hair hydrated.
As well as aloe vera, this shampoo contains derivatives from plant amino acids that help to absorb and retain moisture, which helps to make your hair feel silky and soft.
To improve the appearance of your hair, this shampoo contains flaxseed oil, which contains vitamin E, which works by sealing the cuticle.
The flaxseed oil also has a fatty acid that’s often found in fish and this can help reduce inflammation, meaning your scalp is healthier and your hair will grow better.
This is one of the best hair moisturisers for dull hair.
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£17 | Buy now
Only Curls If you have curly hair we’re sure you’re well-versed with the Curly Girl Method and one of the best CGM-approved hair moisturisers is this Hydrating Curl Creme by Only Curls.
It’s super hydrating for your hair and is designed to smooth out your curls and minimise frizz with light ingredients including shea butter, marula oil and aloe, which all naturally replenish moisture.
It’s a great hair moisturiser for all curl types and it smells great too with a fresh citrus and coconut fragrance.
It’s another vegan-friendly and cruelty-free hair moisturiser and as if it couldn’t get any better it also comes in a 100% recyclable bottle that’s made from bio-plastic derived from sugarcane.
FURTHER READING: Must-have products for curly hair types
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£17 | Buy now
Amika This leave-in conditioner works overnight to boost your hair’s moisture and hydration whilst you sleep.
It claims to work for up to 72 hours, so it will continue to give your hair a hydration boost long after, too.
You can wash it out the next morning, but it can also be left until you’re due your next hair wash.
It’s got some of the most moisturising ingredients for hair, such as the moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid which benefits both your hair and your scalp.
There’s also polyglutamic acid and blue-green algae packed with fatty acids, which both help to add shine to your hair, improve its strength and encourage your hair growth.
This is a hair moisturiser that’s good for thick hair and also works well on coily hair to boost moisture.
FURTHER READING: Sleeping beauty: The best overnight hair masks, face creams and foot treatments
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If you have thick, curly or coarse hair, you’ll particularly benefit from a moisturising conditioner because it’s perfect for adding moisture, shine and smoothness to your hair.
Look for hair moisturiser ingredients including proteins and amino acids, which can improve your hair follicles’ resilience to the environment.
If your hair gets greasy easily then you’ll be looking for a hair conditioner with:
Each of these will hydrate your scalp without weighing down your hair.
If you have dry hair, then it’s likely your scalp isn’t producing enough oil to condition your hair. In this case, you’ll want to look for hair moisturising products with vitamin B5 which will improve your scalp’s ability to retain moisture. ]
The best hair moisturiser ingredients for damaged hair include:
When looking for the best hair moisturisers for curly hair you’ll want to look for hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, shea butter and jojoba oil, which is considered a light oil. You’ll also want to avoid anything that may weigh your hair down like silicones and heavy oils.
When it comes to leave-in conditioner vs hair moisturiser, it helps to be aware of how they’re similar, as well as how they’re different.
A leave-in conditioner is great for moisturising your hair because it works as a humectant, drawing moisture in from the air. This can help make styling your hair easier because it improves elasticity. Leave-in conditioners are usually lightweight water-based creams.
A hair moisturiser, on the other hand, is often a thicker cream designed to maintain moisture when your hair becomes dry.
Moisturisers contain hydrophilic molecules that draw in water to your hair strands, hold the moisture in and balance the water levels in your hair. A hair moisturiser will give you a much more intense and long-lasting moisture boost.
Bear in mind that over-conditioning or improper rinsing can make your hair look dull and cause it to break more easily. As we mentioned, a hair moisturiser is heavier in consistency, so daily use could weigh your hair down.
There’s a balance to be achieved, but by using the top-rated hair moisturisers we’ve featured above, you’ll be starting on the right path to gorgeous, healthy, moisturised hair.
Kat is a freelance journalist, photographer, and the founder of Simply Gender Free – a company dedicated to smashing gender stereotypes in kids’ products. As a mum of two, Kat is passionate about making the world a better place for the next generation
