Alright, ladies and gents, let's talk hydration and moisturization and access how they truly work for healthier hair and skin. This is a topic that I have been blogging about for about 7 years now because it is such an important, and many times, misguided conversation. 

Living a holistic lifestyle, I believe healthy skin and haircare is an amazing expression of love. When we truly invest in ourselves, it manifests from the inside out. 

LET'S TALK HYDRATION

A topic and tip that I have shared over and over is proper moisturization of the hair and then later in our journey, I wrote about the importance of moisturization through proper hydration in skin care. When I speak to customers and people I meet, I notice that when speaking with people and with answering many many questions about dryness, one of the most overlooked steps in hair and skin is proper hydration in order to achieve moisturization. 

HOW DO WE PROPERLY MOISTURIZE OUR HAIR AND SKIN

Ok, now, before we dive into that let's chat a bit about what hydrators are and what sealants are and for those who have followed my blogs and social media sites for years have hear me express over and over that oils and butters are NOT moisturizers, even ones that are considered to penetrate the skin. In order for an ingredient to be a moisturizer, it must contain water. Oils and butters are known as SEALANTS, they are wonderful for locking/sealing moisture into the hair and skin. Applying an oil or butter to damp or moistened hair and skin works to trap/lock/seal the moisture into the hair and skin. This is why I'm always confused when brands label a completely water free and oil or butter based ingredient a 'moisturizer'.

BUT CERTAIN OILS PENETRATE THE SKIN AND HAIR, RIGHT?

Ok, what makes an oil penetrate the skin or hair is due to the fatty acids, molecular structure and other constituents in the oil's profile, thus allowing it to trap moisture into the skin or hair faster, not that it is actually moisturizing the skin or hair. When you apply a butter or oil, no matter the butter or oil, to dry hair or skin, it will cause a 'greasy' or 'oily' feel, which is MUCH different than a hydrated or properly moisturized feel. Water and oil/butters react chemically different to the hair and skin and in order to achieve true hydration, the moisturizing step must include, well, the proper order of steps. For example: After cleansing the skin, many people simply apply a butter or oil to the skin. This can cause a few things to occur. Excessive oil production due to the lack of properly moisturizing. Dry skin, due to the similar lack. Acne breakouts and the likes. Same with the hair. If we apply an oil or butter (again those are 'sealants') to the hair before applying a hydrator (water or aqueous penetrating ingredient) then we are sealing dry hair, not hydrated hair, causing dryness, damage, breakage, itchiness. Skin and hair must maintain a certain level of hydration in order to retain its elasticity and overall health. For our skin, proper hydration allows every cell to work at its optimum aiding in clear, bright youthful and healthy skin with a natural glow. The hair nor skin can perform at its optimum when it lacks the proper hydration step.

WHAT ABOUT CREAMS..THEY CONTAIN WATER?

Correct! Cream moisturizers or what many brands label as simply 'moisturizers' do contain water, however, they are still considered oils due to their lipid barrier cell binding function. 

SO..HOW CAN WE BEGIN TRULY ENJOYING MOISTURIZED HAIR AND SKIN?

Here are some tips that can help:

TIP 1 (SKINCARE): In order for the skin to truly enjoy the benefits of the other steps and perform at its optimum, after cleansing, apply a healthy toner (organic ingredients work amazing with the skin's circulation and for their powerful nutritious and mineral content..natural ingredients alone may be good, but they can also contain harmful pesticides which can also provide harmful results to our skin). A water based product such as a toner must be applied first to open and flush the cells with fluids. After hydrating/misting skin with a toner and while the skin is still damp (very important), apply an oil, beauty balm or serum to the skin to seal/lock in the moisture. When you combine water and oil, you have created an actual moisturizer without the added filler ingredients. 

TIP 2 (HAIRCARE): Just as with our skin, the same proves true for healthy moisturized hair. After cleansing or if rehydrating, apply water or a water based spray to hydrate the hair...while the hair is still damp, seal in the moisture by applying a butter or oil to the hair to seal/lock/trap in the hydration and voila! Moisturization occurs and should provide healthy happy results.