Moisture: Nappy Hair’s Best Friend

While mineral oil and petroleum-based products can be nappy hair’s worst enemy, you’ll find that water is nappy hair’s best friend. You see, nappy hair has raised cuticles, that’s the outer layer of the hair that you can liken to shingles on a roof. On naturally straight hair, those “shingles” can lay flat. But on nappy hair that twists, turns, bends and zigzags, it’s nearly impossible for our cuticles to lay flat. So that makes our hair porous, meaning it sucks up moisture like a sponge, but it also has a hard time trapping and retaining moisture too. Kinda like a door that’s been left open…let’s everything in and everything out.

So, as a nappy, your number one mission with regards to your hair is to keep it moisturized. You need to be seeking out products that promote the attraction and retention of moisture. Most likely moisture based products with some type of humectant. A humectant is a substance that attracts moisture. Glycerin, honey, propylene glycol are a few common humectants. Now if have grease in your hair, it most likely contains either a mineral oil or a petroleum base, both of which coat your hair shaft and doesn’t allow it to take in moisture. And that will only compound the issue of dryness.

In fact, take note, many nappy’s find that their hair doesn’t tolerate any oil. I don’t use oil at all. If you experiment with such, make sure it’s an essential oil because they are permeable and will not block moisture out.

Also, one final thing, don’t let the advertising confuse you. Oil is NOT moisture. Moisture equals water. The most prevelant ingredient in any product is placed at the top of the list. The further down the list, the less prevelant an ingredient is in the product. So if your label says the product contains aqua/water, glycerine and propylene glycol those are your primary ingredients.

So now as soon as you get a chance, wash that stuff out of your hair and get it some proper moisture!