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The other day I received a question from a girl who said she had been told all her life that getting water on your hair and even washing it causes breakage. As with most others who have this attitude, her hair was severely dehydrated and broken off. Once and for all let me make this clear: water is your hair's friend. The deep moisturization it provides is unmatched. Tressbuzz often uses just plain water as her moisturizer then seals that with oil. It's a good way to avoid the excessive chemicals in prepared products. Due to this her hair maintains deep moisturization, shine and healthfulness. Rosewater is a good alternative to this method due to its softening effects. In order to benefit from water as a moisturizer it MUST be sealed in with oil otherwise it will just evaporate away. If you opt for a prepared moisturizer I will go so far as to say that water should be the first ingredient. Oils, heavy silicones and grease (mineral oil/petroleum) are not moisture. Period. They may provide lubricative properties but they don't have a drop of moisture. Here is the analogy I always use: you're on a desert island dying of thirst. Water will keep you alive, oil will not. As for washing your hair, it aerates the scalp and follicles and removes buildup which allows nutrients from your leave-ins and oils to penetrate easily. It does not cause the hair to break. I have cowashed daily for years on end. If this was so bad I should be bald instead of having a head of thriving, healthy hair! Sensitivity to sulfated shampoos can cause drying but that is easily remedied by cowashing instead or using Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap or a sulfate-free shampoo. So ladies, stop being afraid of water. Your hair will thank you.
The other day I received a question from a girl who said she had been told all her life that getting water on your hair and even washing it causes breakage. As with most others who have this attitude, her hair was severely dehydrated and broken off. Once and for all let me make this clear: water is your hair's friend. The deep moisturization it provides is unmatched. Tressbuzz often uses just plain water as her moisturizer then seals that with oil. It's a good way to avoid the excessive chemicals in prepared products. Due to this her hair maintains deep moisturization, shine and healthfulness. Rosewater is a good alternative to this method due to its softening effects. In order to benefit from water as a moisturizer it MUST be sealed in with oil otherwise it will just evaporate away. If you opt for a prepared moisturizer I will go so far as to say that water should be the first ingredient. Oils, heavy silicones and grease (mineral oil/petroleum) are not moisture. Period. They may provide lubricative properties but they don't have a drop of moisture. Here is the analogy I always use: you're on a desert island dying of thirst. Water will keep you alive, oil will not. As for washing your hair, it aerates the scalp and follicles and removes buildup which allows nutrients from your leave-ins and oils to penetrate easily. It does not cause the hair to break. I have cowashed daily for years on end. If this was so bad I should be bald instead of having a head of thriving, healthy hair! Sensitivity to sulfated shampoos can cause drying but that is easily remedied by cowashing instead or using Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap or a sulfate-free shampoo. So ladies, stop being afraid of water. Your hair will thank you.
