Keeping your natural hair moisturized is key to retaining length and achieving healthy hair. Sometimes it can be hard to know how to keep your natural hair moisturized, especially if you are new to the natural hair game.
If you are tired of your hair feeling dry and brittle or want to keep your natural hair healthy and moisturized, but don't know where to start then look no further! Here are 10 easy ways to keep your natural hair juicy and moisturized. Implement these tips into your daily routine and see the difference they make. Your hair will thank you!
Here are a few tips on how to get your hair looking juicy, shiny, and moisturized:
1. Stay hydrated.
Water truly is life. Not only does water help with bodily functions like digestion, but it is also responsible for keeping our whole system including hair hydrated from the inside out. Since we are not always going to eat right, water helps flush out any toxins and unwanted things from the body while helping to keep skin and hair supple for longer.
Ensure that you drink enough water every day for your hair to thrive. Additionally, having a spray bottle at hand helps spritz your dull hair back to life. You can add a few dollops of your moisturizer to the water for an even better result.
Finally, forgo your plastic shower cap when in the shower, and let the steam work its way into your hair shaft. After all, water should always be your first moisturizer. Also, look out for products that have water as the first or second ingredient as these are the best to use on your hair. Read more on how water helps your hair here.
2. Learn your porosity.
For most haircare brands, products are designed according to hair type. With that understanding, they might not incline more toward porosity. Your hair porosity is the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. It is basically how open your cuticles are and how easily moisturizers and oils can pass through in and out of your hair. Though there are three types of porosity, the most common are low, high, and normal (which we will not talk about).
Low porosity.
This is when the cuticle is packed, tightly bound, and lays flat making it almost impossible to let any kind of moisture penetration into the hair.
High porosity.
This is when the cuticles are too open allowing moisture to easily be absorbed. The cuticles being too open results in fast absorption but even faster moisture content loss. Essentially, the cuticles do not close up again after moisture is absorbed so it is lost just as easily.
Why learn about porosity?
The reason why this is important is that porosity helps you know how to moisturize your hair and layer your products correctly. This is when you learn to use the L.C.O/L.O.C method. The abbreviations mean Liquid/leave-in, cream, oil, or vice versa.
L.C.O Treatments for low porosity
This treatment is applied by first putting the liquid, then the cream, and finally comes the oils to seal everything. Generally speaking, if you have lowly porous hair, this might work for you. Since your hair’s problem is the actual penetration, adding a cream after the liquid reinforces the moisture content in the hair whilst sealing the existing moisture from the liquid and cream.
L.O.C Treatments. for high porosity
This is the best method for all the high porosity naturals. This is because the problem is not penetration but retention of moisture and nutrients. For this reason, we are trying to limit how much goes in and is eventually lost. An oil after the liquid is the way to go. Why?
Because highly porous hair is at a higher risk of suffering from hygral fatigue (the excessive swelling and contracting of hair due to too much water) than lowly porous hair. The oil acts as both a barrier for any more absorption from the butter and as a sealant against the loss of moisture present in the hair.
3. Incorporate protein treatments
Although a protein treatment is not exactly meant to impart moisture like a deep conditioning treatment, the main aim of one is to strengthen the strands which are primarily made up of protein cells called Keratin.
Hair should have a perfect moisture-protein balance for strength, shine, and the reduction of breakage, shedding, and damage. Incorporate a protein treatment every 8 weeks for the best results and don’t overdo it because protein overload can be a problem as well.
For highly porous naturals though, the frequency of the application of protein treatments should be shorter since protein acts as a patch for the holes in your hair shaft.
4. Protective styling
For most naturals, the biggest problem we have is our infamous hand-in-hair syndrome. Manipulation dries hair out causing frizz, tangles, knots, split ends, breakage, and eventual damage. To curb this problem, ensure that your hair is in a low manipulative, low maintenance protective style.
Styles like flat twists, two/three-strand twists, wash and go, wigs, and weaves (no leave-outs), are great and do not require a lot of maintenance. For protective styles, learn how to rotate them, take breaks from them, and most importantly, ensure they are not too tight.
Tight hair can bring about traction alopecia which if not addressed early enough, can cause permanent damage to your hair and scalp.
5. Sleep in a satin bonnet/scarf
As cliché as most people feel about sleeping in a silk/satin bonnet, trust the fact that there is a method to every madness. You see when hair is exposed to cotton or linen beddings, these fabrics are super absorbent. Normally, this is a good thing but for hair, you don’t want it drained of all the precious nutrients and moisture you have been packing on.
When cotton dries your hair out, friction is generated. This in turn causes frizz, tangles, knots, and split ends. If you want to pack on all that moisture, then isn’t losing it while you sleep counterproductive?
For those who do not like bonnets, you can use a silk scarf, or invest in a quality silk/satin pillowcase instead. This should also be done when one is napping as well.
6. Minimize the use of heat
Heat is a notorious dehydrator. Let’s not forget about heat damage as well. As much as heat can be used without experiencing damage, it is not the best when the goal is to help you keep your hair as moisturized as you possibly can.
For this reason, avoid the use of too much heat. This starts by dialing down the temperature on your shower, to heat appliances. Use warm water when cleansing and keep your hair stretched out at all times to avoid feeling the need to use heat.
