Emotional Setback, Many Questions

[divachyk]

I'm frustrated and having an emotional setback. Below are situations that I've experienced and not sure why or what to do to correct them (I'm a newbie). Feel free to answer those you can even if you can't answer all of them.

What causes the following -

1. Hair does not receive moisture evenly when applying product no matter how much I try to evenly distribute the product throughout the hair. Some strands just seem stubborn and will not absorb product.

2. Ends dry quicker than rest of hair and is bushy and coarse when air drying but ends dry very silky when roller setting.

3. Hair is super moisturized in the morning after overnight baggying but dries out tremendously throughout the day even when I seal in the moisture with oil. (using Scurl & jbco or argan oil)

4. Hair experiences zero breakage when using Aphogee 2min weekly in my reggie but experiences slight breakage if Aphogee 2min is omitted. So what's the real problem for the hair to require protein (to avoid breakage & weakness) every single time I poo or cowash?

5. Hair strands do not lay flat which causes the hair to feel rough when rubbing my fingers over it. Unruly strands not laying flat makes my buns look awful! I've used Roux PC once a week for about 2 weeks so I'm assuming that's regulating my porosity....so what's the problem causing this?

 

[lilsparkle825]

Most of it sounds like it can be attributed to the need to clarify or porosity issues. Read the pH balance threads to find products, such as aloe vera juice, that you can incorporate in your regimen to lay those cuticles flat, retain more moisture, and smooth your ends. You may need more than just the Roux PC.

 

[Bun Mistress]

Second the clarify. Its where I tell everyone to start

 

[charmtreese]

1. Hair does not receive moisture evenly when applying product no matter how much I try to evenly distribute the product throughout the hair. Some strands just seem stubborn and will not absorb product. Some people have different textures on their hair. For example my crown area is a different texture then the rest of my hair, this area needs special attention. When applying moisturizers, oils, conditioners or whatever I have to apply them heavier to this area.

2. Ends dry quicker than rest of hair and is bushy and coarse when air drying but ends dry very silky when roller setting. Once your ends start drying when you are air drying apply oil to them. I usually apply JBCO. Also once all of your hair is about 90% dry I would lightly moisturize and seal and then roll the ends of your hair (I pony tail and flexi rod) or bantu knot. The tension from the rollers or bantu knots will allow your ends to lay smooth.

3. Hair is super moisturized in the morning after overnight baggying but dries out tremendously throughout the day even when I seal in the moisture with oil. (using Scurl & jbco or argan oil) Ummm, baggying and scurl never worked for my hair. Try moisturizing and sealing without baggying and see how your hair feels in the morning. Your hair may not like the high concentration of glycerin that scurl provides, try another moisture with either no glycerin or glycerin further down on the contents list.

4. Hair experiences zero breakage when using Aphogee 2min weekly in my reggie but experiences slight breakage if Aphogee 2min is omitted. So what's the real problem for the hair to require protein (to avoid breakage & weakness) every single time I poo or cowash? If you have fine hair and or relaxed hair, your hair might just be craving protein...I know mine does. Also if you are baggying every night weekly protein is not a bad thing.

5. Hair strands do not lay flat which causes the hair to feel rough when rubbing my fingers over it. Unruly strands not laying flat makes my buns look awful! I've used Roux PC once a week for about 2 weeks so I'm assuming that's regulating my porosity....so what's the problem causing this? Try laying your hair down at night by moisturizing/sealing and scarfing the edges, you can use one big flexi rod on the ends. In the morning your hair should be smooth and your ends will have a nice curl to them, this will make styling easier. Your hair will lay flat and your cuticles will be smooth so you should not feel the roughness.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

I agree with all the points charmtreese made. I'm natural and moisturizing/sealing then scarfing even lays my fuzzy edges down (without gel), so i know that works. I baggied for a month and it caused breakage. My ends just did not like it, that method isn't for everybody.

From my understanding, eventually when you take hair out of plastic the moisture inside your hair strands equalizes with the moisture in the air and that's why hair tends to be drier in the winter. (The natural haven blog on the science of black hair.)

Also my hair hates glycerin and water-type moisturizers (glycerin-based). They all tend to make my hair feel like oily hay. My hair loves creamy moisturizers. (I also can't do oil on top of damp hair; same effect: oily hay.)

