My Curly Hair Was So Dry Before I Started Using These Moisturizing Hair Butters
They're not greasy at all.
Over the last few years, I've tried to keep my curl care routine as simple as possible. I've streamlined it to only include the basics: shampoo, conditioner, and two to three leave-in products that I use before and after blowing out my type 4 hair. Unfortunately, though, this past winter was pretty brutal, and my hair suffered from it. Curly hair is already prone to dryness, but the frigid weather on the east coast was causing more dryness than normal, so my solution to that was to add a few thick moisturizing hair butters to my routine.
Oils and butters have been hotly debated in the natural hair community for years, with some people swearing by them and others thinking that they're a little too heavy to actually penetrate the hair shaft and provide any moisture. It all comes down to personal preference and what works for you, but if your hair has been drier than normal lately, don't rule them out as a solution.
"Curl butters are an important part of a curly hair routine because they help provide rich moisture and support softer, more defined curls," says Ayanna Augustine-John, hairstylist at Ouidad Salon in New York City. "They're especially beneficial for tighter curl patterns, which tend to need extra hydration to help maintain elasticity, reduce dryness, and keep curls looking healthy."
If you're on the hunt for something a little more hydrating for your curls, read ahead to shop the butters I've tried, and learn how I incorporate them into my larger curly hair care routine.
My coily hair gets dry pretty easily. Butters have been keeping it in shape.
The Leave-Ins
Before I apply anything slightly heavy, I like to go in with light leave-in products (after conditioning in the shower, of course).
Hyaluronic acid can be just as moisturizing for your hair as it is for your skin and body. It’s the star ingredient in this amika product, and it has a really soft, milky texture that my hair drinks right up.
I’ll be a Briogeo loyalist forever, especially when it comes to the Farewell Frizz collection. As someone who spends a lot of time trying to combat frizz and dryness, I’m a fan of this product because it’s a lightweight, non-messy spray that organizes and reduces frizz with oils like argan, rosehip, and coconut.
The Butters
Now for the main attraction: the hair butters. Having curly hair means that I often have to deal with fairy knots and tangles when I wear my hair in its natural state, which usually happens when it’s not moisturized enough. To prevent that (as well as the brittle feeling that my hair gets just days after washing and blow drying), I like to incorporate butters into my routine after applying my leave-ins. These are just a handful of my favorites.
Innersense already has a stellar lineup of curl products, but this creamy, whipped texturizer (it’s not an actual texturizer that will loosen your curls) does a great job of keeping frizz to a minimum while keeping the curls defined.
This one is a favorite among natural hair gurus for a reason. It has a thick formula that moisturizes but it doesn’t ever feel like it’s sitting on top of the hair making it greasy. A small amount is enough to soften the hair while giving it ample moisture.
"Butter" being in the name of a hair product might immediately make you think that the product itself is thick and greasy, but that's not always the case, especially with this cream. It uses a light amount of avocado oil and aloe to moisturize the hair, and it can be applied to hair straightaway after washing or when it's dried or blown-out.
This is more of a scalp butter, but as we've all come to learn, a healthy, hydrated scalp is just as important as healthy strands. Cécred's formula is ideal for applying to the scalp with your hair is in protective styles like cornrows and box braids, but you can also use it when your hair is in its natural state.
As I Am Doublebutter Cream adds softness to the hair while also targeting issues like dry, split ends. It's one of my favorite drugstore styling options, and the $10 price is one you just can't beat.
The Oils
Oils are pretty divisive in the natural hair community these days, but using one in your routine doesn't automatically mean that your hair will be left feeling greasy or weighed down. I've listed two of my favorites below that I like to use as final steps in my routine.
Okay, so this isn't an oil per se, but when you rub it together and blend it into your hair, the texture transforms into what feels like a soft oil that helps with sealing in the moisture from the other products. If you use a lot of this, just remember to use a clarifying shampoo during your next wash day.
Ouai's hair oil is so lightweight that you won't even remember you have oil on your hair in the first place. Another bonus: it absorbs very quickly without being messy or transfering to other surfaces.
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