by Reignelle of Reignelle.com You will be applying these in layers to the length of your hair. Its optimal to seal on your wash days, when your hair is freshly washed. This has changed my life!
1. Start with wet hair.
Water is the only true form of moisture, if water is not present, neither is moisture.
2. Apply a leave-in, moisturizer or creme.
Try Direct Leave-In or your favorite water based leave-in. Avoid products that claim to moisturize, but have petroleum or mineral oil in the first five ingredients.
3. Apply a top coat of an oil or butter.
Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, and Coconut Oil, and Raw Shea or Mango butter are all great choices and can be found in most health food stores such as Whole Foods or Trader Joes.
Found in most Beauty Supply Stores, Elasta QP Mango Butter is also a great choice!
I prefer a light oil like grapeseed. It doesn’t weigh my hair down, break out my skin, or leave me feeling “oily”.
Applying oil or a thick hair butter, keeps the moisturizing products within the hair strand. This is the most important step.
4. Style as Normal.
Maybe try a protective style if you are looking to grow out your hair.
CN Says;
If you have fine hair like me and you’re easily weighed down, try sealing just your ends!
For my hair, I use water and glycerine as both my moisturiser and leave-in and seal with castor oil during the summer season. I seal moisture with shea butter or grease (when I'm broke) during winter. Great article ?
For my hair, I use water and glycerine as both my moisturiser and leave-in and seal with castor oil during the summer season. I seal moisture with shea butter or grease (when I'm broke) during winter. Great article ?
stfu with that "revolutionize this black hair industry and take back what should be ours" shit! Have natural hair, be happy with it and shut the fuck up. Some black women do way too much with this natural hair thing. It's sickening.
oh and NO PROTEIN CONDITIONERS they can make the hair hard and crunchy especially in hot weather
perhaps an oil is too light combine a good regular conditioner so no leave-ins wich is thinner with a butter perhaps ! seems like the hot weather is sucking out the moisture. and don't spray your hair throughout the day, water only swells the hair strands making it easier for moisture to leave. and don't use glycerin in hot / dry climates , glycerin works " both ways "!
It's not a matter of hair type each person's hair is different. The natural hair journey is pretty much a trial by error sort of journey. Try it out for a week or two and see how your hair responds.
Is it better for girls with 4b and dry hair to seal with something thicker like butter and coconut oil?
I have been natural for 6 months and I retain my moisture with cantu leave_ in breakage a mend conditioner and water. plus the cantu is a very reasonable price and it smells great also.
@ Lisa Marie…Don't lose it; You're going to figure out the "right" products, combinations and regimine for "your" hair. Keep the faith! A little vegetable glycerin to your spritz may help. I have even mixed a little (and I do mean a little; 3-4 drops) with my daily moisturizer and have "felt" a major difference in my hair.
Check out this article/recipie for direction http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/rosewater-and-glycerin-hair-spritz.html
Check out this article for better understanding about glycerin (it helped me ALOT) http://allthingsonatural.blogspot.com/2011/05/lets-talk-hair-glycerin-is-glycerin-is.html
I hope I've been a help! Stay true!
Unfortunately I live in Utah where it's extremely dry, I've tried everything listed in previous comments yet my hair looks & feels dry, it feels like a Brillo pad. The only time it's soft is right after I wash it, I keep a tiny spray bottle with water, olive oil & peppermint oil to use throughout the day but it still doesn't help. I love my natural hair but this is driving me crazy 🙁
I only see that one person has mentioned argan oil. I just started the venture of styling my natural hair. Right now I'm washing with Tresseme Naturals, conditioning with Curls Coconut Sublime Conditioner, sealing with argan oil and applying kinky curly. Oh… and co-washing midweek. Has this proven to be detrimental for anyone?
I've finally found my weekly wash regimen (now if I could learn to do a style other than a twist out!)…I pre-poo with an oil mix (jojoba, almond, evoo & shea moistures raw shea conditioner), then I cleanse with Hair One cleanser/conditioner, rinse then add oil & honey mix, rinse with cool water. Add giovanni direct leave in. Detangle with Qehet cocoa ghee, seal with Alma & Olive heavy cream and Qhemet Olive & honey humectant. I stay moist for at least 7 days with very infrequent reapplication. I need to get back to spritzing with water at night….
