Dry, brittle, 4b hair issues.

[zoromo]

virtuenow my only question was how do shampoo just the scalp and not get the rest of the hair soapy? I will try it out soon. Thanks for the tip.

 

[virtuenow]

@virtuenow my only question was how do shampoo just the scalp and not get the rest of the hair soapy? I will try it out soon. Thanks for the tip.

@zoromo In my last post, I indicate some shampoo residue will get on your hair, and that is fine. You are still dodging the drying effects of the shampoo b/c its diluted. I actually like that some residue gets on the hair for cleaning purposes. The color applicator bottle has a long nozzle so you just put it right up to your scalp and you massage it into the scalp as you go along. I use a minty shampoo like Nioxin, so I get a fresh, tingly, clean scalp w/each wash. I guess if you have like 1inch hair, all of your hair will probably be soaped though (you also have pre-poo on so you're protected).

ETA: Here are some examples of using the applicator bottle. Not exactly how I do it but close. Ms lala at 1:58 marker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVm...DvjVQa1PpcFM6q3KEC7OgsbIg0iszRROQhCoOSM6Wguk= and here is Traycee at 3:50 min marker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy_VzXCkKR0&list=FLpDNF3vz9XzyCx-g3QmwnxQ&index=29&feature=plpp_video

@sunkissedskin The main take away point in trying new products is that you should notice a change in your hair. There should be some kind of noticeable difference, some improvement. That is when I knew my products were working. I used to end up w/the same straw no matter what I tried. The last straw was the most expensive product and most highly recommended that I used, Aveda Intense Restructure conditioner. I used for about 4 Deep Cond treatments (they said you have to keep using to notice the effects), and I still came out w/straw hair.

When I used AO GPB, I noticed immediately that it was working; when I used the moisture pre poo, again, immediate moisture; oil rinses-- immediate. After the whole treatment, hair still felt moist. If you are never feeling moisture; and even if after having tried all these products you still come out dry, then you have not found the right products (or technique). So keep trying radical things like I did to get my hair to finally accept moisture. Its doesn't come easy for all of us .

 

[MissTripleChoc]

Try getting back on the vits, hair is like a plant you can rub as many oils and conditioners on it but it won't make a blind bit of difference if your not feeding your hair from the inside out xxx

 

[Honey01]

I had the same problem for years as a natural. I tried everything out there and almost gave up. Then I finally found some products that penetrated my hair and allowed it to hold moisture. I use Aubrey Organics GPB for deep conditioning. Its a restructuring conditioner that helps to rebuild your strands and balance out your protein and moisture. The effects last about a week, so using regularly once a week has compeletely changed my strands around. And by the way, balancing your protein and moisture is the best way to address your porosity issues. There is no quick fix!

Also, I use castor oil rinses; and spritzes w/castor oil http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=150965. It is very similar to glycerin in what its supposed to do (enhance moisturize) and how it feels, except glycerin dries my hair out. Have you found glycerin to be helpful to your hair at all? I know it works on alot of people, but not all. It may be time to ditch that product...

The last thing, I found shampoos to be very drying to my already dry hair. With that, I only shampoo my scalp now w/diluted shampoo in a color applicator bottle. (2-3 squirts shampoo, fill rest of bottle w/water). The rest of my hair gets cleaned by my Deep conditioner, Aubrey Organics, as a DC-co-wash!

Thanks!

I am going to try that, diluted shampoos in an applicator bottle tonight (or tomorrow). I have the same issues as the OP w/ dryness and major tangles.

I just went to Sally's today and picked up the Tangle Teazer. I am a little iffy on using it though.

 

[lamaria211]

i dont no if this has been mentioned but maybe you have had wate in your area? if so ion makes great poducts for it. hth

 

[la mosca]

Iron deficiency -anaemia can cause hair to grow dry and brittle. I would get some blood work done to check, or just start taking a supplement with iron in it. There are other threads about this if you do a search.
Also hard water, calcium and mineral build up can cause the hair to be brittle, dull and extremely dry which doesn't respond to any product. Chelating shampoos are good and shower filters. All the best x

These are really good points. When my iron was low, my hair was brittle and breaking. Also, MSM and silica have made my hair grow in noticeably softer, smoother, and better able to retain moisture. A shower filter is inexpensive and can make a big difference, too.

 

[JazziLady!]

