4 Steps To Moisturize Natural Hair This Winter

Winter is upon us and you know what that means: big coats, hot chocolate, and drier natural hair. There are a few ways that our natural hair gets drier during the winter. The harsh wind and weather can lead to breakage, while the cotton or wool hats, scarves, and sweaters we wear can snag our ends. Moisturized hair is healthy hair, so it might be a good idea to add some extra moisture to your regimen this winter.

I know, I know. Right now you’re probably like Ugh, is she really trying to give me four extra steps to my wash regimen? Doesn’t she know it already takes me about 8 hours on wash day? Don’t worry, you may already do some of these steps or you can simply place one into your regimen. Share some of your favorite winter moisturizing tips below!

Oil Rinsing:

Oil rinsing is gaining popularity in the natural hair community, but not many people know what it is. Oil rinsing is a simple way to add moisture to your hair during wash day. Simply wash (or cowash) your hair in the shower and follow up by applying the oil of your choice. Make sure it’s distributed throughout your hair before rinsing it out with cool water.

Follow up with your favorite conditioner. You’ll notice that your hair is shinier, easier to detangle, and has less frizz. This helps lock in moisture and seal it in without having to weigh your hair down.

Also, it only takes an extra two minutes in the shower. You can do an oil rinse every time that you wash your hair, but you don’t want to go overboard and block the hair shaft from receiving nutrients. It would be a good idea to do an oil rinse maybe twice a week maximum.

Weekly Deep Conditioning

Deep conditioning* is a necessary step to moisturizing hair in all seasons, but with a busy schedule, it can sometimes seem like too much of a time commitment to deep condition every week.

Be that as it may, finding the right deep conditioner* and using it regularly can make the difference in the overall health of your hair. Choose a heavier deep conditioner* that will fully coat your strands without leaving product build up. Try to opt for a treatment that doesn’t contain silicones or other ingredients that would otherwise sit on the strands without penetration.

You could also create your own treatment using a combination of your favorite conditioner and oils*. Either use a hooded dryer* or a heating cap to add heat to your deep treatment and help it provide the maximum benefit. Deep conditioning* for one hour weekly can significantly increase the moisture level of your natural hair.

Greenhouse Effect (GHE)

This is something else that’s excellent for natural hair but may not be extremely popular. The greenhouse effect means lightly spritzing your hair with water at night (only enough to dampen it) before putting on a shower cap* and satin bonnet* and going to bed.

The shower cap* and bonnet lock the moisture in and added with the heat from your head create a steam session for your hair. The next day, you can follow up by sealing with your favorite oil and cream.

The only thing to keep in mind when doing the Greenhouse Effect is that it won’t do the best in preserving your styles. If you have a braid out/twist out (practically anything other than a wash n go) you may want to redo the style at night before adding water. You may not want to do the Greenhouse Effect everyday, but do it as much as your hair needs.

Spritzing Hair Daily

If you’re familiar with the LOC Method then you know that the first step is moisturizing hair with a liquid. Just because you do the LOC Method once a week for wash day doesn’t mean that your hair can’t use more moisture.

Invest in a cheap spray bottle and fill it with a spray of your choice- the most popular mix is water, leave in conditioner*, and perhaps an oil of your choice. Spray it in your hair as often as needed to refresh your curls and bring back moisture.

If you don’t want to create your own, you can purchase a leave in conditioning spray from your favorite brand and use that instead. You just need something that you can lightly dampen your hair with in between washes. Just like with the Greenhouse Effect, you can follow up with the oil of your choice afterwards.

These are four different and sometimes overlooked steps that can help restore moisture to your hair during the harsh winter weather. They also carry through and work in every other season. If you notice that your hair has been a lot drier than normal and you can’t figure out why, try implementing one or all of these steps in your regimen and see if you notice any changes. Your natural hair can remain soft, shiny, and moisturized in all seasons.