Hi,
I'd like to share my (unusual?) way of DCing using heat. I posted this on another thread. But I thought it might be interesting to the wider community. Here is what I do (sorry in advance for long length):
Each time I go swimming (2-3 times per week--on a good week), I use a Nexus shampoo designed to get chlorine out of my hair. Of course, it contains sulfates/is stripping. Hence, I DC each time. I'm from the old school and feel like it's not really DC-ing without heat. But I'm pressed for time in the mornings after swimming, and just don't typically have the time/patience to sit under a dryer. So I came up with an 'invention':
1) I purchased a 'Turbie Twist' (TT) towel head wrap online for ~ $8.00 with shipping (found out though, that my local beauty store had an offshoot):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhNULx68UQo
2) I then purchased five of the new reusable heat packs from REI for ~ $5.00 each.
3) Next, I bought a four inch wide strip of fabric from Joann's Fabric for less than $1.00.
4) I measured the heat packs, and cut the fabric a little bigger such that I could make 'pockets' to hold them in place inside the TT.
5) I then hand sewed the five 'pockets' into the inside of the TT in a configuration that covered the major areas of my head.
6) I later used the left-over fabric to cut it up to the same pocket size, and sewed them over the same pockets (the packs got too hot against my scalp in the thinner haired areas of my head).
So basically, I swim, then bathe/wash my hair/dress. I then put in the DC, put on a plastic DC cap, and then a hair bonnet (for added heat protection). Next, I activate the heat packs (they're 130 degrees fahrenheit/a little under the hottest temp of faucet water which is 140 degrees). I then place the heat packs into their pockets in the TT, and secure them closed using safety pins. I then put it on, and cover it all with a 90's-Erykah Badu-esque headwrap (using various cloth 'fillings' underneath to give it descent shape/height):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW4XFd1gNqk
Even b4 I used this method, I typically DC'd for no more than 30 minutes. This works well for me because by the time I walk to my car and drive home, ~ that amount of time has passed. Therefore, all I have to do when I get home is rinse my hair in the sink and dry/style it. For those who DC for longer periods of time, the heat packs are still warm after 30 minutes. But I haven't timed exactly when they start cooling off too much to be useful...
The technique has worked fairly well so far. Only problem is you have to be VERY careful with the heat packs. Two of mine went haywire and I'll have to replace them. Basically, I think that I need to literally follow the directions when reactivating them in boiling water (10 minutes). They state on the packets that you should cover them with cloth when placing them in the water. I've been too lazy to make more hand-sewn pockets for boiling. But I'll have to start. I'll also purchase a plastic case/mini-lunchbox-type thing to protect them from accidental punctures.
Sorry about the length of this message. But I'm hoping that this technique could prove useful for those who swim OR are pressed for time and thus sometimes need/want to go out and run errands etc. while they DC at the same time...HTH!
Peace.
I'd like to share my (unusual?) way of DCing using heat. I posted this on another thread. But I thought it might be interesting to the wider community. Here is what I do (sorry in advance for long length):
Each time I go swimming (2-3 times per week--on a good week), I use a Nexus shampoo designed to get chlorine out of my hair. Of course, it contains sulfates/is stripping. Hence, I DC each time. I'm from the old school and feel like it's not really DC-ing without heat. But I'm pressed for time in the mornings after swimming, and just don't typically have the time/patience to sit under a dryer. So I came up with an 'invention':
1) I purchased a 'Turbie Twist' (TT) towel head wrap online for ~ $8.00 with shipping (found out though, that my local beauty store had an offshoot):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhNULx68UQo
2) I then purchased five of the new reusable heat packs from REI for ~ $5.00 each.
3) Next, I bought a four inch wide strip of fabric from Joann's Fabric for less than $1.00.
4) I measured the heat packs, and cut the fabric a little bigger such that I could make 'pockets' to hold them in place inside the TT.
5) I then hand sewed the five 'pockets' into the inside of the TT in a configuration that covered the major areas of my head.
6) I later used the left-over fabric to cut it up to the same pocket size, and sewed them over the same pockets (the packs got too hot against my scalp in the thinner haired areas of my head).
So basically, I swim, then bathe/wash my hair/dress. I then put in the DC, put on a plastic DC cap, and then a hair bonnet (for added heat protection). Next, I activate the heat packs (they're 130 degrees fahrenheit/a little under the hottest temp of faucet water which is 140 degrees). I then place the heat packs into their pockets in the TT, and secure them closed using safety pins. I then put it on, and cover it all with a 90's-Erykah Badu-esque headwrap (using various cloth 'fillings' underneath to give it descent shape/height):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW4XFd1gNqk
Even b4 I used this method, I typically DC'd for no more than 30 minutes. This works well for me because by the time I walk to my car and drive home, ~ that amount of time has passed. Therefore, all I have to do when I get home is rinse my hair in the sink and dry/style it. For those who DC for longer periods of time, the heat packs are still warm after 30 minutes. But I haven't timed exactly when they start cooling off too much to be useful...
The technique has worked fairly well so far. Only problem is you have to be VERY careful with the heat packs. Two of mine went haywire and I'll have to replace them. Basically, I think that I need to literally follow the directions when reactivating them in boiling water (10 minutes). They state on the packets that you should cover them with cloth when placing them in the water. I've been too lazy to make more hand-sewn pockets for boiling. But I'll have to start. I'll also purchase a plastic case/mini-lunchbox-type thing to protect them from accidental punctures.
Sorry about the length of this message. But I'm hoping that this technique could prove useful for those who swim OR are pressed for time and thus sometimes need/want to go out and run errands etc. while they DC at the same time...HTH!
Peace.