Now! If I could only learn to style!! 🙂
I made a spritz which contains; water, aloe vera juice, olive oil & vatika (coconut, castor and henna) oil. I spray this on my hair twice a day and it leaves my hair moisturised, conditioned and smelling nice (the vatika oil has a nice aroma)
Mayonnaise is the very best conditioner to moisturize hair and create a silky feel and texture! Shampoo with your favorite product and rinse. Apply the mayonnaise straight from the jar at room temperature or warm slightly in the microwave. Comb the mayonnaise throughout the hair, especially at the ends and roots. Place a plastic cap over your hair and a towel over the cap to prevent leaks. You will get the best results by sleeping in a mayonnaise conditioner OVERNIGHT! In the morning, remove the towel, plastic cap, and rinse thoroughly to remove all residue. Towel or air dry and style as usual.
Shea Butter and Argan Oil are my top two moisturizers… that and a little trip my Mom taught me: The night before washing your hair add a little lotion to it when slightly damp, the next day wash as usual. Works like a charm for me.
http://therootproblem.blogspot.com/
Argan shampoo, then apply argan moisturizer while hair is still damp, then apply the argan/olive oil mix for sealing the hair after about 10 or 15 min. Oil seals moisture, its not the other way around. It works for me, my family and all my clients. Its about time we revolutionize this balck hair industry and take back what should be ours. Black hair can grow to any length and there is visible proof out there.
I have kind of course hair around my edges. What is the best thing to use that does not contain alcohol to smooth down my edges.
I have very curly, mostly defined curls that curls up once it has moisture (I rarely need a 'product' in my hair to have defined curls.(3C Hairtype). I do However, struggle with dryness and lack of shine (I hate the dryed out ashy look). I love my hair best when its wet, or left shingled to take on it own natural curl pattern.
I think I've found my moisture/shine lover. I've just started to 'Senna' my hair. Yes, Senna (Cassia Obvata), most naturals use Henna, but I haven't tried it yet, because I've never had color in my hair before and I'm afraid of it (for now).
Senna has been known to have the same benefits of Henna (strengthen, moisture and condition), but without coloring your hair (well my hair, since its dark to begin with). It is also know as 'neutral henna', though it's not-as pure henna is red and Senna is a separate plant in itself that has yellowish/greenish color in its power form.
I've used it twice so far, once a week for the past three weeks, along with Dabur Vatika-enriched Coconut Hair Oil, which also contains Henna, Amla, Lemon and a variety of other natural herbs.
The second week I used it. I washed my hair and conditioned with Senna-in the shower I took a finger scoop of Miss Jessies curly Meringue and lightly shingled. I then let my hair slowly air dry. I poured coconut oil into my scalp mid way into drying. Once I was fully dry I then massaged the oil into my scalp and scrunched some on my ends.
That alone kept me moisturized for the entire week. I didn't have to co wash or re-moisturize at all. I love being able to wash my hair (though I rarely use shampoo) less frequently and maintain moisture and shine.
As the days are getting warmer for summer, I hope this method holds up. Once I Senna once a week for four weeks straight, I will then reduce it to once a month.
As for a good moisturizer, I recently had a chance to try Karen's Body Beautiful's Sweet Ambrosia (formerly Hair Milk). It costs $16 for a bottle, but a little goes a long way. I highly recommend trying it.
How do you seal while wearing kinky-twist! My hair is truly dry, this would be a good time since protected.
You don't HAVE to seal your ends, nor does it have to be with an oil. Best thing to do is to listen to your hair (with your hands of course).
@Carmella – there is no "right way" or "right order" – this is another method that some may prefer. You can use oil first & add your leave-in or mix the oil in your leave-in. For me, using the oil first or mixed with leave-in works best and my hair never feels greasy or weighed down, just nice & soft!
i love this post!!! moisturising with a light liquid moisturiser & sealing with an oil or butter has made a world of difference to my hair.
i found it hard to find a suitable light water-based moisturiser, so I made my own and it has become my staple ever since i went natural. It works wonders to my hair!
http://paigetheblogger.com/2011/04/15/freebie-friday-the-vintage-scarf-giveaway/
If water is the only true moisturizer, and oils and butters are sealants used to seal in water, why is it necessary to use a leave-in conditioner?
I wash my hair and deep condition weekly with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckly rose conditioner. After I rinse it out, I apply shea butter. For the rest of the week, I wet my hair with only water and use Olive oil to seal 1-2 times a day. My hair feels great…..
This is all good and I agree with the tips but moisturising and sealing on a daily basis is a no no for me and that is where I would like tips on. Moisturising and sealing on a regular basis causes my stretched hair to curl up again. And putting it into twists/braids every night to stretch out again for the next day because causes single strand knots. Sigh….
Oyin Honey Hemp conditioner is my new HG; my hair is low porosity, so it takes a lot for moisture to get in. The Honey Hemp is AMAZING!
