The ‘Maximum Hydration Method’ has been heaven-sent for many naturalistas who have faced the issue of chronically dry hair. This is especially the case for those of us with low porosity, 4C hair.
After years of research, natural hair expert Pinke Cube came up with this method to help black women achieve bouncy, ultra moisturized kinks and curls.
If you don’t know what this movement is all about, you can rest easy— we’re going to explain it to you. Here’s a complete rundown of the maximum hydration method.
But first things first…
What is the Maximum Hydration Method
The maximum hydration is a 6-, sometimes 5- and 4-step method that ensures your curls can stay healthy and moisturized. The process involves a protein treatment, clarification, co-washing, a bentonite clay mask, and applying a crème or gel for definition.
While these may look like many steps, properly hydrated hair minimizes breakage and works wonders for curl definition.
As a first-timer, you are advised to go through this process every day for a week. After this, your hair should have achieved maximum hydration.
You can then tone the process down to two or three times a week. If you are ready, you can grab your towel and products, and we can work through this process step by step.
Step One: The Cherry Lola Treatment
This intense protein treatment consists of honey, yogurt, baking soda, amino acids, banana, egg, and avocado. You do not have to use all these ingredients but ensure that you retain the honey, yogurt, and amino acids in whichever variation of the recipe you opt for.
This mixture, once blended, should be applied to dry and detangled hair. You can then put on a shower cap and leave this mixture on for about two hours. Make sure to rinse with lukewarm water if you added an egg to avoid cooking the protein in the egg.
Step Two: Clarification
This process is vital to strip your hair and scalp of product buildup. You can use a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio or baking soda with your conditioner. You need to soak your hair with this mixture and let it sit for anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes before rinsing.
Step Three: Co-Wash
If you are not new to the natural hair community, you know all about co-washing and its advantages over using regular shampoo. When co-washing, you use your conditioner to wash your hair and scalp just as you shampoo. It is always advisable to use one without alcohol, silicones, and petroleum, and mineral oils.
Step Four: Clay Rinse
Bentonite clay has long been known to have numerous benefits when applied to the skin, but it’s also super beneficial for hair health, too!
After co-washing, the next step is to apply a bentonite clay mask to your hair by mixing a few tablespoons of clay with a little apple cider vinegar. Let the mask sit on your hair strands for a solid 20 minutes and then thoroughly rinse.
Step Five & Six: Apply A Leave-In Conditioner, Gel or Crème
Applying a leave-in conditioner is the first part of the last step. The application of the conditioner and gel/ crème needs to be done when the hair is still wet. This will allow maximum absorption of the products.
Additionally, products like gel will dissolve, and you won’t need to worry about that flaky white residue. Remember that if hair gel isn’t your jam, natural oils will work just as well, but they might give you less curl definition.
It’s a given that the Maximum Hydration Method is not a short process, but you are guaranteed to notice a change in the feel, elasticity, and curl definition of your hair. And that’s worth the effort, right?
