Let’s be honest: Natural hair can be complex. There are many instances where your hair may be trying to tell you something, but you’ve already exhausted your go-to treatments. Recently, we’ve seen popular brands like Pattern Beauty take a unique approach to the development and creation of the modern hair steamer. While they aren’t the original creator of the steamer, many curlies, coilies, and wavies are unaware of how to use a steamer or why it can benefit their haircare routine.
Before you give up and resort to a hat day, you may want to try steam therapy.
What Is Steaming?
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Steaming your hair opens up the cuticle through heat, allowing moisture from the steam to penetrate your hair. Steaming also works to open up the pores on the scalp, which can, in turn, help with blood circulation. Proper blood flow is key to hair health and helps ensure new growth is possible. This process also aids in elasticity to stretch the hair safely.
This simple treatment is easy to implement in your routine and is quite soothing compared to other time-consuming techniques. To detoxify your scalp and give your hair some additional moisture, this treatment may just be everything your hair needs to reset.
What are the Benefits of Steaming?
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Steaming your hair has many benefits that are a step up from a typical deep conditioning process. You may never realize you need to keep your hair in tip-top shape. While both deep conditioning and steaming are fantastic for maintenance, steaming has an important element that helps your strands go into overdrive.
Steaming your hair provides the best of both worlds. Heat and moisture activate the hair follicles and open the cuticles to allow deeper penetration for product application. From Type 3a to 4c and everything in between, implementing a steaming treatment makes a huge difference, and the results will have you hooked.
How to Steam Curly Hair
Step 1. Cleanse & Dry
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After a thorough wash, make sure to remove the dirt and product build-up. Dry the hair slightly with an old cotton t-shirt. The t-shirt will gently work on the hair to dry without breakage.
Step 2. Apply a Moisturizing Treatment
While the hair is still somewhat wet, apply a generous amount of deep conditioner and massage it into the scalp. Depending on the type of steamer you’re using, you can section your hair for an equal steam time or put a shower cap on and place your hair under the hooded steamer and wait for the magic to unfold.
Step 3. Steam Your Hair
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The total steam time can depend on the hair type and length, but typically, it only takes 30-40 minutes to give your cuticles time to lift and absorb the product. The ideal steam treatment should be at least 20 – 30 minutes (ensure the steam reaches your hair’s ends). If your hair is short and thin, it will benefit from a shorter steaming session.
But like many great things in life, it’s important not to overdo steam therapy as it can over-moisturize your hair, creating a hygral fatigue where the cuticle is damaged. Also, your scalp should not feel irritated or uncomfortable while steaming. If you suffer from severe scalp concerns, you should not steam unless supervised by a scalp care professional or dermatologist.
Find a system that works for you and your hair; schedule it accordingly like any good treatment.
What Kind of Steamer Should You Use?
Steam therapy comes in many different forms, and depending on how you like to do treatments, there may be a specific type of steamer you want to use. You typically find a standing steamer at many professional hair salons, which you sit under for some time.
But if you’d rather take the DIY approach, several convenient devices are perfect for at-home use. The Red Pro Hair Therapy 2-in-1 Hair Steamer & Facial Steamer and Vicarko Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap steamers are great for easy setup in the comfort of your own space.
Is steaming a regular part of your curly regimen? Let us know in the comments!
