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Blog - Top 5 Ways to Keep Natural Hair Moisturized

November 16, 2018 by Swirly Curly

If you have kinky or curly hair, one of the things you may be struggling the most with is how to keep your hair moisturized.

Are you unknowingly causing damage to your hair? Get the Natural Hair Mistakes Free E-Guide to make sure!

Curls need moisture to thrive, and if you’re suffering from breakage or your hair has no bounce… dryness could be the #1 reason.

It’s difficult for curly hair to hang on to moisture because of all the tight curls. And the kinkier your hair is, the faster it can develop dryness.

If you’re suffering from dryness, pay close attention to how your hair handles water and product. Does it absorb it easily and become dry a few hours later? If so, you have high porosity hair. Look for ways to hydrate the hair, and then seal the cuticle shut right afterward.

If you can’t seem to get water and product into your hair at all, you have low porosity hair. Look for ways to open the cuticle before you apply product. Then allow your hair to naturally seal shut.

Here are five ways to keep your natural hair moisturized:

1. Water!

Plain water is one of the most underestimated beauty items on the planet and many naturals overlook what this one element does for hair. Before you look to spend money on more products or oils, look for ways to get more water into your hair and body.

Grow stronger, healthier, and more elastic hair by hydrating your body. Drink 8-12 cups quality water throughout the day to grow better hair from the root. Your scalp and follicles will improve, and your hair will grow in healthier.

Apply water to your strands more often too. You don’t always need to use shampoo or conditioner when you get in the shower. Take frequent water-only showers.

If your curls are super-dry, try doing water-rinses every day. Using warm water-rinses in the shower will help open the cuticles, and your hair will get a good dose of daily moisture.

Plus, using water only means your hair won’t be smothered under product build up. It’s just pure hydration only.

If you’re too busy to rinse your hair every day, another method you can do is to spray your hair with water or aloe vera juice daily. It’s not quite as effective as fully immersing your whole head in water, but it’s better than doing nothing at all.

2. Deep Conditioning

Doing regular deep conditioning treatments is a great way to stay on top of moisture. Deep conditioning allows your strands to soak in hair softeners and nutrients. Always choose water-based conditioners and get them with as few chemicals as possible. You can also try making your own.

Heat is the best way to get deep conditioners to work, especially if you have low porosity hair. But even if you have high porosity hair, you’ll find that your conditioners work much better.

You can add heat by placing a shower cap over your head and a towel over it to trap in body heat. Another way is to purchase a thermal cap that you can put over your head and then heat the product onto your curls.

Another way to add heat is by soaking your hair in product and then using an overhead dryer to heat the conditioner. However, be careful not to let the appliance dry the product onto your hair. This could cause your hair to become dry. It is a dry heat tool, after all.

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?