Battling my 4b dryness. (what am i doing wrong?)

[Carrie A]

thanks so much for that tip i will definately conisder. you know i brought my oyin HH into the salon for my stylist to use and she herself said she didn't like it as much. (granted her hair was looking tore up so i ignored her lol) anyways after conditioning with my oyin she added Nairobi's leave and then blow dried and my hair felt much better. i don't know much about this brand so i never gave it a chance. does anyone have any expirience with Nairobi's hair products? I

In general Oyin handmade is an excellent company and if your hair responds well to glycerin it is a very good conditioner. So many folks swear by it. However, if you are once of the few whose hair does not respond to glycerin then you would have trouble because it's the primary ingredient.

 

[Kiki0130]

^^^^ ^^ ignoring Foxglove :covereyes

@Kiki0130

Team S-Curl for moisture!!

On wash day, on damp hair, I mix a little S-Curl with HE Long
Term Relationship in my hand for moisture per section.

I've been sealing with Softee Indian Hemp pomade and twisting
my hair.

This is my winter routine.

Warmer weather, I can just use the S-Curl and seal with Olive Oil
or the pomade.

Soft, soft, soft

Nonie's always dragging me outta lurkdom

 

[Foxglove]

^^^^ ^^ ignoring Foxglove :covereyes

@Kiki0130

I'm sorry Nonie! I tried but it just didn't work for me

 

[NappyNelle]

Thank you all so much for responding, all of the advice was very helpful and sounds promising. At this point I am up for anything to get my hair healthy. i realized that while i was focusing on my hair when i took down my braids/sew in i didn't do much to it while it was braded/sewn in. even though i do all of that work while my hair is down that’s really only about 4x a year, while i didn't do much for the rest of the time.
Perhaps now i need to find more ways to keep my hair moisten while braided, which i guess will be my next research project. Thanks yall again.

The bolded is REALLY a problem. You're neglecting your hair while it's covered. I definitely suggest moisturizing daily.

 

[Nonie]

I'm sorry @Nonie! I tried but it just didn't work for me

@Foxglove S Curl is like Santa bringing you gifts at Christmas. It only works if you've been nice not naughty. So try to be nicer and not keep blaspheming like you keep doing in this thread talmbout S Curl with such disrespect. Maybe then it will work.

I'll let you know the next time I hold an altar call so you can get some cleansing you heathen! Bring Napp with you to service.

 

[Embyra]

OMFG!!!!^^^^^

 

[Pierrot]

mallysmommy

I JUST resolved this issue after 1 year of ridiculous dryness and completely understand, so please consider this:

My Old Regimen:
-Daily mist with only aloe or aloe/water
-Seal/style with avocado oil
-Wash as needed with JM Zinc & Sage
-Veggie glycerine mix Leave-In
*BTW I have an old heating system that gives off tons of dry heat and I work from home, so I'm in dry conditions at least 16 hours a day despite living in a relatively humid area.

The culprits:
-The pH of the aloe was too acidic for me
-My shampoo was too alkaline
-My glycerine mix wasn't diluted enough
-I wasn't moisturizing often enough to compensate for my dry home/office
*My environment mixed with drying moisture spray, drying shampoo and imbalanced glycerine mixture that turned to my hair for moisture, wreaked havoc.

The Solutions:
-Stay between 5.5-7 pH on your products!
Your ACV method is probably fine but you MUST test the pH and find the right balance. I sprayed fresh aloe juice (4.0-4.5) or Lily of the Desert Inner Fillet preserved with CITRIC ACID (3.5-4.5) on my hair every day with and without water and made straw.
ONLY until I diluted either in enough water to bring the pH to between 5.5-6.0 did it keep my hair bouncy and moisturized. 12:1oz water/aloe ratio, also that mix makes a great rinse. I mist my hair 2x a day, or with JUST PLAIN WATER!

-I also added aloe to my shampoo bringing the pH down from 13.0 to 6.0-7.0 pH and my hair stays soft and curly post-wash.

-I stopped sealing with only oil, Oyin pomade keeps moisture locked in for a good 3-4 days.

-I stopped using homemade glycerine, it's in the Oyin products and even if it weren't I wouldn't add it back, nothing against it considering that I was the one that didn't realize all the factors causing my dryness, but I just don't feel like dealing with more than the basics.

New Regimen Daily:
Mist with 5.5-6.0 aloe/water mix (distilled or tap)
Seal with Oyin Honey Dew, we're not married but it has a nice oil/moisture balance
Weekly:
Detangle with a little KKKT diluted in plant aloe/water mix pre-shampoo
Shampoo based on scalp conditions, generally 1x a week
Rinse with aloe/water mix (or add concentrated marshmallow)
Style with diluted KKKT
Seal with Oyin pomade

Really consider buying a pH reader or some strips and also re-evaluating what's in your products, if you're using them the best way and how your environment may be impacting your hair - good luck!