The Facts about Oils and Butters as Moisturizers for Curly Hair

I receive emails from time to time from ladies wondering why after washing, they apply oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, etc but their hair dries hard or remains difficult to manage or detangle.

In some cases, this process has led to hair loss before the ladies contacted me; believing that oils and butters is a hype and doesn’t really work.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Oils and butters do work but as a complementary hair product. Oils and butters are not moisturizers.

This article will go into a great detail about the difference between moisturizers and sealants and why oils and butters aren’t moisturizers.

Moisturizers vs Sealants

After washing and deep conditioning, your hair needs moisture to stay supple and hydrated, and oils and butters cannot provide this because they are too heavy to penetrate hair strands.

All they will do is sit on your hair and weigh it down, then dry it out subsequently leading to bigger problems like brittleness and breakage. 

Oils and butters are SEALANTS. Their purpose is to seal in the moisture received from the deep conditioning, leave in, etc.

They keep the moisture locked in thus preventing your hair from drying out. If you don’t apply a sealant after applying your moisturizer, your hair can dry out as well.

There are certain oils like coconut oil, olive oil and avocado oil that studies have shown have the ability to penetrate the hair shaft.

However, they still work best when applied over a creamy moisturizer. They will seal in the moisture more effectively as well; providing two-fold protection.

So, what kind of creamy moisturizer would work in this case? 

Best Creamy Moisturizers

Some examples of excellent creamy water-based moisturizers include:-

• Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream
• tgin Twist & Define Cream
• Oyin Hair Dew
• Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
• Curls Whipped Cream
• Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter
• Cantu Shea Butter Leave in
• Jane Carter Nourishing Cream

Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream

tgin Twist & Define Cream

Jane Carter Solution Hair Nourishing Cream

If you’re unsure about a creamy based moisturizer, check the ingredient listing. If the first ingredient is listed as water, aqua or purified water, then it’s the right moisturizer.

Best Sealing Oil for Hair

Examples of excellent sealants and butters include:-

• Coconut oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Castor oil
• Avocado oil
• Babassu oil
• Shea butter
• Mango butter
• Jane Carter Nourish & Shine
• Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade

Healthy Hair Care Series Book 5

Healthy Hair Care Series Book 5 focuses on over 20 kinds of butters available for low porosity and high porosity hair care and how to use them effectively for hair growth.

Natural Butters for Hair: A Guide for Creating Recipes for Healthy Hair is currently available on pre-order at a discounted rate with exclusive pre-order bonuses! Learn more HERE.

Related Content

The following article listing goes into more detail about the oils and butters recommended for sealing above:-

• Coconut Oil for Hair Growth
• What Are the Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair?
• Restore Hair Health with Grapeseed Oil
• Regrow Bald Spots with Jamaican Black Castor Oil
• 6 Benefits of Avocado Oil for Healthy Hair
• Achieve Smooth & Moisturized Hair with Babassu Oil
• Shea Butter Benefits & Recipes for Hair
• Organic Mango Butter for Healthy Hair and Skin

This isn’t an exhaustive list. Just the ones I’ve tried plus the ones I’ve seen the most recommended or are on my current PJ list.

As you can see, both processes complement each other. Moisturizing without sealing leads to dry hair. Sealing without moisturizing leads to dry hair and breakage.

They are both necessary for healthy and luscious hair. Additionally, you want to focus on your ends when applying these products as this is the oldest part of your hair and the most fragile.

By the way, this process doesn’t change even with hairstyles such as twist outs, 3 strand twists, braids outs, etc. You still need to moisturize then seal before you style your hair.

You can read more about this as well in the earlier LOC vs LCO article. If you have any more questions after reading the article, ask them in the comments section below.