Moisture is power. What are some tips?

[superstar]

The one thing I've learned on this forum is that moisture, moisture, moisture is the key to hair growth. But I guess I'm lost how excatly do you get and retain moisture in your hair.

Could you ladies provide some tips, tricks, and your favorite products to keep your hair moisturized? TIA

 

[Nyambura]

For me, water is the ultimate moisturizer. I still recommend Distilled Water b/c I live in a hard water zone. It keeps my hair from drying out (which the hard water was doing to it). After that, I'll seal in that moisture w/my oil of choice, or a lovely product from Asha's Natural's like Main Attraction, and either braid it or bun it. I finish by wrapping a plastic sandwich baggie (the kind w/o teeth) around it. When the weather is really cold and dry, I'll add vaseline/petroleum jelly to my braid/bun as the final step before covering my braid/bun w/a baggie.

My hair hates glycerin these days but many, many others swear by it as a fantastic moisturizers (it turns my hair to straw). Look for glycerin as one of the first ingredients listed on a product. Some glycerin products are Worlds of Curls Gel, Carefree Curl Gold Activator, S-Curl No-Drip Activator (just about any jherri curl activator, really). Since glycerin doesn't work, I tend to stick w/water as my main moisturizing ingredient. HTH!

BTW, this is for updos only. My ends never stay as moisturized when I wear my hair down. Just remember oil is not moisture, it seals in moisture!

ETA: To increase moisture during my wash days, I like to add honey, a natural humectant that draws moisture to the hair, to my conditioners. I also add EVOO (extra virgin olive oil from the regular ole grocery store) for slip.

I also like Profectiv products like BreakFree, the purple one, which I've found very moisturizing. I've found Profectiv products at Walgreen's and Sally's Beauty Supply. Good luck!

 

[bajanplums1]

For me it's a 4 step process
1. Deep Condition with a Pure Moisturizing Conditioner

THEN BEFORE DRYING & DURING THE WEEK for maintenance:
2. Apply a true moisturizer or leave in (no oils) mixed with
3. an essential oil blend
4. then sealed with a grease product to trap in the product that i just applied.

Oils alone sat on my hair, a moisturizer alone could not resist humidity and did not last very long, my hair would frizz by the end of the day. The grease alone kept my hair frizz free, but did not moisturize.

* Deep Moisturizing Conditioner
----------------------------
Currently using Elasta Deep Penetrating Moisturizer-11 (DPR-11)
Others: Humectress, Kenra MC, ELucence MB, KeraCare Humecto, Paul Mitchell Super Charged Moisturizer (I don;t use these, but I will try in the future)

* true moisturizer or leave in (no oils) mixed with
-----------------------------
Currently Mane & Tail Coniditioner (it;s like lotion, my hair sucks it right up)
Also love BB Oil Moisturizer (has lots of true moisturizers though it also has oil)
Also like Scurl--but cannot use too much on my own hair--build up

* Essential Oil
-------------------
I currenly am in love with Wild Growth Hair Oil
I used to Use Aphogee Essential Oil Concentrate--now I use it on my skin

* Grease
--------------
Currently Georgia Peach Pomade by Vigorol
I used to use BB Super Gro

 

[AngelicRose07]

my favorite product is in my siggy

 

[cocopuff]

Well, I like to use moisturizing conditioners, but I add coconut oil to them when I do a deep conditioning treatment. I also like to add honey to my conditioner treatments or when I am just conditioning after I shampoo, it really does help put more moisture into my hair.

I also moisturize my hair daily with products like myhoneychild Honey Hair Soy Milk, Honey Love Moisturizer, Honey Love Pomade, and Sophia's Old Fashioned Hair Grease. All of these products work VERY well for moisture.
Asha's Silk Rose is good for moisturizing and so is the Coco de Leche and Heavenly Hair Pudding.

If you are not able to purchase these products, there are some that I purchase from the Beauty supply store. Kemi Oyl Conditioning Spray, Allways Instant Oil Moisturizer, Motions Mango Butter Moisturizer,Soft and Beautiful Creme Moisturizer, and Silk Elements Revive and Restore Oil Moisturizing Lotion are all good.

When I do deccide to blowdry my hair, I use a leave-in conditioner that won't dry my hair out like Optimum Care Tangle Defense Leave-In or Oyin's Greg Juice. Sometimes I use Aveda Elixir also.

When I put twists in my hair, I keep them moistirized by oiling my scalp at night and spraying them with Oyin Greg Juice, Asha's Silk Rose,or Kemoi Oyl Conditioning spray and I keep the ends oiled, lately I have been using Asha's Omega Oil. I always wrap my hair up at night with a silk scarf.

 

[katie]

Wildgrowth Oil on wet hair really helps keep my hair moist

 

[Queenie]

For me, weekly deep conditioning and hot oil treatments and water and coconut/olive oil daily.

