As you build your regimen, you will notice that you will start to add things in that focus on the length of your hair. The truth is the longer your hair gets, the easier it is for it to lose moisture.
This is simply because your hair is more exposed to dry air in the summer and winter times; it rubs on things like your clothing, or a cotton pillow case which removes moisture from your hair.
The question is, how do you seal the length of your hair?
1. Start off with sections
It is important to have sections because if you seal your hair all together you might miss some areas. Create at least 5-6 sections especially if you have really dense thick hair.
2. Pick your moisturizer
A moisturizer is anything that is water based. Some people use a simple Aloe Vera juice* and water solution; some women use just plain water; others use a leave in conditioner* of some sort that they have in their stash. The most important thing is that when you look at the back of the product you see that water is listed as the first ingredient.
3. Pick your sealant
A sealant can be a butter or an oil that you would use over your moisture agent. Again, no need to get fancy, choose something simple and effective, coconut oil* is great, olive oil* is also great and shea butter* isnt bad either.
Once you have prepped your sections grab each section and spray it liberally with your moisture product. Make sure you really focus on the ends, you don’t have to get them soaking wet but just enough so your know that its moisturized. Grab your sealant and apply it over the moisturized section, twist or bun your section and you are done.
How Often Should you seal?
Knowing how often to seal your ends comes with knowing your hair and how dry it gets; some women do this daily for just the ends of the hair and every three days for the length. Get to know your hair so you can figure out a great schedule for yourself: there really isn’t a rule of thumb.
The point of this exercise is to reduce the friction with your hair and everything else, even itself. Friction causes breakage, splits, and single strand knots. Check out Elle (QuestForThePerfectCurl) as she describes the importance of sealing for her and what she uses.
Nappturalistic Beauty says
The most important step of your haircare regimen is sealing. Sealing means to seal moisture into your hair strands. So, after you wash your hair and put in your leave-in conditioner, it’s very important finish with an oil or butter to seal that moisture into your hair. This will help to retain your hairs length~
Theresa Marie Bryant says
I thought its suppose to be liquid, oil, and cream. I use water as my liquid, follow that up with olive oil and then finish with my Cantu moisturizing hair lotion.
FeFe says
I am 1 year 3 months post big chop. I’ve tried this seal method, but it just doesnt work as well as using curl moisturizer and glycerin. Yes I use organix coconut grease as well. But I was sealing my twa everyday and it stayed dry and hard. I also found that keeping my hair braided and leaving it alone retains more moisture than doing all the twist outs and braid outs…. anything out leaves my hair dry.
Shayla Hicks says
Its the only way I was able to retain waist-length hair… coconut oil is BOSS!!
Shayla Hicks says
Theresa, I do water, cream, oil.. in that order.
Tia Mitchum says
Thanks for the information 😀
Mika Harris says
Many people do the LOC LCO method. Both ways are great for your hair!
Precious Miller says
I do water then Hair Dew then olive oil <3
Tonya Blackmon says
My daughter & I need to know the secret to getN lengthy hair.