This might take a little getting used to. But natural hair is dry. This means that our scalp produces natural oils that do not slide down our hair shafts easily as it would for people with straight hair. So these natural oils tend to just sit on the scalp, building up and being all flaky. Show
Then there is another set of people whose scalps don't produce as much natural oils/sebum as they should and this causes dry scalp. This is where a good moisturizing routine comes into the picture. Moisturizing your natural hair helps to seal in moisture into your hair strands, so your kinky curls stay hydrated and flourishing. To keep those curls popping, here are 22 best methods to keep your natural hair moisturized.
1. Your Hair Needs WaterWater is a very important element for your hair. Your natural hair needs water, the way you need the popcorn to sit through a movie. You should spritz water over your hair daily, paying special attention to the ends. Water is a basic moisturizing agent for the hair and you should never run a comb through your hair without applying some water on it first. Drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water each day also helps to keep your natural hair moisturized. 2. Wash your protective stylesA protective style can become counter-intuitive and damage your hair if not properly cared for. You should wear your protective styles for a maximum of eight weeks and cleanse your scalp with a light shampoo every four weeks after each installation. When you follow a cleansing and moisturizing routine for your protective styles, this prevents against dry hair and your natural hair can retain its moisture more. What you need to wash your protective styles
How to wash your protective styles
3. Oil your scalpYour natural hair needs oil, a reasonable quantity of it to properly moisturize your hair. If you have a super oily scalp, you should probably skip this part. But if you produce a very little quantity of sebum, then you may need to add an extra bit of oil to your scalp. You can do this by using some natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, or black castor oil. But applying oil to your scalp every day is a big no-no and not very effective. Also, remember that oil is not a moisturizer and you need to apply a light water-based mist to your scalp before the oiling process to get in some moisture into your hair. 4. Use the Hot Oil TreatmentThis is a great way to pamper your natural hair. The hot oil treatment softens and strengthens your hair while making sure it feels super hydrated and moisturized. This routine is best for the driest times because our hair tends to dry out faster. The hot oil treatment also adds an extra bit of shine to your natural hair. What you need for a hot oil treatment on your natural hair
How to do a hot oil treatment on your natural hair
@Mel's Avenue will show you with this tutorial, how to do the hot oil treatment on your natural hair: 5. Moisturize Your Natural Hair With SealantsSealants contain butters or oils that help to seal in moisture into your natural hair and keep your hair shafts soft and supple. Your sealants do the work of smoothing your hair cuticles. This process of sealing/smoothing of the hair cuticles is a very important step of this routine because it helps to lock in moisture into the hair. What you need to moisturize your natural hair with sealants
How to moisturize your natural hair with sealants
6. Avoid Overstyling Your Natural HairNatural hair styling products can dry out your hair, build upon your scalp and weigh down your hair. Having to touch and style your natural hair too often can cause hair damage and breakage. Give your hair a break by wearing styles that don't require so many styling products or switch between high and low manipulation styles. This will ensure that your hair stays moisturized and hydrated for days. 7. The LOC MethodThe LOC method involves the layering of products on natural hair for maximum water retention. LOC means liquid/leave-in, oil, and cream. For the liquid/leave-in, you can use either a water-based leave-in conditioner or just water. The oil is used to seal in the moisture you have absorbed into your hair, by hydrating your hair with water. You can use olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or castor oil. The natural hair cream/butter is for closing your hair cuticles after hydrating or moisturizing your hair. What you need for the LOC method
How to do the LOC method for your natural hair
Check out this video by @NaturallyCurly on how to moisturize your natural hair using the LOC method:
8. Using the LCO MethodIf the LOC method doesn't work for your hair texture, then an alternative should be the LCO method. The LCO method stands for liquid/leave-in, cream and oil. This is also a way of sealing in moisture on your natural hair. What you need to do the LCO method
How to do the LCO method for your natural oil
