Ash Wednesday

I have never been involved with preparing the ashes for distribution. Today, the ashes at my church were very dry, drier that I have ever seen before; and therefore they did not go on to people's foreheads very well. By the time I got home there was no evidence that I had received ashes. The priest did bless the ashes and sprinkle a little bit of holy water on them but not much.

Does anyone know if water is usually added in order to make the ashes moister?