Can I ask a DUMB question

[Nonie]

Incognitus, personally I think you've already used too much so don't know what to tell you. I don't use anything but DC during the wash and heat protectants during the flatiron. And I don't wait for them to dry but I do start with hair that is fully airdried before applying protectants.

Why did you use the foam? I honestly think the more things you use, the less well protectant adheres to hair and therefore the less protection you get. Also I think products can get cooked and lead to the burnt smell folks smell when hair is straightened, and who knows what happens when some chemicals are heated up.

Were you following someone's regimen? Coz if you were, then I suggest you ask that person because this works for them. If not, my suggestion is always to find people who get good results and no damage (eg westNDNbeauty) and take notes from them and do what they do. It's not always smart to combine several things you've heard without actually understanding why all those things were done or how they added up to give the results. Not saying you aren't on track to get good results but there are many threads on straightening so if there's one regimen that follows that route, then maybe whoever posted it can guide you better.

 

[Incognitus]

@Nonie Thanks for your thorough reply.

 

[Charla]

What does w/r/t mean? As in--
I've also seen the angle trick...but again not w/r/t.
I haven't noticed that w/r/t SL.

 

[Nonie]

What does w/r/t mean? As in--
I've also seen the angle trick...but again not w/r/t.
I haven't noticed that w/r/t SL.

Charla

w/r/t = with respect/regard to

 

[thebelleofelle]

I was wondering....if I just co-washed with aphogee moisture balance is it good to follow up with some hs14-1 or is that going to throw off my "balanced" hair

 

[Nonie]

I was wondering....if I just co-washed with aphogee moisture balance is it good to follow up with some hs14-1 or is that going to throw off my "balanced" hair

thebelleofelle, hopefully someone who uses it will come to answer but if this is the product you're talking about, it sounds just like a reconstructor to me (contains protein and moisture) so I don't think using a leave-in will mess things up. Since it's supposed to be used after Aphogee Two-Step, it looks like it just adds the moisture to balance out the protein treatment. And people do use leave-ins after conditioners so I don't think it'll mess up the balance.

 

[thebelleofelle]

Nonie thankx you are like full of answers...where's your book deal??!! lol

I'm going to flat iron in the morning and I'm thinking it would be best to moisturize now and add the heat protectant right before I flat iron....does this seem like a good route to go?? OR should I skip the heat protectant since i blow-dried without it...

 

[Nonie]

@Nonie thankx you are like full of answers...where's your book deal??!! lol

I'm going to flat iron in the morning and I'm thinking it would be best to moisturize now and add the heat protectant right before I flat iron....does this seem like a good route to go?? OR should I skip the heat protectant since i blow-dried without it...

thebelleofelle I don't think you should ever skip heat protectant when using direct heat. I personally would use it during the blowdrying too...but definitely during the flat iron. And you don't need to use too much but you do need to be sure you coat your hair well.

Personally if I were going to straighten, I would not use HS 14-in-1. Glycerin products are humectants which attract moisture and the last thing you need if you're going to straighten you hair is to have something that draws moisture into itself. That's just a recipe for frizz.

As I've been saying ad nauseum, it's better to get your moisture during you DC and just use heat protectant for the press...but if you didn't DC well, I guess you have to use something. I just don't know what but hopefully you can find suggestions in the threads on straightening hair.

 

[faithVA]

Is there a thread on websites that offer travel sizes/sample sizes? If not would it be ok to put it in this forum section vs ?the vendor forum or some other one?

In the future I want to try some new things but I don't want to buy a full size bottle. I hate having bottles of stuff to use up that I don't like. So I figured I would love to do a thread on sample sizes/travel sizes while I'm researching for myself.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

Is there a time when you can ever stop PSing?
Like I remember when I was almost shoulder length I knew very much about the only way to get past SL is to ps (hair rubbing on shoulders/breakage and so forth) I'm like an inch away from BSL and I just had to cut cause of splits/breaking ends. I feel like this was between the APL and almost BSL time of growing I guess rubbing against my clothes.
So, do I have to go around naked just to let my hair hang free?

 

[Jharianna]

For those who BKT... if you are not supposed to "wrinkle" your hair (no pulling behind ears,no curling, etc.) for four days after the initial treatment and flat ironing, then HOW do you keep your hair straight while sleeping at night?

Also, I'm a relaxed 4c. My hair, when relaxed bone straight looks very fine, but I'm envious of the swing and shine BKT hair has. So, I'm wondering will I achieve similiar results as BKT if I just flat iron the relaxed hair? Or will the BKT actually make my hair healthier?