My 4B hair used to always be super dry and brittle. That's when I didn't know better and used to think the answer to dry damaged hair was protein treatments. Protein was killing my hair and making it worse. I learned to use moisturizing shampoos and conditioner. Right now I like the Nunaat deep moisturizing shampoo that you can get from Walgreens. My BABY is Kenra Moisturizing conditioner. It has truly changed my hair! I have been using Kenra for several years and it is the ONLY conditioner I will use. It is like BUTTER! I do 3 passes of conditioner. The first is the Kenra only, the 2nd is Kenra mixed with a black tea rinse (the black tea is excellent for smoothing out my strands and reducing shedding/breakage. The final pass is with Kenra only and the longer you let it sit, the better. If you can get under a steamer or dryer with a plastic cap - even better. Once I started doing this I was able to retain length and have healthy hair.

 

[ClassicChic]

I didn't read all of the post so I dont know if this was said ............

Drink more water. Try to drink 64 ounces a day. Also, I have 4a/b, very dry hair. I just started using Joico products. I am in love!

 

[MystiqueBabe]

I think she should clarify first. In order to do this you will need a clarifying shampone people like on here is Nexxus Aloe Rid. Clarifying will give you a clean slate to work on. The general rule is to clarify once a month. When I feel my products are not performing like they used to I will clarify and that solves the problem.

 

[lamaria211]

well stated Nonie i needed to read that about 80 products ago

 

[RockRideTrue]

If it has already been said sorry, there's a lot of good advice flowing in this here thread, and I plan on reading through this thread but before I forget my train of thought I think I should share my bit of advice as a fellow low porosity, thick haired, thin stranded natural this is what worked for me...

1. I think you should shampoo less you said shampoo at least 1 a week,you should try shampooing only when your hair need to be shampooed, not on some type of schedule

2.As was said earlier the goal is to open your strands to moisture,ergo a steamer would be your est bet into getting moisturized hair

3. This is just something I learned, as a low porosity curlie, your goal IS NOT to seal your cuticle further but open it a little to get moisture in, so ACV rinses, Roux Porosity Control and final rinsing with cold water is counterproductive they are used to seal the cuticle not open it.

4. There is no magical product, its all about technique and how you use the stuff so take reccomendations aout this that and the other will work with a grain of salt, you'll save money that way too!

Here's a link that I found really useful, while the author does mention some things wouldn't do because I feel a little iffy about it, he offers a lot of good scientific background on low-po hair and what can be done to manage it. And if you can understand the main idea, taking care if your hair should be a little easier. The blog is also really good (I don't own it):
http://www.natreview.com/2012/04/18...ally-speaking-moisturizing-low-porosity-hair/

 

[Barbara]

After you clarify with baking soda, try Verifen Complex products. They don't need to be doctored up in any way, shape, or form. Just use them directly from the containers.

You don't have to do a hot oil treatment, prepoo, conditioner wash, or add oil(s) to any of these items. Study and apply the hair guides featured in the website, use them consistently, and be patient.

 

[sunkissedskin]

Ughhhhh I had my replies all typed up & my laptop died. -_- SO, I just want to say thanks to everyone who helped me and shared their personal experiences and regimens. I'm going to try and use up all my products before I run out and splurge on new stuff, mainly because I live in Canada and I don't have easy access to a lot of these awesome products that some of you ladies use. No Walgreens or Target up here. Plus I'm broke as a joke, and I have a crapload of products that I need to finish up.

I'm going to try DCing with heat more often, cutting out the glycerin, shampooing and oiling less often, clarifying, keeping my hair stretched, oh and getting that GPB conditioner! I know for a fact they sell it at my health store, I just need for them to restock. In the meantime I'm going to search up these other products that were mentioned and see what I want to try. (and start saving up from now ) I'll probably start cowashing more often again.
And, I'm going to save up for a steamer. Seems like a good investment, haha.

Thanks again.

 

[BlaqBella]

Don't let it get you down if the gpb doesn't give amazing results right away. And the advice you've been given here is excellent. I tried gpb and I liked it (probably the smell & that its a natural product) but it only gave minimal good results for me at first. Just like some others joico, etc. Now I keep aubrey gpb and hsr in my stash, along with joico and amla oil and such. Find out if heat works for you. And exercise mow the yard or something with that conditioner in to get those cuticles open, until you can get a steamer. Idk use a sit under dryer, heating cap, or (carefully) a pot of boiling hot water with a towel over your head to trap steam. Heat dcing has changed my hair as far as getting those cuticles open. And yes, definitely try to keep your hair stretched it will help in covering every strand with whatever you're applying, moisturizing, dcing, etc.

