My Secret To...:

[B3e]

My Secret To...

Sometimes I just want to open one thread and have my socks blown off by some amazing trick or twist on a regular process. So hopefully someone out there will help make this THAT thread.

Chime in no matter what kind of hair you have and how silly/ordinary of a tip/discovery it may seem. Whatever you can't live without and think all people should welcome into their hair journey. ALL things hair. Share a trick or recommend a product/procedure, share anything. HHG!

• My secret to a beautiful hairstyle 365 days a year: a bright smile and confidence. Seriously you can rock green hair and get compliments just by being confident. People complement the person in the accessory/style and if that person is glowing from the inside out, it will show.

• My secret to retention and steady growth: water, regular exercise/activity, fruits, veggies, air drying, moisturizing, and using only a WiDE toothed comb. I find that what the shampoos and conditioners etc are composed of doesn't really affect my hair so much as what my body endures.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

i baggy my ends when i bun!!! pic in my siggy, can you see the white grocery bagggggggggggggg??? i think not!


i rip about 2inches off a corner of any bag and wrap around my tips, then wrap my hair into a massive bun! like my flower? ahahaha

 

[charmtreese]

Techniques that have really made a BIGGGG difference in my hair care journey are:

* Airdrying using the scarf method. For years my hair would airdry hard causing my ng to mat up and ends to frizz. Once I started air drying my hair with it just hanging straight with a scarf around m edges I realized that heat is not a necessity at all in my regimen. Of course using the right live-ins and detangling combs for my hair type also contributes to my success with air drying.

Products:

* JBCO, this stuff is just great! I use it just about every day and there is no other oil that softens my hair and keeps it moisturized better then JBCO.

* WGO, Wheat germ oil keeps my hair sooo smooth, when mixed with JBCO this combo is keeper!!!

* Mane and tail detangler, this product is a must for transitioners or stretchers. I spray my ng with m&t detangler and finger comb to detangle prior to every wash. Because of this product I no longer have to wash my hair in sections when Im 3 months post.

 

[Ijanei]

I came to the conclusion that flat ironing my hair was not what I needed to be doing weekly. Only reason i flat ironed is because i wanted a sleek look. I craved that thick hair but always had thin hair. So I wrap it up (with lotta-body of course) and once it's dry, I unwrap it and my hair is so full looking and it feels thick.

products i love to use - lotta-body, profectiv lotion, Hesh Shikakai Herbal Hair, brahmi oil and um...???

 

[ms.blue]

I realize that if I just leave my hair alone I get better length retention. Moisturzing is the key to longer length and JBCO is da truth! just like charmtreese said it keeps my hair moisturize for days when I use to seal.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

My secret to virtually tangle-free natural 4a hair is protective styling with my hair in 16 twists. Also working with my hair in 6 sections when I shampoo and condition, working with one section at a time.

My secret to combating frizz is airdrying using my satin scarf with my hair in 6 twists...yeah it's AAAAALL about the twists, haha.

I have lots of theories about length retention buuuuuuuut, LENGTH TALKS sooooooo, check me out in 6-12 months (to see if they worked, lol). FINGERS CROSSED :crossfingers:

 

[me-T]

protective styling for retention! i hate it, but it works!

freakin love that bun adora! so big you hide a grocery bag!

 

[divachyk]

i baggy my ends when i bun!!! pic in my siggy, can you see the white grocery bagggggggggggggg??? i think not!


i rip about 2inches off a corner of any bag and wrap around my tips, then wrap my hair into a massive bun! like my flower? ahahaha

Adora Squared........what's good!!!

Let me get a visual of how this goes down....do you pony tail your hair before putting on grocery bag and wrapping hair? Why a grocery bag?

 

[CaliDiamond]

My secret to saving money on deep conditioners: If you are not afraid of being a mixologist, you can save LOTS of money on your deep conditioners. I make batches of homemade protein and moisture treatments, then I freeze them.

 

[belldandy]

good thread topic!

 

[lana]

Hairgrowth/retention: My secret is not a secret, this board helped me to remember that Mane & Tail conditioner really "grows" my hair. It helps me retain length.
I use it as my leave in, my conditioner with heat, my middle of the week fix. I use that stuff and my hair finally hit bra-strap length in the middle. I'm not claiming it until I'm full bra-strap length with blunt cut ends, but Mane & Tail Conditioner (found in the animal section at Walmart) helped me get there!

Protective Styling and Laying off the heat: It was only when I started wearing a loose bun and stopped using the blow dryer so often that my hair went from Shoulder length to Arm Pit length and beyond.

Texlaxing: The best of both worlds, natural and relaxed, thick hair, but easy to straighten with heat. Texlax 2-3 times a year. Texlaxing helps (me) retain length on 4a/b hair!

Edited to add: I am now full BSL!

 

[Bublin]

Adding a clear colour glaze to my deep conditioners has given my hair a shine that it would never have on its own.

My hair is naturally dull no matter what cream or oil i put in it but i learned from a YouTube video to just add a squeeze of glaze into my deep con mix and voila - shiny hair.

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

My secret to soft and shiny rollersets is to forgo the setting lotion, and to use a little bit of castor oil before rolling.

 

[Shananyganz]

@ Bublin --> Oooooooooo I'm so going to research this and if it pans out for me, I'm going to try it!!! I have been looking for something to add shine to my hair without introducing an additional product that just was not necessary. Judging from your siggy pic, i may have a solution!!

On topic....

My secret:: Washing my hair in sections is a must. My hair stays detangled from start to finish! This method has cut down on my styling time TREMENDOUSLY and I am not loosing more hair than normal.

My secret:: Leaving my hair alone. I love my hair...absolutely love it!!! But sometimes I have to put it away...period dot. As much as I'd want to rock my fro; I know that my hair does best when protected. Which is why I enjoy it to the fullest when I have it out.

My secret:: Although it might take some trial and error, finding product staples and a regimen best suited for YOUR hair is vital. The key is to be patient...listen to your hair and it'll come together for you. The key is to also know, that for some, this is an ever changing process. At middle back length, your hair may not like what it liked at armpit length. Keeping those things in mind, you can move through your journey with ease...or at least armed with the knowledge that your hair isn't crazy...it's just particular at times...lol

~S~

GREAT THREAD!!

 

[Bublin]

@ Bublin --> Oooooooooo I'm so going to research this and if it pans out for me, I'm going to try it!!! I have been looking for something to add shine to my hair without introducing an additional product that just was not necessary. Judging from your siggy pic, i may have a solution!!

Here is the You Tube link re adding a clear glaze to your deep con.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDK1i8YN-s8&feature=channel
Her name is TheEbonyMajesty - gorgeous young lady - she is a member here.

 

[Prettyeyes]

I like to leave my hair alone!

 

[brucebettye]

My tip is using no heat, it may not blow your socks off, but it helps keep my hair on my head, breakage away, and my hair thick.

 

[darlingdiva]

Blow drying on low/cool instead of using heat: Whenever I used to blow dry my hair using heat, my hair used to be so crunchy. It was always weird to me b/c my hair would be soft before blow drying, but it would feel so rough afterwards. A while ago, I stumbled across that thread about blow drying on low/cool, and using that technique has helped so much!

I'm able to wear twists this summer instead of wearing a wig b/c I blow dry to stretch out my hair.

This probably isn't a secret, but I place duck bill clips on my twists to keep them from being flat.

 

[B3e]

~ If I'm curious about a style or want to learn how to do something I just google it or go to youtube, learning from others...clutch! We all want to seem aware and not be helpless at things, but asking or seeking guidance will save you a lot of headache in the long run.

~ I read multiple reviews on multiple sites if I'm interested in a particular wig or hairstyle. You can't just read one review and expect to be in the know. I've avoided terrible purchases and setbacks this way.

~ Evolving with the changing needs of my hair. Unfortunately, a good thing may not be the best thing for your hair in every season, I find that catering my regimen to the season and place I'm living keeps my hair happy. God knows my hair/skin at school is not the same as my hair/skin back home. Things like hard water, humidity, how arid a place can be, and the amount of sun in a place make so much of a difference.

 

[Miss*Tress]

Here is the You Tube link re adding a clear glaze to your deep con.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDK1i8YN-s8&feature=channel
Her name is TheEbonyMajesty - gorgeous young lady - she is a member here.

Going to look into this one. Thanks for the tip.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

Adora Squared........what's good!!!



Let me get a visual of how this goes down....do you pony tail your hair before putting on grocery bag and wrapping hair? Why a grocery bag?

whats good!!!!! divachyk!!
LOL, why a grocery bag? i just so happend to have one laying there. any plastic bag will work, sandwich bag, grocery bag, watever. rip a little corner off, just enought to fit just the ends in it. i pony my hair (see fotki for pony) using one single, loose rubber band, then wrap that little plastic about my ends going up the pony about 2inch. (so i have about two inches of hair in the bag). then i twist my pony up into a bun. my buns are alway so huge! im just waiting for somebody on the street to ask me "is that all your hair up there?" me: "yuuuup"

ends stay protected all day. i call this,... protective styling, The protective style. Its a sure way to long hair.

got my flowers from the dollar store then attached them to bobby pins!

why pay 10 or more dollars for flower pins when you can make them yourself? i never got that

thanks!!!

 

[MsMwana]

My secret to perfect airdryed hair: wrap the hair while wet with wrapping lotion, put a wig cap on, a scarf on top of that and sleep on it! Especially good if you have trouble getting them ends straight when airdrying...

 

[I Am So Blessed]

My secret to perfect airdryed hair: wrap the hair while wet with wrapping lotion, put a wig cap on, a scarf on top of that and sleep on it! Especially good if you have trouble getting them ends straight when airdrying...

i wonder if this will work on my texlaxed hair

 

[MsMwana]

^^^ It should work, another tip is to use both hands when wrapping. One hand has the brush in it and the other hand lays everything down as you go round...hope that makes sense... also helps to stop that annoying bump u get in the middle of your head!

 

[I Am So Blessed]

^^^ It should work, another tip is to use both hands when wrapping. One hand has the brush in it and the other hand lays everything down as you go round...hope that makes sense... also helps to stop that annoying bump u get in the middle of your head!

thanks! i shall try this on the next wash. but i dont use brushes, EVER.

ill try to do this with a comb.

 

[WhoIAm]

...combining multiple steps into one to save time.

-Usually I'll condition my hair on a Saturday morning. I don't use any conditioner straight from the bottle and I usually start with dry hair. My mix may consist of; glycerin or almond oil (for moisture), yoghurt, coconut milk, banana baby food, olive oil, a few spoons of henna (as a rinse) and a conditioner for scent and one for deep conditioning. I add everything I think I need for my hair at that time, like a recipe (a pinch here, a dash there). I apply and do housework. About 3 or 4 hrs later, I have conditioned my hair without having to sit still.

-I braid or twist my hair every week to wear under a wig. When I undo my hair I use my fingers and then apply the conditioner to my hair uncombed. The only time I comb or brush my hair is in the shower to comb conditioner (or gel) through or out. Basically I end up combing about once or twice a week. I find I only lose less than a nickel size of hair that way.

Really good topic OP.

 

[B3e]

~ After buying way too many big empty spray bottles that would get clogged for no reason or just didn't spray at all, I finally started using old product bottles that were running out (braid spray bottles) works like a charm! Cause I mean...let's be honest...no one NEEDS to spray out of a 32oz one when a 16oz is readily accessible. Great way to recycle and save money!

Sprays well, NO random clogging, and the bottles are usually not clear plastic so my green purple conditioner moisturizer (kiwi, strawberry champagne, coconut, Vo5 revitalize, water) and oil mix (olive, almond, indian) don't turn heads and I still give my hair what it wants.

I imagine one can put diluted shampoo in such a spray bottle to make washing scalp in braids easier. *shrug*

 

[Whimsy]

I've learned that

A
Less is definitely more when it comes to retention.
There's no need for complicated 12 step routines.
Pare down to the simple basics and you will see results.

B
Bandwagons/Trends are for the birds.

C
Above all else, MOISTURIZING, and maintaining moist hair is the key to my success

 

[empressri]

My secret that I learned....they say a healthy diet makes your hair grow or whatever...and it may help but my hair grew whether I was drinking tons of coca cola and taco bell or having salads and veggies and drinking nothing but water.

Though my skin did look damned clear.

 

[Nayna]

Hmmm. My secret to 2nd and third day twistouts or braidouts is using flexi's on loose hair. Spraying with water and sealing with coconut oil or some type of leave in has also been good. That's it as of late. Oh and a blowdry here and there has been helpful in retention.