Try sealing with creams and heavy oils*
Light oils* and those little oil/water blends that come in a cute little spritz bottle are great and all, but ladies–this is fall and your hair is as dry as an Arizona desert; you need the heavy duty stuff. This where the LOC/LCO methods comes in.
Moisturizing with a liquid, sealing with an oil, and doubling down with a cream is the right way to go when you need the maximum amount of hydration and moisture.
Of course if you don’t like this method, you can simply seal with heavy butters* and creams like shea or cupuacu, or oils like castor oil*.
Whatever you choose, let it be thick and rich, but not so heavy that it weighs down your hair. My favorite products are Shea Moisture* Mongongo and Hempseed Oil High Porosity Moisture Seal Masque and Carol’s Daughter Maurgerite’s Magic Restorative Cream.
Don’t skip protein treatments
Ah, I know this sounds crazy because protein can really dry your hair out if you let it, but it’s necessary this time. Protein actually fills in all of the “gaps” in your hair and strengthens each strand, making it healthy enough for growth and length retention.
This is important because dry weather conditions will dry out your hair and make it brittle. You need to keep it strong at all times or else all of that moisture won’t mean a thing in the long run. Balance out your protein and moisture, keeping full treatments to once a month and touch up every two weeks.
If you’re not a fan of store-bought protein like ApHogee*, try DIY mixes like raw eggs and greek yogurt, or avocado and honey*. Don’t hesitate to research and experiment with different ingredients to get the perfect mix.
Repair or cut off damage ASAP
Damage may very well be one of the reasons why your hair is fighting off moisture like it’s the plague. Split ends, heat damage, and even relaxed ends (if you’re transitioning) can affect how your hair takes to water and water-based products.
At the first chance you get, clip off or begin repairing all of the damage that you may have to your hair. This will allow your hair to grow in strong and completely healthy from there on out. It will also allow you to hydrate and moisturize intensively without too much of a hassle.
If you have no damage, that’s great! Do all of the things you need to do to make sure that do not have any issues in the future. Get regular trims, stay away from direct heat, and be consistent with your regimen.
