If you’re like most of us the reemergence of embracing your natural hair had you enrolling at Youtube University, investing hundreds of dollars into the newest “IT” products, and DIYing Deva Cuts all to achieve the healthy, bouncy, moisturized curls that adorned your favorite celebrity or influencer.
Hydrated & healthy hair is the desired outcome for every Cool Curl, and beauty supplies around the world are full of oils, butters, gels, and leave-ins all claiming to help maintain the moisture of your hair, so it's no surprise that the global market for natural hair has an anticipated growth of 12.18 billion by the year 2026. But do these products maintain moisture? And is moisture retention in hair even possible at all?
By definition, moisture is the presence of liquid, especially water in small amounts in the air or on a surface. If moisture is water and water evaporates, you simply can not retain it. So….what do you do? You replace it and not by slapping products on your head.
Although your hair will look and feel moisturized once you’ve applied creams to your 3-day-old wash and go, the truth is oils and creams build up and attract dirt making it difficult for water to penetrate the hair. If you are looking for just the feeling and manageability of moisturized hair then using different techniques like the LOC method is effective for the “feeling” only but is not nourishing at all.
So if not, oils and creams then what?
Wash It! You heard correctly wash your hair. Let go of that old-school myth that black people don’t need to wash their hair as often. Once a week is recommended for all of us naturals to encourage hair health and growth.
If you continuously have to add products to your hair because it feels dry, then your hair is dehydrated, caused by a lack of moisture and some level of damage. Dehydration can reverse with time, mindfulness, and the correct products. Yes, I said products. The first step to truly achieving moisturized hair is the #30dayhairdetox. If you believe you have hair damage the best advice is to seek the help/advice of a professional.
This is in no way aiming to bash hair care products, I am a product junkie just like you. Oils and creams aren’t bad. Most of us are just using them wrong. Even for the most coveted natural styles (wash and go, twist-outs), oils and creams aren't 100% necessary.
So What do Hair oils and creams actually do?
Hair Oils - Hair oil used regularly can help prevent hair breakage. The right hair oil also gives hair a radiant shine, detangles, and can enhance your hair color.
Hair Creams - Hair cream or styling cream is used to assist in styling hair, taming freeze, and helping to hold the shape of curls and coils. In simple words, it removes frizz and fly-aways
If your goal is to truly have moisturized hair back away from the oils, do a hair detox and talk to a hair care professional for the next steps in truly achieving the hair of your dreams. The key is not to maintain moisture but to replace it.