 

[Nonie]

Is there a time when you can ever stop PSing?
Like I remember when I was almost shoulder length I knew very much about the only way to get past SL is to ps (hair rubbing on shoulders/breakage and so forth) I'm like an inch away from BSL and I just had to cut cause of splits/breaking ends. I feel like this was between the APL and almost BSL time of growing I guess rubbing against my clothes.
So, do I have to go around naked just to let my hair hang free?

AuNaturalMaMa No you don't. Once you reach your goal, you can let your hair down every now and then, but it can't be all the time. My friends with long hair tell me how annoying it is when it gets caught on the seat when you sit down, on your bag strap, in the door when you get in the car.... So it's practical to wear it up, if you want to keep it. Not to mention those nutters out in the world ready to cut it off if they can get close enough.

Personally I think long hair is so beautiful and so special that if I had it, wearing it down would be like wearing a full face of makeup. I don't do it everyday because it'd get old real quick. I save it for those times when I want to make a statement and just have a change of pace. I know a girl who's always made up 24/7, 366 days a year...and so once when we had to dress up for a special event and were all looking like a million bucks, she looked so plain and almost as if she dressed down.

Maintenance of your ends is also something people neglect. I don't know if you were doing that or not, but leaving ends to their own devices months on end, even with PSing, can cause them to weaken and break of. I believe in regular dusting...but not many do. *shrug*

When Adrienne reached waist length (after PSing during her journey) she'd wear her hair down twice a week to work, IIRC.

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

Can someone tell me how to make a poll. I'm looking, I'm looking, I just don't see it!!!

 

[Nonie]

Can someone tell me how to make a poll. I'm looking, I'm looking, I just don't see it!!!

Cherokee-n-Black If you are looking at the new window where you post your new thread and then scroll down to the bottom, you'll see "Additional Options". At the bottom of those is an option to make the thread a poll. Never done it but I'm guessing that's how one does it.

Attachment is a visual.

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

@Cherokee-n-Black If you are looking at the new window where you post your new thread and then scroll down to the bottom, you'll see "Additional Options". At the bottom of those is an option to make the thread a poll. Never done it but I'm guessing that's how one does it.

Attachment is a visual.

Thank you, oh wise one! I agree with pp, where's your book deal?

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

@AuNaturalMaMa No you don't. Once you reach your goal, you can let your hair down every now and then, but it can't be all the time. My friends with long hair tell me how annoying it is when it gets caught on the seat when you sit down, on your bag strap, in the door when you get in the car.... So it's practical to wear it up, if you want to keep it. Not to mention those nutters out in the world ready to cut it off if they can get close enough.

Personally I think long hair is so beautiful and so special that if I had it, wearing it down would be like wearing a full face of makeup. I don't do it everyday because it'd get old real quick. I save it for those times when I want to make a statement and just have a change of pace. I know a girl who's always made up 24/7, 366 days a year...and so once when we had to dress up for a special event and were all looking like a million bucks, she looked so plain and almost as if she dressed down.

Maintenance of your ends is also something people neglect. I don't know if you were doing that or not, but leaving ends to their own devices months on end, even with PSing, can cause them to weaken and break of. I believe in regular dusting...but not many do. *shrug*

When Adrienne reached waist length (after PSing during her journey) she'd wear her hair down twice a week to work, IIRC.

@Nonie. Thanks for the advice. This was the first time since I stopped relaxing,transitioned, and BC to nautural that I've had a problem with my ends. I PS regularly and sealed regularly for those 3 years. I really think it was the clothes and wearing my hair down more often once I hit APL. Now, I'm back on the PS regularly adding new styles to my book.

ETA: I did dust/trim regularly too. I was supercut girl until recenlty im a diy'er

 

[Nonie]

Thank you, oh wise one! I agree with pp, where's your book deal?

Cherokee-n-Black thebelleofelle Guess you guys never browse dictionaries for words you already know, huh? The image beside the word lazy in the pictorial dictionary is supposed to be me. The artist just wasn't very good at drawing.

 

[Nonie]

@Nonie. Thanks for the advice. This was the first time since I stopped relaxing,transitioned, and BC to nautural that I've had a problem with my ends. I PS regularly and sealed regularly for those 3 years. I really think it was the clothes and wearing my hair down more often once I hit APL. Now, I'm back on the PS regularly adding new styles to my book.

