Do we really need moisturizers, potions and creams

[AmilLion]

After learning of this board and caring for my hair, I've tried a variety of moisturizers, conditioners, creams and potions in hopes that it would assist attaining the length desired. However, over the months, I've become extremely lazy with my hair care. I've noticed with the decreased interest in my hair, it is growing at an astronomical rate. I wash and condition (moisturizing conditioner) my hair on a weekly basis and apply nothing to my hair until the next washing. The hydration my hair receives after washing is enough to suffice for the week in addition to my own sebum oils. Could this have been the key to attaining the length I desired? Did I waste hundreds of dollars in products?

 

[Leslie_C]

you know, you could be on to something there

To be completely honest, my hair also saw the most progress ever when I simply left it alone. I wore it up in a phonytail, washed and conditioned weekly, and thats it. Ive had short damaged hair that never grew past my neck since I was about 13 or 14. I had all the damaged hair cut off a little over a year ago and started new(at first it was too short to even attach hair!) and my hair grew all the way back to my shoulders.

I permed it only 3-4 times in that period of time and only left the perm on for about 5-10 minutes. So I guess my hair is sort of texturized now bc my new stylist said it was underprocessed and attempted a corrective relaxer but it still didt completely take and gets puffy so I think its just resistant in the first place. I wont try to correct it again, I might lose my hair.

On one hand I think, if it grew that much with nothing special, it can grow more if I really try. On the other hand, leaving it alone never failed me! When I start nursing school in september I may go back to that regimen for the simple fact I wont have that much time to deal with my hair. You never know, that could be the key to that bra strap hair everyone wants!

 

[Falon]

I guess it depends on hair type. If you never had a dry hair condition to begin with then yes it was a waste to spend that much trying to moisturize your hair when it didn't need it.

If I, on the other hand, wash my hair and put nothing in it (and i have done this before) I would have a very serious problem because I have hair that is naturally very dry and I produce very little sebum.

 

[Karonica]

I personally think a lot of stuff is unnecessary. Before I came to this board, I never conditioned my hair, never used a leave-in. Just some castor oil grease after shampooing and I was done. And I had some nice length then.

 

[Neroli]

I agree! I don't use ANYTHING on my hair from wash to wash and it has been in the best condition since. I very occasionally use tiny drops of aloe, maybe, but very rarely. It seems all that in-between stuff (sprays, serums, oils, grease, whatever) was just over-kill for my hair. My motto is, less is more! I AM always on the lookout for a good shampoo/conditioner/leave-in tho -- just can't help the PJsim . . .

 

[sassygirl125]

Hi Stranger!

 

[bollyhair]

I'm inclined to agree also. I know that oftentimes when I am wearing braids and I'm doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to my hair (aside from putting the braids into a ponytail and spray "sheening" as needed), my hair always grows out very nicely. However, it does seem as though when I am really concentrating on taking care of my hair (daily styling and maintenance, 2x's a week washing, etc.), my hair seems to grow much slower. Perhaps it's a case of "a watched pot never boils". Hmmm!

 

[Lindy]

[ QUOTE ]
Leslie_C said:
On one hand I think, if it grew that much with nothing special, it can grow more if I really try.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to say that ever since I've been paying more attention to my hair, and trying different products, it has been thriving and I've actually been retaining length instead of my hair breaking off, which is what always happened in the past.

Leaving the hair alone may work for you ladies who aren't using a lot of chemicals, but since I have a double dose of chemical treatments going on (relaxer/color), I definitely have to keep up with the deep conditioning/oils/moisture/protein thing.

If I left my hair alone I don't think I'd have much left on my head!!

 

[AmilLion]

Hi Sassy

 

[cutebajangirl]

I never use anything on my hair in between washings. I am aiming to correct that though as I do get snapping and breakage from the dryness. So I guess it depends on the hair type.

 

[bollyhair]

You know what? I think that for me, the key to good growth is to just have my hair braided away so that I cannot mess w/ it. Currently I am in cornrows (2 weeks old this coming Saturday) and ALREADY they are starting to look old. I think that I may be able to go ONE MORE WEEK w/ these w/o ABSOLUTELY NEEDING to take them out. But when I am OUT of braids (micros or cornrows, etc.), THAT'S when I turn into a PRODUCT JUNKY!

