Can You Moisturise a Blowout?

On DHA'S DIY, we're always talking about keeping your hair moisturised.

Moisture is, after all, the main factor in giving your tresses length and strength.

But is there anything you can  do to keep your hair moisturised when you're rocking a blowout?

Hydrating heat-straightened hair?

If you keep up the moisture when your hair is in its natural state, then you get kinda used to the bounce and flex moisturisers bring. But everyone who's ever had heat straightened hair knows that getting it wet is a no-no. In turn, products which moisturise – containing as they do water and, often, water-attracting humectants – tend to be off the menu for blown out or pressed  hair.

Some hair which is less prone to reversion can actually take a very small amount of water-containing products – usually thicker, heavier creams with a lower water content. These keep the hair feeling smooth and flexible without causing the hair to curl up again.  However, on hair that reverts easily, it's best to avoid even these products on your heat-straightened tresses.

If you have unruly edges, then you can add a tiny bit of Brillantina to your hairline to keep your edges smooth, but keep it strictly on the edges. (Note:  To pincurl or rollerset a stale press, then you can apply it throughout your hair.)

When to moisturize a blowout

If you want moisturized hair, then it's best to lock in the moisture before you straighten it. To do so, apply an overnight pretreatment with a conditioner containing wheat germ extract, cetrimonium bromide or cetrimonium chloride – ingredients that slow down moisture loss during heat styling. Use products containing these ingredients and silicones to insulate your hair, and keep as much moisture in your strands as possible.

Moisture not only helps protect your hair from getting too hot too quickly, but also means more natural, fluid-looking hair once straightened. To keep some of it locked in, you will also need to keep the temperature as low as possible, At the temperatures most people use to blowdry and press, the hair loses all its moisture; it leaves the strands as steam and can actually damage the hair as it does.

If your hair is resistant to heat, and so you or your stylist tend to resort to high temperatures to straighten it, the lack of moisture will be even more pronounced in your tresses, in terms of movement and bounce. Your straightened hair will also be extra vulnerable to styling damage because all of its moisture, a key source of its strength, has been removed.

Alternatives to moisturizers

Since moisturizers will counter your style here, try lubricating products instead. These products are water-free and are usually blends of oils or silicones, both of which work by protecting against damage from friction, and providing some of the smoothness water would have brought. You won't get quite the same level of suppleness, however – most of these products act only on the surface while water's smoothing action works from the inside out.

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Use both types of products sparingly to prevent the hair being weighed down and killing the swing that makes the blowout such a stunning spin on straightened hair. Applying a small amount and then brushing through should be sufficient to spread the product through the hair. But be careful not to overbrush – without water, your hair is that much weaker and less able to stand up to the friction and tension of brushing.

And as soon as your straight look comes to an end? Don't forget to treat your hair to a deep, hydrating treatment – after a good stretch without moisture a good dose is well overdue.

Image credits:

P. Taylor Images
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