 

[Lorraine]

That is my biggest challenge. I apply some kind of moisture daily. If I am wearing my hair straight I wrap it in Mizani's H20 cream (I forget the name but it's in my profile) and in the morning I apply more to my ends. It's easier for me to retain moisture if I wash, apply a leave in and scrunch but it's too wild for work. Once you find a good moisturizer stick with it. I've even gone as far as to apply it at night, put on a shower cap and go to bed. In the morning my hair feels great!

 

[baglady215]

For me it's a 4 step process
1. Deep Condition with a Pure Moisturizing Conditioner

THEN BEFORE DRYING & DURING THE WEEK for maintenance:
2. Apply a true moisturizer or leave in (no oils) mixed with
3. an essential oil blend
4. then sealed with a grease product to trap in the product that i just applied.

I will try this. I do steps 1-3 already. I will try sealing with grease.

 

[JenJen2721]

Great thread! I'm still looking to find the ultimate moisture "regimen", but I do always get great results from my spray bottle mix, which contains, distilled water, veg. glycerin, Suave Milk & Honey cond., and a bit of Hot 6 Oil. Whenever, my hair is feeling dry, I just spritz on a bit of this and it feels softer...I spritz with this a few times a day.

 

[superstar]

great tips anymore??

 

[LABETT]

Deep Conditioning and Co washes keep my hair moisturized and I follow up with the following products.
BBD Stretch Creme-moisturizes and keep hair from breaking-smells yummy
UBH Moisturizer -best I ever tried
Barry Fletcher Liquid Moisture Oil-best oil ever used that delivers moisture

 

[Poohbear]

:scratchch SO since water is the ultimate moisturizer, would one come to the conclusion that we don't need all these extra products (leave-ins, creams, moisturizers) after washing our hair??? Would all we need is just simply some type of oils to seal in the moisture the water gives our hair???

 

[Poohbear]

my favorite product is in my siggy

Everytime I see that Black n' Sassy product in your signature makes me wanna' go out and get this product!!!

 

[*Happily Me*]

I've been washing my hair everyday and pulling it back in a ponytail. I add some coconut oil on the top and the ends. It stays very moisterized and shiny. My hair appears to be getting healthy too.
I just want it too hurry up and grow!

 

[baglady215]

:scratchch SO since water is the ultimate moisturizer, would one come to the conclusion that we don't need all these extra products (leave-ins, creams, moisturizers) after washing our hair??? Would all we need is just simply some type of oils to seal in the moisture the water gives our hair???

Poohbear, oil for me doesn't seal in anything. I still end up with dry hair. So, I went out and bought some grease last night (thanks bajanplums!). I got Hollywood Beauty Super Gro. On dry hair, I used Suave Humectant as a moisturizer, then shea butter, and then my grease. My hair, which would have been dry by now, is still very moisturized. Welcome back Grease!!!

 

[FashionistaNY]

I've underestimated my hair in the past and realized, my hair retains enough moisture for at least 4-5 days after my wash n set. My hair still feels extremely soft to the touch and the less I put in, the better my hair thrives. Usually after 4-5 days my sebaceous glands kicks in and provides enough natural oils except to my hair line (which I always have problems growing). Around my hair line during this time, I usually apply water (or NTM Leave-in) and seal with essential oils mix.

 

[Poohbear]

Poohbear, oil for me doesn't seal in anything. I still end up with dry hair. So, I went out and bought some grease last night (thanks bajanplums!). I got Hollywood Beauty Super Gro. On dry hair, I used Suave Humectant as a moisturizer, then shea butter, and then my grease. My hair, which would have been dry by now, is still very moisturized. Welcome back Grease!!!

Well, when I mentioned oil, I was talking about applying it to wet hair that has no product (just plain water). I also was not excluding grease because grease works wonders for me too on dry hair.

 

[FashionistaNY]

:scratchch SO since water is the ultimate moisturizer, would one come to the conclusion that we don't need all these extra products (leave-ins, creams, moisturizers) after washing our hair??? Would all we need is just simply some type of oils to seal in the moisture the water gives our hair???

Poobear, this is actually the case with my hair. Two weeks ago, I was applying NTM Leave-in every night and sealing with NTM Serum. Yes NTM Leave-in softens my hair and provide the necessary moisture, but I was noticing my hair was coming out more than normal for me. Usually about 10 strands each comb out (morning and night).

When I apply nothing to my hair I lose virtually no hair. This morning, I think I saw 1 strand in my bone comb.

 

[Dolapo]

When I apply nothing to my hair I lose virtually no hair.

yup....when i moisturise too often, my hair starts breaking so i chill out for a while

 

[superstar]

bump..............

 

[jamiette]

Everytime I see that Black n' Sassy product in your signature makes me wanna' go out and get this product!!!

All I have to say is I had it in my hand at the BSS, I literally had to talk myself out of buying, because as usual I went in for elastic bands that only cost about 3.00, but left with 50.00 + worth of stuff. They really should pay you for the free advertising you provide for them.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I use water, mango butter, and mtg on wet hair. Sulfur 8 mix on dry...No prob. w/ moistness. When I was natural, grease and water was the key. Moist all day. I hope that works for me when I b/c......