Fed up plz help

[armywife]

I bc'd almost three months ago and my hair was sooooooo dry. I was told to keep searching for a moisturizer that works for my hair and I have been doing that. I've spent so much money on moisturizers and nothing works. It just sits on top of my head and does not soak in. I bought tons of conditioners, leave in, porosity stuff, apple cider vinegar rinses, coconut oil, even a huetiful steamer, my hair is still dry. I deep condition seal in oil and it's still always dry. Its soft with conditioner in but once I rinse it out it's dry again. No leave in conditioner or moisturizer works. Shea butter does nothing either. I am so frustrated I can't keep spending money on products that don't work. It's been three months, what gives? What's wrong with my hair, has anyone else have this happen to them. I am just so fed up and I think i may just texlax or something. I just don't know what to do anymore, any advice please. Thanks.

 

[leona2025]

Maybe you can try using a conditioner that you really like as a leave-in. I'm relaxed and I never found a moisturizer that I was satisfied with until I started using a bit of conditioner as a leave-in. I was moisturizing and sealing 2 times a day and now I only use the conditioner after every wash.

 

[LynnieB]

Sorry to hear you're having these issues. I think it's still a matter of finding the right techniques and products for your hair.

Do you have hard water in your area?
When was the last time you used a clarifying/chelating shampoo?
Deep condition with heat?
Use lots of silicones?
Almost forgot to ask do you use protein conditioners too frequently?

 

[armywife]

No, I don't think that the water is hard but I'm not to sure. The last time I clarified was yesterday and I used one that was supposed to be a natural clarifying shampoo. I deep condition overnight and sometimes I use the steamer. I don't know what silicones are, plez tell me. Thanks.

 

[*CherryPie*]

You may have low porosity hair. It's very hard for low porosity hair to soak up moisture, because the hair's cuticles are closed so tightly. Stuff just seems to sit on the hair.

Do the porosity water test. I pm'ed you.

 

[Chromia]

No, I don't think that the water is hard but I'm not to sure. The last time I clarified was yesterday and I used one that was supposed to be a natural clarifying shampoo. I deep condition overnight and sometimes I use the steamer. I don't know what silicones are, plez tell me. Thanks.

Here's some info on silicones from http://www.livecurlylivefree.com/product ingredients.htm

Silicones
Silicones generally end in -cone, -conol, -col, or -xane and are found in many hair products. If any silicone name has the abbreviation "PEG" or "PPG" in front of it, however, it is water-soluble and will not build up.


Silicones that are not soluble in water, will consistently build up on the hair and will require a surfactant-based shampoo to remove include:

• Cetearyl Methicone
• Cetyl Dimethicone
• Dimethicone
• Dimethiconol
• Stearyl Dimethicone

Silicones that are not soluble in water, but whose chemical properties allow it to repel further deposit, helping to prevent buildup (although they will still lock moisture out of the hair and require a surfactant to remove):

• Amodimethicone
• Cyclomethicone/Cyclopentasiloxane
• Trimethylsilylamodimethicone

A note about amodimethicone: if you do an Internet search on amodimethicone, you will find quite a few sites that list amodimethicone as a silicone that is "slightly" soluble in water as long as two additional ingredients are included in the formulation:

Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride (as a mixture in the bottle)​

The assumption has always been that the inclusion of Trideceth-12 (a nonionic surfactant) and cetrimonium chloride (a cationic surfactant) render the amodimethicone, non-water soluble on its own, slightly soluble in water and it could be considered okay to use. Turns out that has been a completely incorrect assumption. What the Trideceth-12 and cetrimonium chloride do is render the amodimethicone dispersible in water. Once the amodimethicone is deposited onto the hair shaft and dries to a film, however, it is not water-soluble, will prevent moisture from getting into the hair shaft and will require a surfactant to remove.

Silicones that are slightly soluble in water, but can possibly build up on some types of curly hair over time, include:

• Behenoxy Dimethicone
• Stearoxy Dimethicone

Silicones that are soluble in water and can generally be considered safe to use (in addition to those listed with "PEG" or "PPG" in front of them) include:

• Dimethicone Copolyol
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane
• Lauryl Methicone Copolyol

 

[southerncitygirl]

have you tried baggying or moisturizing followed by sealing with an oil/butter? who type of shampoo are you using? try one with low or no sulfates like the creme of nature one w/argan oil.

 

[Nonie]

armywife See, I read the OP and I immediately knew what your problem is: You haven't been to my CHU'CH. You haven't seen the light. You have sipped out of the well of Shea Butter worshipers and been left thirstier than before. You need to get yourself some plastic caps and then hear my sermon and be blessed.

(If I knew what products you have on hand, I'd tell you what I'd use for this experiment to) wash, condition or DC your hair; and then give my suggestion a try: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=526649

 

[LilMissRed]

Gylcerin works for me year-round... for many it doesn't, but it has been an absolute GOD send for my hair

 

[prettypithy]

I bc'd almost three months ago and my hair was sooooooo dry. I was told to keep searching for a moisturizer that works for my hair and I have been doing that. I've spent so much money on moisturizers and nothing works. It just sits on top of my head and does not soak in. I bought tons of conditioners, leave in, porosity stuff, apple cider vinegar rinses, coconut oil, even a huetiful steamer, my hair is still dry. I deep condition seal in oil and it's still always dry. Its soft with conditioner in but once I rinse it out it's dry again. No leave in conditioner or moisturizer works. Shea butter does nothing either. I am so frustrated I can't keep spending money on products that don't work. It's been three months, what gives? What's wrong with my hair, has anyone else have this happen to them. I am just so fed up and I think i may just texlax or something. I just don't know what to do anymore, any advice please. Thanks.

