Moisturize or nourish your hair: why are both important?
May 31, 2024 2024-05-31 11:46Moisturize or nourish your hair: why are both important?
Moisturize or nourish your hair: why are both important?
Moisturizing and nourishing hair are two essential aspects of maintaining it. You may be wondering how to tell if your hair needs moisture or nutrition, and what's the difference between the two? You are in the right place ! We will explore these topics in detail.
Moisturize or nourish your hair: how to know?
Nutrition and hydration play a very important role in the health of our hair. These two steps meet different and complementary needs so that our hair is in its best shape. Hair nutrition is essentially linked to protein intake. Indeed, our hair is mainly made up of keratin, a protein, which gives it structure and strength. When hair lacks nutrients, especially protein, it can become brittle, dry and lifeless. The latter can also lose volume and elasticity, and tend to break more easily. In short, hair needs to be nourished to be healthy!
Hydration, for its part, concerns the supply of water to the hair. Water is essential to maintain the elasticity and shine of the hair fiber. Indeed, when hair is well hydrated, it is supple, shiny and radiant with health. On the other hand, if your hair is frizzy, dull, tends to be electric or if you notice that your ends are often dry, these may be signs that your hair is suffering from dehydration.
Difference between moisturizing or nourishing your hair
Moisturizing hair care helps increase the water content of the hair. These are generally formulated with humectant ingredients, that is to say: ingredients that attract water and help retain moisture. Popular humectants include: glycerol, aloe vera and even honey! Moisturizers may also contain emollients like oils or butters, to seal in moisture and prevent dehydration.
On the other hand, nourishing hair care offers the essential nutrients hair needs to stay strong and healthy. They are often rich in proteins, essential active ingredients for the structure and strength of hair. Nourishing products may also contain vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair, such as vitamin E, which is known to promote hair growth, or vitamin C, which helps with the production of collagen, an important protein. for hair structure.
How to know if our hair is dehydrated
When your hair is dehydrated, it lacks water, in other words: it is thirsty! This lack of hydration can manifest itself in several ways:
Lack of shine: Dehydrated hair often looks dull because the absence of water compromises its ability to reflect light.
Lack of elasticity: When hair is well hydrated, it has a certain elasticity that allows it to bend and twist without breaking. Dehydrated hair, on the other hand, can be brittle and break easily.
Static Electricity: When your hair is dehydrated, it is more likely to retain an electrical charge, which can cause static electricity.
If you notice these symptoms, there's a good chance your hair is crying out for some good hydration!
The differences between dry hair and dehydrated hair?
Dry hair and dehydrated hair may seem similar on the surface, but in reality, they indicate two separate problems that require different care.
Dry Hair: Dry hair lacks oil and lipids, which generally makes it rough and rough to the touch. They can be dull and can often be accompanied by frizz. This is usually due to environmental factors or chemical treatments. Another key sign of dryness is lack of shine, as natural oils help reflect light and give hair its shine.
Dehydrated hair: Dehydrated hair lacks water. Although they may appear healthy at first glance, a telltale sign of dehydration is a lack of elasticity. Dehydrated hair can be brittle and break easily. Additionally, they may lack flexibility and movement.
The key to distinguishing dry hair from dehydrated hair is texture and manageability. Dry hair is generally rough and dull, while dehydrated hair lacks elasticity and suppleness.
How to treat dry and dehydrated hair?
Treating dry and dehydrated hair requires a dual approach: nourishing and hydrating your hair. Here are some steps you can take to achieve this:
1. Use appropriate care
Opt for shampoos, conditioners and masks that are specifically formulated to provide additional hydration and nutrition. Look for treatments that contain both nourishing ingredients like essential fatty acids, silk proteins, and oils, such as argan, jojoba, or coconut oil. And hydrating ingredients like glycerol, aloe vera, or honey, which attract moisture and help retain water in the hair.
Discover our 5 in 1 leave-in formulated with linen gel, shea butter, honey and aloe vera! This nourishing and hydrating treatment boosts the shine and softness of hair while defining the curls of textured hair. It is THE essential treatment to give hair everything it needs.
2. Drink plenty of water
Hydration starts from within. Make sure you drink enough water every day to help keep your hair hydrated. As a reminder, on average we should drink nearly 2L of water per day!
3. Limit the use of heat
Excessive use of heated appliances like hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can dry out your hair. Try to use them as little as possible, and when you do, be sure to use a heat protectant.
4. Eat a balanced diet
Your hair reflects your overall health. Make sure you eat a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals to support the health of your hair.