Best Tool You Need For the Perfect Puff

Photo Credit: @redlilmissy

 

The puff is the go to when first starting your natural hair journey. I know the puff can seem like this simple hairstyle but trust me it sometimes can be difficult in knowing the right products or tools to use to get the right look. I believe you know what I’m talking about either you feel it doesn’t look right, edges are frizzy or it feels so tight where you feel like your about to lose your edges immediately. On top of that finding the right headband can be a big pain in the butt. The large headband is too big, and I mean your really lucky if you find a headband that you can wrap around your hair twice.

It’s time to throw away the headbands and hair bands and get these tools that will help with a killer puff. The tool I like the most is the Stocking. Either a knee high or take one of your old stockings and cut towards the knee to be able to give you some room to stretch. If you feel this length is too long, feel free to cut the stocking shorter. What I like about the stocking choice are:

• More Flexibility: Flexibility means it’s able to stretch how you want so you will not not be restricted in a certain . Restricted headbands leads to an increase in breakage.
• More Control: You’re able to control how your puff looks and how big or small you want your puff to be.

But here are some other alternatives:

Snappees

Puff Cuff

In the video below, Journey to WaistLength puts her stocking on to the desire height she wants it. Don’t forget to moisturize your hair with your desired product. Find more about how to maintain daily moisture

Journey to Wash Length puts the gel on first, Eco Styler Gel in any color is fine except the darker labels due to the protein. Once gel is applied then wrap stocking in a knot in your stocking to begin forming your puff. Once the puff is formed, guide the stocking to how big or small you want it by how much you pull the stocking up the back or front. Once your puff its where it’s supposed to be feel free to tie down flyaways through brushing the hair with a toothbrush or brush. Then Puff is complete!!

Is the puff style your favorite? What is your favorite tool for your puff?

I did the Big Chop – What Happens Now?

Making the decision to big chop is a huge step in embarking on your natural hair journey. Now that you’ve taken the first step to a wonderful hair experience, here are a few pointers on what to do next.

1. Develop a Simple Hair Maintenance Routine
After big chopping, many naturals are shocked of the new hair texture. Caring for natural hair is a lot different from caring for relaxed strands. You may find that your hair needs a little more TLC than before and will actually require you to learn about your new hair texture in order to keep it healthy and maintained. Don’t go overboard with buying all types of hair products. Start simple and perfect your routine to suit the needs of your hair. Stick to the basics such as a sulfate-free shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, leave-in conditioner, a plant-based oil for sealing, and your styling product of choice.

2. Keep your Hair Moisturized
You may find that your natural hair appears to be drier than your relaxed hair. Natural hair needs moisture and if it feels brittle or hard instead of soft, then you need to work on restoring moisture to your hair. Doing so helps to prevent potential breakage as your hair grows. The best moisturizer for your hair is water, followed by a sealant such as a light oil, moisturizer or leave-in conditioner to lock in the moisture. Try using a moisturizer where water is the very first ingredient. Keep a small spray bottle handy filled with water, and a light oil such as jojoba, sweet apricot oil, coconut, or almond oil.

3. Know the Porosity of your Hair
Knowing the porosity of your hair is key in determining the types of products your hair will need. Porosity is simply defined as the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. A simple strand test can help you determine your hair porosity level. Simply drop a strand or two of your natural hair into a cup of water. If the hair immediately sinks under the water you may have high porosity. Hair that sits on top of the water for a minute or so before sinking may be considered as having normal porosity, and hair that sits atop the water and simply will not sink may be low in porosity. Hair with a low porosity repels water and moisture and is also prone to build-up.

4. Remain Confident in your Decision
Although natural hair has now become more globally accepted than ever before, you may still notice a few glares and stares from the naysayers. Don’t let negative comments or looks get to you, you are beautiful and you shouldn’t let anyone convince you otherwise. You may even find that family members may not be supportive of your decision. The more confident in you are in your decision, the more others will respect it. So hold your head high and strut your new look! Don’t be surprised when the naysayers start asking questions about how to care for their hair as they watch your hair flourish. When I first started wearing my teenie weenie Afro (TWA) in the workplace, a few of my co-workers would ask why I would make such a drastic decision to cut my hair “so short”. It wasn’t long before several of my coworkers also decided to stop relaxing their hair and guess who was their go-to person for advice? My point exactly.

