Curating a hair care routine that works for you is essential to ensure that your hair continues to look and feel its best. If you’ve been scoping out potential ways to take that routine to the next level and give your hair all the attention it deserves, we have some exciting news for you.

You’ve heard of skin moisturizer before and are aware of its benefits, but did you ever consider offering your hair a bit of extra hydration, too? If not, we’re here to tell you that it might be time to add a good hair moisturizer to your lineup of beauty and hair goodies.

Hair moisturizer offers something valuable for your hair regardless of the season. Whether your hair is dry during the summer due to the heat and salty days spent beachside, or if your hair gets drier from the cold winds of winter, hair moisturizer offers something for everyone.

That being said, there are so many different hair moisturizers on the market. Luckily, Wander Beauty is here to help you on your hair care journey. After all, finding the right hair products is just as important as finding the right beauty essentials!

From the perks and benefits of adding a moisturizer into your routine to figuring out your hair type, to discussing what you should avoid or seek out in a product, we’ve got you covered.

What is Hair Moisturizer?

Let’s start by dissecting what exactly hair moisturizer is. This product is designed with one intention in mind: to moisturize and hydrate your hair.

Just like your skin, your hair could use a little TLC when it comes to keeping hydrated. That’s where hair moisturizer comes into the picture — this is especially important if your hair is frequently dyed or you apply heat to it.

These products are designed to help seal in moisture so your hair will appear smoother and feel better. A moisturizer can come in a variety of formats like leave-in conditioners, masks, or oils, so pick one that feels best for you and your luscious locks.

How Do Hair Moisturizers Work?

Hair moisturizer works by ensuring that the moisture level in a strand of your hair is up to par with what it should be.

The best way to figure out if you need a hair moisturizer is to simply take inventory of your hair. Does it feel dry, brittle, or riddled with split-ends or breakage?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, it might be time to invest some time into finding a moisturizer.

The way it works depends on which type you’re using. For example, a mask won’t work exactly the same way as a leave-in treatment will. That being said, there are still some overarching ideas that apply to all moisturizers.

When you’re putting a moisturizer on your hair, you’re locking in moisture. This ultimately helps your hair make up for the fact it doesn’t have enough on its own, whether that be due to weather, heat, or otherwise. This allows your hair to get the nourishment it deserves.

Why Do I Need a Hair Moisturizer?

As we mentioned earlier, there are many reasons why your hair might require the use of a moisturizer. In fact, it’s completely normal, and you can expect your hair to need a little extra TLC from time to time.

Some of the reasons your hair might require that include:

• Seasonal concerns
• Using heat on it
• Predisposed because of hair type (ex: curly hair tends to be dry)
• Coloring your hair

If one of the reasons you’re seeking out a hair moisturizer is because of the fact you’ve color-treated your hair, you’re going to want to make sure that the product you’re using is color-safe. Our Scenic Route Hair Treatment can do the trick -- all while making sure the color doesn’t come out of your hair.<product>1</product>

What is My Hair Type?

As we mentioned, some hair types are actually predisposed to being a bit drier than others. If you think that your hair might fall into that category, you’re going to need to invest a bit more time and energy into taking care of your hair, but we promise it will be worth it.

There are several different types of hair, and knowing where yours falls can help you figure out how to treat it correctly. By first figuring out your hair type, you can be sure that you’re supporting your hair exactly where it’s needed.

Dry

Sometimes, oil glands don’t produce quite as much oil as they’re supposed to and they need a bit of help. This is likely the case if you have dry hair. In addition to this, you might be more likely to have dry hair if you also have dry skin.

If you notice that your hair is frizzy, has a significant amount of split ends, or breaks very easily, your hair likely falls into this category.

Oily

On the other hand, oily hair can also pose problems. If you notice that your hair becomes greasy just a day or so after you shampoo, look dull, or even lifeless, your hair might fall into the oily section. This occurs when your body is producing an excess of oil and moisture. And just like dry hair is most likely to impact people with dry skin, oily hair most commonly impacts people with oily skin.

Normal

“Normal” hair is a term that’s difficult to break down, but scientifically speaking, this means the pH of your scalp is within normal range. If you don’t have a lot of hair loss, your hair isn’t frizzy, oily, or full of split ends, this is probably where you fall.

Of course, just because you have “normal” hair doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get some nourishing TLC once in a while!

