5 Reasons You Need Water in Your Hair Care Regimen

I love water. Always have. I love drinking it, playing in it and giving my hair life from it. Even as a kid it was my favorite drink. Back when I was little we didn’t have a ton of options like kids do now with every juice known to man and sodas at the ready.

My sister and I had the basics. Water and milk. You think I’m kidding? Ask someone over 35 years old and watch them smirk and tell you the same thing! Don’t even let me get started on drinking out of the water hose. OK, let me get back on point.

Water is essential to sustain life. All life and especially the life of our hair. I’ll even go so far as to say water is your hair’s best friend. It pains me to remember (not too long ago either) that most black women kept away from it as much as possible because of our hair.

It was a reverser of our tresses so we ran from it when it rained, we sat on the sidelines of pools throughout hot summers for fear of it, and we dared not exercise too much so the sweat would not destroy our precious hairstyles. Black women have been slaves to our hair and it’s limitations for decades and honestly for no good reason.

Many who have decided to embrace their natural tresses have learned just how vital water is but there are still some holding onto old beliefs. The bottom line is whether relaxed or natural, we all need water in our hair care regimen although naturals may use it more.

Despite where you are in your journey to healthy hair, (relaxed, transitioning to natural, or natural) I’ve got 5 indisputable reasons why water needs to be a major component in your hair care needs.

Water is the #1 Moisturizer

Water is the absolute best moisturizer around. Every moisturizing agent in your favorite product contains some amounts of water to help hydrate the hair. Check all your favorite moisturizing products and most likely they will have water within the top 5 ingredients.

An even better way to hydrate your hair would be to use steam. Steaming your hair allows the hair cuticle to lift so the other ingredients can penetrate the hair. You can get that steam from your shower but there are steamers that many naturals purchase to get deeper steaming sessions. Sealing after is crucial to keep the moisture in that your hair has obtained.

Cool water rinses seal your cuticles and will add shine

I know it seems odd but after you have opened up that cuticle and gotten all the moisturizers in you now need to seal it to keep it in and allow the hair to have shine. Rinsing your hair with cool water constricts the cuticle layer of the hair and when it lies flat the strands are smoother and more reflective.

Now, it’s seen much easier on straight hair but that does not mean curly hair cannot shine. It can show sheen and shine by combating the frizz and the cool water will help to repel frizz by laying down that cuticle.

Soft water will tame your tresses

Soft shower water will leave your hair more manageable because of the lack of mineral salts. Mineral salts are in hard water and they can tangle your hair. You may be on the hunt for the perfect product to fight those tangles and it just may be your water.

Hard water can also make your hair limp and dull by creating hair build-up because your hair products are working less effectively against the mineral deposits. Many naturals have learned to beat this problem by buying water filters or shower filters. If that’s not in the budget trying a vinegar rinse or a clarifying shampoo* every once in a while.

Drinking water sustains the necessary cell health for your hair

It’s no secret that our bodies are comprised of 60% to 80% water. If you are not drinking enough water (the rule is drinking about 8-oiunces of fluids a day) your body can become dehydrated and it will not be able to sustain cell health and reproduction.

This directly impacts hair growth or hair’s elasticity. Drinking water hydrates your cells and the lack of it can create dry and brittle hair. Not drinking enough water may even stop your hair from growing at your maximum genetic rate. Remember, dehydration has a direct impact on the growth of your hair.

Co-washing or (just water) can rejuvenate your hair / Makes hair easier to work with

This is my favorite reason and if you are a curly girl method follower or have to jump in the shower to rejuvenate your hair then you will agree. My hair LOVES water. I mean it loves it and if I need to rejuvenate my hair from a wash and go the best way to do it is getting it wet!

I love co-washing in-between washes but the main component is always water. Water brings my hair back to life and since it’s the best moisturizer I use it to my advantage. I also know that me parting and manipulating my hair while dry is a huge no no! I’m going to be breaking strands if I do that so allowing the water in the shower to tame my tresses before I start working with it keeps the breakage at bay.

There no better moisturizer, hair tamer or hair food better than water. It’s kind of a miracle liquid for hair and so essential in our daily lives that it just make sense to utilize it in your hair care regimen. Yes, water is where the relaxed and natural women need to come together because we all need it to sustain our lives and our hair.