 

[divachyk]

I'm natural and moisturizing/sealing then scarfing even lays my fuzzy edges down (without gel), so i know that works. I baggied for a month and it caused breakage. My ends just did not like it, that method isn't for everybody.

From my understanding, eventually when you take hair out of plastic the moisture inside your hair strands equalizes with the moisture in the air and that's why hair tends to be drier in the winter. (The natural haven blog on the science of black hair.)

Also my hair hates glycerin and water-type moisturizers (glycerin-based). They all tend to make my hair feel like oily hay. My hair loves creamy moisturizers. (I also can't do oil on top of damp hair; same effect: oily hay.)

My edges are on point every day b/c I m&s, baggy, scarf or m&s and scarf. It's the rest of my hair that loses moisture and has issues. I really feel that I've experienced little to no breakage since baggying but it seems that baggying may be impacting my hair in other ways -- i.e., overly dry hair.

What creamy moisturizers are you using?

Ummm, baggying and scurl never worked for my hair. Try moisturizing and sealing without baggying and see how your hair feels in the morning. Your hair may not like the high concentration of glycerin that scurl provides, try another moisture with either no glycerin or glycerin further down on the contents list.

I attempted m&s, no baggy last night -- will see how today goes. So far, the hair feels good. I've tried other prods but mostly they've been glycerin based --CFCG, WN, H14n1 and NTM silk leave in. All generate the same results, extremely moisturized when initially applied but dried out hair by end of day.

Second the clarify. Its where I tell everyone to start

Most of it sounds like it can be attributed to the need to clarify or porosity issues. Read the pH balance threads to find products, such as aloe vera juice, that you can incorporate in your regimen to lay those cuticles flat, retain more moisture, and smooth your ends. You may need more than just the Roux PC.

I've never clarified before, will try that first and check out the ph thread for add'l info.

 

[Barbie83]

As for your choice of moisturizer, u may need to just keep looking. When I first joined, I had to become a major PJ, because I was experimenting to find the best products for my hair. Maybe try a thicker, cream-based moisturizer, like Elasta QP Mango Butter.

Also, since Aphogee 2-min is a light/medium protein and ur hair can't seem to do without it, maybe u could benefit from a strong protein treatment like Aphogee 2-Step periodically. It would give u a strong foundation, and then the 2-min would be used to maintain the strength rather than as your sole protein source.

 

[divachyk]

As for your choice of moisturizer, u may need to just keep looking. When I first joined, I had to become a major PJ, because I was experimenting to find the best products for my hair. Maybe try a thicker, cream-based moisturizer, like Elasta QP Mango Butter.

Also, since Aphogee 2-min is a light/medium protein and ur hair can't seem to do without it, maybe u could benefit from a strong protein treatment like Aphogee 2-Step periodically. It would give u a strong foundation, and then the 2-min would be used to maintain the strength rather than as your sole protein source.

I have Elasta QP mango butter. The first time I used it, tried to moisturize with it but it just coated my hair and didn't penetrate the strands. I had white residue/film on my hair from it not penetrating the strands. I find that it penetrates better if I use a thinner leave-in first and then use the thicker, creamy mango butter on top of that.

 

[lovelexi]

Well Im a newbie also I am going through the whole emotional setback thing too. I mean we all have hair issues but I think sometimes its in our minds. Like, I dont expect my hair to grow overnight but its just tiring to effortlessly work and still see breakage and some dry hair. So thats why I feel like Im having an emotional setback but instead of lamenting on it I just keep focusing on my hair goals.

I do have a tip for air drying hair. Im relaxed. When I air dry I moisturize then seal. About every 30-45 mins I use my hands to smooth the ends of my hair. If it starts to feel a little dry I add a tad bit more moisturizer or oil...or maybe even both! HTH

 

[*closer*2*my*dreams*]

Porosity. I had the same issue in the winter when I was in SC. I used Roux Porosity Control Shampoo and the Roux Leave-in (there are different ones, you pick the one for your type of hair. I think I used the one for damaged hair, not because my hair was damaged, but because I felt it would give me the best benefits).

