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close up of a woman with dark, curly hair holding Davines NOURISHING Shampoo

How to Moisturize Scalp: Steps for Dry Scalp Relief

Updated on October 14, 2025 | 3 min read

Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer

Healthy hair starts at the root - specifically the scalp. So if your scalp is dry, your hair will show it. A dry scalp can cause itching and sensitivity, while flakes and excessive shedding can wreak havoc on your strands. But with a few tweaks to your hair care routine and the right products, you can say goodbye to an uncomfortably dry scalp and hello to healthy hair. We’ll tell you more about how to moisturize scalp ahead.

Key Takeaways

Your Guide to Moisturizing Your Scalp

A moisturized scalp promotes healthy hair growth and reduces dryness, flaking, and irritation.
Common causes of dryness include overwashing, harsh products, and environmental stressors.
Hydrate your scalp with sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, serum, and weekly masks.
Choose lightweight formulas to moisturize without adding grease or buildup.
Exfoliate weekly, stay hydrated, and eat nutrient-rich foods for lasting scalp health.

Why is a Moisturized Scalp So Important?

The secret to good hair is a healthy scalp. And a healthy scalp needs moisture. A moisturized scalp is the ideal environment for healthy hair growth. It also helps prevent the buildup of dry, flaky skin, which causes itching and irritation (how to soothe an irritated scalp).

Moisture helps keep hair shiny and manageable, for reduced frizz and breakage. A well-moisturized scalp also helps to regulate the production of oil, preventing excessive oiliness or dryness and reducing the risk of eczema or psoriasis. Moisture helps to remove product buildup and dead skin cells that would otherwise clog pores and inhibit moisture absorption. The bottom line is that your scalp is an extension of the skin on your face, so caring for it is just as important as the rest of your skin. Wondering how to moisturize your scalp? We’ll get into it shortly, but first let’s take a look at some of the causes behind a dry scalp.

hands scrunching wet hair with shampoo suds

Identifying the Reasons Behind a Dry Scalp

Lots of things can cause a dry scalp, starting with external factors like cold weather, low humidity and artificial indoor heating or cooling. Similarly, frequent hair washing and using hot water, heat styling and harsh chemicals strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness. Other culprits include skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, or seborrheic dermatitis, and dietary issues such as dehydration or malnutrition. And finally, product buildup and under-washing can disrupt the scalp's natural oil balance leading to a dry scalp.

How to Moisturize Dry Scalp: Step by Step Guide

OK it’s time to get down to the knitty gritty and the reason we’re here- moisturizing your scalp. So how do you do it? While it’s not as simple as lathering your scalp with a moisturizer like you do your face, it’s not that much harder. Let’s break it down below.

Find the right moisturizing shampoo
Use a scalp conditioner
Incorporate a scalp serum
Add a weekly scalp mask to your routine

1. Find The Right Moisturizing Shampoo

The first step in how to moisturize scalp starts with eliminating sulfates, which are common cleansers found in shampoos that strip the moisture from your strands. They’re incredibly drying, so avoid them at all costs and choose a sulfate-free, moisturizing shampoo when you wash your hair.

2. Use a Scalp Conditioner

Next up in your scalp moisturization journey is the conditioner. More specifically, scalp conditioner, to nourish, moisturize and promote the wellbeing of your scalp and hair, without weighing strands down. Use one after every shampoo to moisturize your scalp and make your hair healthy, strong and shiny.

3. Incorporate a Scalp Serum

The next step in how to moisturize dry scalp is applying a scalp serum. Serums are a must for hydration because they’re highly concentrated, and contain smaller molecules that penetrate deeper into the skin to deliver targeted active ingredients. Apply scalp serum daily as part of your routine.

4. Add a Weekly Scalp Mask to Your Routine

Rounding out our step-by-step guide to moisturizing the scalp is incorporating a scalp mask. A mask applied directly to the scalp provides deep hydration and nourishment to dry skin. How often you mask depends on the severity of your dryness, but once or twice a week is usually good.

Check out our full guide to getting rid of a dry scalp.

How to Moisturize Scalp Without Making Hair Greasy

Wondering how to moisturize scalp without making hair greasy? By avoiding products with heavy oils, butters, or silicones and choosing lightweight product formulas. Use products sparingly, avoiding the hair shafts, and use a clarifying shampoo weekly to rid buildup. Avoid hot water which can strip your scalp of natural oils and make hair greasy, and use a lightweight conditioner that won’t weigh hair down.

Here are products designed for sensitive scalps and scalp products for oily hair.

How to Moisturize Dry Scalp Effectively: Tips and Techniques

In addition to upping the moisture factor in your healthy scalp routine, it’s important to drink at least 3 liters of water a day and eat a well-balanced, hair-healthy diet to promote a healthy scalp. Eat lean proteins including foods like tofu, fish, chicken and cottage cheese and omega-3 fatty acids in things like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

Regular exfoliation is also important when it comes to moisturizing a dry scalp. Exfoliating helps to remove buildup that can clog pores and hinder moisture absorption.

Pro tip: Exfoliate once or twice a week, ideally right before applying your hair mask to prime your scalp for effective hydration. Use a gentle scalp scrub or the DIY recipe below.

comb brushing through a woman's wet hair

Home Remedies for a Dry Scalp

Wondering how to moisturize scalp with everyday ingredients from your kitchen?

Ingredients:

sea salt
sugar
coffee grounds
coconut oil
honey or apple cider vinegar

Steps:

Mix and match them according to your scalp’s needs

sugar and salt exfoliate
coffee grounds exfoliate and soothes the skin
coconut oil moisturizes and has antibacterial properties
honey soothes the scalp and reduces dandruff
apple cider vinegar clarifies and balances the scalp's pH levels

Maintaining Scalp Health with Davines

Get to the root of your dry scalp and kiss itching, sensitivity and flakes goodbye with a moisturizing scalp care routine. Use sulfate-free moisturizing shampoos like our NOURISHING and MOMO, and exfoliating and nourishing treatments like the ones in our Love Your Scalp Set. All of our hair and scalp treatments are made with natural, high quality, scalp-loving natural ingredients for your healthiest hair and scalp.