Many newly naturals attribute finding some magic product to solving their hair moisture issues. However aside from using the right product, there are many factors that contribute to how much moisture your hair retains.
Some areas that are in large part overlooked are:
- The temperature of the water that you cleanse your hair with (Hot water gets rid of the build up in your hair faster, but it also leaves it pretty dry)
- The styles you wear your hair in affect how often you will need to moisturize. Hair that is worn out dries up at a faster rate than hair worn in a protective style.
- What you are washing hair with also affects hair moisture, which is why many naturals co-wash rather than shampoo all the time.
- Using an actual moisturizer. Some people are using oils or greases, thinking that they are moisturizers when they are actually using sealants. Very few oils have moisturizing properties, so if you are using an oil alone you are not effectively moisturizing your hair.
If you have a 4b or 4c texture also bare in mind that you can not always tell how dry your hair is simply by looking at it, as these textures have a cottony fluffy appearance. It’s better to judge your hair by a combination of appearance and how it feels.
I talk more about hair moisture woes in my eBook Grow it Kinky: How to Grow Long Kinky Natural Hair and my YouTube video How to Keep 4b & 4c Hair Moisturized, since it is an issue that will forever plague the black community. What it comes down to is that it’s just the nature of our hair.
Humectin-Extreme Moisture as a leave in to bring moisture back after washing.
i co wash, then condition, then use a leave in and a little oil after towel drying. i wear hair in twists or protective styles. if i wear it out, i run wet fingers through my hair after i rinse my hands once or twice a day. a dab of curl cream or leave in after adding that dab of water keeps my hair moisturized throughout the day.
when i twist up or bun at night, i wet my fingers again and run it through each section. for me the trick is moisten, not dampen and definitely not wet.
hair that is too damp doesn’t dry by morning, so any style that has to dry before releasing curls or twists will mash up
I always like to use the example of oil and water don’t mix. When I talk to my clients about moisturizing their natural tresses. .
I love this article. I must admit, I am guilty of all of the above issues as to why my hair will not retain moisture. My hair has been oily, crunchy, and shrunken tight black cotton held with a thin band all week with flamin itch and unforgiveable scratching of my scalp leaving me with shedding kinky curls and a weird texture. I’m so glad I had the weekend to catch up on all these articles so I can rejuvenate my hair care regimine. I really needed to read black naps. I am sitting with a homemade protein conditioner in my hair now.
What a great start to a brand new week and a brand new job. Protective styling here I come! B-D
Hello-
I have been getting crochet braids (keeping them in for 4weeks then letting my 4c hair rest then back in), before getting my braids put in should I follow the same process as mentioned before. First leave in conditioner, second LOC method, last braids.
Also, While in braids it is really hard to get around weave to moisture my hair (oil and cream). Any suggestions? thanks, Ryann
Is humectant acceptable for natural hair??
Yes, it is totally acceptable! The only thing is in humid weather it can make your hair feel sticky and gummy other than that they are pretty awesome to use. Many of my favorite products have them.
I notice you mention 4b and 4c for the hair, how can you tell the difference or how do you know?
4c hair is more tightly coiled, has little or no curl definition in it’s natural state, and is more fragile than 4b hair.
See this page: http://naturalandproud.com/know-your-hair-type
Very good definition of 4C. But this can be misleading to some who may be transitioning with processed hair ends and not very much virgin growth. I thought I was 4C for years until I had a full head of virgin hair. My curly coily natural hair turned out to be 3C/4A combination. Heat and chemicals over the years stripped away all natural curl definition.
I use water with a teaspoon of Jamaican black castor oil mixed in.
Over the counter moisturisers make my hair shine like dog stones (dog faeces) in the moonlight but that’s it.