We covered one of the most frequently asked natural hair questions last year on the Illume e-magazine: how to keep your hair moisturized. We offered the following seven suggestions:
- Utilize a true moisturizer with water as the first or second ingredient.
- Use an oil such as Shea butter, castor oil, or avocado oil to lock in moisture.
- Regularly trim your ends.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Maintain a safe distance between your hands and your hair.
- Snooze in a satin bonnet or pillowcase.
- Deep condition on a regular basis.
However, you may already be familiar with these common tips… and you’ve arrived here due to the fact that your hair is STILL DRY. Therefore, follow this guide to maintain healthy hair!
WHY IS IT FAILING TO WORK?
Even if you follow all of these tips, there is a possibility that a simple error in your regimen is causing your hair to dry out. That is why we have compiled a list of more advanced tips for maintaining healthy hair.
1. Porosity is critical.
Because porosity has an effect on how well your hair retains moisture, it also has an effect on how you should moisturize it.
If your hair has a low porosity, it has a tight cuticle layer and has a difficult time absorbing moisture. This could be the reason for your hair feeling dry! When applying moisture, use heat to open your cuticles (steam, warm water, or a heat cap). Avoid excessive product application or being too heavy-handed. Rather than that, leave oils and conditioners in slightly longer to allow your hair to absorb moisture. Additionally, unless you are aware that your hair is protein deficient (more on this later), avoid protein treatments that can leave your hair feeling dry and stiff.
If you have medium-porous hair, use protein treatments or products containing protein on a sporadic basis; if your hair feels stiff or dry after using a protein-rich product, wait a little longer before your next treatment. Always use a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer and an oil to seal in the moisture after wetting your hair.
If your hair is porous, the goal is to seal in moisture. Daily use of a leave-in conditioner is recommended, as is experimenting with various oils (avocado oil, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc.) to determine which ones keep your hair the most moisturized throughout the day. To maintain strength, use products containing protein, such as NaturAll’s Ice Cream Avocado Deep Conditioner. Finally, ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) treatments can be used to smooth the cuticle layer and keep it moist.
2. It is possible that your hair products are causing more harm than good.
The truth is that a large percentage of hair products on the market contain chemicals that cause your hair to become dry. While these products may appear to benefit your hair in the short term, prolonged use can cause damage and dryness.
Fortunately, separating the good from the bad is simple: simply check the ingredients! Then, review our list of common hair product irritants and discard any products that contain them. Hint: NaturAll’s products are excellent substitutes, and we use only non-toxic ingredients!
3. If you shampoo your hair too frequently (or if your shampoo contains harmful and drying ingredients), it may become dry.
We recommend shampooing no more than once a week and no less than once a month. Increase the time between washes if your hair is consistently dry, especially if you have type 4 curls. Utilize a sulfate-free, gentle shampoo such as NaturAll Club’s Hydrating Avocado Shampoo.
4. You may be manipulating your hair excessively.
If you follow all of the moisture commandments but your hair remains dry, it may be fatigued from excessive manipulation. Excessive styling and exposure to the elements (wind, cold, or sun) can cause damage and dry out your hair.
Allow your hair to rest in low-maintenance or protective styles before resuming high-maintenance styles. (On the other hand, don’t forget to moisturize your hair while it’s in a protective style and follow up with a rich, deep conditioning treatment once the protective style is removed.)
5. Play around with different protein concentrations.
Moisture and protein levels must be balanced, and an excess of protein can make hair feel dry and stiff. If you have stiff, hard, and dry hair, you probably consume too much protein on a daily/weekly basis.
Learn more about protein sensitivity and, if your regimen appears to contain an excessive amount of protein, begin by eliminating protein-rich products. You do not have to completely eliminate protein from your regimen, but you should begin using fewer protein-rich products or using them less frequently.
6. Regrettably, it may simply be the elements that are causing your hair to dry out (especially if you spend a lot of time outside).
We believe that natural hair should never prevent you from enjoying the beach, a bike ride, or a stroll outside with your friends, and thus recommend protecting your hair when venturing out in inclement weather. In the winter, be cautious of wind and cold; in the summer, be cautious of chlorine and sun. Keep your hair moisturized by wearing a hat, scarf, or swim cap.
While we are all aware that dryness can result in breakage, did you know that breakage can also result in increased dryness? It’s a self-reinforcing cycle. Avoid breaking your hair by gently detangling it with a wide-toothed comb. Other tips for avoiding breakage can be found here.
7. Is it still the case that nothing works? It is possible that the culprit is a single product in your regimen.
Consider the following challenge: For a period of 1-2 months, eliminate ALL hair products from your regimen and replace them with natural ingredients, oils, and DIY treatments. Then, gradually reintroduce your previous products to determine which one was causing your hair to dry out.
8. We mentioned this tip in our first list, but it bears repeating—deep condition your hair!
Why? Deep conditioners moisturize your hair much more deeply than other products. For optimal results and moisture, deep condition every two weeks with NaturAll Club’s Ice Cream Treatment Deep Conditioners!