 

[sunkissedskin]

Don't let it get you down if the gpb doesn't give amazing results right away. And the advice you've been given here is excellent. I tried gpb and I liked it (probably the smell & that its a natural product) but it only gave minimal good results for me at first. Just like some others joico, etc. Now I keep aubrey gpb and hsr in my stash, along with joico and amla oil and such. Find out if heat works for you. And exercise mow the yard or something with that conditioner in to get those cuticles open, until you can get a steamer. Idk use a sit under dryer, heating cap, or (carefully) a pot of boiling hot water with a towel over your head to trap steam. Heat dcing has changed my hair as far as getting those cuticles open. And yes, definitely try to keep your hair stretched it will help in covering every strand with whatever you're applying, moisturizing, dcing, etc.

BlaqBella Thanks, I'll keep that in mind! The Honeysuckle Rose is another one I was looking at, I think I'm going to just order them both online (from a CDN company, no shipping fees!), because they don't sell the HSR at any stores near me. I've been on the hunt for it all winter!

Anyway, I'm shocked to say this but I washed my hair this morning and it actually feels and looks SOFT AND MOISTURIZED! I don't know if it's that new product I've been using or what, but when I was shampooing my hair, it felt like a cloud instead of the brillo pad that I'm used to. And I feel like there's been some significant growth since the last time I washed it, which was about 2 weeks ago or so. Blow drying it was a breeze, the comb attachment literally glided through my hair. It was insane. I shampooed with Giovanni 50:50, conditioned with Giovanni 50:50 condish, and I also used Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter from The Body Shop and ElastaQP Deep Penetrating Remoisturizing Conditioner. (randomly found these two items in my stash...) I didn't have time to go under my hooder dryer, so I just left each product on for a few mins in the shower. Then I applied my Giovanni Direct leave-in to my slightly damp hair, a couple drops of grapeseed oil and almond oil, and blowdried. I noticed my hair was really soft and there wasn't that usual "snap, crackle and pop" of strands as I ran the dryer through it. Afterwards I oiled my scalp with the Olde Jamaica Black castor oil pomade. Right now my hair feels great! I'm not sure how long this is going to last, but for the time being I'm happy.
I think that washing and blowdrying is going to become a weekly thing for me. I seem to do well with heat. Next time I'll make sure to add heat to my DC. And I'll try clarifying as well.

 

[BlaqBella]

No problem and thats great news ^^!!

ETA: Remember~exactly what you used and how your hair reacted, through a journal or however you decide to.

 

[bgsix]

Subbing to read later.

 

[mshoneyfly]

sunkissedskin
You've gotten some great advice here. I am texlaxed but could still relate to a lot of your hair issues. Paying close attention to the ingredients in products is really smart of you. I have recently sworn off of products with silicones and parabens. The cones keep your hair from getting any moisture. Also, as someone said, the minerals found in hard water and relaxers can build up and cause weak hair/breakage.

So the first step should be to prepoo with the oil of your choice and then chelate. A good chelating poo you can get on the ground is ORS creamy aloe poo. It works to neutralize the chemicals in relaxers and can remove product build up. Actually any sulfate poo will remove the cones found in most products.

Starting with ORS will help all your other nat products work as they should. Lately I have been doing my 1st wash with ORS then following up with my poo of choice. My hair is much more agreeable now.

I use Shea Moisture Raw shea Butter Moisture Retention poo. I love it. Its sooo moisturizing. I also love the deep treatment masque and the restorative conditioner. It is really moisturizing too. It works as a moisturizer on dry hair and as a rinse out conditioner. The masque wirks as a moisturizer or dc. The good thing about Shea Moisture is you can use one product in multiple ways. Also you can get it at many stores.

You also need a good protein treatment. Products with hydrolyzed silk or silk amino acids, vegetable protein and keratin can moisturize and strengthen. You can even buy the saa on its own and add to your natural products.

I also baggy or GHE for a few hours during the week to pump up the moisture when I need it.

Another good product line with nat ingredients is Eden Bodyworks. Sally's carries the peppermint line and Walmart carries that one and the jojoba monoi line (my preference). I love the dc, sulfate free poo and conditioner. You might like the hair milk as a moisturizer too.

These products are good for making a henna gloss, sukesh gloss or nupur mehendi gloss. Henna powder is a plant that gives hair a reddish tint but more important it will coat the hair shaft, thicken hair strands, seal in moisture, reduce split ends and give you body, strength and silky softness.

Good luck and try not to be discouraged!

HHG!

ETA: I write in my journal everything I do to my hair