Many naturals encounter dry hair at some point in time. Dryness can be caused by many different reasons- weather, use of a product that your hair didn’t like, etc. For type 4 naturals like myself, dry hair can be even more prevalent. Over the years, while dealing with bouts of dry hair, I have discovered a few simple ways to quickly recover from ‘dry hair syndrome’. The following techniques have helped me recover from dry hair either individually or combined.
Baggy Method
The baggy method is a quick and simply method I use to increase moisture in my hair. The method requires applying my favorite moisturizer and covering my hair with a plastic bag/cap. Typically, I let the plastic bag stay on my hair overnight. After removing, I find that my hair feels a lot softer and certainly less dry. This method doesn’t increase moisture long term, but it is still a great way to recover from dry hair while trying to figure out the cause of the dry hair problem and working on a more long-term solution.
Extreme Deep Conditioning
The main purpose of deep conditioning is to help replenish moisture in the hair. Deep conditioning is an essential part of my regimen. However, it becomes even more important when experiencing dry hair. Extreme deep conditioning includes applying a moisturizing deep conditioner, covering with a plastic cap/bag and deep conditioning with heat for at least 30 minutes weekly. How is this different from my usual routine? Typically, I try to deep condition with every wash. However, in reality, there are times when I skip deep conditioning, shorten the time I spend deep conditioning, or choose to not use heat. Extreme deep conditioning on a regular basis can certainly help boost moisture in dry hair.
Co-washing
Shampoos can be drying, particularly for type 4 naturals. Putting away the shampoo can help improve hair’s moisture. When experiencing dry hair, I skip the shampoo and increase the frequency of co-washing (about once or twice a week). This is a great way to get the hair clean without the drying effects of shampoo and can quickly improve hair’s dryness.
What techniques do you use to quickly recover from dry hair?