5. Learn to Two-Strand Twist
Even if you don’t know how to braid or style hair, two-strand twists on natural hair can transform into some of the most gorgeous natural hair styles you will ever see! Even if you can’t braid or cornrow (like myself), your hair can still be fabulous in styles such as twist-outs, twisted pin-ups, half up/down styles, a frohawk — and there are so many more styling options. Learning to style your hair will also save you tons of money from salon visits and will also help you achieve a relationship with your newly discovered hair texture.

6. Don’t Waste Money on Expensive Products
Don’t waste your money on products that may do absolutely nothing for your hair. There are lots of products on the shelves these days catering to natural hair. Take the time to learn your hair before splurging on hair products that are not suited for the needs of your hair. Start with a basic sulfate-free shampoo. There are several that you can find for under $8 such as Alba Hawaiian Coconut Milk Shampoo, OGX Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo. You will also need a moisturizing conditioner for natural hair such as Herbal Essence Hello Hydration or Pantene Truly Naturals conditioner. You can find several leave-in conditioners for under $10 such as Kinky Curly Knot Today (also great as a detangler) and my personal favorite, As I Am leave-in conditioner. When it comes to styling products, be sure to read the label to fully understand what the product is promising. Choose your product based on the needs of your hair and if the label description matches with your styling goals.

7. Don’t Waste Time (and money) trying to Create a “Curl Pattern”
One of the biggest taboos when it comes to natural hair is that there is a magic product that will create curl definition. Not at all. It is likely that as your hair grows, the texture of your hair may change and there may be very little to no curl uniformity. Curl enhancing products are created to do just that- enhance the pattern of your natural texture by defining the strands using ingredients that cause a clumping of the hair strands. Natural hair textures will vary and no two hair patterns are the same, they may be similar, but you will not and never have the same “curl” pattern as the next head of natural hair. Embrace the texture you were given and instead of wasting time and money on products to create a curl pattern, try learning what techniques work best for your hair specific hair texture.

4 Easy Tips For Winter Ready Hair

I know you think I’m nuts. Summer literally just ended, we are preparing to enjoy fall and I’m talking about winter prep? Unfortunately, my state of Wisconsin got a whopping two weeks of fall weather last year, and then it snowed….and kept snowing. If I’ve learned anything living in the northern Midwest, when autumn arrives we’re almost literally staring winter right in the face. Winter wants to taunt us with the threat of another polar vortex up here in the north…sub-zero temps, massive snow….yeah, I see you winter. I have some things up my sleeve, as well. Here are my top 4 tips to get winter ready hair.

#1. Moisture is Bae. Seriously. If you were hanging back a bit this summer season, enjoying the ease of keeping your hair moisturized, get ready to turn it up a notch. Being nonchalant with moisture during a sub zero polar vortex can be detrimental to your hair.

With sub-zero temperatures comes a constant flow of extra heated air in our homes, cars, schools and workplaces. Too much heat draws out moisture and can cause dryness. Constant dry, parched strands can lead to breakage and kill your dreams of length retention.

Increasing the frequency of deep conditioning and moisturizing daily can help your hair to stay hydrated during those cold winter days. Adopting cowashing into your regimen can also be helpful at keeping dryness at bay. I typically increase my deep conditioning sessions to once weekly versus once bi-weekly and my cowashing sessions from twice per week to three times per week.

#2. Give your sealant some muscle! The first winter I tried to seal my hair with plain olive oil, the season laughed at me and said, “That’s real cute. Nice try.” No matter what oil I used, it seemed the moisture left just as fast as if I hadn’t sealed my hair. It wasn’t until I traded my oils for butters (and *cough* grease *cough*) that my tresses obtained salvation.

Those same oils you loved this past summer, (olive, coconut, grape seed, jojoba, apricot, etc.) may not be able to protect your strands from the moisture-sucking heaters. Heavier oils, like castor oil, and heavy butters like shea, mango, murumuru, cupuacu and the like, offer greater protection. My personal favorite is *cough*grease*cough*.

Increasing your moisturizing frequency is virtually pointless if you neglect to incorporate an effective sealant. The whole point is to slow down the evaporation of the moisture from your hair. Heat makes water evaporate at a faster rate, therefore, you want to protect your tresses and seal in as much moisture as possible.

