After joining LHCF, I feel that I've learned "How To Correctly Care For Hair" for the first time. I had to re-think what to use and how it should work. I had never heard of CW and asked a few members for advice.
I haven't posted much about my experiences, but I'd like to share since it all started with co-washing.
I read about all the stuff people were using and couldn't make up my mind what conditioner would be best....so I immediately became a product junkie. I started off by giving away so much of my current product, I could have opened a store. I had atleast 3 giant moving boxes full of shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, and hair grease. Gave it all up!!! Then, I had to figure out what was going to work for me.
I bought every conditioner I heard of here....VO5, Sauve, Aubrey GPB, Infusium, Pantene, Clairol RX and Herbal Essence, Kenra, Nature's Gate, Loreal VIVE, NTM, Back To Basics, Surge, and then some. I'm not sure what was doing what because every night I tried something else rather than stick to one product because I was afraid of my hair getting use to any one of them. At first, it was a godsend becuase my hair was responding beautifully. I liked the soft, smooth, healthy look and feel. It stopped shedding, and my ends were stronger and thicker looking. Then, it all seemed to change and I was having a hard tiime figuring out why. I started putting more products on my hair after my final conditioner rinse, to combat dryness and the shedding that had returned. It wasn't working, so I was a little distraught. Everyone in the forum was having such great success and I felt like a failure....but I didn't give up.
I decided to simplify my routine and start again. I now have a regime that works perfectly for me. It leaves my hair soft, straight, moisturized, and beautifully wavy. I can stretch a relaxer beyond my dreams. So, what have I done differently????
I co-wash my hair with Nature's Gate conditioners or V05 or Sauve. I drench my hair with water and massage 3 handfuls of con in my hair. Then I might add an oil blend on top...massage for 2-3 minutes, put on a plastic cap for about 30 mins to 1 hour and rinse out. If I'm doing a deep con day, then I rinse that out in about 15 minutes, and apply Saleerm Hair Oil Mask for about 30 mins to 1 hour, then rinse and apply a deep conditioner that I might mix with honey and EVOO. This combo works wonders for my hair. When I'm not being lazy, I'll do a pre -poo with honey and EVOO or johoba, or coconut oil, or Castor Oil...or a mix of all of them. Then my routine of co-wash and deep con.
The biggest challenge for me was how I did my hair after I rinsed the con out. Too many choices!! So, I decided simple for me was probably best. What I've ended up with is the GREATEST combo to moisturize my hair..
I will use a rinse to detangle. It stay in the hair.
I think I like KeraCare's best, but I also love the Saleerm leave-in.
The next step is the bomb. I mix a quarter size amount of shine serum (Design Essentials Silk Essentials) with Bed Head Ego Boost. Oh MY GOD!!!
Then some hair creme - Design Essentials RX, or QP Mango butter.
For security, I might smooth some oil (Nexxus Botanic Oil) on top...but not everyday. Then I brush the outer layer with a boar's head brush to put up in a pony tail and airdry. Some days, I might use Dark&Lovely's Honey Wave Glaze & Carol's Daughters Hair Butter instead of the Hair creme and botanic oil. Either way...my hair is WONDERFUL for me.
Now, the last thing was figuring out the best way to airdry and wrap it really flat. I GOT IT!!!! I use a long silk wrap scarf and a net hair band that has a velcro close. I wrap the silk scarf around my head in a tight circle so the top is open. I tuck the end under the last turn of the scarf and secure with the band around my forehead, ears, and velcro it in the back. Now the top is open right??? Well, I put the top together like a ponytail, keeping it tight. Then I take a short scarf and wrap that around the top. It's like having your hair in a pony tail and creating another ponytail with the scarf. It gets really tight and flattens my hair beautifully. In the morning, my hair is unbelievable.
This routine will allow me to go 2-3 days without co-washing.
On a non-cowash day, I will spray my dry hair at night with John Frieda's Leave-in spray, and then follow the same routine above. It's just as wonderful this way!!!
I've been using protein once a month, and I've found that my hair LOVES and responds really well to Dominican hair conditioners. I've tried the Super 10 en 1, Silicon Mix, and Capilo's Milk & Honey. Now I've ordered tons of Dominican Hair conditioners.
Anybody tried any of their relaxers??? I've been using Affirm and Dudley's.