3. Steaming
Hair steaming is getting BIG among naturals. It’s a way of letting in a moderate amount of heat to open the cuticles and allowing small droplets of water to reach the shaft.
You can do steaming midweek without having to step into the shower and completely submerge your head in water. It will save your hair between styles and allow you to refresh your curls without the hassle of a full wash day.
Using a handheld steamer will allow you to focus on certain parts of your hair where you’re having problems. Is your crown hair breaking too much? Place the steamer there for more time than you would for other sections.
4. Protective Styling
Protective styling is often overlooked as a way to keep moisture intact. With these types of styles, you can fully or partially cover your ends. This guarding helps the moisture stay inside the hair shaft and not be carried away by dry air, wind, and the sun.
Beware of protective styles which pull the root too tight and hurt your follicles. Protective styles like box braids don’t help to keep your hair moisturized because your hair spends 2-3 months underneath the extensions without seeing much water.
The best protective styling includes twists, braids, bantu knots, and updos. These are hairstyles that you can unravel easily during the week.
5. Avoiding Friction on Your Curls
Friction is something that a lot of naturals don’t think about, but it can make or break your curls. Literally.
When you have something rubbing up against your hair, you’re going to have some of the moisture rub off too. Friction can easily cause frizz and make you lose your definition and elasticity.
Here are three ways to reduce friction:
Use Snappee Hair Ties. Always avoid abrasive hair ties and other accessories. Snappees are made of stretchy yoga pants material, so they are soft on your curls.
Dry Your Hair with an Old T-Shirt. Thick cotton towels were made to absorb moisture and they do a good job of drying your body after a shower. However, they’re a little too good at leaching all the hydration from your hair. Pat your hair dry with an old t-shirt instead.
Use a Satin Bonnet. Have you noticed that the back of your hair looks frizzy and damaged? This is a result of not resting your head on satin or silk fabric. Always use a satin bonnet or silk scarf to reduce friction and retain moisture.
Do you have any special products or methods you like to use to moisturize natural hair?