Should You Buy A Hair Steamer?

Healthy hair – something we all want to achieve right?  In addition to building our regimens and sticking to them, there are so many extra tips and hacks that can aide us on a healthy hair journey.

One added step that comes highly recommended is steaming hair. There are plenty of advantages that come with steaming hair, so much so that this step is used by many ladies, especially during weather changes, and when the air is dry. Here are a few: 

Increases moisture and enhances elasticity 

Steaming hair means using warm steam (mist) to lift the cuticle and add more moisture. It’s excellent for people with low porosity hair like myself, because it makes it easier to have and retain the moisture. Hair becomes stronger and prone to less breakage with consistent use within a regimen.

Receive better product results

Steaming hair with a hair steamer* specifically is great for getting the most out of your deep conditioner* and other water based products.

Deep conditioners are able to penetrate the hair shaft better and provide their maximum benefits. Certain hair steamers like the Q Redew* are also supposed to help reactivate other water based products that were previously applied like leave in conditioner*.

Helps hair growth & reduces dandruff 

Have you ever heard that scalp massages are good for hair growth? Well steaming is good for this as well, because it helps stimulate the scalp.

The combination of scalp stimulation and moisture also prevents a build up of dandruff that usually comes from dry scalp. Because hair is moisturized, there are also less split ends, making it easier to retain length.

With these benefits in mind, we can see that a lot can be done by steaming hair! However, traditional hair steamers sold in stores are a little pricier than normal hair products.

And who really wants to kick out $70 or more for one tool, especially when there are DIY at home options? The main appeal of a hair steamer would just have to be the ease of use.

You simply fill the designated container with water (they say distilled helps stretch the life of your steamer*), plug it in so that it can heat up, then begin using. Most steamers can be used on wet or dry hair, and can reshape your style in the way you’d like it to look. This is a much easier option than the alternative.

So what is the alternative? There are actually two alternatives to purchasing a hair steamer*.

1. The easy way is to jump in the shower! Allow the water to get warm, and allow the steam to work its magic on your hair (which will either be out or underneath a shower cap*). The only issue with this is that there’s a possibility that you could totally lose your hair shape.

2. The second alternative requires a hooded dryer*, 2 plastic bags/caps, and two towels. After washing and applying deep conditioner*, place a plastic cap on your head.

Wet a towel, wring it out, and place in the microwave until it’s warm but not scalding. Place that over the plastic cap, then place a larger cap or plastic bag over the towel. Afterwards, sit under a hooded dryer* for at least a half hour.

Being a person that pretty much steams her hair everyday just by taking a long, hot shower, I weighed all of my options and it seems like purchasing a steamer is a good investment.

There are added benefits that can’t be achieved through stay at home methods, and a steamer is something that can be used for ages. Steamers also don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Many of them just need to be plugged in to operate, and they hold enough water for three to four uses. They’re handheld, not bulky, and can travel with you (major plus).

It’s advised to only put water inside of these steamers to ensure they continue working correctly, but they play nice with other hair products that are already applied to our hair.

Hair steamers seem especially beneficial for damaged, color treated, or dry hair. While they won’t alter the hair shape, they help provide the added moisture that us curly girls need to achieve healthy hair.

Just make sure not to over moisturize hair to the point where it’s too limp or too soft. Adding steam to a weekly hair regimen seems worth it!

While they don’t alter curl patterns, they help with curl clumping, and ultimately definition. If your hair seems frizzy when you first use a hair steamer*, notice that over time your hair will be less prone to frizz due to the addition of more water and moisture. This addition to our regimen can lead to visible results if used correctly. I think I need to go buy one!

What are your thoughts on steaming hair? Have you purchased a steamer before?