How to Steam Hair Without a Steamer or Hooded Dryer – 8 Simple Steps to Hydrated Hair

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Whether you currently steam your hair or not, you have most likely heard of the many advantages and benefits of adding steam to your hair to improve the overall health of your hair. While some people quickly decide to run out and purchase a hooded dryer or steamer, many other people are unsure of how they will work or if they will really make good use out of them. If you fall into the category of the latter, it is important that you learn how to steam hair without a steamer or hooded dryer.

Even if you personally already own a steamer or hooded dryer, you can still save money and time by choosing to steam your hair without them. It may also feel better on your hair and to yourself to not use these heated tools on your hair that reach extremely high temperatures, which aren’t even necessary to use to properly and successfully steam your hair. There is no need for a bulky hooded dryer, an expensive steamer, or a hair appointment to improve the quality of your hair on your own, and in the comfort of your own home.

 

8 Steps to Steaming Your Hair Without a Steamer or Hooded Dryer

 

The Benefits of Steaming Your Hair

Steaming your hair is basically adding moisture to your strands, and allowing the flow of nutrients into the inner layers of your hair in addition to your outer layers. It allows all of the strands in your hair to experience the benefits of your moisturizing products and deep conditioning treatments. This occurs because moist heat lifts the cuticles in your strands, which allows your moisturizing products and deep conditioners to infiltrate deep into your hair. Steaming your hair also adds additional hydration while enhancing the benefits of your moisturizing products and deep conditioners.

There are multiple other benefits when it comes to steaming your hair as well, that come from adding extra hydration to your hair. Hair that is more hydrated and less dry experiences less breakage, and is not damaged as often from styling with heated tools or from daily activities. Hydrated hair also is less likely to form tangles and knots within it, because there is less friction created on your strands as they move past each other. Steaming your hair allows you to ensure that your moisturizing products or deep conditioning treatments are working to the very best of their ability.

 

How to Steam Hair Without a Steamer or Hooded Dryer

Now that you know what steaming is and what the benefits of steaming your hair are, it is time to learn how to steam your hair without a steamer or hooded dryer. There are a few items that you need to steam your hair without a steamer or hooded dryer, but luckily they are most likely already lying around your house. Here are the supplies that you need to steam your hair without a steamer or hooded dryer:

  • Moisturizing product or deep conditioner
  • Water
  • Microwavable bowl
  • Absorbent towel
  • Processing cap
  • Protective hand gloves

 

Step 1: Wash and condition your hair

It is best to start your steaming treatment on freshly-washed hair, because it will work better on your strands when you do not already have a lot of oil built up on them. Adding moisturizing products or deep conditioner, as well as additional moisture, to buildup on your hair will not effectively hydrate it. Wash and condition your hair with a good-quality shampoo and conditioner, and squeeze the excess water out of your hair when you are done.

 

Step 2: Apply a strong moisturizing product or deep conditioner to your hair

Since steaming your hair has proven to increase the benefits of moisturizing products and deep conditioners, it is important to find the right product that was formulated for your hair type, and that is very strong and effective. Separate your hair into a few sections, and apply a heavy amount of your moisturizing product or deep conditioner of choice into your hair. Run your fingers through your hair to apply the product and to remove any knots or tangles that are in your hair. Try not to use a brush or comb on your hair before steaming if possible, to reduce possible breakage to your strands.

 

Step 3: Put your processing cap on top of your hair

Using a processing cap helps to keep all of the moisture created in your hair while steaming it in one place, because the processing cap does not absorb any of it and none of the products will drip down your head. You can use any sort of processing cap, such as disposable ones or shower caps to cover your hair. After you saturated your hair with your moisturizing product or deep conditioner, cover your hair entirely with your processing cap.

 

Step 4: Place water and your absorbent towel in your microwavable bowl

Put fresh, clean water in your microwavable bowl, and then place your absorbent towel into it as well. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it up until the absorbent towel is hot. While the bowl and towel are heating up, put your protective hand gloves on your hands for when it is down warming up. This is extremely important, as the bowl and the towel will be way too hot to touch once they are ready to be taken out of the microwave.

 

Step 5: Remove the bowl from the microwave and wring out your absorbent towel

Once your absorbent towel is fully heated up, take the bowl out of the microwave with your protective hand gloves on. Wring the water out of your towel to the point where your towel is damp, but not dripping water at all. If it is dripping water while it is wrapped around your head, it can burn your skin if the water on your towel is still too hot.

 

Step 6: Wrap your absorbent towel around your head

Take your absorbent towel and wrap it around your head, on top of your processing cap. Putting the towel on top of your processing cap allows your hair to steam properly, especially because the towel does not absorb any of the moisture or product within your hair. Keep the towel wrapped around your hair for about 15-30 minutes, giving it enough time to fully steam your hair and increase moisture without damaging your hair.

 

Step 7: Remove your absorbent towel and processing cap from your hair

After you have waited for your hair to fully steam, unwrap your absorbent towel from your hair and put it down. Remove your processing cap from your head as well, and let down your hair. It’s best to take off your processing cap in the shower, because water and product may drip out of your hair depending on the amount of moisture within it. Allow your hair to cool off for a few minutes before touching it, as it might still be really hot. Once everything is removed and off of your hair, you can take your protective hand gloves off.

 

Step 8: Allow your hair to cool down and then rinse it out

Once your hair has cooled down, rinse your hair out with cool water to remove excess moisturizing product or deep conditioner. Using cool water instead of hot water is beneficial, because the cool water will seal the cuticles in your hair that were opened from the heat of the steam. This allows the moisture and hydration to be sealed in your hair as the pores and cuticles in your hair close from the cool water.

 

If you’re in need of a boost of moisture to your hair but don’t want to spend the money to purchase a steamer or hooded dryer, or to book a hair appointment, there are fortunately alternative options. You can do a wonderful steam job to your hair on your own, and in the comfort of your own home. This is why it’s important to know how to steam hair without a steamer or hooded dryer.

Steaming provides tons of benefits to your hair, including increased moisture, less breakage, more hydration, and less tangles or knots. Overall, the health of your hair improves drastically from properly steaming it every once in awhile. All it takes are a few items that you most likely already have in your house, and about thirty minutes of your time to get beautifully hydrated and moisturized hair.