Curly

There are plenty of different types of curly hair, so breaking down which type of curl you have can be helpful for devising a system that helps you take care of it.

Oftentimes, curly hair -- regardless of the type you have -- is prone to dryness. That’s why people with curly hair frequently need to spend extra time moisturizing.

Damaged

It’s important to note that just because your hair is currently damaged doesn’t mean it always will be. Your hair might become damaged from over-chemical processing (such as dyeing), consistently putting it up in a tight ponytail and pulling it too hard, applying scorching heat, or even a stressful or overwhelming life event.

If your hair shows signs of damage such as split ends, thinning, or even loss, it’s time to start treating your hair with the gentle products it needs to get it healthy again.

What Should I Avoid in a Hair Moisturizer?

Because a moisturizer is designed to help support your hair, it is essential that you make sure adding it to your hair care lineup won’t cause more harm than good by reading the moisturizer’s label.

If you see any of these ingredients, we suggest passing on the product.

Parabens

Parabens are a type of preservative that is often used in hair and beauty products to extend their shelf life. The problem is that parabens can actually be harmful to your health.

One way that parabens might be harmful is by increasing estrogen hormones. This could potentially lead to larger health problems. In addition to this, some peoples’ skin has an adverse reaction to parabens. Finally, it can get absorbed into your scalp and actually cause dryness, irritation, and even possibly hair loss.

Mineral Oil

Using mineral oil could be potentially harmful to your hair because it dries out your hair, and putting too much on can weigh down your hair -- especially if it is thin. It can also cause irritation.

While this ingredient is highly controversial, it’s better to avoid it and stick to ingredients that are proven to help. After all, you want to make sure your moisturizer is supporting your hair, not hurting it.

Phthalates

These chemicals are used to make plastics more durable. There’s no reason that they should be in a hair product that you’re using.

Scary enough, studies have shown that some phthalates have impacted the reproductive systems of animals. There haven’t been enough studies conducted yet to fully understand the extent of what they could do to humans — read: avoid it.

Synthetic Fragrance

Fragrances are often created by mixing chemicals, and those often won’t be specified on the back of a label, and you can have an adverse reaction without expecting it. It’s best to simply avoid synthetic fragrance, especially if you’re putting it on your hair or body.

What Should I Look for in a Hair Moisturizer?

Just like there are some telltale signs that a product isn’t right for you, there are also signs that a product is! We believe in keeping an eye out for a brand that uses clean ingredients and cruelty-free formulas. By doing that, you can be sure that your hair is getting the treatment it needs and deserves.

Clean Ingredients

We cannot stress the importance of clean ingredients enough! When something is clean, it means that you can feel safe to use the product without risking your health, and it doesn’t carry any of those less than desirable chemicals we mentioned earlier. In fact, clean ingredients will usually bolster your hair’s health versus pose a risk to it.

Some of these clean ingredients include:

• Grape Seed Oil

• Lavender Oil

• Coconut Oil

• Bilberry Fruit Extract

Grape Seed Oil: This product can be especially effective when it comes to battling moisture issues. It can help support your hair and scalp’s health.

Lavender Oil: There have been studies that suggest that lavender oil might actually promote hair growth when diluted topically. This natural product may help support healthy, growing hair.

Coconut Oil: This is known for deeply penetrating your hair. That means that if your hair is lacking oil, coconut oil will work overtime to ensure that it gets what it needs.

Bilberry Fruit Extract: This extract has soothing properties, which could be very helpful for an angry scalp. In addition to this, bilberries can support blood circulation, which could prove valuable by providing hair follicles with what they need to grow and thrive.

Cruelty-Free Formulas

Have you ever seen the leaping bunny image on the back of a beauty or hair product? If you have, you can rest assured that the product you’re using wasn’t tested on an innocent animal at any part of the production.

When you use a hair moisturizer that is cruelty-free, you’re helping your hair look great, and you can feel good about it. Here at Wander Beauty, we believe there’s no reason an animal should have to pay for your beauty products.

Conclusion

When you’re selecting the best hair moisturizer for you, there are several things that you should take into account, primarily what type of hair you have, followed by figuring out exactly how much moisture and love your hair needs to get healthy again.

Once you’ve decided you want to move forward with finding a moisturizer, being a conscious consumer is necessary. By avoiding products with potentially toxic ingredients and choosing ones with clean ingredients that are dedicated to making a positive impact, you’re doing something great for your hair.