#3. Put your heat tools in storage. It’s cold outside, darling. Anyone in their right mind is going to have the heat up….or on blast…ahem, like me. Hey, it’s Wisconsin. The last thing I need to do is add more heat to suck out even more moisture.

Adding blow dryers, flat irons, even hood dryers turns moisture retention into more of a chore in the winter months. Air drying is just as effective for drying your hair, although it takes longer, it won’t deplete your hair’s moisture as fast as heat tools.

#4 Practice the art of hiding your hair. Sure you may not be able cowash or deep condition your hair as frequently. But when in protective styles, you can still moisturize. A simple moisturizing spritz mixed with oils can offer great hydration and protection when used daily.

Protective styling may be for you, if you are one of those who must employ a flat iron when your hair is out. If that’s you, putting your hair away for the winter may work well for you. I start in the fall with my favorite protective style, crochet braids.

Protective styling is also great for length retention. HIH (Hands In Hair) syndrome is dangerous in any season if the year. Putting your hair up will help you keep from playing in it, like me. Lol. Length retention by keeping your hair moisturized and putting it away sounds like a win-win situation to me.

I’m ready for boot season and burgundy nail polish. I’m excited for hot cocoa and sweaters. I’m also ready for Old Man Winter. I see you, son! Bring it.

How do you get your hair ready for the winter season?

5 Different Summer Hair Regimens and Product Favorites

Summer is here!!!

I live in Las Vegas and it’s already reaching temperatures of 104 degrees. Can you imagine what that does to your hair? Your skin? Your everything? Here are my quick summer tips and product favorites followed by the Natural Hair Rules Contributor Team.  Below you will also find information about my next upcoming event.

Tamara, Founding Editor of Natural Hair Rules.com

Water is your friend! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Moisturize from the inside out by drinking lots of water.  And find a great daily moisturizer that’s water-based. EDEN BodyWorks JojOba Monoi All Natural Hair Milk are favorites of mine.

If you don’t splurge on anything else,  Splurge on this moisturizing shampoo, Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo. It’s the foundation of your hair regimen.  Your shampoo should be gentle, moisturizing, and nourishing. This sulfate-free shampoo is all of these things and more.  It also works as a clarifying shampoo to remove product build-up and hard water minerals.

You gotta check out: 10 Natural Hair Products That REALLY Stand Up to Humidity and Beat Frizz

Latoya, Degrees of Happiness

During the summer months, I love light refreshers and moisturizers.  My summer (and year-round) staple is Curls Creme Brulee.  I use it as a daily moisturizer to quickly refresh and moisturize my hair.

To seal, I use Avocado oil — my favorite oil.

My other favorite is Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner.  First, the light fragrance is amazing. I always get compliments on how great it smells. If you are looking for a spray moisturizer, it is a definite must.

Toia Barry, LuvToBNatural.com

In the summertime, I prefer a leave-in that effectively moisturizes my hair without weighing it down. Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia Leave-in Conditioner is just the right consistency to give my hair the moisture it needs as the first step in my styling process… not too thick and not super watery. As a plus, the subtly sweet pomegranate and guava scent is perfect for summer!

When it comes to styling, my hair loves whipped butters like Alikay Naturals Shea Yogurt Hair Moisturizer. A little bit of this light and fluffy shea butter blend goes a long way and I always get the bomb twist-outs and braid-outs without that extra greasy feeling. I’ve found it to be an awesome sealant during the warmer months.

Ariane Williams, BlackNaps.org

I love Shea Moisture’s Curling Soufflé during the summer. I try not to even bother fighting frizz in the humid weather so I opt for curly high puffs as my go to style or a curly fro. The soufflé is super moisturizing, defining and works great with my hair in warm weather.

It contains two of my favorite ingredients: Aloe and glycerin which almost always produces great results with my hair.

Stretchy hair ties and headbands like these are another favorite of mine because I tend to keep my hair laid back rather than in my face in the summer. My hair can get  pretty sweaty in humid weather, plus I think they add a nice touch of style.

Markeita Pruitt, owner and operator of Touch of Heaven Salon

Summer always seems to cause me to switch my regimen due to drastic temperature changes. But because my hair is short, I typically wear wash and go hairstyles, which can easily dry out if I don’t use the right products during the summer.

