How to Moisturise Your Hair at Home So You’ll Look Like You’ve Just Left The Salon
As we head into autumn, you may be looking to restore body and shine to your hair, while also combating the oh-so common problem of hair loss.
To understand how to moisturise your hair, think of it as if it were a house plant. If you overfeed a plant with fertiliser but you don’t provide it with necessary water, it won’t thrive. Similarly, when it comes to hair, there needs to be a distinction between nutrition and hydration. They are two different but complementary processes that are often confused, yet are both fundamental to keeping hair hydrated, soft, voluminous and healthy.
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Dry hair doesn’t really exist. Hairstylists will generally avoid the term and instead will reference dehydrated cuticles, porous shafts and the hydrolipid balance. Pros stress that it is not enough to use lamellar water, conditioner or a mask once a week. If you want truly shiny and soft hair, you must first reintroduce moisture into the hair fibre, and only then seal it with oils or creams. This goes for all hair types.
The good news? You don’t need to resort to expensive keratin treatments or nanoplasty, although both have their benefits. Instead, there are many less expensive yet professional-approved techniques to restore hydration that can be done in the comfort of your own bathroom. All you need is a shower cap, the right products and a few clever techniques borrowed from top hair stylists, broken down by hair type.
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Understanding the differences between moisturising and nourishing your hair
When we talk about how to get perfect, shiny and strong hair, terms are often used imprecisely. A fundamental distinction must be made between hydration and nutrition. Even though they are often treated like synonyms, they are two different things. Hair nutrition refers to the balance of the hair’s lipid component, and specifically the oils, natural fats, ceramides and butters that can serve to rebuild, restore and strengthen damaged areas. It also refers to sealing the hair cuticle externally, protecting it from external agents that can cause damage, such as heat, sun and stress, including straighteners and hairdryers. Sealing the hair prevents the loss of moisture. If hair isn’t nourished properly, then even well-hydrated hair will lose any water it has absorbed. Hydration, on the other hand, refers to the presence of moisture in the inner parts of the hair shaft, such as the cortex and, to a lesser extent, the medulla. Hair that contains adequate water is more elastic, less prone to breaking and better able to shine.
How to moisturise your hair: professional methods and techniques that you should try at home
So, how do you moisturise your hair? Ingredients such as glycerine, aloe vera, panthenol and hyaluronic acid will help your hair attract and retain moisture. There are several ways to balance hydration and nourishment to restore hair’s elasticity and moisturise without becoming heavy.
The LOC method, for all curl types and porous hair
The Liquid-Oil-Cream (LOC) technique is a layered moisturising method designed especially for all curl types or very porous hair that tends to lose moisture easily. The principle is simple but effective: first a liquid (either pure water or a water-based leave-in conditioner) is applied to penetrate the hair shaft and provide internal hydration; second an oil is used to seal that liquid within the hair, creating a barrier that limits evaporation; third a rich cream is applied to close the cuticles, to provide softness and definition.
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A home steam treatment to detox your scalp and moisturise fine hair
Home steaming (or “hair vaporisation”) is like having your own spa at home. What does it consist of? After shampooing, leave your hair damp and apply a moisturising product containing aloe, glycerine or panthenol. Then let steam do its work by wrapping your head in a warm towel over a shower cap and using a hairdryer on a low heat or leaning over a basin of hot water, creating a tent around your head with a towel. In just 15 to 20 minutes, the cuticles will open, allowing the treatment to penetrate them deeply and the hair to regain its elasticity. The secret for optimum results is not to overdo the heat and to end the treatment with a cool or acidic rinse, which closes the cuticles as they retain all their moisture. The result? Hair that looks like you have just come from the salon.
A DIY mask with a laminating effect for medium hair textures
A hair mask with humectants and occlusive ingredients is the low-cost answer to hair that seems to drink up any treatment, yet still remains dry unless keratin or lamination is used. The treatment is built on science: humectants (such as aloe vera, honey, glycerine or panthenol) attract and retain water within the hair fibre, while an occlusive agent – like a few drops of light vegetable oil or butter – seals the cuticle and prevents moisture from evaporating. The mask is easily prepared at home by using a conditioner as a base and adding some aloe gel or a teaspoon of honey along with two or three drops of jojoba, argan or coconut oil. Apply the mixture to damp hair, cover it with a cap to enhance the natural heat effect and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. The result will be soft hair with a salon shine.