@Tyiece has a great tutorial on how to moisturize your natural hair using the LCO method: 9. Use Satin Pillowcases And BonnetsSleeping with cotton scarves or pillowcases will not only damage your hair or cause split ends. They strip your hair strands of its much-needed moisture which then results to dry and dull looking natural hair. If you have to sleep with a scarf, invest in a silk one, a satin pillowcase, or better still get a satin bonnet, which would stay firmly on your head overnight. The satin helps to keep moisture that is already in your hair from getting out like it would with a cotton pillowcase or scarf and prevent snags or split ends from friction. 10. Moisturizing with just oil and waterWater is a very important way of absorbing moisture into your hair and oil acts as a sealant to lock in moisture into your natural hair. A combination of both oil and water keeps your hair super hydrated and moisturized when you apply it daily. What you need to moisturize your natural hair with just oil and water
How to moisturize your natural hair with just oil and water
Watch this video tutorial by @NaturalHairObsession on how to moisturize your natural hair with oil and water: 11. Only Use Water-Based MoisturizersWhen shopping for a hair moisturizer in the natural hair products aisle, be on the lookout for water-based moisturizers only. Water is a major moisture inducing agent so you need to find a moisturizing product with water as its first ingredient. What this does is that together with water and other natural ingredients like oils and creams which your moisturizer comes with, helps to keep moisture locked into the hair shafts. You should use your moisturizer daily to achieve well defined and refreshed natural curls over time. Some water-based moisturizers for natural hair you can try out include; Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, or Cantu Shea Butter Curling Cream. 12. Pre-pooing Your Natural HairA pre-poo is an oil treatment routine for washing natural hair to increase moisture and make the hair more manageable during wash day. Usually, when you shampoo your natural hair, the shampoo lifts oil from the surface of your hair and makes you feel like all the moisture has been stripped out of your hair. A pre-poo is applied to the hair prior to shampooing and conditioning of natural hair. A pre-poo adds extra moisture to your curls, protects your hair follicles, makes the detangling process a lot easier, and leaves you with soft, shiny hair. What you need to pre-poo your natural hair
How to pre-poo your natural hair
@SheilaNdinda has a detailed tutorial on how to pre-poo your natural hair: 13. Find Out What Your Hair NeedsThe key to moisturizing your natural hair the right way and keeping it moisturized is to find out what your hair needs. You need to know what type of hair texture you have, and to determine the porosity of your hair. Porosity is defined as the ability of your hair to absorb moisture. Your hair can either have high porosity or low position. When your hair is high porosity, this means that your hair is able to absorb moisture easily. Low porosity hair means that your hair doesn't absorb moisture easily. If your hair usually takes a lot of time to get wet or dry, you have low porosity hair. You have high porosity hair if you color and style your hair with the heat often. Another way to check your hair porosity is by placing a strand of product-free hair in a clear cup of water and observing. If your hair sinks, then it means that your cuticles are lifted, and you have high porosity hair. But if your hair floats to the top and remains there, then this just means that your cuticles are tightly sealed, and you have low porosity curls. If your strands fall somewhere in the middle, your hair porosity is normal. Knowing your hair porosity helps you to figure out which products will work best for your hair. 14. Use the Maximum Hydration MethodThe maximum hydration method is recommended for people who tend to have excessively dry natural hair. It is specially designed to moisturize your natural curls properly and keep the moisture locked in. With the maximum hydration method, your hair will be able to retain moisture really well and become less prone to breakage, tangles, frizz, or shrinkage. This routine has to be done every day for a week in order to open up your hair cuticles and allow it to absorb a lot of moisture back into the hair. As soon as your hair feels hydrated, then you can repeat the routine every three days. What you need to do the maximum hydration method for your natural hair
How to do the maximum hydration method for your natural hair
You can check out this video by @YeniAremu on how to do the Maximum Hydration Method for moisturizing your natural hair: 15. Trim Those Split Ends OffBecause natural hair is dry naturally it is more prone to frequent breakage and becomes unmanageable. Those split ends to make it easy for moisture to escape your hair shafts, so you may need to trim your natural hair regularly to get rid of split ends, brittle ends, and single strand knots. Over time this would help your natural hair grow and retain moisture. What you need to trim your natural hair
How to trim your natural hair
16. Avoid Applying Heat On Your Natural HairThis can't be stated enough, always keep heat away from your natural hair at all cost. Applying heat to your natural hair, styling your hair with heat, using flat irons or blow dryers on a regular will dry out your hair faster and strip the moisture out of your hair. And when this moisture is gone, it might take a while for the natural oils to remoisturize your hair. If you have to style your hair with heat, use a heat protectant spray first and a lower heat setting. Or you can explore alternative heatless methods of defining your curls instead. 17. Deep Conditioning Your Natural HairAfter every wash, conditioning the hair serves as a way of adding moisture back into the hair shafts. The deep conditioning process involves raising the hair cuticles with heat so your deep conditioner mix can penetrate the hair shaft with all the natural ingredients and allow your hair to retain extra moisture for days. Deep conditioning your natural hair helps to prevent hair damage, dry/dull hair, and restores your natural shine. Ensure that you deep condition your natural hair at least once a week. What you need to deep condition your natural hair