One product in particular that I add to my at home regimen and my at work arsenal is Taliah Wajid Curl Sealer. I’ve made mention of this product times before in past blogs. It gives the best curl definition while providing lasting moisture and frizz free curls. It doesn’t leave a lingering sticky aftermath on my strands and the composition of glycerin draws the moisture from the air into my hair, which makes it an outstanding summer product.

My second must have summer product is castor oil. This has become my go to oil for a while now, but especially in the summer. It is heavy, but for me and my 4b/4c hair, it doesn’t weigh it down or leave a residue. Now I have found that you have to be careful because it is very easy to overuse. But, I have discovered that when applied at night before bed, castor oil seals in my moisture better than any other oil, keeping my hair extremely soft, with a natural sheen. Whether I rock a twist out or wash and go, these products help maintain the overall health of my hair with minimum dryness in the summer time.

More Summer Hair Tips

7 Hair Tips for Swimmers
10 Summer Natural Hair Tips
5 DIY Moisturizing Sprays

7 Tools That Add Moisture to Natural Hair

Other than moisturizing products, there are tools that can be used to help retain your hair’s moisture balance. Here are 7 tools you may not have considered:

Shower Filter – Water is the ultimate moisturizer. The only trouble is if you have hard water issues and the quality of your water is not up to par, you may not see much benefit from it. A shower filter will remove all of the drying deposits from your water, so you can have a more enjoyable and moisturizing experience.

Aquasana Shower Filter is one of the most recommended.

Bonnet With Built In Moisturizer – There are satin bonnets that will not only protect your hair at night, but will also aid in preserving your hair moisture.  This bonnet is treated with coconut oil. Keep your tresses moisturized as you enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

Humidifier – Natural hair is very susceptible to the environment so if you are dealing with extreme weather conditions it will affect your hair.  If you live in a very cold or hot dry climate, the humidifier will help to put moisture back into the air. Use this tool at night before going to bed. In addition to reviving your hair, it is also good for warding off germs and cold/allergy prevention.

Cane Cool Mist Humidifier is great year round.

Plastic Caps –  These a great for deep conditioning sessions and those who like to baggy their hair overnight. They help keep things from getting too messy and also aid in helping to create a greenhouse effect on your hair.

Thermal Conditioning Caps – Deep conditioning revives dry thirsty hair and gives it that much needed restoration. When using heat you are likely to have better results because the conditioner can better penetrate the hair. The only thing is, sometimes you do not want to be tied down to a hooded hair dryer or you may not have one. With the Hot Head Thermal Cap you can remain mobile and the heat is soothing unlike your hooded dryer. Definitely a great product to have when you need extra moisture.

The QRedew– Do you love the way your hair responds to steam? With this hand held device you can wake up and refresh your curls.

Q-Redew Hand-held Hair Steamer is a fan favorite here. Read Why We Think Q-Redew is a Life Changer.

Steam Rollers – Need a quick way to curl your hair and add some moisture? If you are lucky enough to have steam rollers they are sure to do the trick. This will work best on hair that has been stretched.

Check out this steam rollers, CARUSO Professional Molecular Steam Hairsetter.

See also: Using Steam Rollers On Natural Hair

5 Ways to Use Oil on Your Natural Hair

Natural Oils are big component of our natural hair routine and for good reason. Natural oils can aid moisturizers, seal, renew, and prevent damage in hair. You can also use them in every step of your natural hair routine and here’s how.

See Also: 5 Questions You Should Ask When Choosing Oils

Oil Rinse

A oil rinse has been compared to a hot oil treatment done in the shower.  Its simple!  Apply any of the three oils that penetrate hair (coconut, olive, or avocado) or try all three in the shower after shampooing your hair and scalp.

Make sure to ring out excess water and add oil from ends to roots.  Then condition hair as normal.  Its guaranteed to leave your hair soft and moisturize but not greasy. You can read more about a Oil Rinse & Why You Should Be Doing Them.

Hot Oil Treatment

We all know what a hot oil treatment is. But we may have forgotten how beneficial it can be for extremely dry hair and scalp. With the freezing temperatures of the polar vortex, I’ve become reacquainted with this treatment. I recommend using olive oil, because it’s super hydrating. It also has a high affinity for hair and skin giving it the ability to absorb easily, leaving you with moisturized, but not greasy hair.

More on Hot Oil Treatments i.e What oils to use & etc.

Oil Infusion

Olive Oil Infusion Kit is a two-step deep conditioning treatment that almost miraculously hydrates the driest of curls.