AuNaturalMaMa How often do you dust your hair? PSing doesn't mean splits will stop happening. It just means they'll happen at a slower pace. IMO dusting a snippet every two months is better than waiting for natural wear and tear to happen over 6 months to the ends and then suddenly start trimming.

Usually folks who trim every 6 months cut off about an inch plus. Folks who dust 1/4 inch every 2 months and PS will in six months only have lost 0.75 inches and have ends that are full and not see through...thus having saved themselves losing that extra 0.25-1.25 inches had they waited.

And if you're doing S&D, IMO, that's the biggest waste of time in hair care regimen I have ever read about. Your eyes cannot see damage at a microscopic scale which is when splitting starts...and by the time you'll looking at strand #25 and #26...assuming you really believe you're looking at every strand out of the 100,000 strands you have, stand #89,579 is tearing more and more, and part of it has fallen off. By the time you get to it, it looks whole coz it's not forked but it's broken. And how many days did it take to get there? And what do you think was happening to the strands as time went by? And if you're not going strand by strand, how many are you missing? Wouldn't it make better sense to just snip the "starts of a split" as regularly as makes sense so that you don't have to ever face thin, breaking ends? I tried to explain the notch effect of splits in this post.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

@AuNaturalMaMa How often do you dust your hair? PSing doesn't mean splits will stop happening. It just means they'll happen at a slower pace. IMO dusting a snippet every two months is better than waiting for natural wear and tear to happen over 6 months to the ends and then suddenly start trimming.

Usually folks who trim every 6 months cut off about an inch plus. Folks who dust 1/4 inch every 2 months and PS will in six months only have lost 0.75 inches and have ends that are full and not see through...thus having saved themselves losing that extra 0.25-1.25 inches had they waited.

And if you're doing S&D, IMO, that's the biggest waste of time in hair care regimen I have ever read about. Your eyes cannot see damage at a microscopic scale which is when splitting starts...and by the time you'll looking at strand #25 and #26...assuming you really believe you're looking at every strand out of the 100,000 strands you have, stand #89,579 is tearing more and more, and part of it has fallen off. By the time you get to it, it looks whole coz it's not forked but it's broken. And how many days did it take to get there? And what do you think was happening to the strands as time went by? And if you're not going strand by strand, how many are you missing? Wouldn't it make better sense to just snip the "starts of a split" as regularly as makes sense so that you don't have to ever face thin, breaking ends? I tried to explain the notch effect of splits in this post.

Nonie, when I was going to supercuts I went every 8 weeks and got a trim. I forgot to mention this. Then when I hit APL I didn't go for like 5 months...... Last time I went to the salon was end of December. Then in May I noticed split city....only in my nape though. After reading your great info. I believe it was from not getting dusted in those 5 months and not PS and having my hair down a lot rubbing on my clothes (even though I was sealing my ends). And what did I do? Try to s & d..... It was a pain in the abs and I do not plan on doing it anymore. I did trim about 1 inch myself but I plan on dusting regularly now that I'm not scared anymore. If anytime I feel like im not doing a good job I wont hesistate to go back to supercuts...they never did me any harm there.

 

[faithVA]

And if you're doing S&D, IMO, that's the biggest waste of time in hair care regimen I have ever read about.

Well how do you really feel about it Nonie. I'm surprised you are so outspoken. You are usually soooo reserved.

 

[Nonie]

@Nonie, when I was going to supercuts I went every 8 weeks and got a trim. I forgot to mention this. Then when I hit APL I didn't go for like 5 months...... Last time I went to the salon was end of December. Then in May I noticed split city....only in my nape though. After reading your great info. I believe it was from not getting dusted in those 5 months and not PS and having my hair down a lot rubbing on my clothes (even though I was sealing my ends). And what did I do? Try to s & d..... It was a pain in the abs and I do not plan on doing it anymore. I did trim about 1 inch myself but I plan on dusting regularly now that I'm not scared anymore. If anytime I feel like im not doing a good job I wont hesistate to go back to supercuts...they never did me any harm there.

AuNaturalMaMa, yeah most times we screw up when we change a regimen that was working. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Never mind what other folks are doing on the forum. Personally I'd go to Supercuts since they never did me wrong...and if I can keep getting the same stylist who never did me wrong. Unless you're trying to save money, there really is no reason why you should experiment...unless you're daring like that.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

@AuNaturalMaMa, yeah most times we screw up when we change a regimen that was working. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Never mind what other folks are doing on the forum. Personally I'd go to Supercuts since they never did me wrong...and if I can keep getting the same stylist who never did me wrong. Unless you're trying to save money, there really is no reason why you should experiment...unless you're daring like that.

