How to Keep 4C Hair Moisturised

If I do not keep up with my regular moisturising routine my hair gets extremely dry, crispy and hard very quickly. These are all factors that can lead to breakage. A few days of skipping my routine and my strands end up looking and feeling horrible. Your moisturising routine does not have to be over the top and time consuming, we have all tried those ridiculous natural hair fads that do not fit into our everyday lifestyle and are unsustainable. Just keep your moisturising routine simple, but consistent to prevent your hair from drying out.

Steam Treatment
Steaming is the most ideal way to add instant moisture back to your hair. I steam my hair at home on a weekly basis using my Aphrodite ultra hair conditioning cap. Steaming is a vital step in maintaining soft and moisturised healthy hair. Just slap on a deep conditioner, watch an episode of your favourite show, grab a cup of tea and in half an hour you can wash the product out and you will notice immediately that your hair has been transformed.
You do not have to go to the hair salon every time you want to steam your hair, even if you do not own a steam cap you can heat up your conditioner mixed with oils, such as extra virgin olive oil. Place this on your hair strands and wrap with cling film and then with a towel to contain the heat.
 
Shampoo
4C hair is dry by nature, so by using products that dry your hair out even more just does not make sense. Certain shampoos can be extremely drying and leave your hair so stripped and stiff. Check out the ingredients next time you are buying a shampoo and purchase sulfate free products. Sulfates are a cleansing agent found in some shampoos, so why should you avoid them? Well sulfate shampoos really dry out the hair and can irritate the scalp causing sensitivity.
One of my favourite moisturising shampoo is Clean-N-Curly hydrating shampoo by Taliah Waajid and I have just started using UK brand Mane Divas, their Mango Silk Latte shampoo is lush.  These are both creamy and thick shampoos that are gentle on the hair and non-drying. You can check out my product reviews on previous blog posts for both of these products.

Protective Styling
The ends of the hair are the oldest, most fragile, and usually the driest part. I have found that by wearing protective styles helps to maintain the moisture balance as the ends are not exposed. Since the atmosphere has turned drier in London, I have become more consistent in wearing protective styles and I will continue to do so as we move into winter. To keep my hair moisturised in a protective style I use a water based leave in conditioner at least once a day, sometimes twice if my scalp is feeling extra dry. I then follow up with a light amount of oil on the scalp and edges to avoid clogging up my scalp.
 
Hot oil treatment
If my hair is feeling extra extra crispy then I will do a hot oil treatment. I usually use whatever carrier oil is in my cupboard, such as almond or black Jamaican castor oil. I apply the heated oil prior to shampooing and I massage it into my scalp and distribute along the strands. Again to maintain the heated effect you can wrap your hair in cling film and then a towel. The heated oil is able to work on the hair cuticles, causing your hair to be smoother and more moisturised. I leave the treatment in for about fifteen minutes and then continue my regular hair washing routine.
 
Let me know if you have any tips for retaining moisture for kinky hair?
Caron XX
 
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