When I am rocking my own hair loose, either natural or relaxed,...THAT's when I am fiendishly searching for all the Dominican stuff, the creams, the lotions, the potions, etc., etc.

Like RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT,...I'm already thinking about how I cannot wait to take these cornrows out and pondering what kind of style that I'll wear my hair in next. But I think what I really need to do is, once I take the cornrows out, wash, condition, etc., and then re-braid and leave it alone. Hmm!

 

[AmilLion]

Lindy, I totally understand and agree with you. For me, yes, each week, I make sure to wash my hair with a pH balanced shampoo and apply a moisturizing conditioner to my hair w/heat for about 10 minutes. I rinse, apply leave in conditioner, rollerset my hair and that's it. Maybe I'm lucky. But my hair is relaxed and color-treated as well, and I must say, my hair just loves natures natural moisturizer.....plan and simple water lol

 

[Tonya]

Hey gurol!!!

Where have you been??? Where are your updated pics?????

ok back to the topic...I have cut back on using so many different probucts. I do wash more frequently weekly and I am huge fann of co washes but I do not have a million products anymore!

 

[AmilLion]

@ Tonya

I've been laying low for a while. Back in Oct. my department relocated to another state, so that pretty much sums up my situation. Went to school full-time, so I didn't have much leisure time for the net. Started looking for a job two weeks ago, about to start work again in July. Will see you guys more often. I'm an internet junkie in the office

Will be updating my pictures as soon as I can get a new camera lol

 

[Tonya]

Great to have you back!
How much has your hair changed?

 

[AmilLion]

Well for one, when measuring:

From hairline to ends - 21.5"
From scalp to ends - 12.5"
Hair around my hair line measures close to - 9" (recall I had problems growing my hair line)
No more underprocessed or overprocessed hair
No more frizzies and puffies.

Measuring my hair according to brastrap would be a waste of time for me considering I have a long neck and I'm about 5'9.5". Brastrap for me could be equivalent to near waist length for someone else lol

Overall, I’m at a point now, I could careless if I have long hair or not. It grows, it grows!

 

[keke]

In a sense i feel that since you are already using mositurizing conditioners and shampoos you already got the moisture in your hair some of us just put in other things to help retain it.

Karonica what you used to do sounds just like what i plan on doing. I'm gonna just shampoo my hair(maybe wash once a week or maybe less) and then put in some Biolage detangler in and then comb it through my hair and hopefully that will loosen up the shrinkage. I'm gonna do that for a month and see how things go.

 

[aqualung]

Re: Do we really need moisturizers, potions and cr

I'm still searching for that moisturizer, potion, or cream that enables me to manage the type 4 new growth while stretching out relaxers.

latest failure: syrupy wild growth hair oil that may have been sitting on the shelf of the Sally's BSS since early 1987

next: coconut oil

last resort: witchcraft

 

[Tracy]

Re: Do we really need moisturizers, potions and cr

I dont think we do need all the extra stuff. Or, not nearly as much as we use and buy. I think buying extra stuff is just a function of what I call the girl tax .

Its like skin care. All we really need a good cleanser and moisturizer with some sun screen. My skin does best with that. But Im constantly picking u some vitamin C infused retinol line pluming collagen booster with exfoliating microbeads made from jojoba oil to smooth and revitalize etc....

Were just pathological is all!

 

[Dutchess]

I did just about everything to my hair imaginable that was suppose to promote growth. I got a small about of length from weaves and braids and I wanted to wear my own hair. It wasn't until I learned the importance of moisture that my hair started growing and far exceeded any length I got from grease, weaves, braids, protective styles, etc. So for myself, moisturizing was the key.

 

[JuJuBoo]

I don't think we need all the extra stuff at ALL. In my opinion it's ALL about the DEEP CONDITIONER! If you have a deep conditioner that does what it SAYS, you won't need all the creams, lotions, and potions. I know from experience! Not a drop of oil or cream has touched my head since October!