And of course, clarifying could be another reason, so much product build-up is makeing your hair act out-of-whack. I use Aveda hair detoxifier, but others have used baking soda or ACV.

 

[halee_J]

With regards to your hair not evenly absorbing product, my hair does that too. Some parts are coarser than others and hence need more product.

The symptoms of dry bushy ends that feel silky when wet, coarse when dry sounds like classic overly porous hair. I had the very same problem a few months back here's what I did.


1. Start with a clean slate: Clarify and Chelate. ORS makes a good shampoo that does both.

2. Up the protein. I would recommend Aphogee 2 step (hardcore) treatment. Then use the 2min on a weekly basis to maintain. Be sure to follow with a good moisturizing DC. Protein patches up damaged parts and smooths the cuticle, which reduces the porosity.

3. Use porosity control conditioner as a final rinse. Its low pH smooths the cuticle.

4. Use a heavier moisturizer, Elasta QP Mango Butter is a good one.

You may have to lay off the co-washing for a bit and do regular wash and DC treatments until you see improvements.

I know how you feel, it's very fustrating. I baggied under a half wig for months while I tried to figure out what was going on. It will improve but it will take a little time.

 

[mstk]

Don't be discouraged. You might try using something heavier to seal in moisture in the morning. If oils aren't working, have you tried any butters? I have only tried shea butter, but it works for me.

 

[hopeful]

The only suggestion I have is to add in a creamy moisturizer. I use African Royale Miracle Oil Moisurizer. It's cheap and it works really well with s-curl and oil. I layer s-curl with the creamy moisturizer, then seal with oil. I found that s-curl alone, or a creamy moisturizer alone is not enough, but together they are perfect, followed by oil. Stay positive, you'll get things figured out eventually. Just keep pressing forward.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

I was using CON leave in, and that was working pretty well. I wanted something with natural ingredients though, so I've been on the hunt. For the past month I've been using a spritz made from water and AO HSR condish (5:1 ratio) and that's been working really well.

 

[Chevelure618]

Your hair is porous...more porous in some areas than in others. This means that your cuticle is raised and probably damaged in some areas more than others. An open cuticle will not retain moisture. For this I would not trim....this is what the hair stylists would say to do which will not help. Keep doing what you are doing. If Aphogee 2 minute works...keep doing it. I would use a hair polisher after moisturizing. Polishers act to smooth the cuticle. I find that smoothing and smoothing the hair with my hands lays the cuticle flat. Don't go crazy over brands. Basically they are all the same in terms of having dimethicone in them, but the Olive Oil one from Fantasia? might be extra beneficial. I have the expensive ones (Paul Mitchell Super Skinny) and the cheaper ones and the cheaper ones work better.

It is a process. These areas have to grow out. Do anything that will keep your cuticle closed.

PS: I had this problem and am still emotionally drained from how long this takes, but my hair stays moist for 1/2 a day even in warm weather now. I know I will have to be meticulous about my moisture level on my ends to attain BSL in 6 months. HTH

 

[divachyk]

Update: Yesterday I clarified for the 1st time with ORS Creamy Aloe, protein treated with Aphogee 2 step, used Aphogee balancing mositurizer, DC'd under heat for an hour with ORS replenishing pack and Lustrasilk shea/mango butter, final rinse with Roux PC. My hair felt very soft and my ends were not as bushy as before. I tshirt dried for 20mins and applied kimmaytube's leave-in conditioner for the first time. It's geared toward lowering the ph and making the cuticles lay flat, etc. I didn't realize I wasn't suppose to use the entire mixture in one application so at first, my hair was feeling a bit weird and way too oily. I braided my hair up, tied it up with a silk scarf and went to bed. This morning, the oil absorbed in my hair really well and my ends are not bushy and the hair is very soft (although still a tad bit damp). I've never air dried this good before.

 

[*closer*2*my*dreams*]

That's absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Keep it up and your hair will bounce back in no time!

 

[frizzy]

OP, you've just discovered your regimen. YAY!

The 2-minute protein should be fine used weekly, especially if you DC afterwards. I would stick to that routine for a few weeks (or months) then branch out with new or different products. But I would say you have the basic technique/routine down that will flourish your hair.