Image credit: @byafrique_
Sealing is crucial for reducing moisture loss but is only effective for so long. What do you do once the moisture is gone, especially during the winter when it seems to vanish more easily? Here are a few tips to restore that moisture to your hair.
1. Invest in a quality humidifier
Cold weather leads to increased indoor heating which leads to drier indoor air. For some naturals, that could mean drier hair as well. In order to help restore moisture into your strands, try using a humidifier. However, don’t use just any kind; get one with a large reservoir to avoid frequent refilling. Also, regularly clean your humidifier to prevent growth of bacteria and mold.
2. Deep condition more frequently
If you only deep condition every other wash or few washes, you may need to increase your frequency. An instant conditioner will probably not be sufficient as it was during the summer and fall. Rather, a deep conditioner or a mask will better adsorb to your cuticles and increase moisture retention. Don’t forget to incorporate heat – whether body heat via a shower cap or external heat – to improve your results.
3. Wear a shower cap for a few hours
This is essentially called the “baggy method,” and there are various ways to do it. You can apply a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer to your hair before applying the shower cap. Alternatively, you can use sandwich bags instead of the shower cap and cover just your ends. Disguise the cap or sandwich bag(s) under a beanie, scarf, and faux bun (especially for the sandwich bag option), and after a few hours your hair will be replenished with moisture.
4. Try steaming without a shower cap while in the shower
Warm to hot showers feel amazing during this season, and guess what? The steam produced from them can bring moisture back into dry hair. If you want to read more about shower-capless steaming, Tori discusses her experience of not wearing shower caps in this post: “True Life: I’m a Type 4 Natural and I Don’t Use Shower Caps.”
5. Or steam with an inexpensive DIY steamer
It is not necessary to purchase a steamer and break your wallet. You can make your own steamer using a shower cap and a warm, damp face towel. Those details can be read here: “How to Make Your Own Hair Steamer.”
How do you bring moisture back into your hair during the winter?
Oh la la! I’m drooling over the featured picture. I’ve been meaning to colour my hair but I was worried about damage and all that but from seeing this picture I think I’ll go darker. Her hair is such a luscious black. I barely read the article.…scrolling back up now haha
I’ve been deep conditioning every week since late summer and covering with a shower cap but sometimes I feel like that’s not enough especially with the colder weather. I will have to remember to buy a humidifier.
I’ve been deep conditioning weekly since I started growing my hair out over a year ago, but in winter switch to heavier oils and butters. I recently purchased a flax seed filled thermal cap from Hot Head to use during my deep conditioning. It works out well and allows me to still get things accomplished. It’s also a good alternative for me to steamers. I don’t like to spend a lot of time conditioning my hair because once it reaches saturation, the process is complete, so one hour tops on a heated deep condition. After stretching and styling my hair… Read more »
Purchasing a steamer was not an option so I absolutely love my Hot Head, its really is convenient.
I follow the CG method, and I use gel as the final step in my style, which I do on wet hair. Because I haven’t yet figured out how to remoisturize between wet styles other than patting my hair into place with damp hands, I usually do a restyle every 4–5 days. Sometimes, during the summer, I can go for up to a week between restyles, but when my hair at the lower back part of my head—which is the part that is the most silky and curly—shrinks up toward my head, and my hair overall seems more tangly than… Read more »