Take a wet or dry strand of hair and stretch it gently. If it doesn't stretch easily, snaps quickly, and feels dry, brittle or rough, it means you need more moisture. If your curl stretches but doesn't bounce back into shape, and the hair feels gummy or musy, it means you need more protein.
Your Hair is Dull
If your hair lacks shine since coloring or chemically treating it, and you're experiencing dull, brittle strands, your hair is in need of moisture. Hair that is dry or damaged won't have a shiny, healthy look.
pinch it with your fingers and gently pull at it. if it returns to its original length, it's healthy! if it doesn't return and instead stretches longer, it's dry.
Comparable to anything that lacks moisture, dehydrated hair has lost its shine and appears dull, brittle, and frizzy. Dry hair symptoms also include an itchy, flaky scalp that can't produce natural hair oils. Other visible signs of dry, damaged hair are split ends, flyaways, and breakage.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
In addition to hyaluronic acid and glycerin, honey, aloe vera, and agave nectar are also humectants. While both honey and aloe effectively attract moisture to the hair, the naturally thicker viscosity of honey makes it one of the best moisturizers for 4C hair, while aloe is the better choice for fine curls.
Applying a deep condition after you shampoo will help the hair shaft release the barriers of buildup, sebum, and debris and in turn, help the hair shaft absorb the ingredients from your conditioner. So which option is best? For optimal results, deep conditioning on freshly shampooed, wet hair will be best.
This simple hair strand test can be helpful in determining the hair's current condition and needs. Take an inch of your hair and stretch it, if it doesn't stretch or breaks, feels dry and rough, it is brittle/damaged and needs moisture treatment.
Coconut oil can have many benefits for your hair and scalp. It is used to relieve dandruff, restore luster to dry and damaged hair, tame frizz, and protect hair against styling damage. It is safe to use on all hair types.
"If it stretches without bouncing back, there is too much moisture. Your hair can look and feel limp, lifeless and extremely soft, almost fluffy. Curly-haired people need to watch out for moisture overload because the curl pattern will suffer, falling flat." But excess moisture doesn't just affect curly hair types.
The best form of hydration is water, making this an easy task to accomplish in the curl-care routine. You can take a bath and soak your hair in water. While hydration is easy to accomplish, eventually your hair will dry out. There needs to be something to lock the water into your hair to prevent moisture loss.
Simply put, hydration refers to water and moisture refers to oil.
It needs heat so that moisture can penetrate the hair shaft and stay locked in. That means indulging in hot oil treatments and applying gentle heat using your hair dryer while deep conditioning. A steamer or steaming cap is a great option to gently steam hair, help products penetrate, and hydrate.
The biggest sign that your hair needs moisture is if it feels and looks dry, says Marco Pelusi, a celebrity hairstylist, product formulator, and educator. It may also feel brittle or break off, but this is typically isolated toward the ends of your hair.
To get the most out of it overnight, try applying a moisturizing hair mask such as Colour Fanatic Instant-Deep Conditioning Mask on freshly washed damp hair. You can either loosely tie up your hair in a ponytail or wrap it in a warm towel. The heat this creates can help the mask work as you sleep.
Product Buildup: Without proper cleansing, daily wetting can cause styling products and environmental pollutants to accumulate on the hair and scalp, leading to a dull and lifeless appearance.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.