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African-American hair is naturally drier than other hair types, which means it needs more moisture. But overdo it on the conditioning and your hair can go flat and be totally weighed down. Find a happy balance by learning about moisturizing products that will leave your hair beautifully hydrated while keeping it light and bouncy.
Stick to Lightweight Products
There are tons of heavy styling creams that will add oils to your hair but will make it feel heavy and greasy. Unless you wash your hair more than once per week, avoid heavy styling creams. Instead, opt for petroleum-free lightweight hair creams that will moisturize hair and still leave it bouncy. "Essence" magazine recommends Phyto 9 Daily Ultra Nourishing Botanical Cream.
Liquid Moisturizers
Those thick, creamy moisturizers look super appealing, but if you want to make sure your hair stays bouncy and manageable, try a liquid moisturizer instead. Since they're lighter than creams, they'll moisturize hair without leaving it heavy.
Winter Care
When the weather gets colder, your hair can get drier and it might need a little extra help. Instead of slathering on creams, try a leave-in conditioner. Just make sure you're buying one that's formulated for African-American hair. Spritz a little bit on before drying your locks. Your hair will still have that bounce you crave and will be soft and shiny.
Conditioner
If you remember to use a hydrating conditioner every time you wash, you'll reduce your need for moisturizing creams. Since conditioner is rinsed out, you won't have to worry about your hair feeling heavy. To be on the safe side, look for conditioners with light oils. As with everything else, make sure to pick out conditioners specifically formulated for African-American hair.
