Moisture...

What is it??

I got this question the other day, and I thought I'd post it in the blog because I think there are a lot of people who don't know what moisturizers are and what they're suppose to do...First and foremost, let me start off by saying sorry to all y'all sending the "nasty grams" because I haven't updated the blog...I've been trying to get Tress Dressed up and running, and it's been A LOT of work. I was in a craft fair yesterday, and sold most of my pieces, so I have to revamp my website...I pretty much have to start all over...I COULD have worse problems, right? I'm not complaining...I'm having the time of my life...Anyway, y'all keep praying for ya girl...God is blessing me BIG TIME!

Anyhoo, on to the moisture subject...

Water is the only for real, for real "moisturizer". The only problem is that water evaporates quickly, so it (alone) can't keep our hair moisturized for very long. Oils help in moisturizing by preventing the water (for real, for real) moisture from evaporating from the hair...

So technically speaking, no...Oils aren't moisturizers...They aid in the process of moisturizing...What you want a moisturizer to do is to increase the water content (by hydration) while at the same time reducing its evaporation...This is a moisturizer's one and only goal.

The hard part is to find one that doesn't leave your hair, sticky, greasy, gooey, gluey, or hard in the process...And unfortunately, we've learned to THINK that moisturizing the hair means our hair has to be greasy or oily at the same time. It doesn't...Thankfully technology and research has afforded us vast offering of moisturizers out there with a ton of benefits...

Which brings me to one of my must haves HUMECTANTS!!! Man, if Obama hadn't won the Presidency, I swear I'd be voting for humectants for President! A humectant is a moisturizing "vehicle" (for lack of a better word) that is benefical to our hair (and skin) . Humectants (like glycerine and honey) draw the moisture from the air. Having a product that has both humectants and oils in it is best (IMO, of course...;) )

Different moisturizers do different things, and everyone's hair responds differently...Some folks swear by shea butter while others swear by olive oil. There's no magic potion, so it's always best to try out different ones to find the one that's best for you. I make my own hair butter with a mixture of shea butter, sweet almond oil, and some other stuff. It works for me...

So here's a list of some great moisturizers that I've tried:

Shea Butter

Olive Oil

Sweet Almond oil

Coconut Oil (Refined, Virgin, or Fractionated)

Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

Curls Quenched Curls Moisturizer

Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding