Return to Hair Steaming

Over the summer months I put my steamer in my closet and didn't use it all summer. With all the co-washing and deep conditioning, I just didn't feel like my hair needed it. Now with the weather changing, I plan on wearing more rollersets and more rollersets means less co-washing so in order to make the absolute most of wash days I plan on using steam with my pre-poo treatments and deep conditioner treatments.

Unfortunately, some people believe that steaming is only for natural or transitioning hair but the benefits stretch across the board helping women with all different hair types have healthy hair. Steaming works by helping the cuticle of the hair open up so that whatever conditioner, oil, or other treatment can really sink right in. Added conditioning and/or pre-pooing can help hair become more moisturized and cut down on damage caused by dry hair.

What changes do you plan on making this fall?

Setting Up The Hair Steamer

My steamer continues to be one of my best hair care purchases.  I finally found the pictures I took while I was putting it together.  It was really easy and came with everything I needed in one box.  Here are the pics!

Deep Conditioning: Steam vs. Traditional Heat

So now that I've been using my steamer for a few weeks now, I just have to let you guys know that I have yet to sit under a traditional dry with my deep conditioner. In my opinion, steaming allows my conditioner to better sink into my hair and the results are just way better than when I DC using heat alone. Prior to purchasing my steamer, I had never tried steaming before because none of the salons I used to frequent have a steamer so I always just relied on straight heat with no steam. I took the plunge and purchased the steamer because I heard so many great things from so many different people online, but when a few people I work with also said steam was the truth I couldn't take it anymore I wanted a piece of this hair bliss. Now I've goit it and I'm not looking back.


So ladies with steamers or who have used a steamer before - What do you prefer, a deep conditoner with steam or traditional heat?

Pre-Poo Steam Treatment: EL' Treatment

So as I type I'm sitting under my BFF also known as my hair steamer.  This time I decided to treat my hair with Rare Elements El' Treatment.  I tend not to use this oil as a leave in but rather as a pre-shampoo treatment because the scent isn't my favorite.  Instead of being a flower type scent, it's smells like woodsy but it really leaves my hair feeling great.  The shine and the way it makes my hair feel keeps me coming back.  Sometimes I'll apply the oil to my ends and then wear a bun to work and pre-poo like that.  Now with the power of steam I'm hoping the benefits are amplified.  So once I finish steaming and rinsing I'll be back to finish up this post.

The steam with El' Treatment was awesome!  The scent from the oil didn't linger which was awesome and it really softened my new growth and the length of my hair.  The shine wasn't as great as the coconut oil steam treatment, but it was still better than nothing. 

Hair Steaming Benefits

I just finished another steaming treatment and the whole process just keeps getting better. I'm so pleased with my new steamer, so far I've been using it weekly to pre-poo and deep condition. I'm loving the results so much that I think I've completely revamped my regimen to include my steamer, more on that another day. I've only used my steamer a few times so far, so I can't say I'm seeing a drastic change in my hair but I see small changes. For example, shine. For my second steam treatment, I decided to pre-poo with only coconut oil so I applied coconut oil to my entire head of hair from ends to roots and even applied it to my scalp. I clipped my ends up and sat under the steamer for about an hour watching some TV shows, usually NCIS. After the entire process of doing my hair, I noticed that my hair was noticeably more shiny than usual after blow-drying and BEFORE applying a little bit more coconut oil.




More benefits of using a hair steamer:

1. Tons of added moisture

2. Increased Shine

3. Increased manageability of new growth

4. Softer feeling hair

5. Less hair breakage or hair fall

6. Decrease in dandruff cause by dry scalp

7. Less tangles and knots - easy detangling

Hair Steaming - Why it works

Hair steaming is the process of conditioning the hair using steam. There are mainly two different types of hair steamers, a table top verison and a vertical steamer (large kind on a stand - the type you would see at a hair salon). I personally, prefer a stand up steamer because it's larger and seemingly more powerful than it's tabletop counterpart. Regardless of the type of steamer you choose the benefits remain the same, the most common being increased moisture. Lack of moisture is a big problem in the black hair care world, the best way to put it is that black hair (meaning hair types most commonly found on African American people) is more prone to drying out and resulting in breakage. Note: Black hair is certainly not the only hair that can benefit from steaming, but that's what we are talking about here. Here is how hair steaming works: The heat mixed with steam opens up the follicle and also opens up the hair cuticle to allow moisture to seep down into the hair shaft nourishing from the inside out. Why it works: With the follicle and hair cutlcle opened up wide your favorite oils, conditoner, and deep condtioners can really penetrate deep down.


Note: Once I am completely done steaming I always rinse my hair with cool water to help close up the follicle and hair cuticle.