How to deep condition your natural hair
@LovetteJallow has a great tutorial here, on how to deep condition your natural hair: 18. Don't Wash Your Hair EverydayYou don't have to wash your hair every day when you shower. This might not sound strange to you but washing your hair every day is actually counterproductive for your hair. The more you wash your hair, the drier it will become. It is recommended that you wash your hair with shampoo only twice a week. When you wash your hair, use a sulfate-free shampoo and apply it mostly on your scalp, while your conditioner should be applied mostly on your ends. You can apply a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair or leave a deep conditioner in your hair overnight. Co-washing is a great way to keep your natural curls hydrated and prevent so much frizz, instead of using shampoo always. 19. Do the Wash and Go MethodThe wash and go method involves washing your hair and letting it air dry without needing to manipulate it into styles. Achieving super moisturized and hydrated curls which will last for 3 days or more begins with using the wash and go method. The wash and go method get water into your hair as much as possible and increases both your hydration and moisture levels. What you need to do a wash and go method on natural hair
How to do a wash and go method for natural hair
@GloriaAnn shares her wash and go method for moisturizing her natural hair in this video: 20. Protect Your Natural CurlsNatural elements like harsh winds or the sun can damage your hair, causing it to become brittle, dry, and then break off. To keep your natural hair moisturized you will need to protect your natural curls from these elements. When going out on a hot, sunny day, wear a cap or spray your hair with a UV protection spray. On colder days, just wear a hat or hood to keep your hair from drying out. If you have to go swimming, apply a rich conditioning cream to your hair and wear a swim cap to prevent your hair from drying out in chlorinated water. When you travel by road, cover up your natural hair with a scarf to avoid dust getting into your hair and drying it out. For extra hydration and to keep your natural hair moisturized, apply a rich moisturizing conditioner during the coldest time of the year. 21. The Baggy MethodThe baggy method is a popular natural hair technique for refreshing your curls and locking in moisture to your hair. This method is a great way to replenish moisture in your hair overnight and to achieve softer, moisturized hair. There are two ways to go about the baggy method in order to retain moisture, you can either apply the product to your ends only or apply the product all over your hair. However, when using this method you need to ensure that you let your hair dry completely. This is because it is unhealthy to allow your hair to be constantly wet for an extended period of time. The baggy method is also guaranteed to promote hair growth. What you need to do the baggy method
How to do the baggy method
@TheGlovedNatural shares a step by step tutorial on how to use the baggy method to moisturize your natural hair: 22. Get Over The Hand in Hair SyndromeDon't be the natural hair queen with the "hand-in-hair syndrome". While it is oddly satisfying and soothing to always want to touch your hair. Don't do it. Keep your hands out of your hair sis. Touching your natural curls all the time will make your hair dry out faster and strip your hair of all its moisture eventually. Get over the hand-in-hair syndrome and keep your natural hair moisturized. Which moisturizer is best for natural hair?Natural hair moisturizers. It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Deep Conditioner. ... . tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer. ... . Moroccanoil Treatment. ... . Earth's Enrichments Organic Pomade. ... . NaturAll Thirst Quenching Avocado Moisturizer. ... . As I Am Double Butter Cream. ... . Alikay Naturals Shea Yogurt Hair Moisturizer.. How do you keep natural hair moisturized?We offered these seven tips:. Use a true moisturizer that has water as 1st or 2nd ingredient.. Seal in moisture with an oil like Shea butter, castor oil, or avocado oil.. Trim your ends regularly.. Avoid heat.. Keep your hands out of your hair.. Sleep with a satin bonnet or pillow.. Deep condition regularly.. What is a good moisturizer for natural black hair?11 Best Hair Moisturizers For Natural Hair. Best Overall: As I Am Double Butter Cream. ... . Best For Dry Hair: Carol's Daughter Hair Milk. ... . Best Daily Moisturizer: TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer. ... . Best Hydrating Formula: Roots Naturelle Curly Bouncy Curls Ultra Rich Hydrating Crème.. What can be used as hair moisturizer?Besides olive oil, the following can also be used with good results:. coconut oil.. almond oil.. castor oil.. jojoba oil.. corn oil.. |