Best way to prevent air-dried stiffness

[CaraWalker]

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[Rnjones]

I choose leave in but how you use it makes a difference

I used to have this problem when i applied my leave ins to wet hair. Now I tshirt dry for 1 hour, then add leave in, and follow that with a serum. Throw hair in a loose bun and good to go. Airdrying is now actually my preferred method


Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using LHCF

 

[koolkittychick]

I chose a good leave-in, because that is the last product you put on your hair before you dry it, although in reality it's a combination of things. You have to use a quality shampoo (if you poo) and conditioner to get the right moisture, protein and porosity balance into your hair, as they do most of the work in keeping your hair healthy, but unfortunately, it is possible to ruin all the benefits of those products if you slap the wrong leave in on your hair.

What I found helped me was to get the basics down first: find the right shampoo/conditioner combination that when you used them and you dried your hair without using any other product, your hair came out soft, shiny and moisturized. Once you had those two products set, then you find the leave in and oil products that will help you prolong that nice, soft just-washed condition of your hair. For some, it's as simple as finishing with a light oil. For others (like me), it's a combination of a couple of products that work with my texture and porosity.

Good luck with your search!

 

[spellinto]

I agree with koolkittychick, especially about finishing with light products. It's important to find leave ins and oils that moisturize & seal your hair, but it's also important that they don't weigh your hair down or make it stiff. If you are relaxed and you stretch your relaxers, I also recommend detangling and moisturizing your new growth thoroughly on wash days so that your hair isn't in clumped and matted at the roots when it's fully dry. Personally, my hair looks more "rigid" if my new growth is dry after a wash, or if they are severely tangled (although this is rare).

 

[DarkJoy]

Other.

I dont use leave-ins. They never agreed with my hair and always caused breakage.

Water or tea spritzes with oil in them is all she needs.

 

[faithVA]

DarkJoy[/USER];19683675]Other.

I dont use leave-ins. They never agreed with my hair and always caused breakage.

Water or tea spritzes with oil in them is all she needs.

I should know your entire regimen by now but I don't. And I know you have guided me down the right path. But honestly I get confused by who said what. Will you share your entire product regimen with me. I took your advice and put the leave-ins to the side. I just wanted to hear more from you since you are actually doing it.

Sorry to dip into your thread OP but wanted to catch Ms. DJ while I still remember.

 

[PeaceFlow]

I'm was annoyed that the only two leave ins my hair loved have been discontinued (Dove sheer moisture mist, Body Shop Amlika leave in).

I find the day after wash day is usually dry city.

 

[divachyk]

I struggled with air drying for a very long time. Choosing the right leave in and banding while air drying has made all the difference. I thank EnExitStageLeft for introducing me to banding.

 

[Victoria44]

I still struggle with stiff, dry, air drying results and I'm 4+ yrs post relaxer. The times that I definitely end up with soft fluffy hair is when I apply my leave in/oil, and then happen to unbraid, apply moisturizer/oil, and rebraid BEFORE my hair has fully dried from wash day. This hardly happens b/c it's too much work. I just work around the dry stiff hair.

 

[Nomadiclady]

Oil rinsing with olive oil is the difference maker for me

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

divachyk

Thanks for the shout ! I second banding. My hair dried smooth and sleek. I'm almost 11 months post and I can still band my hair and air dry for a smooth result.

 

[uofmpanther]

I chose leave in, but how you style it also makes a difference. My hair loves banding and curlformers. I want to try African threading too at some point.

 

[bgsix]

@divachyk

Thanks for the shout ! I second banding. My hair dried smooth and sleek. I'm almost 11 months post and I can still band my hair and air dry for a smooth result.

EnExitStageLeft how is your hair sleek if you band it? You don't have those indention marks left from whatever it is you use to band? Trying to understand the method to try it for myself.

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

bgsix

Yes I still have indentation marks, but the strand itself is very smooth. The marks will smooth themselves after I bun for a day or so.

HTH's

 

[Froreal3]

I like to put a nice moisturizing cream on damp hair and seal with an oil. Then I twist my hair up. My hair stays soft.

 

[rileypak]

I chose good leave in. Usually that and how I air dry my hair (tight bun, loose bun, braids, loose, twists, wrap cap VS. silk scarf on edges only) also affect the stiffness for me.

 

[Jazala]

Slather a ceramide oil (I use wheat germ oil or hemp oil) on your hair before you apply your DC. Then rinse them both out and your hair will air dry silky smooth. I dealt with crunchy air-dried hair for many years before I tried this. Nothing else worked for me except the ceramides.

I was inspired to try it after reading this thread:

Ceramides: My tesitmony and the evolution of my bun (Pics):
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=488440&highlight=ceramides

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Applying a good leave-in with an oil of your choice and a curl cream to damp, not wet, hair should alleviate the stiffness. I don't experience any stiffness when I air dry my hair.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

The amount of water I leave in prior to air drying determines how soft my hair will dry....the products I use have very little to do with it

 

[Nuelle]

I'd say a good leave-in definitely helps. I recently tried kimmaytube's leave-in, which is a mix of aloe vera, knot today, and grapeseed oil (which has ceramides) after a co-wash and I was floored by how well my hair behaved. It staid moisturized all day. No crunchiness. No frizz. No dullness. Loved it!

 

[NefertariBlu]

This is something I struggle with every wash. I thought it was just me. I never hear about crunchiness after air drying on here, I always hear, "ooh my hair felt so soft", usually after washing and conditioning, but never about any crunchiness after. One thing that helps is doing the LCO method after my hair is 95% dry.

I agree with the poster about using the right shampoo and conditioner because that is where you need to start from. For me, sulphates dry my hair out. so, I hardly use them

Adding product's to soaking wet hair is an absolute disaster for me. I don't use leave in's either, It's a waste of time.