Most def. @ the bolded. I am trying to save money. When I did go just for a dust/trim I always got that plus products, plus waxing, plus.....

 

[Nonie]

Most def. @ the bolded. I am trying to save money. When I did go just for a dust/trim I always got that plus products, plus waxing, plus.....

Girl, have your SO or BFF hold your purse and wait in the car and just carry enough change into the salon for the cut. I doubt they give products out for free or on credit. That should keep you in line. Plus after 2 months, surely you do deserve to treat yourself to a good, healthy trim. Consider it an investment in this HHJ.

 

[thebelleofelle]

Nonie girl you are the woman with ALL the answers..I swear...I need to get into your school of hair knowledge...

I still feel like a newbie after a year of lurking...lol

question: if my ends won't get straight what does it mean???

 

[Dizz]

...Can Roux Porosity Control destroy your curls?

I recently BC'ed, and I've been wearing my hair in a WnG for the first time all this week. I co-washed twice or three times during the week, and I applied the PC with my conditioner. I noticed today that portions of my hair are a lot straighter. There are sections on the top of my head that look like airdried relaxed hair, and the ends of curls throughout my head are beginning to look like limp little relaxed ends.

Does anyone have any insight on this? If I wanted my hair to be straight, I would have just kept relaxing. This is garbage.

 

[Damaged but not out]

its probably not a good idea to snap off the hair just before a ssk, right?


Would it leave to a split, you think?

 

[Nonie]

its probably not a good idea to snap off the hair just before a ssk, right?


Would it leave to a split, you think?

Damaged but not out Yes, it would. You're better off cutting it off with a very sharp pair of scissors.

 

[Nonie]

...Can Roux Porosity Control destroy your curls?

I recently BC'ed, and I've been wearing my hair in a WnG for the first time all this week. I co-washed twice or three times during the week, and I applied the PC with my conditioner. I noticed today that portions of my hair are a lot straighter. There are sections on the top of my head that look like airdried relaxed hair, and the ends of curls throughout my head are beginning to look like limp little relaxed ends.

Does anyone have any insight on this? If I wanted my hair to be straight, I would have just kept relaxing. This is garbage.

Dizz I don't see how it can. Did you use the product as the directions say? I'm not a fan of mixing stuff coz you never know what chemical reaction might occur that could give weird results. I also believe it's important to use products as directed for best results. Why did you decide to use PC with your conditioner? If Kimmay's video is accurate, then an acidic solution--which I believe Roux PC is--should make your curls pop not disappear, so not sure what's going on with your hair.

 

[Nonie]

question: if my ends won't get straight what does it mean???[/QUOTE]

[USER=198310]thebelleofelle I'm not sure. But if you think of the hair as a cylinder, then the ends are like open end that would be first to lose moisture. Per westNDNbeauty's thread, well moisturized hair straightens best...so perhaps your ends are just not as moisturized like the main length because they're open...

I do think split ends would also look frizzy, but that may not be you problem. Just mentioning it so if you try the extra moisture on ends and it doesn't work, then maybe a trim may help. But remember the minute you trim or dust, you create a new end which starts to lose moisture too and face the same risks as the previous ends. So seal and protect.

 

[Dizz]

@Dizz I don't see how it can. Did you use the product as the directions say? I'm not a fan of mixing stuff coz you never know what chemical reaction might occur that could give weird results. I also believe it's important to use products as directed for best results. Why did you decide to use PC with your conditioner? If Kimmay's video is accurate, then an acidic solution--which I believe Roux PC is--should make your curls pop not disappear, so not sure what's going on with your hair.

Thanks for taking the time to help, Nonie!

The directions said to leave it on for thirty seconds, but I left it on for however long it took me to soap up (maybe two, three minutes). I didn't think it would be an issue because the bottle is labeled "conditioner / for daily use" and it's not a concentrated treatment. I only added my regular conditioner just as I was about to rinse. Funny too, I know PC is supposed to be acidic, and only with a pH of 4.5, so I was really confused as to why my hair would appear to be so different.

But in hindsight, I have to apologize and be honest... I think I was panicking. Sorry! This is my first time letting my hair go free and properly moisturizing it, and what seemed to me to be curl damage is probably what my unmanipulated, properly moisturized hair is supposed to look like. It feels soft, smooth, and springy. The ends that look relaxed might be that way because they're ends that are relaxed and missed the first wave of cutting. So I think I'm okay. My hair isn't being the compacted, brittle frizzball I'm used to, but that's a good thing.