Sunday, June 12, 2011

To Seal, or Not to Seal?


Many of you may be unsure as to what it means to seal your hair? Sealing is a crucial and beneficial aspect of caring for 3C-4B hair. The reason that sealing hair is important is because it helps to retain moisture in your hair. When you retain moisture, you have less breakage, and your hair is able to grow longer. So how do you seal? You first start with a water-based leave in conditioner (any conditioner or leave in conditioner that has water as the first ingredient), then you seal with the oil of your choice (a dime sized amount). After you seal then you can add your gel of choice if you'd like, and style your hair. Some natural ladies with fine hair find that sealing the ends is all that is required for them.

There are many different oils that are beneficial, and there is no "one size fits all" oil. Many naturals have success with EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, and Jojoba oil to name a few. Some people also have success with Whipped Shea. I currently use a EVOO/Castor oil mix because Castor Oil alone is too thick for my taste. I also want to try making whipped shea to try, so as soon as I make it I will post about that. Hope this helps! :)

Note: Some oils such as EVOO can also penetrate the hair, so these are more of a lighter sealant. EVOO is great added to DC's to up the moisture! Also, if you have low porosity hair you might not even have to seal!

Photo Source: Thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com

No comments:

Post a Comment