Two Steps To Effectively Moisturize Your Hair

The real key to having moisturized hair is to prevent added water from evaporating. To successfully manage hair moisture, you need to…

1. Repair damage to your hair cuticle

Why : The hair cuticle is the key surface which protects the inner cortex of hair. Without it, water can flow freely into and out of hair. Cuticle damage is inevitable especially if your hair is relaxed, bleached or color treated. You can reduce damage by being gentle with your hair at all times and especially when combing and drying (even when towel drying).  However, all manipulation, washing and even exposure to the sun eventually affect the cuticle.

How: You can temporarily repair the cuticle and essentially patch it up by using hair conditioner. The effect lasts for one wash only, the next shampoo is designed to clean off hair and the conditoner effect goes with it.

The Science: Hair conditioner contains particles known as surfactants (which is geek speak for surface active agent). These surfactants (the agents) make their way to the hair cuticle (surface) and then stick on to the hair (the action!) and the best part of it is that the surfactants are naturally drawn to gaps in hair. Often conditioners will contain more than one surfactant. Common surfactants include behentrimonium chloride/methosulfate and stearalkonium chloride.

Use a good protein conditioner. A good protein conditioner will have hydrolyzed/hydrolized protein. This type of protein has been chopped up and can therefore fit nicely into small gaps in the hair. Some of it can even enter into hair and carry with it some water.