I always M&S, but now I do so on damp hair after plopping. Can't stand wet, dripping hair! It maintains moisture well, although I think I'll probably have to suck it up for the summer and style on wet hair. That heat is no joke.
@Carmella – I like the Shea Moisture Conditioning Milk (which I think is basically the same as the one you have). For me it's reasonably priced because it's au naturale.
Lately, I've been co-washing every day with regular store brought conditioners, Tre'semme naturals and the new pantene for curly hair. I often forget to seal it with oil, but I do seal with gel and then bun. My hair does retain moisture that way and sometimes is still wet after a day of bunning. Since I co-wash about the same time everyday, that's how it stays moisturized. I've been doing this for the past month and a half and I like it. There are times when my hair is super super soft- I just forget what I did that day lol. I got this method from Cynthiaf on youtube. XD
I advise you to check her out XD
Response to–>Can someone name so reasonably priced MOISTURIZERS, not leave-in-conditioners? I've been trying to search online for a moisturizer but no one ever lists what the actual product is that they use.
I was thinking about getting Hollywood Beauty's Oilve Oil Hair Dress … does that count as a moisturizer?
I use SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk. It does great things for me as an every day moisturizer 🙂 $10 a bottle but I got 2 for 10 at Walgreens!
WOW. I had no clue I was doing this in the wrong order! I was always sealing and THEN applying my leave-in.
Glad I read that tip.
most Leave-in Conditioners are considered moisturizers because they contain water and water = moisture.
Can someone name so reasonably priced MOISTURIZERS, not leave-in-conditioners? I've been trying to search online for a moisturizer but no one ever lists what the actual product is that they use.
I was thinking about getting Hollywood Beauty's Oilve Oil Hair Dress … does that count as a moisturizer?
I find myself more likely to use lighter oils (jojoba, grapeseed, sweet almond) on wet hair that has just had some conditioner added to it rather than heavy oils such as olive or coconut (which I am more likely to use on dry hair). My favorite leave-ins are the Kimmaytube (made with OHHH) and the Giovanni Direct Leave In.
Cee Frizzle, you may want to try mixing together a gylcerin, water, and conditioner mix. I also had chronic dryness and had trouble retaining moisture a few months ago until I started adding glycerin to my mixes. You just have to keep experimenting until you find the right amount of glycerin to use with the mix b/c it can weigh your hair down but it has really, really helped with the dryness :).
I'm sorry, a good LEAVE IN conditioner/moisturizer.
Unfortunately I can't retain moisture for my life. And I know it's due to my hair becoming intensively dry over the winter where my ends are shattered.
I've tried these steps but I don't know where to find a good ocnditioner or what to do to ensure my hair gets back on the mositure retaining path.
🙁
@Liz: Check this article out: (http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2010/02/moisture-issue-q.html)
My hair retains moisture very well. After moisturizing on wash day, my hair retains moisture until the next wash–regardless of style ("out" or updo/bun). I'm glad I don't have to moisturize everyday like some naturals.
I apply a thick, creamy water-based leave-in conditioner to damp hair and then seal my ends with my shealoe mix. My staple leave in conditioner is Shea Moisture DTM.
I hope women everywhere will learn step #1 and keep it in mind for their skin and hair.
I have a routine I follow RELIGIOUSLY. Every night before I go to bed, and every morning before I put on my wig, I wet my hair in the shower, rub coconut oil into my scalp and seal the ends with shea butter. That is the only way I retain moisture because air conditioning dries me out!
Thank you for the article!
I apply my moisturizer, sealant, and curly pudding to my hair. I started doing this a couple of weeks ago and I must say that my hair is much more moisturized than it was before. Sometimes I can go every other day without moisturizing because the moisture is still there. I'm transitioning so I am definitely dealing with drier natural new growth, while my relaxed hair is often still moistened.
I've always wondered– after you seal, can moisturize and seal again in a few days? I would think that the moisture can't get through the layer of oil on the hair.
I do the same thing. It makes a huge difference. I've actually been doing this since my relaxed days, before the online hair communities. I noticed the difference when I did/didn't use oil to seal. My hair has low porosity, so it is imperative that I seal in the moisture well on wash day.
Already do these things. I created my own butter last night that included shea, mango, and cocoa butter, aloe vera gel, and a couple oil. It makes your hair feel like satin when dries! I love it
My hair does not retain moisture very well at all. So I spray with water, a leave in liquid conditioner and olive oil. Olive Oil is my new holy grail. As I noted on another post I hate oily hair, but I cannot argue with the good results I receive whenever I leave olive oil in my hair.