You know that feeling when your skin’s suddenly tight, flaky, or dull, and your hair is dry no matter what you put on it? It’s not just the weather, and it’s not that your products have stopped working. It might be that your skin or hair is dehydrated, not dry. Or both.

This is one of the most common things I see in autumn. And when you know the difference, it’s much easier to give your skin and your hair what they actually need.

Let’s break it down.

So, what’s the deal with dry vs dehydrated skin?

Dry skin means your skin isn’t making enough oil. That might just be your skin type, or it could be from things like cold air, hot showers, or over-cleansing. It usually feels rough or tight, flakes easily, and can look a bit irritated. You might feel like your moisturiser disappears the second you put it on.

Dehydrated skin is short on water. This can happen to anyone, even if your skin is oily. It tends to feel tight in a different way, like it’s thirsty from the inside out. It might look dull, show fine lines more than usual, or make your makeup sit weirdly on your face.

And yes, you can be both. That’s when things start to feel impossible to fix.

Hair? Same story.

Your hair and scalp can be dry or dehydrated too.

Dry hair is missing oil. It feels brittle, frizzy, and split at the ends. It doesn’t shine much, and even after styling it still looks kind of flat or fluffy in all the wrong ways.

Dehydrated hair is missing water. It might feel soft when wet, but once it’s dry, it’s dull and hard to manage. It doesn’t hold style well, and it always feels like it needs something. That something isn’t another oil.

And if your scalp is flaky or itchy, dehydration could be the culprit. If it’s oily and flaky at the same time, your scalp might be trying to fix the problem by overproducing oil.

What do you actually do?

Start by hydrating, then lock it in.

Think of it like watering a plant. If you don’t follow with something to keep that moisture in, it just evaporates. The same goes for your skin and hair.

Hydrating products usually contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe, or glycerin. These pull water into the skin or hair. Then you follow with something richer, like a moisturiser or hair cream, that seals it in.

If you’re only using rich products and your skin or hair still feels dry, you might be skipping the hydration step. If you’re using light serums or leave-ins but not following up with something to hold it all in, you’re likely losing that moisture before it has a chance to do anything.

Where I come in

If your skin or hair has been acting up and you’re not sure what it’s missing, let’s figure it out together.

The Restore Facial is all about rehydrating the skin and supporting the barrier so it can actually hold onto moisture again. It’s customised every time, based on how your skin looks and feels on the day.

The Restoration Ritual is our treatment for hair that feels dry, flat, or just off. It works below the surface to rebuild your hair structure so it feels strong, smooth, and genuinely healthy, not just temporarily shiny.

If your skin is tight, your scalp is flaking, or your ends are breaking, book in. Your skin and hair might not be dry. They might just be thirsty.

You can also book a skin consultation to check in on what your skin actually needs right now. The change in seasons is the perfect time to reassess your products and routine. I’ll walk you through it and keep things simple.