Dry Hair Woes – Faulty Moisturizing Routine

Afro-American hair is genetically dry and weak as compared to the other hair types. Moisturizing is one of the most important and best African American hair care practices to keep your hair healthy and long. However, moisturizing has to be done in a proper way for it to be effective and give desired results.

Here is a look at some moisturizing practices that are faulty and do not impact your hair in any positive way:

• Using too much of grease, petroleum jelly, butter and heavy oil to moisturize your hair – Most of these products work as sealing agents. They coat the hair strands, often clogging the pores and making it difficult for moisture to penetrate inside the cuticles. However, oils like coconut oil, almond oil, and olive oil in addition to cream-based moisturizers, are able to penetrate inside the hair cuticles to moisturize the hair from within.

• Not moisturizing enough – You do not have to wait for the hair to become excessively dry and brittle before you moisturize your tresses. Even if the hair looks and feels alright, it is best to moisturize your hair on a regular basis. This will prevent you from going into damage control mode and it will also be an effective way to always keep your hair hydrated.

• Moisturizing unwashed hair – The objective of any good moisturizer is to seep into the hair cuticles for hydration and bounce. Applying moisturizers over hair that is dirty with grime and styling products will not allow this to happen, making the entire process ineffective. Washing your hair with shampoo at least once a week will make sure that the cuticles can breathe and absorb the moisturizers.

• Not sealing in the moisturizers – Only water-based moisturizers manage to hydrate your hair. Since water can easily get evaporated, it is important to seal the cuticles after you moisturize your hair, to lock in the goodness.

• Not moisturizing after using shampoo – Using shampoo frequently can actually strip away some of the natural oils from your hair strands. Using moisturizers and conditioners after shampooing can easily re-hydrate your hair, while keep it clean.

• Applying moisturizers on the roots – It is the ends of the hair, the part that is the oldest that needs the most care, nutrients and hydration. Applying moisturizers only to the roots of the hair is going to be as ineffective as not applying anything at all.

Hair has to be moisturized on a regular basis to keep it hydrated, healthy, bouncy and shiny.