The fall/winter air can usually be quite drying and harsh on natural hair not to mention the amount of friction the hair experiences when your child wears hoods and hats to keep the head warm. Therefore, keeping the hair moisturized is more critical than ever if the end result is to maintain healthy hair and to retain optimal length.
Making your own homemade moisturizing spritz is a great way to give your child that much needed moisture in between washes and/or styling sessions. The great news is that creating your own spritz:
- Does not have to be complicated--Seriously it could just be a bottle of distilled water you spray lightly on your child's hair
- Can be readily made from items you most likely already have at home
- Is economical compared to buying expensive commercial products at the store that may contain lots of unnecessary ingredients
- Is highly versatile--Can add Aloe Vera juice, glycerin and other natural humectants such as honey and agave, favorite oils and leave-ins. The main idea is that water is the prominent ingredient in the mixture.
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| Our current homemade mix. |
The basic components in our spray bottle are:
- Distilled water--This is a staple when it comes to creating any type of spritz for Z's hair. Distilled water undergoes a particular process that removes all the impurities found in normal tap water. Because of this property, distilled water helps keep products and spritzes from spoiling over time. I have read horror stories of unknown substances growing inside homemade sprays when using tap water. Proceed with caution if you choose that route. I would rather keep it safe and use distilled water.
- Aloe Vera Juice--I love Aloe Vera Juice because it has amazing healing properties. The juice's low pH (around 4-4.5) helps close lifted cuticles that had been raised after rinsing conditioner out the hair using warm water and aids in easing frizzy ends. The enzymes present in Aloe Vera Juice breakdown dead skin and oils from the scalp thus alleviating itchy scalp. I learned about the benefits of Aloe Vera Juice when I came across this leave-in conditioner recipe made by YouTuber Kimmaytube (this also marked the beginning of me making my own homemade products out of simple yet natural ingredients).
- Leave-in conditioner--Currently, I am using my Shea Moisture hair milk stash. I use to like the Yucca and Aloe Thickening Growth Milk on Z because it is specifically designed for thin, fine hair, is light, and does not just sit on Z's hair like some heavy creams. However, over time, the smell of this product has become quite overpowering to both Z and me. The Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus line is my absolute favorite right now. Although the bottle states for thick and curly hair, watering the product down some in Z's hair spritz really makes a huge difference in how well her hair absorbs the product.
- Oil--Currently, I have not been adding any additional oils to Z's spritz recipe lately since oils (coconut, jojoba, olive, grapeseed, and wheatgerm) are already ingredients inside the Shea Moisture hair milk conditioners I have been using. I do not believe in having a super oily/greasy spritz recipe because I do not want it to weigh her hair down unnecessarily. Nevertheless, using oil(s) is a great way to seal in water (moisture) to prolong its retention inside the hair shaft. Another alternative is to omit the oil in the recipe and manually add it to the hair with your hands to ensure a proper seal.
And that wraps up the basics in making your own moisturizing spritz. The options are virtually limitless when it comes to creating your own recipe for your child's hair. What better way to use up that thick hair cream you put aside because it was too heavy for the hair? Add some of the product with distilled water and now you have a new concoction! Simple, right? Do some trial and error experimenting with various recipes and you might find out that you have a great product within the comfort of your home!
Not everyone's hair is created the same. However, I strongly believe that water is the best moisturizer one can use to replenish natural hair. The key to moisturizing your child's natural hair is to make sure adequate water is sealed inside the hair through the use of penetrating oils, butters, and/or creams.
Please note: Lots of misconception is out there stating that oils are moisturizing. They are not. Let me repeat. They are not moisturizers. Water=Moisture. Point blank. Applying oils on top of dry hair will only worsen the situation because they prevent water from penetrating the hair shaft. No bueno.
Using oils has its proper place when it comes down to effectively moisturizing the hair, and in the next post, I will explain a moisturizing method I have been reading about that can help maximize the moisture retention in your child's natural hair. Also, by breaking down the process, I hope it will help give you insight of where water, oils, and creams fit in a good moisturizing regimen.
Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Just remember that thanksgiving does not have to be limited to just one day out the year...make EVERYDAY a day of thanksgiving to keep you grounded in how blessed you are. :-)
Labels: Moisturizing Regimen
