Getting Steamy - How I Refresh Dry Hair Without Washing

This is just a quick post about how I get my hair uber moisturized without actually washing.

I mini washed on Friday night by Deep conditioning and cowashing. This was done in braids as usual. If you are familiar with my braided-wash process, then you know that after my final rinse I'd rebraid. I was feeling tired that night (I literally fell asleep right out the shower) and so I didn't M&S/ LOC when my hair was nearly dry.

The next day I had somewhere to be so I applied some serum and undid the braids for a braid-out. That night, being tired (AGAIN!!!), I forewent the M&S and just put on the scarf. Needless to say, my hair on Sunday was D.R.Y - dry!!

I had to style my hair for the week and knew that starting with a head full of hay was a no-go. So what'd I do?

refreshing my dry hair with steam

I got into the shower, handled my biz-ny-ee, and with no time for the whole washing and drying saga, I turned the temp to the highest notch and let the steam serenade my strands. I did this for about 5 - 10 mins. My hair was so darn soft and moisturized, I could run my fingers through my 13-weeks-post hair without effort. By this time my hair is damp but not soaking wet or even wet at all, just damp! But I didn't stop there. I've found that the heat from the steam opens up the cuticles and if I get out the shower without adding product to seal the cuticles, my hair literally feels like steel wool.

So, after the steaming, I sectioned my hair into three and grabbed my oil mix. I poured some into my palm and started applying it to the section from ends to root. Next I used about a dime size of Herbal Essence Hello Hydration to seal the deal and my hair was LOCed and loaded. (see what I did there?! lol)

I lightly detangled with my fingers and my wide-tooth comb and my hair was then super moisturized and ready to be styled. I literally styled my hair with 2 bobby pins and a scrunchie right there in the shower. Talk about saving time!

Sidenote: Most Japanese showers (mine included) are separated from the toilet area, thus making it smaller and easier to turn it into a make-shift sauna - perfect for steaming the hair and body. I don't know how well this will work in the regular western showers that are combined, but it's worth a try.

Side-sidenote: Don't do this to refresh straightened hair, but I'm sure you knew that!

Stay tuned to see what style I did in my HOTW post, coming up next.

How do you resurrect dry hair?