The term Oil Infusion Treatment was coined by Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter with her Olive Oil Infusion Set which retails for $25. But you can recreate the treatment at home with your favorite deep conditioner and natural oil for less than $10.

It’s a two-step deep conditioning process in which you apply olive oil to the scalp and hair, root to tips followed by a deep conditioner. Allow the combination of products to sit for 30 minutes under a plastic cap, rinse with warm water until the water runs clear, and wash with a sulfate-free shampoo.

Pre-Poo Treatment

Pre-poo is the process of applying coconut oil (or some other moisturizing product like a cheapie conditioner or natural oil) before shampooing to prevent excess loss of natural oils and damage. The natural oils can be stripped by traditional shampoos during the cleansing process.

I have to admit that I was somewhat anti pre-poo.  It just didn’t make sense to condition or moisturize your hair before shampooing. But I was wrong. Studies show that moisturizing your hair with coconut oil before shampooing prevents damage and the loss of the hair’s natural proteins in addition to helping the hair stay moisturized.

I use whipped coconut oil to pre-poo my hair.

Read More on Pre-poo i.e benefits, the best pre-poo mixture & etc.

Add Oil to Shampoo

A little bit of olive oil, jojoba, almond and/or avocado oil will take your shampoo or conditioner to the next level.  This adds an extra moisturizing boost and vitamins to the existing formula.

If your hair is always dry after each shampoo you can’t afford to skip this step. Read 20 More Simple Natural Hair Hacks

What Every Natural Hair Regimen Needs and How Often

The proper natural hair regimen, designed for your hair in particular, is necessary to truly enjoy healthy, manageable hair. To develop one, it takes time and patience; it can also be expensive, which I call the trial and error phase.

There’s a few must have necessities that will help you develop a healthy hair regimen, no matter the hair type/texture. The following list is what I suggest with each consultation provided in the salon:

Non-drying, Moisturizing Shampoo

With every regimen, implementing the use of a non-drying, moisturizing shampoo is important. Not to be confused with a co-wash, a moisturizing shampoo should consist of one (1) OR no sulfates listed within the first four (4) ingredients of the product.

Also, moisturizing shampoos generally contain no lauryl sulfates, as they are very harsh on the hair. Laureth Sulfates are milder cleansing agents, so if it contains ANY sulfates, this may be more acceptable.

You want a shampoo that will gently cleanse, but also replenish moisture lost from styling, as well as restore proper pH levels. A shampoo that restores and maintains proper pH levels helps keep hair at its natural level, keeping the hair healthier and balanced.

Here’s a List of Moisturizing Shampoos for Natural Hair

Sofn’Free GroHealth Sulfate-free Moisturizing Shampoo

Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo

SheaMoisture Shampoos

Aveeno Active Naturals Pure Renewal 

Camille Rose Clean Rinse

Jane Carter Solution Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo SLS

 Clarifying Shampoo/Agent

Now this may seem to contradict all that was discussed in the paragraph above, but, contrary to popular belief, every regimen needs a clarifying agent – whether a shampoo, clay, vinegar rinse of sorts or combination of two.

Read 10 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar | How to Clarify with Bentonite Clay

Why? you asked… well, if you are constantly using moisturizers and oils and never clarifying the strands and scalp, it can lead to breakage, clogged pores, balding, dandruff, and an array of other scalp diseases.

I’ve seen many go to Dermatologists and return with no answers, because it is a merging condition that isn’t necessarily an issue other than product build up. It can become very problematic, leading one to believe they have a fungus, yeast and other infections of the scalp. But, if you simply clarify once a month (at least) you can avoid a manifestation of scalp issues. If you’re still experiencing hair loss, you may need one of these 5 things.

Here’s a List of Clarifying Shampoos for Natural Hair

Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo
Kinky Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo Sulfate Free
Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Moisturizing Shampoo
Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Clear Shampoo

Deep Conditioner – Moisture and Protein

Depending on the texture and porosity, you will need one of these more than the other. But, each are equally important to a regimen. Natural hair tends to be drier, typically, and will always need a moisturizing deep conditioner.

Soft, fine textured: leaning towards a protein conditioner may yield more benefits (if hair tends to feel “mushy” or snaps easily). 1) Alternating between a moisturizing deep conditioner and a protein treatment once a month, will help strengthen your hair. 2) IF AND ONLY IF…. hair still feels “mushy”, add protein conditioner to moisturizing conditioner on the day you would do a stand alone moisturizing deep conditioner, still alternating with stand-alone protein treatment.

