Does it seem like it’s been a never-ending battle to overcome dry and damaged hair? How about transitioning your straw-like mop into a smooth, silky, and healthy mane? To beat the dryness, damage, and the frustration of your hair problems, we’ll teach you how to keep natural hair moisturized!
- Hydration vs Moisturization: Same Thing Right?
- Ingredients to Moisturize and Hydrate Natural Hair
- How to Use Hydrating and Moisturizing Ingredients for Natural Hair
- Coconut Oil for Moisturizing Hair
- Buying Hair Moisturizer? Read Product Labels
- How to Moisturize Your Natural Hair
- The Bottom Line on Moisturizing Natural Hair
So, if you want to smoothen out your locks, provide ultimate hydration, and get the best, natural shine possible, we’ll go over what it will take for your natural state of hair and for natural black hair.
Say “No more!” to counterproductive hair chemicals, relaxants, and salon-treatments. Instead, say “Oooh” when you discover what you can get with moisturizing your natural hair the better way!
Hydration vs Moisturization: Same Thing Right?
Wrong! To really know how to get those smooth, hydrated locks, you’re going to have get through the mumble-jumble of the terminology. So, here goes, in layman’s terms!
Hydrating hair involves using ingredients with humectant and hygroscopic qualities. But, what the heck are humectants and hygro-what? They’re substances that are used to retain moisture and to draw in moisture from your surroundings, like the air, the water from your shower, and from anything that you put into your hair.
Now, moisturizing ingredients often impair the humectant’s abilities to absorb in and evaporate water. It almost seems counterproductive right? Well, moisturization is important because everything the humectants do, moisturizing ingredients work to lock that moisture in by sealing it in.
It’s a hand-in-hand relationship that hydrating and moisturizing processes have. And, when you’ve got the right ingredients and the right techniques to do it, you’ll have smooth, silky, and shiny hair without much effort!
Ingredients to Moisturize and Hydrate Natural Hair
So, if you’re wondering what natural ingredients can work together or that can hydrate and moisturize at the same time, we’re one step ahead of you!
Here is a list of some popular foods, oils, and butters that can work wonders on your mop! Try blending them to create a hair mask or mix them into your poo and conditioner products for the best results!
- Aloe Vera – juice or gel, there’s no way to go wrong here! Mix with your favorite butter.
- Coconut Oil – unlike other oils, it can penetrate the hair and provide a myriad of hydrating and moisturizing benefits.
- Olive Oil – another oil that can penetrate hair cells for hydration and moisturization.
- Avocado Oil – like coconut and olive oils, it can penetrate and allow maximum absorption of moisture.
- Celery and Cucumbers – contains silica; boosts moisture and elasticity.
- Flax Seed – make a gel out of this omega 3-rich food for anti-inflammatory and moisture-retaining benefits.
- Nuts – Nuts are rich in moisture-retaining properties.
- Quinoa – like various nuts and seeds, it provides a powerful punch of protein to combat dry and brittle hair.
Using Hydrating & Moisturizing Ingredients for Your Hair
Deep conditioning is another popular term in the hair industry, and for good reason. It should be a process that requires a little effort to achieve the most benefits!
And, using these ingredients and many others may require an apron for some kitchen work! You can get creative and concoct your own…
- Pre-poos
- Shampoos
- Conditioners
- Leave-in conditioners
- Hair masks
- Spritz products
- Hair gels
- Pomades
Don’t get shy and back out because you mightn’t be handy in the kitchen! Most of the time, all it takes is a bowl, whisk, and a jar to create the ultimate moisturizing hair product!
Coconut Oil for Moisturizing Hair
Coconut oil for hair can’t be bragged about enough! It’s so easy to use, readily available, and oh so natural! If you can’t find any reasons to start using it for the ultimate do, then we’ll give you six awesome reasons why you should!
- Coconut oil is a super moisturizer! It conditions from deep within to help retain moisture.
- It protects from heat damage and even environmental damage.
- Slows down hair loss! Deep absorption of coconut oil into hair follicles stimulates healthy hair growth.
- Coconut oil promotes scalp health! It fights against skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
- Helps to grow longer hair by protecting it from split ends, breakage, and brittleness.
- Coconut oil gives your hair natural shine, silkiness, and softness!
Read Product Labels
If you’re a loyal and dedicated poo and conditioner buyer, then consider some of these tips to better choose your next buy.
- Choose sulfate free poos.
- Pre-poo or leave-in conditioners should be light and watery in texture.
- For hydration, choose water-based products.
- Look for amino-acid and vitamin-rich products.
- No parabens and phthalates allowed!
- For moisturization, look for pure butter and plant oil additives.
- Use deep conditioning moisturizing products to lock in moisture!
How to Moisturize Natural Hair
It doesn’t matter if you have naturally straight, curly, wavy, or big hair! What does matter is its health, strength, and shine. And, well-hydrated and moisturized hair is happy hair!
Here, we’ll offer up the best techniques on how to moisturize dry natural hair to get turning those straggly tresses and curls into silky, hydrated locks and ‘fros!
Natural State of Hair
If you want to help your hair out in your endeavors for smooth and hydrated locks, it really doesn’t take much at all. Just follow our simple step-by-step process for an easy and simple way for better scalp and hair health. Then you can toss and twirl those locks every which way possible!
What You’ll Need:
- Coconut Oil
- Shower cap or warm towel
Natural Black Hair
Natural black hair can be especially frustrating for those who deal with various types of locks, curls, kinks, and coils all on the same head. So, to combat and tame down all types of natural hair, including 4B and 4C, you too can follow the coconut oil method outlined above for excellent hair-nourishing results. But, we’ll also detail another easy method that’ll give all the glory back to the ‘fro!
What You’ll Need:
- 16 ounces Plain, Full-Fat Yogurt
- 2 Tbsp Braggs Liquid Aminos
- 2 Tbsp Baking Soda
- Shower cap
The Bottom Line on Moisturizing Natural Hair
It’s really not as overwhelming as it may seem to get those luscious, bouncy, and hydrated locks. With natural, at-home remedies that you can create on your own, you can reap all the benefits of moisturized hair without all the nasty consequences of what’s in the store-bought stuff.
So, to run this home, here’s the bottom line…
- Clean and hydrate first.
- Lock and seal in your moisture with oils.
- Seal correctly – you may need to up your mixture with additional leave-in conditioners or other moisturizing-rich ingredients.
- Repeat as often as appropriate.
- Stick to it!
The rewards of giving your hair what it really needs is silky and smooth hair, full of bounce, shine, and life! Now that your hair has spunk and can keep up with your shazzy lifestyle, you can confidently go out there and be as spunky and groovy as you want – the au natural way!
