Water, Oil, and Cream- A Note on Keeping Your Hair Moisturized

One of the most common battles of having natural hair involves moisture. Or rather, the lack thereof! If you have done your research, you know that naturally curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair.

(There is already a plethora of this kind of information out there in cyberspace, so if at any time you would like to know the science behind the things you read on this blog, I’ll do my best to include the links. But I won’t go into explicit detail here.)

Let’s get started! 

There are only three things you need to keep your hair moisturized. Specific product lines and such are irrelevant. As long as you have these three basic elements in your hair cabinet, you have all you need for healthy, moisturized hair.

WATER- also known as H2O. Water is the ONLY thing that can moisturize your hair. Yes, I can hear your thoughts now. “Is she crazy?? Water makes my hair so dry and hard!”

Incorrect. Think about your body. When you first step out of the shower, your skin is soft and moisturized, right? What must you do to keep it that way? You’re right! Lotion, oil, cream, something along those lines. Lotions and oils seal the moisture into your skin. When you fail to apply them, your skin becomes dry and scaly.

The same process works with your hair. It is important to use water, or a water-based product on your hair on a daily basis. Some like to use water directly, and others prefer water-based products, also known as leave-in conditioners. When doing your daily styling, use water or water-based products first. This will soften your hair, and make it easier to work with.

OIL- A common misconception is that oil moisturizes your hair. It does not. Oil is a sealant. Once you have applied your water based product, I would suggest using a light carrier oil. Olive oil, grapeseed, coconut, avocado, etc. Whichever your preference is, apply just enough to cover your hair. Be sure not to over apply. What are carrier oils?

CREAM-  The last step to sealing the moisture in your hair. Again, every curly head is different. Some find that water and oil are enough, and others need something extra. This is where your cream comes in. Creams are found in the form of shea butter, and curly puddings, pies, custards,  meringues, and the like. Creams should have a high level of viscosity, or thickness, and should be applied with care. Again, be sure not to over apply. They can be useful for providing “hold” to your hair.

When I use shea butter or curling creams, I normally apply it at night after twisting my hair. In the morning, I may use a very small amount of oil or cream when untwisting to avoid causing breakage or friction in my hair.

NOTE: If you have been using gel in your daily routine, be advised that gel is not a moisturizer. It can be useful for hold, but beware of dry, hard hair. Apply water and oil before you use gel.

 I think that’s everything, curls!

Stay lovely,

♪Tiarra♫