What you put in your hair while steaming depends on your ~goals~, like if you’re looking for hella moisture, or damage repair, or for a deep clean. Which also means there are no “best” or “correct” products that you absolutely need to use, either. Take it from Dickey: "There really aren't any real rules for what to put in your hair when steaming.”
Still, recommendations are never a bad thing, especially if you’re new to steaming. So here’s a quick breakdown of Dickey’s recommendations:
Deep conditioner
Before you sit under your steamer, smooth a deep conditioner through your wet hair from roots to ends. "Naturally dry textures really benefit from the combination of steam and conditioner," says Dickey, because the steam helps the formula’s moisturizing butters and oils better penetrate your hair strands. The result? Intensely conditioned hair.
Hair oil
"Steaming with hair oils not only helps soften your hair, especially if it's dry and tangled," says Dickey, "but it's also a great way to help prep your hair for shampoo, especially if your hair has been in a protective style" (hi, braids and twists). "Often, when you go straight to water and shampoo after your hair has been in a protective style, your hair can matt up and dry out," he says. The fix? Gently massage the oil through your scalp and hair until saturated, then sit under your steamer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Curl cream
After shampooing and conditioning, get out of the shower and coat your wet hair in your favorite curl cream before sitting under your steamer to hydrate and define your curls. Steam helps the formula (and all of its butters and oils) absorb deeper into your hair shaft, allowing your hair to better retain moisture and be less prone to shrinkage.
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