How To Moisturize Locs: Keep Your Locs Moisturized

If you have your hair in locs, then you know that, although they can appear to be a low-maintenance style, they are anything but low-maintenance when you’re first starting out. Locs are an amazing natural look, but they take work in the beginning!

Maintaining the appearance of locs requires lots of patience. In the beginning, you have to develop a routine that will help you to keep them clean, as well as moisturize your hair every day they remain long-lasting.

So, what can you do to care for your locks on a daily or weekly basis? In this article, I’ll show you how to moisturize locs to keep them in their best condition.

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How To Moisturize Locs

Locs are a striking and permanent protective style that will help to promote the growth of your natural hair, as well as provide a result of minimal shedding. Many people choose to wear locs because of spiritual beliefs, while others simply enjoy the way that they look and make them feel.

Whatever the reason why you choose to have your hair styled in locs, in order to keep them looking their best, you should make them one of your main priorities, and that includes maintaining their moisture. This is particularly important for starter locs, when they are most fragile and prone to breakage.

Everyday Care for Starter Locs

If your locs are new, starter locs, then you will need to pay closer attention to when this is happening. And if you do find that they are too dry, in-between washes you can use a lightweight moisturizer to keep them feeling more hydrated.

A perfect option for this is Perfect Tranzitions Hair and Body Spray , which is full of all the nourishing goodness of aloe vera gel. Containing organic aloe vera juice and eucalyptus essential oil, this natural spray will help to seal in moisture in your locs.

It will keep your scalp itch-free and moisturized, helping to maintain a natural cluster.

Care for Established Locs

If your locs are more established, meaning that you’ve been working on them for at least nine months, then things get easier. A conditioner every couple of weeks will be more than enough to protect your locs and help them retain their moisture, as well as keep them from feeling dry and brittle.

By doing this, you’ll need to make sure that you use a product that states it doesn’t leave behind any residue, because heavy cream conditioners can be very difficult to rinse out, and will contribute to overall product buildup that will dry your locs out. 

Once your locs are well established, it is really quite simple to keep them as hydrated as is needed so that they look amazing — especially if you already have a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. Simplicity is the real key to keeping your locs appearing their best.

Basically, there is no need for you to moisturize your locs each day. You should only add moisture when they are starting to feel dry.

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Why Are My Locs So Dry?

The main reason that your locs can feel really dry, even if you’ve been using moisturizer after washing them, is that dirt and pollution can become trapped in them if you’re simply using oil on top in-between washes.

Can You Use Natural Oil to Moisturize Your Locs?

Unfortunately, hair oils alone won’t really help hydrate and moisturize your locs.

Oiling your locs in an attempt to moisturize them is a common mistake. That’s because oils like jojoba, coconut oil, sweet almond, and castor will simply coat your locs. They won’t seal in the moisture that’s really needed.

Keep Your Locs Moisturized With Clarifying Shampoo

This oil buildup will cause your locs to feel waxy, and that’s why it is so important to use a clarifying shampoo when you wash your hair. Clarifying shampoo will work to remove buildup and allow the oils that you use after moisturizing to penetrate them.

It may also be that you’ve recently color-treated or bleached your locs, and these chemical processes both strip the hair’s cuticles, causing damage, friction, and frizz.

The Nothing But Sulfate Free Clarifying Shampoo  is an excellent choice.

Avoid Sulfates in Your Shampoo

Another reason why your locs could be dry is the type of shampoo that you’re using, especially if it contains sulfates, which will strip the natural oils contained in your hair.

It makes sense that since your locs are about maintaining a more natural look, the shampoo you use should be formulated with more natural ingredients. 

And it should be a clarifying shampoo, which will help to get rid of any product buildup leftover from using any oils, creams, waxes, or hair butter. If you need a recommendation, then I suggest a loc shampoo and conditioner that comes in a box, not a bottle. Lion Locs Shampoo Bar & Conditioner  is a natural, organic, and vegan loc shampoo bar that’s made in the USA, and is free of sulfates and other harsh chemicals.

Formulated to help balance your hair’s natural pH level, this shampoo bar is also safe to be used on the skin, and its hydrating lather will rinse easily while leaving behind nourishing hydration for your locs.

Oiling Dry Locs

You should only add oil to your locs about once a week if you’re not sure of what your hair needs and when it needs it. You can make a simple spray to use on your hair that won’t completely coat your locs, but help them stay hydrated.

All you need is:

• A spray bottle
• 2/4 rice or alkaline water 
• 1/4 natural oil (argan oil, avocado oil, olive, and coconut oil are best, as they are more lightweight)
• 1/4 orange flower blossom or rosewater
• A few drops of tea tree essential oil

This homemade water-based and emollient oil moisturizing treatment will help to keep your locs well hydrated without contributing to unnecessary product buildup between washes.

Wrap Your Locs in a Silk or Satin Bonnet

Finally, if you’re not doing so already, then you need to make sure that you’re wearing a headscarf at night to avoid friction between your locs and pillowcase, which will definitely dry them out more than you’d think.

This extra large bonnet by Awegeo  is made of breathable satin that works to not only lock in the moisture of your locs but is large enough to keep your natural protected style safe. It is best to keep your locs in silk or satin when sleeping to help them retain moisture.

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Last Tips If Your Locs Are Dry

If you’re looking for a protective style that offers a more permanent look while also promoting growth, consider rocking locs as your go-to hairstyle for your natural hair. With its unique aesthetic and practical benefits, locs are a perfect choice for those seeking a low-maintenance (eventually) yet stylish look.

However, you need to know how to moisturize locs to keep them looking their best.

We hope you’ve found this article helpful enough for you to do that so that you can enjoy the feel and appearance of your stunning hairstyle, and stride in confidence while you do.