Why Your Moisturizer Doesn’t Moisturize Your Natural Hair

Hey Ya’ll,

Is anyone else bothered by hair care company’s flagrant use of the word moisturizer? They are calling oils moisturizers….They are calling butters moisturizers…They are calling hair creams moisturizers. When will the madness stop?!! Do words have no meaning? Have hair care companies discovered the true definition of the word moisturizer? Hmmmm…I think not!

Why Do So Many Natural Hair “Moisturizers” Epically Fail?

Because this is the real meaning of the word moisture: mois·ture (moischr)

1. Diffuse wetness that can be felt as vapor in the atmosphere or condensed liquid on the surfaces of objects; dampness. 2. The state or quality of being damp. You see? That is the true meaning of the word moisture. It hasn’t changed as long as far as I know and I know of no plans to change it. So in light of this, how much sense does it make to call an oil or a butter a moisturizer? Oil can’t do what water does. They have such different properties. And yet you see the word moisturizer used on a million different hair product labels and nary a water based ingredient in sight.

Deconstructing the Definition of the Word Moisture

Let’s break down the meaning of moisture even more…

Diffuse wetness= This means to disseminate, scatter or spread water (i.e. moisture)…

That can be felt= This mean you can touch it…it’s tangible…

As vapor in the atmosphere= like humidity or a steam room

Or condensed liquid on the surfaces of objects= Like condensation on a glass.

So given this definition, moisture is related to liquid, usually water or water based products, like aloe vera juice. We want to diffuse wetness onto (and into) our hair to the point where it is tangible that our hair is moisturized or, in other words, healthy. Now, going back to my earlier rant, how likely is it that a butter, oil, and some hair creams can diffuse moisture into your hair in a way that you can feel? Not very and yet some companies will still say their product is a moisturizer when water or water based ingredients are no where to be found on the list.

Examples of True Hair Moisturizers

Maybe you know someone who believes they are moisturizing their hair with a hot 36 oil or avocado butter. If so, please send them to this post so they don’t make some of the same hair product mistakes that I’ve made.

Here are some examples of true moisturizers that you can use that will actually moisturize your hair:

Carols Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine 4-In-1 Combing Creme (This one is my favorite. It smells amazing and it makes my hair really soft to the touch. Notice how water is one of the first ingredients.)

Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries Herbal Leave-In Hair Tonic, 8.4 Ounce (This is another one of my favorites. A moisturizer doesn’t have to be creamy. A liquid water based leave in conditioner is also very moisturizing. This one also smells really good as well)

Then after you use the moisturizer you can use a sealant like organic shea butter to lock the moisture into your hair.

Is Your Moisturizer Doing It’s Job?

Now I must commission to go and look at the hair products that you used to “moisturize” your hair and see if that is actually what it was doing. If so, rock on with your bad self. But if not check out some of the products that I mentioned above to see if either of them would work for you.

And while you are here be sure to download my free guide to build the perfect hair regimen. Thank you much!

Toodles,