Closing the cuticle??

[spanishteardrops]

On the catalyst thread its says to use Nexxus Ensure Acidifying conditioner to close the cuticle after relaxing. Does anybody use this when relaxing? TIA

eta: Also from the catalyst thread.... balsam conditioner to seal the cuticle. Any truth in that? Thanks

 

[Neroli]

Don't know about balsam, but I've used nexxus ensure and its very very good. However, I've found a much cheaper way to close cuticles, ACV as a FINAL rinse after conditioner -- hair is smooth and soft as silk. I don't use after touchups because go to dominician for that and I let them do their thing. However, I use ACV every time I wash myself. Hmmm, maybe I'll buy the small tube of ensure and take with me my next touchup . . . don't know if I'd want to use ACV immediately after relaxer, the vinegar might cause reversion -- I don't know? Ensure is great and now you got me thinking to use it only after relaxers (so that I can stretch it, it's rather pricey!) and do the ACV for regular washes . . . .

 

[spanishteardrops]

bump

 

[CurlyCrly]

I use ACV after relaxer/texturizer touch-ups. I use it about once a week or every two weeks to clarify too.

 

[Brooke007]

I agree w/ the ACV rinse too

 

[Tracy]

I use any low PH conditioner along with a color rinse (which also has a low PH) to close my cuticles after a relaxer and for regular maintenance.

 

[Poohbear]

Spanishteardrops, I wonder the same question after reading that Catalyst for your Obsession thread...I have never used an acidifying conditioner because Ive never heard of having to use one after relaxers and I just wonder how is it different from other conditioners???? The only thing I have always used after a relaxer is a neutralizing shampoo and sometimes a regular conditioner and my hair has been in great shape. I saw that it closes the cuticle but don't even know what a hair cuticle is. Can someone please inform me about the significance of closing/sealing the cuticle and what it is????????

 

[Neroli]

[ QUOTE ]
Poohbear said:
Spanishteardrops, I wonder the same question after reading that Catalyst for your Obsession thread...I have never used an acidifying conditioner because Ive never heard of having to use one after relaxers and I just wonder how is it different from other conditioners???? The only thing I have always used after a relaxer is a neutralizing shampoo and sometimes a regular conditioner and my hair has been in great shape. I saw that it closes the cuticle but don't even know what a hair cuticle is. Can someone please inform me about the significance of closing/sealing the cuticle and what it is????????

[/ QUOTE ]


Each strand of hair has cuticles that are like the scales on a fish and healthy shiny hair has cuticles that are closed tight. When we relax, color, wash, or even wet the hair, the cuticles (or "scales") rises up, the more akaline (high ph level) the substance the more the cuticles are lifted up which makes for frizzy, dry dull hair. If the cuticles STAYS raise up, then no way for each strand to retain mositure, thus the need to lower the ph of the hair to assist in closing cuticles.

Relaxers (lye) are vary akaline and opens the cuticle like wide open in order to break down the protein bonds in the hair. Makes sense to want to "acidify" immediately after relaxing in order to lower hair ph and close the cuticles back up. Indeed, overprocessed hair is where relaxer left on long enough to "eat" away at the cuticles so that they disappear (i.e. a fish without scales), which leaves no protection for the inner hair (cortex?) and that is why impossible to repair or keep overprocessed hair moisturized -- gotta be cut off because really no way to "save it"

In a normal regimen, you would ideally, want to raise the cuticles just enough to restore moisture and/or protein and then closed them back up tight in order to retain the benefits of the protein/moisture.

At least, that's my understanding. Anyone else?

 

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Neroli said:
[ QUOTE ]
Poohbear said:
Spanishteardrops, I wonder the same question after reading that Catalyst for your Obsession thread...I have never used an acidifying conditioner because Ive never heard of having to use one after relaxers and I just wonder how is it different from other conditioners???? The only thing I have always used after a relaxer is a neutralizing shampoo and sometimes a regular conditioner and my hair has been in great shape. I saw that it closes the cuticle but don't even know what a hair cuticle is. Can someone please inform me about the significance of closing/sealing the cuticle and what it is????????