How often are you washing and deep conditioning your hair? I get a lot of my moisture from water. If I don't wet it at least once a week, moisturizers just sit on top of the hair, they don't penetrate. Basically, I get the bulk of my moisture on wash day when I wash and DC my hair. The moisture I'm putting in the rest of the week is just to maintain the hair until the next wash day, if that makes sense. So, depending on your regimen, I might encourage more frequent co-washing and/or deep conditioning. HTH.

 

[bride91501]

Lol Nonie.

armywife- I used to suffer from eternal dryness with my hair too when I first BC'd, and it was so frustrating. It seemed like nothing I tried was working.

That is, until I discovered that water truly is the ultimate moisturizer. And my hair LOVES it. I used to feel so weird about wanting to wet my hair everyday (since it defied so many stereotypes about how to tend to kinky hair), but ironically, it is just what my parched hair needed.

These days, I cowash my hair 3-4 days per week in warmer months, but even when I don't, I make sure to at least water rinse my hair a few times a week. My hair feels so good- my dry hair days are so long behind me I barely remember them.

HTH

 

[all_1_length]

You may want to stop clarifying your hair. IMO clarifying can strip my hair and make it impossible to moisturize afterward. I don't know how well clarifying works for other people but I had to stop doing it because no amount of moisturizer would get rid of the underlying dry feel my hair had afterwards. I think you may want to try moisturizing in steps or layers. Start out with a prepoo /moisturizing shampoo and conditioner then follow up with a good moisturizing leave in and a nice oil for sealing.

 

[all_1_length]

Lol @Nonie.


These days, I cowash my hair 3-4 days per week in warmer months, but even when I don't, I make sure to at least water rinse my hair a few times a week. My hair feels so good- my dry hair days are so long behind me I barely remember them.

HTH

Oh yeah, co-washing works really good too.

 

[Solitude]

Have you tried co-washing and leaving the conditioner in?

 

[DrC]

Aww I'm sorry OP.
I used to have the same problem I had dandruff, split ends, build up, that I could seemed to get rid of. I found out shampoo and frequent washing with shampoo was stripping my hair. ( sulfates) I now only use a Shikakai Bar or ACV to clean my hair and scalp.

Maybe you should try oil rinsing. Many people have stated it helps tremendously.

 

[armywife]

I have not tried bagging. I don't know what to use when I o it, do I just use a moisturizer?

 

[armywife]

Yes I tried that to but when I wash my hair it all comes out and it's so dry again. Do you mean I should leave the conditioner in and not wash it out?

 

[Nonie]

I have not tried bagging. I don't know what to use when I o it, do I just use a moisturizer?

If you read my post, you would get the answer to that question. I'm telling you, therein is the only thing you should be using that will solve your problem.

 

[Bun Mistress]

If you read my post, you would get the answer to that question. I'm telling you, therein is the only thing you should be using that will solve your problem.

Noine your hilarious and correct. My only two cents other than what has been said is after conditioning is moisturizing is a step process. First with a water based product them oil then something heavier. Nix the mineral oil products and cones. Stop spending money. List the products you have now and how you are using them and I think we can help.

Sent from my PC36100 using PC36100

 

[Solitude]

Yes I tried that to but when I wash my hair it all comes out and it's so dry again. Do you mean I should leave the conditioner in and not wash it out?

Yep. Best part is that you can use a conditioner you already have or a super-cheap one like Suave tropicals which costs like a dollar. This method used to be talked about a lot on here. I'm texlaxed and I do this sometimes. My sister is 4a/b coarse natural hair. She follows this method with every wash and her hair is never dry. She also keeps her hair in protective styles like braids and twists.

 

[BeautyGoesDutch]

I have a recipe for hair, My hair use to be like that but it is no longer like that.

Half a cup Olive Oil

Silicon Mix

Shea Butter

and Pantene Condish

I put it in my food processor and mix it up and put it on with a plastic cap and sit under the dryer for 30 mins. I did this every two weeks and then the one week I would skip I would just use Silicon mix. I would wash the mask out,shampoo, don't condish yet Then I would put Aphogee Keratin on leave that on for 5 mins under dryer wash it out and condish with my last condish. I hope this really helps you. If you need more tips or help

 

[FoxxyLocs]

When I first BC'd I had the same issue. I was trying to use oils and shea butter to moisturize and they were just sitting on to of my hair and making it greasy. Then I started adding water to all of my store bought moisturizers and washing my hair more frequently. You should also make sure you have a good non-drying shampoo. Frequent co-washing didn't work for me, but it works for a lot of people. An alternative would be co-washing less frequently or just rinsing with plain water.

Glycerin didn't work for me either. I use castor oil instead.