Coarse, thick textured: leaning towards a moisturizing deep conditioning mask is a great recommendation.

Porous:  utilize one that is marketed for smoothing. This will help lay the cuticle of the hair and retain moisture better.

Non-Porous: choose a moisturizing conditioner, but sitting under the dryer will maximize benefits of conditioner by raising cuticle and allowing product to penetrate.

Protein treatments are as needed to keep hair balanced. Though some textures need it more than others, it is still a major factor in developing a great hair care regimen.

 Moisturizer

Not to be confused with an oil, it is so important to have a moisturizer that best fits your hair type. Some moisturizers may be heavier than others, which can be a good thing or bad depending on hair type. But it is important to find one that supplies your hair with the proper level of moisture. Depending on texture and porosity, one may need to moisturize once a day or once every 3 days, but I don’t suggest going more than 3 days without moisturizing in some sort of way. If utilizing a protective style, moisturize before styling, and then again once a week until style is removed.

Sealant

Every texture, though different, will require so sort of sealant in order to maximize moisture retention. Seal the hair after the application of your moisturizer.

Porous, Medium to coarse: if the hair is porous, I’d recommend a butter that contains shea butter.

Non-porous, Medium to coarse: I’d suggest a heavier sealant/oil such as castor oil or argan oil mixed with coconut oil. Also, once applied, try sitting under dryer to assist in the penetration of product.

Non-porous, fine: coconut, avocado, safflower, grapeseed, and/or olive oil.

Other Scheduled Maintenance

Trims. I recommend that everyone get a trim AT LEAST once every 6 months for those who utilize low manipulation styles. If you manipulate your hair often with twist outs or styles that requires a lot of manipulation, every 3-4 months is best to optimize length retention and rid hair of split ends caused by over manipulating.

Tangles, knots, split ends, dryness, are just a few signs that it’s time for a trim. But you can read more about that here.

More about how often you you trim your hair

**Side Note** Contrary to popular belief, it is my experience that if you have a great regimen that consists of high-quality shampoo, deep conditioner, and moisturizer, you can skip the Leave In Conditioner. Leave in conditioners were formulated to reinforce the hair with strength and moisture, and to assist most naturals with detangling, but I have found that if you detangle hair while a conditioner is on, follow a regimen that best suits your hair type, texture and porosity, you can typically skip the leave in and proceed to your moisturizer.

Now depending on hair type, porosity and texture, your regimen may require a few other necessities. But, based upon my experience, the items listed above are the key necessities to developing a great hair regimen to achieve and maintain healthy hair. If you feel you need more, please, by all means, visit a professional who may be able to consult with you and address other hair care matters.

Coconut Water Moisturizing Leave-In Spray You Can Make at Home

DIY Coconut Water Moisturizing Leave-In Spray

Before I share the recipe for my DIY Coconut Water Moisturizing Leave-In Spray, here are some important things you should know.  You can also read about the Benefits of Coconut Water for Your Hair here

Read the label.  Depending on the brand of coconut water there may or may not be additional ingredients such as flavors, sugar, and preservatives. Choose pure coconut water. Preservatives are fine, if you’re okay with that.

Make a small amount. I make enough that last for about 3-4 days to ensure it doesn’t become rancid.  Make sure you keep it refrigerated. Again, there is a chance the DIY spray can go bad. Keep it refrigerated to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Keep refrigerated. Shake well before each use. Now, for a simple Coconut Water Moisturizing Spritz Recipe.

1/4 cup of Coconut Water

2 tsp Aloe Vera Juice

2 tsp jojoba oil

Directions:

Spray on freshly shampooed and conditioned hair and style as normal. For daily use spray on hair and scalp and style as normal.

10 Ways to Get Rid of Dry, Unmoisturized Natural Hair

These 10 Tips for moisturizing natural hair will leave you with more hydrated hair.

For a limited time you can download FREE Guide to Moisturized Hair: Click Here to Download

1.  Shampoo your hair.  No matter your method (meaning whether you’re using a shampoo bar, cleansing cream or some other gentle sulfate-free product), keep your hair clean.  Although it seems counterintuitive — since the wash process can be drying — shampooing your hair removes product buildup that prevents products from penetrating your hair shaft.

