Moisturizing Naturally Curly Hair

Naturally curly hair requires special attention to ensure that it remains healthy and is less prone to breakage. Moisturizing is the key. Moisturizing your curly hair will enable you to grow it to a longer, healthier length.

Why Moisturize

The more curly hair is, the more it needs to be moisturized. Hair that is not as curly are typically moisturized enough from the conditioning process. Since sebum (the natural oil from the scalp) has a difficult time reaching the ends of curly hair, it tends to become dry. This dryness then produces hair that has no elasticity. Hair that has no or low elasticity is more prone to breakage. This is why it is important to moisturize curly, coily, or kinky hair.

What is a Moisturizer

The first thing to know about moisturizers is that it is not the same as an oil. A moisturizer is a product that is typically in cream form or liquid form. Moisturizers are typically called hair lotions and other derrivatives. Carol's Daughter Hair Milk and Hair Balm are examples of moisturizers. Pink Lotion is a BAD example of a moisturizer due to the ingredient mineral oil which eventually leads to dryness. A leave-in conditioner can also be used as a moisturizer. It is important that a moisturizer contain some form of water. Look at the ingredients list.

Water-based moisturizers have water as the first ingredient while oil-based moisturizers have a type of oil as the first ingredient.

If you wear your hair curly, either moisturizer will work well for you. If you wear your curly hair straight, you may want to use an oil-based moisturizer because water-based ones may revert your hair.

When to Moisturize

The best time t o moisturize your hair is right after you condition it and have rinsed it out. Apply a liquid leave-in like Motions Nourish or a creamy leave-in like Salerm 21 depending on the level of moisture you need. Afterwards, depending on the hair style you're going to wear, apply a moisturizer. It will be easier to not overdo it if you apply it in sections. Start with a dime-sized amount and work your way up as you see fit.

You should also moisturize your hair in between washings. Before going to bed is a really good time to moisturize. It can become a routine just like brushing your teeth and removing makeup.

How to Moisturize

The best way to moisturize is with your hair in sections. Take a dime-sized amount of your preferred moisturizer and rub it between your palms reaching out to your fingers. Then gently massage it into your hair concentrating on the ends.

With relaxed hair, you can apply a little bit of leave-in and then moisturizer a few times a week before rolling your hair. Your ends will become nice and supple and less prone to dryness.

With naturally curly hair that has been straightened, you'll want to apply an oil-based moisturizer to your ends - VERY lightly to avoid making your hair too greasy.

Wearing your hair natural, you have various options, you can spray a leave-in mixture or apply moisturizer directly to your hair. You can pretty much do anything when you're not trying to preserve a straight hair style.

Moisturizing naturally curly hair is an absolute essential in achieving healthy hair that is silky and soft and is less prone to breakage. Sometimes you may get a little lazy with ensuring your hair is moisturized, but believe me, when you start to see the effects of being consistent with a moisturizing routine, you'll begin to see how important it really is!