Moisturizing and sealing natural hair

[Shun34]

Thank you for visiting my thread. I have a slight conundrum, so your responses will be much appreciated.

I have natural apl hair that I would like to moisturize and seal more often. I detangle and co-wash my hair with a cone-free conditioner every 7-10 days. I'll wash it with a natural shampoo maybe once a month. I twist my hair wet with a heavy natural butter mixture, which includes shea, aloe, avocado, olive oil, jojoba oil, whatever I have on hand. I'm pretty heavy handed with the butter. When it has airdried completely, I untwist it and wear it in a high loose bun secured with two small schrunchies. I rarely wear my hair down/out. After the second or third day, my hair starts to feel a little dry, even though it still has a nice shine. I've been told my hair "glows" in the sun. I moisturize my hair with a water based product, or simply water, and seal with my butter mix, but my hair begins to shrink/curl up on itself creating tangles and ssks, and the waves from the twists begin to frizz. I'm a low mani girl, so going through the whole process of twisting, moisturizing, and sealing my hair to avoid tangles and knots is out of the question. I don't have time for that. Here are my questions:

Is it ok to simply apply the butter to my hair without "wetting" it first?

Do the butters and oils I mentioned above have enough moisturizing properties to skip the moisturizing step?

If not, is there a natural product that I can add to my butter mixture that will properly moisturize my hair without causing it to curl up at the ends?

Is the feeling of my hair after a couple of days just the feeling of hair that is dry, not neccessarily dry hair that needs to be moisturized and sealed?

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

[LaBelleLL]

As for the "Is it ok to simply apply the butter to my hair without "wetting" it first" question, I think that it is totally ok to NOT wet the hair first. Right now, I moisturize my twists with Qhemet's Burdock cream (first ingredient is water) and then I seal with their Alma Olive cream. I couldn't imagine putting a hat or going outside with wet hair. This works because I can feel how moisturized my hair is after re-applying those products during the week. Also, my twists easily unravel when I'm ready to take them out. I don't have those larger knots on the end.

About the natural product, I don't know of one that can do that. From what I understand, a moisterizer (water) will revert the hair to its natural state.

IMO, if the hair feels dry, it needs to be moisturized and sealed.

HTH!

 

[Poohbear]

I think it's okay to use butters, creams, or oils without wetting it or using a water-based moisturizer first. The only thing you want to keep an eye out for is buildup from the butters, creams, or oils.

Have you thought about leaving your hair in a twisted bun rather than a loose bun? Wearing your natural hair in a twisted bun will help with shrinkage, tangles, and knots, but maybe not frizz. I have been keeping my hair in a twisted bun and moisturizing with a water-based moisturizer and it's been working pretty well for me so far.

 

[bravenewgirl87]

Is it ok to simply apply the butter to my hair without "wetting" it first?
I've just started making my own butters and products so I may not be the best person to ask. I personally just buy products that are already made and are all-natural. my favorite brand is Qhemet Biologics. I believe their Cocoa Detangling Ghee does not have water in it if you're afraid of shrinkage. I have used it but I did not like it as much as the other products. If you're the kind of person that only likes using butters then I would recommend that product. Komaza care also makes a nice moisturizing butter, too.
I personally prefer using water. Butters just sit on my hair if I don't apply them to it wet. I also prefer using butter as scalp grease.
Do the butters and oils I mentioned above have enough moisturizing properties to skip the moisturizing step?
They most certainly are moisturizing but my hair doesn't work with products that are only butters. Maybe if I used it to seal my ends but I have to have water for moisture. Maybe adding honey powder to your mix might stop you hair from shrinking up. I actually band my hair to stop shrinkage.


If not, is there a natural product that I can add to my butter mixture that will properly moisturize my hair without causing it to curl up at the ends?

Is the feeling of my hair after a couple of days just the feeling of hair that is dry, not neccessarily dry hair that needs to be moisturized and sealed?
If you're hair starts breaking, then I think it might be dry. If it doesn't then I guess your mix works for you. Butters without water doesn't work for me.
Thank you in advance for your input!

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