[/ QUOTE ]


Each strand of hair has cuticles that are like the scales on a fish and healthy shiny hair has cuticles that are closed tight. When we relax, color, wash, or even wet the hair, the cuticles (or "scales") rises up, the more akaline (high ph level) the substance the more the cuticles are lifted up which makes for frizzy, dry dull hair. If the cuticles STAYS raise up, then no way for each strand to retain mositure, thus the need to lower the ph of the hair to assist in closing cuticles.

Relaxers (lye) are vary akaline and opens the cuticle like wide open in order to break down the protein bonds in the hair. Makes sense to want to "acidify" immediately after relaxing in order to lower hair ph and close the cuticles back up. Indeed, overprocessed hair is where relaxer left on long enough to "eat" away at the cuticles so that they disappear (i.e. a fish without scales), which leaves no protection for the inner hair (cortex?) and that is why impossible to repair or keep overprocessed hair moisturized -- gotta be cut off because really no way to "save it"

In a normal regimen, you would ideally, want to raise the cuticles just enough to restore moisture and/or protein and then closed them back up tight in order to retain the benefits of the protein/moisture.

At least, that's my understanding. Anyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that makes sense and sounds very educated

But for ME, I dont see the point of using an acidifying conditioner if I have NEVER had any breakage problems with my hair from NOT using one.

If an acidifying conditioner lowers the ph, how is it different from a neutralizing shampoo which lowers the ph of the hair too?

 

[Tracy]

It may well be that you don't need one, but some find that when they include acidifying as a step, even if they never had any serious problems before, they get better hair.

For many people the idea is to do everything they can to enhance the beauty and health of the hair. Acidifying is one of those things.

You don't HAVE to do it to have healthy hair (unless your hair is particularly sensitive to PH), some people just like to.

 

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Tracy said:
It may well be that you don't need one, but some find that when they include acidifying as a step, even if they never had any serious problems before, they get better hair.

For many people the idea is to do everything they can to enhance the beauty and health of the hair. Acidifying is one of those things.

You don't HAVE to do it to have healthy hair (unless your hair is particularly sensitive to PH), some people just like to.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks Tracy.

 

[spanishteardrops]

Thanks

I bought some anyways

 

[spanishteardrops]

I also ordered some balsam conditioner. When I touch up I will let you know how it works out

 

[senimoni]

bumping......

I never heard of this...only thing I do is rinse with cold water...I heard that closes the cuticle.

 

[Jewell]

bumping......

I never heard of this...only thing I do is rinse with cold water...I heard that closes the cuticle.

I heard this too. I do a cool/cold water rinse after rinsing my conditoner out with warm water...I rinse for about 30 secs w/cool water. It supposedly closes the cuticle, causing the layers to lie flat on the hair shaft, preventing lots of snagging when combing. Some conditioners advise a cool water rinse for extra shine. I do it, and my hair is a little easier to comb.

 

[caligirl]

I also heard that heat from a flat iron closes the cuticle. So how can heat AND cold close the cuticle? I'm confused.

 

[Isis]

I also heard that heat from a flat iron closes the cuticle. So how can heat AND cold close the cuticle? I'm confused.

All I know is that cold water does indeed close the cuticle, making the hair stronger. I haven't read that heat makes the hair stronger. For me, it was the opposite (I've never used a flat iron).

 

[myco]

I also heard that heat from a flat iron closes the cuticle. So how can heat AND cold close the cuticle? I'm confused.

I could be wrong but maybe flat irons function to smooth the cuticle moreso than close them like acidifiers. The heat forces them all to lie in the same direction making the hair appear smoother.

I use Ensure every time I wash my hair. It has a pH of 3 if I remember correctly. It helps to detangle and the hair does feel smoother after using it. Plus I love the scent that it leaves in my hair.

 

[Jewell]

Flat irons cause the layers of the cuticle to lie somewhat flat (ionic and ceramic flat-irons), but it doesn't necessarily close it completely. I've only heard that cool/cold water closes the cuticle, making the hair shiny and smooth.