7. Mind what you eat
You are what you eat! Nutrients are fast absorbed by the body to help in metabolic and other complex functions. This means that your hair is not a priority when it comes to nutrient distribution. For this reason, ensure that your diet encompasses all the right nutrients that your body will need without your hair being left out to fend for itself.
When you are healthy, it shows in your hair. Start by avoiding any fast foods, added sugars, processed foods, and carbonated soft drinks. Instead, look out for whole grains, proteins, leafy greens, lean meats, eggs, sweet potatoes, and fruits.
8. Deep condition weekly
There is just no way to insist on how important it is to have a deep conditioning treatment weekly. This treatment imparts moisture that is lost during the cleansing stage. However, there are rules on how you should deep condition:
- Do not apply your DC to your scalp as this may lead to clogging of the pores.
- Only let it sit in your hair for not more than 40 minutes under a hooded dryer/ DC cap.
- Never let your DC stay in your hair overnight as this may lead to moisture overload.
- Rinse well with cold/lukewarm water when you are done.
9. Trim when necessary.
First of all, no remedy on earth can cure split ends. No matter how much you moisturize, split ends are not going to get better. The best way to get rid of split ends is by chopping them off so trim when necessary.
Split ends can be caused by friction, lack of moisture, manipulation, or simply the fact that they are the oldest part of your hair so they naturally experience wear and tear. If they are not cut off, they work their way up the hair shaft damaging it irreparably. These damaged ends make the hair appear dull, dry, and unhealthy so just get rid of them.
10. Incorporate hot oil treatments.
Hot oil treatments are a must-have. You can opt to have just one oil or a blend of some of your favorite oils to do the trick. Ensure that the oils are not heated on direct heat or in a microwave as this may kill all the nutrients. Instead, use a bowl over boiling water.
Do not use very hot oil on your scalp so you don’t get burnt and scarred, wait for it to cool down enough to where it is still warm enough for application. Apply evenly from scalp to ends and cover with a plastic cap. Sit under a hooded dryer and let the oils work into your hair shaft.
This method can be used as a pre-poo, whether overnight or a few hours before washing, or as a way to maximize your deep conditioning. It helps keep hair stay moisturized, adds softness, and reduces breakage.
11. Use herbal supplements like Vita Hair to supercharge your hair growth
Using high-quality, organically sourced, and medically reviewed products, like Vita Hair supplement. Vita Hair uses 13 types of natural herbs as the key ingredients to improve blood circulation and nutrient supply to the hair follicles to grow longer and thicker hair, research shows that taking Vita Hair increased 60% more hair growth than the control group in 90 days can help you avoid future hair loss, develop new hair strands, and keep your hair strong, smooth, and silky. This hair growth supplement is not only easy to take but it would also not interfere with your everyday lifestyle as this supplement could be taken on an empty stomach with no side effects. Try this easy step by taking Vita Hair if you do not have time to do all the points mentioned above for a faster, easier, and more convenient hair change. Discover and notice yourself how much of a difference using herbs may achieve in a short amount of time.
African American hair is one of the most versatile textures in the world. It can be styled in so many ways, which is why it’s important to keep it healthy and moisturized. Try using one of the methods we outlined and see the changes in your hair, it is important to find a routine and stick to it as keeping your hair moisturized will help keep your hair healthy, strong, and free from breakage.
Reference:
- Alston, Shaniese. “Why Protein Treatments Are Essential For Healthy Natural Hair– Miche Beauty.” Miche Beauty, Miche Beauty, 18 Mar. 2021, https://www.michebeauty.com/blogs/the-miche-manual-blog/why-protein-treatments-are-essential-for-healthy-natural-hair#:~:text=What%20Is%20A%20Protein%20Treatment,hair%20color%2.
- Cherney, Kristeen. “Hot Oil Treatment for Hair: Benefits and How to Do It Yourself.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 May 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/hot-oil-treatment-for-hair#is-it-right-for-you.
- Higuera, Valencia. “Hair Porosity: What Is It and What Type Do You Have?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 22 Aug. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-porosity#what-is-hair-porosity.
- McDermott, Annette. “How to Get Rid of Split Ends.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 20 Dec. 2016, https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-split-ends#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1.
- “Protective Styling: Why You Should Wear Protective Styles – Taliah Waajid Brand.” Taliah Waajid Brand, https://naturalhair.org/blogs/news/protective-styling-why-you-should-wear-protective-styles. Accessed 6 June 2022.
- Raman, Ryan. “12 Healthy Foods High in Antioxidants.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 12 Mar. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-antioxidants.
- “Why You Should Be Wearing a Silk Bonnet | Hair Extension Magazine.” Hair Extension Magazine, 21 June 2018, https://hairextensionmagazine.com/why-you-should-be-wearing-a-silk-
- 4 Ways Drinking Water Improves Hair Growth | Kinetico San Antonio.” Kinetico San Antonio, 15 Nov.2021,https://kineticosa.com/blog/4-ways-drinking-water-improves-hair-growth/#:~:text=Drinking%20at%20least%20two%20liters,will%20split%20or%20become%20brittle.bonnet/#:~:text=When%20you%20sleep%20with%20a,%2C%20tangles%2C%20and%20hair%20loss.
