What Does Drinking More Water Do to Your Hair?

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

Approximately 60% of the human body is water, and this vital element plays a crucial role in overall health, including the appearance and vitality of your hair. In fact, every strand of hair is composed of about one-quarter water, so drinking more water directly contributes to its strength and resilience from the inside out.

Quick Summary

Proper hydration nourishes hair follicles, promotes growth, and prevents issues like dryness, frizz, and breakage. It supports a healthy scalp by regulating oil production and removing toxins. Increased water intake also improves the transport of essential nutrients to the hair for overall vitality.

Key Points

Strengthens Hair: Adequate water intake strengthens the hair shaft, making it more resilient and less prone to breakage and split ends.
Promotes Growth: Proper hydration ensures nutrients are effectively transported to hair follicles, supporting a healthy growth cycle.
Combats Dryness: Drinking water hydrates hair from the inside, preventing the dullness and brittleness associated with dehydration.
Supports Scalp Health: A hydrated scalp is less susceptible to issues like dryness, flakiness, and irritation, which can inhibit hair growth.
Enhances Shine: By maintaining moisture levels and supporting circulation, proper hydration contributes to more vibrant, shiny hair.
Improves Elasticity: Well-hydrated hair is more elastic and flexible, allowing it to withstand styling without easily snapping.
Flushes Toxins: Sufficient water intake helps the body remove toxins, creating a healthier internal environment for hair growth.

The Science Behind Hydration and Hair

To understand the benefits of proper hydration, it's helpful to know what happens when your body is dehydrated. When your fluid intake is insufficient, your body prioritizes vital organs like the brain and kidneys. Non-essential functions, including hair growth and health, receive less water and nutrients as a result. This can have a cascading effect on the hair, from the follicle to the strand itself.

Water is essential for the transport of nutrients throughout the body via the bloodstream. This includes delivering key vitamins and minerals to the hair follicles, the powerhouses that produce new hair. A well-hydrated scalp ensures these follicles function optimally. Conversely, poor circulation from dehydration means fewer nutrients reach the scalp, which can disrupt the hair's natural growth cycle.

How Proper Water Intake Promotes Healthy Hair Growth

Drinking adequate water provides numerous benefits for your hair's overall health and appearance. Here is a closer look at how it works:

Enhances Blood Flow to the Scalp: Proper hydration helps maintain healthy blood circulation, which ensures essential nutrients and oxygen are efficiently delivered to the hair follicles. This robust circulation promotes a healthy environment for hair to grow.
Strengthens and Increases Elasticity: A well-hydrated hair shaft is stronger and more elastic. When hair is parched, it becomes brittle and is far more susceptible to breakage, split ends, and damage. Increasing water intake helps fortify the hair's structure from within.
Reduces Dryness and Brittleness: Just as dehydration affects your skin, it directly impacts the moisture levels of your hair. Drinking enough water keeps hair hydrated from the inside out, which combats dull, dry, and brittle strands.
Maintains a Healthy Scalp: A hydrated scalp is a healthy scalp. Proper water consumption helps prevent dryness, flakiness, and itchiness. It also aids in regulating sebum production, preventing the scalp from becoming too dry or excessively oily, which can both contribute to hair issues.
Aids in Toxin Removal: Water helps flush toxins from the body, and this detoxification process extends to the hair and scalp. By eliminating these waste products, you support a cleaner, healthier environment for hair growth.

Dehydrated Hair vs. Dry Hair

While the terms are often used interchangeably, dehydrated hair and dry hair are distinct issues with different causes and solutions. Understanding the difference is key to providing your hair with the correct care.


Feature	Dehydrated Hair	Dry Hair
Cause	Lack of water internally.	Lack of natural oils (sebum) externally.
Appearance	Dull, rough, frizzy, and lacks volume.	Lusterless, with potential for split ends and flyaways.
Scalp Condition	Often presents with a dry, flaky, or itchy scalp.	Scalp may still produce some oil, but hair strands are dry.
Feel	Feels dry and rough to the touch, even after moisturizing.	Feels brittle and straw-like.
Elasticity	Low elasticity; hair doesn't bounce back when stretched.	Low to moderate elasticity, but still prone to breakage.
Primary Treatment	Focus on internal hydration (drinking water) and water-based moisturizers.	Focus on external oils to seal the cuticle and lock in moisture.

The Hair Growth Cycle and Dehydration

The hair growth cycle consists of three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). Dehydration can interfere with this cycle, especially the anagen phase. When the body is water-deficient, it may divert resources from hair follicles, causing them to enter the resting phase prematurely. This can result in increased shedding and slower regrowth. However, for most people, mild dehydration-related hair loss is reversible by restoring consistent hydration.

Actionable Tips for Better Hair Hydration

Incorporating more water into your daily routine is a straightforward process with significant rewards for your hair. Here are some strategies:

Set Reminders: Use apps or set alarms on your phone to remind you to drink water throughout the day.
Infuse Your Water: If you find plain water unappealing, add natural flavors like cucumber, lemon, or mint to encourage more consumption.
Eat Water-Rich Foods: Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables with high water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, and leafy greens.
Carry a Reusable Bottle: Always having water on hand makes it easier to stay consistently hydrated, especially when active.
Pair with Hair Care: Combine your internal hydration efforts with a moisturizing hair care routine. Use sulfate-free shampoos and nourishing conditioners to maximize moisture retention.

Conclusion

Drinking more water provides substantial benefits for your hair, contributing to its health, strength, and appearance from the inside out. It supports vital functions like nutrient transport to the hair follicles, strengthens the hair shaft, and promotes a healthy scalp environment. While hydration is not a cure-all for every hair issue, it is a fundamental and accessible step towards achieving stronger, more vibrant, and resilient hair. For best results, it is crucial to maintain consistent water intake and pair it with a supportive external hair care regimen.

Authoritative Resource

For more information on the benefits of hydration for overall wellness, which includes a positive impact on hair and skin, see the NHS guidelines on water intake: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-and-drink-healthy-diet/water-drinks-and-your-health/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, dehydration can be a contributing factor to hair loss, though it is often not the sole cause. When your body is dehydrated, it directs water to more critical organs, leaving hair follicles with insufficient hydration and nutrients. This can slow hair growth and increase shedding.

Results from increased water intake are not immediate. It may take several weeks to a few months to notice improvements in hair quality, as it depends on the hair's growth cycle and the severity of prior dehydration.

While general recommendations suggest around eight 8-ounce glasses a day, the ideal amount depends on factors like body weight, activity level, and climate. A common guideline is to drink a number of ounces of water equal to half your body weight.

Drinking more water won't change your hair's genetic thickness, but it can make existing hair look and feel thicker. Dehydrated hair is often thin and limp, whereas properly hydrated hair appears fuller and more vibrant.

Yes, dehydrated hair lacks water, while dry hair lacks oil. Dehydrated hair is a systemic issue related to internal water intake, whereas dry hair is often caused by external factors like heat styling or harsh products.

While other liquids and water-rich foods contribute to your overall fluid intake, plain water is the most effective for hydration. Caffeinated and sugary drinks can have a dehydrating effect and should be consumed in moderation.

A dry, flaky, or itchy scalp is a common sign of dehydration because the skin of the scalp, like the rest of your skin, needs water to function properly. However, scalp dryness can also be caused by other conditions like dandruff or product buildup.