The travail
I’ve been through the struggle of attempting to moisturize my hair on thousand occasions only to end up looking like a mad woman from the Sahara with dry, dull, and brittle hair. To be fair, Nigeria is hot and extremely dry most times. So, for a period, I struggled with dehydrated hair. The problem was I didn’t understand why moisturizing my hair was so necessary and I didn’t know how to get it moisturized.A picture of my desert hair days.
So, what do I benefit from moisturizing my hair?
It is pretty simple to understand. Dry hair breaks easily. Yup, that’s why most people can’t account for their current hair length. I have run into a number of people who are of the opinion that their hair never grows and I’ve had to explain over and over again, that it does.The hurdle is their hair breaks even though it grows, which is like pouring water into a leaking cup. It never fills up. Moisturized hair is a lot more flexible than dry hair, so, it doesn’t break easily under stress.Moisturized hair = Stronger and Flexible Hair = Less Breakage = Longer Hair
The Myths
Myth 1:
Wet hair is moisturized hair.
Myth 2:
Simply putting oil or products on your hair moisturizes your hair.We’ve all been here before, I suppose. I used to think just spraying water on my hair every morning will get the job done. It did the opposite. The water instead rinsed out the remnant of products I had on my hair and eventually vaporized, leaving my hair extremely dry and exposed.A strand of hair is made up of three segments: the medulla, the cortex, and the cuticle. The cuticle is the outermost layer of each hair strand and is made up of overlying flattened cells. Moisturizing your hair binds these cells together so that the strand of hair stays intact; this is the reason why the strand appears lustrous and doesn’t break easily.Most times, it is tempting to put all the right products on your hair hoping that it will do the trick. Unfortunately, we all know it doesn’t. Moisturizing your hair is not just about using the right products, it is more about the process you take when applying the products.
The art of moisturizing your hair
Just like everything else, there is an art to moisturizing your hair. My first advice is that you avoid petroleum jelly like it is a plague. Trust me, it is. So check all your products to make sure it is not an ingredient.To moisturize your hair and to maintain that moisture requires persistence. I use the L.O.C.C method, regardless of whether I’m deep conditioning, shampooing my hair or carrying out my daily hair routine. L.O.C.C stands for Liquid, oil, cream, and cap.
L.O.C.C. Okay, how does that work?
L. Liquid
The first step is to dampen (dampen, not wet) your hair using water (or diluted liquid leave-in conditioner). I do this typically with a spray bottle. Depending on the length of your hair, you can divide your hair into sections to make it extremely easy to handle, so that every square inch of your hair is covered.
O. Oil
The next step is to apply your favorite oil. I use olive oil most times because it is light. The liquid applied earlier makes it easier for the oil to penetrate your hair strand.
C. Cream
The cream acts as a sealant, sealing the water and oil molecules in your hair. The cream is your leave-in-conditioner. Most conditioners have ingredients that don’t only lock in the moisture in but also provide nutrients that strengthen your hair.
C. Cap
This final step is to make sure that your hair absorbs all the products you have put on it. The L.O.C will be inconsequential and a waste of time if moisture doesn’t penetrate your hair shaft. Typically, I use a shower cap to cover my hair for about 10 minutes. (This is my preference, sometimes, I leave it on for less than 10 minutes. It is all up to you)
Voila!
Feel free to experiment with the method and find what works for you. It may take a few days for you to notice any change if your hair is extremely dehydrated, so be patient and be consistent. It will be worth it. Trust meYou can always reach me via the contact form at the bottom of your screen if you need any help.
