How to Keep Curly Hair Moisturized? Steal My Ideas!

It seems like you are doing everything right but your hair is still dry and hard to manage? It might be that something in your hair care routine isn’t quite right. Maybe you are using products that are not suitable for your hair type? Steal my ideas on how to keep curly hair moisturized.

If you have fine wavy hair, don’t buy products with lots of oils and butter. If you are a coily girl or boy, don’t expect that water and aloe vera is enough to keep your hair hydrated.

I believe that you already know a few rules: avoid the heat, sleep on silk or satin pillowcase, don’t forget to trim your hair from time to time, and use moisturizing products…

Despite all the effort, your hair is still dry. Why? How to keep your stubborn hair moisturized?

Dry natural hair

Dry natural hair is not uncommon, but it gets frustrating when you are doing everything you can and still see little to no results, right?

Even if you have straight hair, you need to moisturize it as well. How to do that effectively? Try co-washing!

Co-wash means that you will wash your hair using only conditioner. You have to massage it well to your scalp and rinse it out. Some curly girls and boys swear by this method and never even use shampoo again. It is a great way to rejuvenate your hair without shampoo. Still, if you are using curly-friendly shampoo without alcohols, silicones, and sulfates, regular shampoo is not a big problem my opinion.

Pick the proper water temperature when rinsing your hair. Cold water closes hair cuticles, and it helps to lock the moisture in your hair. 

Little tip: If you can’t even stand an idea about taking a cold shower, at least end your hair wash process with the cold water. 

You might have dry natural hair because you are dehydrated. Don’t forget to drink a lot of liquids during the day, especially when you are an active person. It’s crucial to be hydrated from the inside if we want to have pretty hair. 

What’s on your plate also matters. Fatty fish, nuts, seeds, or natural fats, such as avocados, should be a part of your balanced diet. Your body has to get lots of nutrients from food to promote healthy hair growth.

5 tips on how to moisturize curly hair

Moisturizing your hair is a must, even if you already have perfect ringlets. 

#1 Don’t wash your hair too often

Don’t make this mistake, especially if you have type 4 curly hair. Wanting your hair to be squeaky clean isn’t a good thing if you’re going to keep your hair moisturized. It’s a matter of habit.

Try to switch shampooing into co-washing or search for a curl-friendly shampoo without alcohols, silicones, and harsh sulfates. If you have type 3 or type 4 hair you don’t need to shampoo your hair every other day. In most cases, once a week is enough. Try refreshing your hair with water or hydrolats.

#2 Deep condition religiously

I know that it might sound just like an unnecessary additional thing on your bathroom shelf, but this thing is truly a game-changer.

How to do that correctly? On your wash day, wash your hair as usual, squish out excess water and then slap some deep conditioner, put on a shower cap to create a “ greenhouse” effect on your hair, and then leave it for 30 minutes or more. After that, rinse your hair (preferably with cold water). Simple as that!

Why is it important to deep condition your hair regularly?

It helps to nourish and penetrate your hair, restores its natural shine, and “fills” the hair shaft. When you deep condition your hair, you are preventing your hair ends from breaking. So doing it can even help your hair grow longer and stronger! 

Deep conditioning should be a part of your routine no matter if you have straight or curly hair, as it can prevent your hair from damage.

You can see my personal list of the best deep conditioners here.

#3 Read the ingredients list. ALWAYS

So imagine that you are searching for a good hair moisturizer. One bottle catches your eye. It has promising words written on it: moisture, hydration, shiny hair, yada yada. 

But you are smart, so you check the label and see that this so-called “moisturizer” has water at the bottom of the ingredients list. Water is the primary source of hydration, so how can this product hydrate your hair if it has little to no water? 

Look out for harsh ingredients, such as drying alcohols, silicones and sulfates.

#4 Healthy diet = healthy hair

Diet plays a massive role in overall health and appearance, and hair is no exception. If you eat refined, highly processed food instead of whole foods, don’t be surprised to have dull skin and dry hair.

If you are not a huge fan of veggies, try making smoothies. It’s a great way to incorporate greens into your diet. 

#5 Use a microfiber towel

Regular towels are way too harsh on our hair and as hair is very fragile when wet you have to take special care of it. 

A microfiber towel ensures gentle excess water absorption from your hair without breaking it. If you don’t have one, try a cotton T-Shirt or any other soft material. 

How to keep curly hair moisturized? The bottom line

I know that it’s a lot to process: deep conditioning? Microfiber towel? Co-wash? Don’t worry; after some time, it’s weird when the week passes by, and you remember that you still haven’t deep conditioned your hair.

Be gentle to your hair, don’t touch it too often. Try scalp massage with organic oil and use a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair.

You deserve the hair you love.

P.S. Keen on learning more? This video is great: