Besides Relaxing, can you alter/change your hair texture?

[cocoberry10]

This may seem like a silly question, but has anyone actually been able to do this other than through relaxing? Thanks!

 

[glamazon386]

Unless you want to burn your hair straight... some people used to call this training your hair for a press. Then no.

 

[chellero]

Some people have posted that henna and MSM loosened up their curl pattern some. I've only been taking MSM for a couple of weeks, so I can't tell if it's doing anything my new growth or not.

 

[Ladylyn]

My sister's texture changed dramatically using msm.

 

[curlycraze]

Henna relaxed my curl pattern.

 

[seraphim712]

Aside from msm and henna, I heard that coconut milk and lime juice can alter your texture. But if you're talking from the inside out, silica should be able to do the trick as well.

 

[cocoberry10]

Unless you want to burn your hair straight... some people used to call this training your hair for a press. Then no.

Burn your hair? Oh, I got it!

 

[cocoberry10]

My sister's texture changed dramatically using msm.

I think I’ve heard some ladies on this board saying the same thing. I don’t think it did that for me, but I’m not sure???

How drastically did it change her texture?

 

[cocoberry10]

Henna relaxed my curl pattern.

Really????

 

[meaganita]

I've heard of Silica altering the texture. Some said they went from like 4a/b to 3c.

 

[cocoberry10]

I've heard of Silica altering the texture. Some said they went from like 4a/b to 3c.

Thanks. I’ll look into that! That sounds good!

 

[loved]

Some people have posted that henna and MSM loosened up their curl pattern some. I've only been taking MSM for a couple of weeks, so I can't tell if it's doing anything my new growth or not.

Can henna be used on relaxed hair & you take MSM internally right?

I remember years ago, an informercial alleged that a product named "Rio" could. It was supposed to be all natural and so healthy for your hair that you could eat it and they did on the informercial. It was so persuasive that I ordered it, but I ws too uncomfortable w/ the idea of putting it on my relaxed hair so I sent the boxes back. Based on the articles below, thank God I did. That experience made me nervous about trying untested means to straighten my hair.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia5316.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_n2_v30/ai_18175443


*In 1994 and early 1995, more than 3,000 people reported to FDA that their scalp itched or burned and that their hair broke off or fell out--and, in some cases, turned green--after using the hair relaxers Rio Hair Naturalizer System and Rio Hair Naturalizer System with Color Enhancer.

FDA and state government offices around the country began receiving complaints about the Rio hair products in mid-1994. Many complainants said they had bought the hair relaxers by mail after viewing a 30-minute TV infomercial targeted to African Americans. Some complainants reported that their hair began falling out immediately after applying the products, while others said they had problems after multiple applications. Some said they had seen doctors for treatment of scalp irritation. Many women said they had to cut their hair short to deal with bald spots.


* Their labeling was false. The products' labeling listed an acid pH level of 3.4, but FDA analysis revealed that the pH was significantly less than 3.0. In addition, FDA alleged the labeling falsely described the products as "chemical free," even though the ingredient labels listed substances commonly recognized as chemicals. Although
the product is labeled as having a pH of 3.4, FDA
and California State analyses of the product have
found a pH range from below 1 to 2.
**Review of labeling for the naturalizer with color enhancer,
an item subject to a seizure action,revealed the product is also promoted to restore
the natural black color to hair. The colorant,
identified as "concentrate extract of coulteria
tinctoria" in the ingredient declaration, is a
vegetable dye for which no color additive
regulation has been established.**

 

[mscocoface]

In my experience and some other ladies who have 4B natural hair Henna did not really change the texture only elongated the naps but if you stop using it it will go back.

I did not see a huge difference to consider it a change in texture at all.

 

[MissMeWithThatIsh]

Silica? What strength?

I'm currently using Curlaway, which many have said works over time.
It's been about 2 weeks and it's still working well for me. I'm almost done with my 1st jar and am working my way into my 2nd jar.

However, there are others who used it and have not had such good results as me.

 

[cocoberry10]

In my experience and some other ladies who have 4B natural hair Henna did not really change the texture only elongated the naps but if you stop using it it will go back.

I did not see a huge difference to consider it a change in texture at all.

Thanks for the info!

 

[cocoberry10]

Silica? What strength?

I'm currently using Curlaway, which many have said works over time.
It's been about 2 weeks and it's still working well for me. I'm almost done with my 1st jar and am working my way into my 2nd jar.

However, there are others who used it and have not had such good results as me.

Is this something you use on your hair? Thanks!

 

[MissMeWithThatIsh]

Is this something you use on your hair? Thanks!

Yes it is something I use on my hair... and frequently. I enjoy it

 

[cocoberry10]

Yes it is something I use on my hair... and frequently. I enjoy it

Thanks. I will have to look into it!

 

[Amber_moon]

How much sillica and how much msm?

 

[JustKiya]

3 things have changed the texture of my hair - I used to a be a solid 4a/4b, now I'm a 3c/4a, and I suspect as my hair gets longer and heavier, I will be a solid 3c.

1) Henna - I know it doesn't work for everyone, but I suspect that the finer your hair is, the more likely regular applications of henna will 'weigh' down your hair, and relax the curl a bit. I use henna once a month, because of the fineness of my strands, much more often than that makes em brittle.

2) Coconut milk & Lime - I actually add this to my henna mix once every three months (because I'm scared of what would happen to my curls if I used it every month) and it's made a DEFINITE difference to my hair. It doesn't 'loosen' the curls, it turns them into waves. I've used the CM & L mixture on it's own, but it's SO drippy, I can't stand having it in my hair for very long.

3) Fully moisturized hair - I've noticed that the better moisturized my hair is, the more 'loose' the curls are. The drier my hair is, the tighter the curls.

I have very fine, dense hair, and I usually leave all henna mixes on for at least 12 hours, sometimes 16. A good selection of headwraps are essential!

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

Hard press on the regular, when I took msm it made my curl pattern come in looser and more defined, alot of my dominican DC make my NG pop and I have a head full of coily NG.

Oh yeah, brushing the hair like clock work. Guys can have a head full of bead a beads and start brushing their hair one day all day everyday, and b4 you know it they have wave city. The constant brushing trains the hair to lay, as appose to growing out.

A little off topic but even a person with a loose curl pattern can make their curl pattern tighter by cornrowing the hair on a regular basis.