For a limited time you can download FREE Guide to Moisturized Hair: Click Here to Download

If your efforts to add moisture to your hair seem in vain, then it may be time for a shampooing session. Your products may simply be sitting on top of your hair, rather than moisturizing it.

SEE ALSO: 5 Signs You May Need A Clarifying Shampoo

2.  Pre-poo your hair.  If you hair feels excessively dry during the wash process, then consider pre-pooing your hair with an oil of your choice.  Coconut oil is a great option for pre-pooing hair since it reduces protein loss that occurs during the wash process.

SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons Coconut Oil Rocks For Natural Hair

3.  Co-wash your hair.  Does your hair feel excessively dry in between shampoos? Need an extra boost of moisture? Then try co-washing your hair for that extra boost.  Many times, if your hair is very dry, the only way to regain moisture is for it to be soaked in water. The important thing is to seal in that moisture with an oil or butter like shea butter.

SEE ALSO: 10 Co-wash Conditioners You Should Know  |  10 Oils Great for Natural Hair

4. Steam your hair. Don’t want to co-wash your hair mid-week? Consider steaming your hair.  The QRedew Handheld Steamer is a great way to steam your hair on the go.

Another option is to steam your hair in the shower.  Steaming your hair is a great way to lift the hair cuticle so that  products can better penetrate the hair.  Furthermore, steaming is much less wear and tear on your hair than co-washing your hair.

5. Deep condition your hair. If you’ve been skipping the deep conditioning portion of your wash, then it’s time to add this important step back to your hair regimen.

For even better results, use indirect heat so that the conditioner can better penetrate the hair.  When selecting a conditioner, pick one that specifically states “deep conditioner” or “conditioning masque” on the bottle. These conditioners are specifically designed for deep conditioning. Here’s a list of our 5 Favorite Deep Conditioners.

6.  Use the LOC (Liquid-Oil-Cream) method to moisturize your hair.  In this method, the water moisturizes your hair, the oil helps your hair hold onto the water molecules, and the cream locks in the moisture. For more information about the LOC Method, read LOC Method for Natural Hair.

7.  Use a water-based moisturizer. Water is the key to moisture.  So, no, grease will not moisturize your hair.  Instead, find a daily moisturizer where the first ingredient is water or make your own with these 5 DIY Moisturizing Sprays.

If you like products like shea butters and oils, remember to spritz your hair with water then seal in that moisture using the LOC method described above.

8. Don’t be afraid of water. I know I just mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating. With a relaxer, water is not your friend.

But with natural hair, water is your best friend. Yes, humidity, will frizz out your hair.  Rain will ruin your blow out.

In time, you will learn the tricks for styling your hair under these conditions. But while you figure it out, don’t forget that water is still your friend.

9. Drink water! Healthy hair begins with a healthy diet. And since our bodies is over 80% water and is needed to for almost every bodily function, you shouldn’t forget to drink it. Drinking water and eating a healthy diet are much more effective at growing healthy hair than any vitamin.

10.  Pay attention to your hair’s moisture. If your hair feels dry and brittle, make sure that you’re properly moisturize your hair. If you hair feels limp and lifeless, then you hair may actually over-moisturized. [It’s possible.] Constantly assess your hair needs and act accordingly. Don’t wait until major breakage occurs before you act.

See also: Your Hair Isn’t Unmanageable. It’s Dry.

For a limited time you can download FREE Guide to Moisturized Hair: Click Here to Download

So there you have it! 10 tips for moisturized hair. Tell us in the Comment Section below

How Do You Moisturize Your Hair?

5 DIY Hair Moisturizing Mists for Summer

I absolutely love making my own hair care products at home because it allows the freedom to use exactly what you want to your hair. There are tons of different hair mists, styling refreshers and hair moisturizing sprays on the shelves that contain ingredients that your natural hair may not necessarily like or need.  A DIY hair mist can contain all the ingredients you want on your hair and none that you don’t and be a custom concoction that’s just perfect for your hair.

These commercial hair products contain ingredients that you can easily get your hands on to make hair care products for yourself.   Below, I’ll share 5 of my favorite DIY moisturizing sprays that you can try for yourself. They are light enough to use in the Summer without weighing your hair down, and will also help protect your hair from the blistering sun and damaging UV rays.

You can see all 5 by clicking “Next Page”

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