Unlock the Secrets of Hyaluronic Acid for Luscious Locks

You likely know hyaluronic acid as the superstar skincare ingredient responsible for hydrating and plumping up the skin but did you know that it’s good for your hair too? Hyaluronic acid’s benefits for hair are quickly making it a go-to ingredient for healthy hair. It’s a powerful humectant, known for its ability to attract and retain moisture. And unlike some other moisturizing ingredients that can be too heavy or greasy, hyaluronic acid is suitable for all hair types and textures, so there’s no reason you shouldn't be using it in your hair care routine. If you want smoother, shinier, stronger hair that’s more manageable; as well as an overall healthier scalp, you’ve come to the right place. We’re telling you everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid for hair, including all the benefits and how to use it ahead.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally occurs in the body. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it pulls in water from the atmosphere and helps retain that moisture. So is hyaluronic acid good for hair? The answer is yes, hyaluronic acid is definitely good for your hair and scalp. When applied to hair, hyaluronic acid reduces dryness and brittleness, reduces frizz and flyaways, and makes hair shinier, softer, and healthier. Hyaluronic acid specifically helps with the following:

Dry and damaged hair especially does not easily retain water. Hyaluronic acid helps to fill in the cracks of a porous hair shaft. It also helps to seal the cuticle, preventing unwanted moisture that causes frizzy hair and curl shrinkage.

Not only does hyaluronic acid benefit strands, but humectant molecules attract and bind moisture to the skin, allowing collagen to thrive, keeping your scalp healthy and hydrated.

If your hair lacks hyaluronic acid, which can happen naturally with age, you’ll likely notice dry, thinning hair. So adding it back into your routine can help to plump up thin strands, adding volume and making you look younger.

Hyaluronic acid has long been making waves in the beauty industry for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin. But this powerhouse ingredient can also help to improve the appearance and health of your hair, leaving it healthy and shiny. Incorporating hyaluronic acid into your hair care routine is easy and can be done in different l ways. It's used in hair products from shampoos and conditioners to leave-in treatments and hair masks, so you've got options when it comes to how you use it.

Hyaluronic acid can be found in many shampoos and conditioners. These formulas are designed to detangle dry hair, deeply moisturize and hydrate each strand for softer, silkier stronger hair.

A hair mask is packed with concentrated ingredients that work to deliver results you can see and feel almost instantly. After you shampoo, give dry hair a treat with a deeply conditioning hair mask with hyaluronic acid to nourish and moisturize your strands.

For a moisture boost no matter your hair type, try a hyaluronic acid leave-in treatment as a styling aid. Apply it to clean, damp hair as the first layer in your styling product routine. Apply it from root to ends, comb through for even distribution, then layer your preferred styling products on top.

Hyaluronic acid can also be used to treat the scalp, in the form of a treatment to deeply hydrate and improve your overall hair health. A hyaluronic acid scalp treatment will moisturize dry, flaky scalps and help promote a healthy environment for your hair.

Check the label on your bottle of hair vitamins or supplements and you’ll likely see they contain hyaluronic acid as an active ingredient. In addition to using hair products with hyaluronic acid to combat dry strands, consider taking hair supplements that contain hyaluronic acid. You may want to check with your doctor beforehand if you are pregnant or nursing.

Keep the following tips in mind if you’re thinking of adding hyaluronic acid to your hair care routine. 

When it comes to choosing hair care products with the ingredient, make sure the hyaluronic acid is listed as an active ingredient. Choose one that also contains strengthening ingredients like keratin, collagen and nourishing oils, like jojoba or argan oil. And while you may be wondering if you can just use your hyaluronic acid skin serum in your hair, we wouldn’t recommend it. It's best to stick with products specially formulated for your hair. 

Incorporate your hyaluronic acid products into your hair care routine regularly. For example, use a shampoo and conditioner containing hyaluronic acid every time you wash your hair, or use a hair mask containing hyaluronic acid weekly. You should notice a healthier scalp and hair in a couple of weeks.

When using hyaluronic acid hair products, the key is to start with wet hair. Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, absorbing water from its surroundings. While this is great for hydration purposes, occasionally it can have the opposite effect. When applied to dry strands, sometimes it doesn't fully penetrate (hyaluronic acid is a large molecule), so, in theory, it could pull out some of the existing moisture from your hair and just dry it out further.

Hyaluronic acid is a versatile ingredient that can benefit many different hair types and conditions, providing hydration and nourishment to leave your hair looking luscious and healthy. Regardless of your hair type, adding hyaluronic acid to your routine can help maintain the health of your hair. Whether you have color-treated hair that's become dry and damaged over time or thinning hair that needs a boost, hyaluronic acid can help to strengthen hair follicles, promote healthy hair growth, and reduce hair breakage. Everyone can benefit from using hyaluronic acid, but especially the following:

Hyaluronic acid is an excellent ingredient for people with dry or damaged hair, that is more porous than healthy hair. Porous hair has a harder time retaining water, so any moisture that gets into your strands spills right back out. Hyaluronic acid helps reduce porosity to minimize moisture loss.

Hyaluronic acid can also help to tame frizzy hair. It helps to seal the cuticle, which prevents unwanted moisture that causes frizzy hair and curl shrinkage from entering it. In fact, people with frizzy hair will probably notice the biggest difference to their hair after adding hyaluronic acid to their routines.

Color-treated hair can become dry and damaged over time, and hyaluronic acid can help to restore moisture, helping to prolong the life of your color and keep your hair looking vibrant. If you have chemically-treated strands you’ll love the effects of this humectant on the longevity of your color.

Hyaluronic acid can also be beneficial for people with thinning hair as it can help to strengthen hair follicles, promote healthy hair growth, and reduce hair breakage. Studies show that hyaluronic acid can slow the effects of androgenetic alopecia by improving blood flow to the scalp. Increased blood flow to the scalp helps deliver the oxygen and nutrients required for scalp health and promotes hair growth.

Explain that hyaluronic acid can also be beneficial for people with a sensitive scalp as it can help to soothe and hydrate the scalp, reducing dryness, flakiness, and irritation. Because it draws moisture, the ingredient is particularly helpful at bringing an irritated scalp back to its healthiest state.

To keep your hair looking and feeling its best, you need to hydrate it. And using hyaluronic acid for hair is one of the simplest ways to do just that. A powerful humectant ingredient long hailed in skincare as a favorite, hyaluronic acid's benefits for hair make it a must-have in your hair care routine as well. And unlike other moisturizing ingredients that can be too heavy or greasy, hyaluronic acid is suitable for all hair types and textures, so there’s no reason you shouldn't be using it. If you want smoother, shinier, stronger strands that are more manageable; and an overall healthier scalp, try hyaluronic acid for hair. Use only the highest quality hair products that are vegan and cruelty-free hair products like the ones from Davines. To speak more with a professional about your hair, book an appointment at a salon near you.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor