Hidden gems from the past

[Napp]

I noticed a few ladies such as @Chicoro and @sunnieb have been reaching back in the past for techniques that worked for us years ago and we have forgotten all about. We have so much knowledge in these hair boards and I think it would be nice to have a thread where we post some old tips and techniques that was working before the hair care game became so commercialized and complicated

Here is my first entry

The deep moisture method started by @Chicoro and later adopted by @LadyPaniolo

Basically you moisten the hair, apply deep conditioner as a leave in then seal with a heavy oil or butter.


There are several threads with ladies doing this as a challenge and getting great results!

Now that I'm wearing wigs and have too much deep conditioner than I know what to do with i am going to try this !

Anyone else have found any interesting things in the archives that they want to put into their current regimen?

 

[Plushottie]

Will be watching this thread because even in my early yrs here I never had marked success but hopefully something will help, I already picked up adding Vaseline to my ends.

 

[sunnieb]

Great thread @Napp!

I think I'll add that I used to cowash at least 3x a week - most of the time it was 4x. I'd totally forgot about that! I somehow scaled back to cowashing once a week. Changing that this week.

My hair is naturally very dry and coarse. I discovered early in my original hair journey that I can handle maximum moisture. My hair just drinks it up and asks for more.

@Plushottie I have Vaseline on my ends right now! My ends were getting a little crispy and I was panicking about not being able to find Carrot Oil. When all along I just needed to go back to sealing like I used to.

I'll be buying Castor oil and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to use in rotation with the Vaseline.

 

[Chicoro]

Link to one of the original Vaseline Challenges. This is what took me from life-long crispy, dry ends to finally thriving ends. I am going back to this process!

I Double-dare YOU to take the 7 day V-challenge!

That's right, I dare...no, I double-dog DARE all of you to take the 7 day vaseline challenge! If you are not SCUR-RED...then read on... the vaseline challenge is very easy. But you can only take the challenge if you are a protective style (bun) wearer. Meaning, if you roll your hair, or use...

longhaircareforum.com

 

[VinDieselsWifey]

I have been looking through all old my saved threads for a few weeks now. I started back using rhassoul clay after looking over the thread about “mud wash=no dc”. I’m also trying to get better about keeping my ends moisturized. I used to baggy my ends with conditioner & castor oil and it really helped me retain length.

I really wish the mods would allow us to organize our saved threads like we used to be able to do. I had my threads saved in different folders for hair, skin, etc. It was really easy to find stuff since I have so many saved threads. I put in a request a long time ago about this but nothing has been done.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I occasionally go back to these threads when looking for inspiration. It amazes me at how simple most of these routines were and the products used didn't cost an arm and a leg.

Cowashing and bunning the key to wsl hair!

I have been a member here for awhile and I realized something. The two things most of the mbl and wsl ladies share on here. They all cowash and bun daily. Only allowing their hair down for special occasions. Anyone else realize this too?

longhaircareforum.com

Techniques For Hair Growth And Length Retention

Can we have a detailed conversation about techniques specifically? I tried looking for a thread that focused solely on techniques but I can’t find one. Let me give you some background. I have reached the conclusion that using the right techniques is actually a key factor for hair growth and...

longhaircareforum.com

Look what I found!!!

I was looking through my old box of disks for a file and I found Yvette's posts from the BHC. Remember her? She grew her hair from shoulder length to almost waist length in a year wearing buns. I had copied all of her posts and put it onto one page and printed it out for inspiration. It may seem...

longhaircareforum.com

 

[B_Phlyy]

And this post made me think of your recent thread of forgotten products @Napp. We were using cheap items in jumbo sizes and seeing results. Now companies want to charge $20/oz for stuff that causes tangles.

This thread also came up as suggested under this post. Lots of great products that have been long gone

Little known Gems- brands and or products

That brands or products do you love or have had great experiences with that just don't seem to get their time to shine. I'll start Lanza- they had a GREAT serum and the dry hair detangler conditoner works well for me as a leave in in rollersetting

longhaircareforum.com

 

[Plushottie]

Y’all out here doing the Lords work. Gets notepad.

 

[Ivonnovi]

Sulfur, and it's benefits (I'm a Sulfur8 fan:
https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...grandmother-why-didnt-i-think-of-this.102087/

How to possibly mask the smell:

Can you defunk sulfur8 ?

I like what it does for my hair but I HATE the smell. Any ideas on what to put in it to defuse that horrible smell?

longhaircareforum.com

 

[sunnieb]

I was reading through that Vaseline thread and wanted to share this gem:

Okay, I am going to leave you ladies with a really good VASELINE TIP...

If you are suffering from really DRY ENDS...then do the following...

I call this the reverse method. Before you get into the shower, Take a good gob of vaseline and add it graciously to your ends, then get in the shower and rinse your hair with nice warm water. Take a brush in the shower with you. Yes a brush, trust me okay...

While the warm water is running down your hair, GENTLY grab the ends of your hair (which is smoothered with vaseline) and the brush and gently brush the ends (just the dry ends now, not the whole hair) or your hair. What is going to happen is the brush will work with the water in smoothing out your ends. The vaseline is going to seal the moisture into the dry damage shaft. Once your ends are nice and smooth, add a little leave-in conditioner to your rinse and repeat the light brushing. Once you are finished, get out of the shower and little a little more vaseline (tad more) and style...

This took me waaaaaaay back in the day (like the 70s) when my auntie used to do my hair when I spent the night. She would use a round brush, crown royal grease, and have a bowl of hot water to dip the brush in. When I tell you auntie had me and my cousins' hair laid it was laid. And we all had long hair. It's something about sealing in that moisture y'all!

These old school tips work!

 

[MzSwift]

LOVE this thread!! LHCF was the first place that I saw A LOT of Black women with long hair, natural and relaxed.

I often search old threads for info and to see if I can identify patterns of habits or practices that various long-haired ladies had.

Before LHCF, my hair was always 4" at its longest whenever I tried to grow it out. Since LHCF, I've reached WL multiple times both natural and relaxed.

ETA: Some Tips I found during my searches

(These seem like common sense now but they weren't always):

Be consistent

Whether you already know what works or you're trying out a new technique/product, do it consistently for at least a month or two to see if it actually works.

Resist the urge to jump on bandwagons whether it's techniques or products - stick with what works!

Focus on retention rather than focusing on fast growth.

Retention tips-
-Keep the ends moisturized and protected (from air, rubbing on clothes and Hand-in-hair syndrome)
-Choose low-to-no manipulation styles (honestly, most of the ladies were either in wigs/weaves or did daily wet-bunning)
-Doing the hair in sections when styling, washing and DCing and also when moisturizing and sealing.

Massage in or squeeze in products

Instead of just rubbing them onto the hair strands

For fine hair - protein is our friend!

light/lite protein regularly (weekly or biweekly) is better than a strong shot of protein. I typically mix my protein tx with a moisturizing DC to avoid protein overload bc I'm a chicken. lol. I've seen protein overload derail a lot of hair journeys.

Protein strengthens our fine strands, which aids in retention, and helps the hair better absorb/retain moisture.

 

[Plushottie]

I love this wisdom being passed on like tribal knowledge

 

[Chicoro]

Enjoying myself. Keep it coming!

 

[sunnieb]

The return of my spritz bottle! When I did my first hard-core bunning (2008 I think), I would always have a little spray bottle in my purse. Everyday at lunch, I'd spray my bun to keep my ends moist. I think this also prevented any breakage from my frequent bunning since the whole bun was kept moisturized.

Again, not sure why I stopped mid-day spritzing, but it's back. I made this mix with a couple of squirts of Pattern conditioner. No more dry ends for me!

 

[Chicoro]

I feel a 2023 Challenge coming on. We are all up in this particular thread, I see.

 

[Chicoro]

The return of my spritz bottle! When I did my first hard-core bunning (2008 I think), I would always have a little spray bottle in my purse. Everyday at lunch, I'd spray my bun to keep my ends moist. I think this also prevented any breakage from my frequent bunning since the whole bun was kept moisturized.

Again, not sure why I stopped mid-day spritzing, but it's back. I made this mix with a couple of squirts of Pattern conditioner. No more dry ends for me!


View attachment 483863

That spray bottle is so cute! I think cuteness is an important criterion for spray bottles! I personal stop doing processes because I get the benefits, then take those same benefits for granted. Thus, I stop the process.

 

[Chicoro]

LOVE this thread!! LHCF was the first place that I saw A LOT of Black women with long hair, natural and relaxed.

I often search old threads for info and to see if I can identify patterns of habits or practices that various long-haired ladies had.

Before LHCF, my hair was always 4" at its longest whenever I tried to grow it out. Since LHCF, I've reached WL multiple times both natural and relaxed.

ETA: Some Tips I found during my searches

(These seem like common sense now but they weren't always):

Be consistent

Whether you already know what works or you're trying out a new technique/product, do it consistently for at least a month or two to see if it actually works.

Resist the urge to jump on bandwagons whether it's techniques or products - stick with what works!

Focus on retention rather than focusing on fast growth.

Retention tips-
-Keep the ends moisturized and protected (from air, rubbing on clothes and Hand-in-hair syndrome)
-Choose low-to-no manipulation styles (honestly, most of the ladies were either in wigs/weaves or did daily wet-bunning)
-Doing the hair in sections when styling, washing and DCing and also when moisturizing and sealing.

Massage in or squeeze in products

Instead of just rubbing them onto the hair strands

For fine hair - protein is our friend!

light/lite protein regularly (weekly or biweekly) is better than a strong shot of protein. I typically mix my protein tx with a moisturizing DC to avoid protein overload bc I'm a chicken. lol. I've seen protein overload derail a lot of hair journeys.

Protein strengthens our fine strands, which aids in retention, and helps the hair better absorb/retain moisture.

This is key for me too: “LHCF was the first place that I saw a lot of Black women with long hair, natural and relaxed.”

Precisely!!!!

 

[MzSwift]

This is key for me too: “LHCF was the first place that I saw a lot of Black women with long hair, natural and relaxed.”

Precisely!!!!

Right!!
It was so inspiring to me! As a darker-skinned girl, I was always told that I couldn't grow long hair bc I wasn't mixed. The few I knew in real life came from upper-middle class families so I assumed that they had the ability to go to a shop regularly. When I came here and saw so many dark skinned ladies with hair pulling or falling down their backs, and doing it themselves (no shop), I finally felt that it was possible for me too. And I was almost 30! smh

It's like I've seen you say plenty of times, the hardest part of getting to long lengths is finding what works for your own hair. And that can even change as you gain length!

 

[MzSwift]

For relaxed/texlaxed heads:

Learning the difference between lye and no-lye was very helpful in helping me plan my journey. The easiest non-scientific trick for me to remember the difference is:
Lye = hard on the scalp, easy on the hair
No-lye = easy on the scalp, hard on the hair

Long lengths can be achieved using either one!


The other tip I have is about stretching relaxers. We've all learned that stretching relaxers is better for our hair (and scalp) but a trick that has helped me to consistently stretch my relaxers 5-8 months is the Amino Acid + Baking Soda tx.

I can't remember if it's called the Cherry Lola or the Kia Fizzle. Either way, I never tried it as a natural bc I didn't want to mess up my hair but it has been so beneficial to me as a relaxed/texlaxed head. It helps my new growth to be more manageable. I usually only do it when I'm getting ready to straighten my hair during a long stretch. But I could also see it being used when blowing out the hair for a braid down for wig/weaves/crochet or even when preparing for braids.

I substitute conditioner for the yogurt and then add a few tablespoons of Braggs Amino Acid and then 1-2 tsp of baking soda. Add the baking soda as the final step bc the mixture froths up and expands so be sure not to over fill the mixing container. lol

 

[Chicoro]

Right!!
It was so inspiring to me! As a darker-skinned girl, I was always told that I couldn't grow long hair bc I wasn't mixed. The few I knew in real life came from upper-middle class families so I assumed that they had the ability to go to a shop regularly. When I came here and saw so many dark skinned ladies with hair pulling or falling down their backs, and doing it themselves (no shop), I finally felt that it was possible for me too. And I was almost 30! smh

It's like I've seen you say plenty of times, the hardest part of getting to long lengths is finding what works for your own hair. And that can even change as you gain length!

Oh, I love you! Thank you for the feedback and for letting me know what I said was found helpful.
Yes, I love how LHCF showed ALL textures and how our colors were from one end of the spectrum to the other end.

I know, right! We were and still are making magic up in here based upon knowledge and experience! I have always that our hair could grow. I loved the paradigm shift that you and other black women have had, thanks to LHCF.


It seems like cutting stylist are back on the loose and it seems like people are returning to the "old ways' of LHCF. Okay, I am the one returning. Let me speak for myself!

 

[Chicoro]

For relaxed/texlaxed heads:

Learning the difference between lye and no-lye was very helpful in helping me plan my journey. The easiest non-scientific trick for me to remember the difference is:
Lye = hard on the scalp, easy on the hair
No-lye = easy on the scalp, hard on the hair

Long lengths can be achieved using either one!


The other tip I have is about stretching relaxers. We've all learned that stretching relaxers is better for our hair (and scalp) but a trick that has helped me to consistently stretch my relaxers 5-8 months is the Amino Acid + Baking Soda tx.

I can't remember if it's called the Cherry Lola or the Kia Fizzle. Either way, I never tried it as a natural bc I didn't want to mess up my hair but it has been so beneficial to me as a relaxed/texlaxed head. It helps my new growth to be more manageable. I usually only do it when I'm getting ready to straighten my hair during a long stretch. But I could also see it being used when blowing out the hair for a braid down for wig/weaves/crochet or even when preparing for braids.

I substitute conditioner for the yogurt and then add a few tablespoons of Braggs Amino Acid and then 1-2 tsp of baking soda. Add the baking soda as the final step bc the mixture froths up and expands so be sure not to over fill the mixing container. lol

Great tip about lye and No lye!! I missed these completely in that I never knew this !

 

[Chicoro]

I feel like for me that I am not 'jumping from one band wagon to another." I am incorporating and refining what I learn at each iteration. Again, hair changes due to different lengths one might have, internal organic changes, external environmental changes, product availability and process impacts. So, you have to know how to pivot and turn when something changes in your hair sphere.

For me, most times I can fake and dodge and continue on my path. But, there are times like right now when I just can't outrun or outsmart or pivot and I get hit with breakage. So, I have to go DEEP in my knowledge and re-arrange something to get the result I want.

LHCF and the techniques and processes buried on this site, help us to this! I discovered Shea butter 15 years AFTER being on this site. Sigh. But better late than never.

 

[Napp]

For relaxed/texlaxed heads:

Learning the difference between lye and no-lye was very helpful in helping me plan my journey. The easiest non-scientific trick for me to remember the difference is:
Lye = hard on the scalp, easy on the hair
No-lye = easy on the scalp, hard on the hair

Long lengths can be achieved using either one!


The other tip I have is about stretching relaxers. We've all learned that stretching relaxers is better for our hair (and scalp) but a trick that has helped me to consistently stretch my relaxers 5-8 months is the Amino Acid + Baking Soda tx.

I can't remember if it's called the Cherry Lola or the Kia Fizzle. Either way, I never tried it as a natural bc I didn't want to mess up my hair but it has been so beneficial to me as a relaxed/texlaxed head. It helps my new growth to be more manageable. I usually only do it when I'm getting ready to straighten my hair during a long stretch. But I could also see it being used when blowing out the hair for a braid down for wig/weaves/crochet or even when preparing for braids.

I substitute conditioner for the yogurt and then add a few tablespoons of Braggs Amino Acid and then 1-2 tsp of baking soda. Add the baking soda as the final step bc the mixture froths up and expands so be sure not to over fill the mixing container. lol

I think Kiya fizzle was adding salt to your conditioner to make it more effective. That was such an old trick! I forgot about that.

 

[demlew]

For relaxed/texlaxed heads:

Learning the difference between lye and no-lye was very helpful in helping me plan my journey. The easiest non-scientific trick for me to remember the difference is:
Lye = hard on the scalp, easy on the hair
No-lye = easy on the scalp, hard on the hair

Long lengths can be achieved using either one!


The other tip I have is about stretching relaxers. We've all learned that stretching relaxers is better for our hair (and scalp) but a trick that has helped me to consistently stretch my relaxers 5-8 months is the Amino Acid + Baking Soda tx.

I can't remember if it's called the Cherry Lola or the Kia Fizzle. Either way, I never tried it as a natural bc I didn't want to mess up my hair but it has been so beneficial to me as a relaxed/texlaxed head. It helps my new growth to be more manageable. I usually only do it when I'm getting ready to straighten my hair during a long stretch. But I could also see it being used when blowing out the hair for a braid down for wig/weaves/crochet or even when preparing for braids.

I substitute conditioner for the yogurt and then add a few tablespoons of Braggs Amino Acid and then 1-2 tsp of baking soda. Add the baking soda as the final step bc the mixture froths up and expands so be sure not to over fill the mixing container. lol

Do you happen to use henna by chance? I wonder how the Cherry Lola would work on my hair though I won’t use them too closely together since they’re both like a protein treatment.

 

[MzSwift]

I think Kiya fizzle was adding salt to your conditioner to make it more effective. That was such an old trick! I forgot about that.

Oh wow! Thanks!

What's crazy is that for years, I added salt to my weekly moisturizing DC. And that's another thing I had dropped and am picking back up. I never thought about using it in regular conditioner.

Do you happen to use henna by chance? I wonder how the Cherry Lola would work on my hair though I won’t use them too closely together since they’re both like a protein treatment.

Yes! I have been using henna since 2010!!
My henna use is typically in addition to other powders in teas and conditioner mixes - so I guess they're henna "glosses."
So maybe you could try a gloss instead of a full-strength henna?

 

[Chicoro]

I think Kiya fizzle was adding salt to your conditioner to make it more effective. That was such an old trick! I forgot about that.

Salt does what, please?

 

[Chicoro]

Oh wow! Thanks!

What's crazy is that for years, I added salt to my weekly moisturizing DC. And that's another thing I had dropped and am picking back up. I never thought about using it in regular conditioner.



Yes! I have been using henna since 2010!!
My henna use is typically in addition to other powders in teas and conditioner mixes - so I guess they're henna "glosses."
So maybe you could try a gloss instead of a full-strength henna?

Salt, why in protein conditioner, please?

 

[Chicoro]

I went into to town and got my supplies. The only thing that is new here is the World's of Curls Activator. I used that years ago. I've never bought it here in France. She had two jars of Worlds of Curls Activator. One was for normal hair and I bought the one for extra dry hair. Once the second jar is bought, I won't be able to get anymore until I go home to the US in summer 2023.

Vaseline brand works better, if my memory serves me correctly. But, they only had it in small jars and those jars were expensive. As I mentioned in my post for the Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge, I am going to have to make this purple topped jar of off brand vaseline work. We'll see.

Interestingly, none of these products are new. I've been using the same stuff since 2003. What changes is HOW I use the products and how I style my hair. Small incremental changes can mean the difference between stuck at a length and reaching your dream length of hair and your ideal state of health for your hair. I think I @snoop and I had chatted about this once not too long ago.

• Worlds's of Curls Activator was 5.99
• Scurl was 11.99
• Castor oil was about 6.99
• Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Gel was 15.00
• Gel was 8.99
• Shea Butter (from Ghana- Xtase Brand) was 6.99
• Bag of small rubber bands (I roll the ends of my hair up and loosely place these to hold in place) 2.99

View 1



View 2




Close Up of the Shea butter (from Ghana)

 

[MzSwift]

Salt, why in protein conditioner, please?

I have to go back and find the thread but I first saw it on BHM in the natural section and then here again back in 2010.
When I first started with Ayurveda, I did a straight henna tx and my hair felt like straw! I tried three different moisturizing DCs with and without oil afterwards and nothing helped. I started desperately searching the hair boards and found something about salt. I can't remember the scientific reasoning behind adding it to the DC but it made sense at the time (in my state of desperation, lol). After adding 1 tbsp of plain iodized table salt to one of the failed moisturizing DCs, my hair seemed to melt as I was applying it and felt "juicier" and softer after rinsing it out. I was a believer from that moment on and used my salt DC after my weekly light protein tx for years!

I always mix it into a THICK base (Queen Helene Cholesterol is my base for all of my DC mixes) so I'm not sure how it would work with anything that's already thin. And since then, my go-to mix has been Queen Helene + hibiscus + EVOO + salt. And I always use a thermal conditioning cap to DC. Also, I've switched between table salt and sea salt with no issues.

OK, lemme search and find some threads...

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/its-official-salt-is-the-stuff-thanks-justkiya.309451/

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/an-accidental-bit-of-moisturizing-mojo.262381/

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/so-this-salt-in-the-hair-thing.262757/

 

[Chicoro]

I have to go back and find the thread but I first saw it on BHM in the natural section and then here again back in 2010.
When I first started with Ayurveda, I did a straight henna tx and my hair felt like straw! I tried three different moisturizing DCs with and without oil afterwards and nothing helped. I started desperately searching the hair boards and found something about salt. I can't remember the scientific reasoning behind adding it to the DC but it made sense at the time (in my state of desperation, lol). After adding 1 tsp of plain iodized table salt to one of the failed moisturizing DCs, my hair seemed to melt as I was applying it and felt "juicier" and softer after rinsing it out. I was a believer from that moment on and used my salt DC after my weekly light protein tx for years!

I always mix it into a THICK base (Queen Helene Cholesterol is my base for all of my DC mixes) so I'm not sure how it would work with anything that's already thin. And since then, my go-to mix has been Queen Helene + hibiscus + EVOO + salt. And I always use a thermal conditioning cap to DC. Also, I've switched between table salt and sea salt with no issues.

OK, lemme search and find some threads...

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/its-official-salt-is-the-stuff-thanks-justkiya.309451/

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/an-accidental-bit-of-moisturizing-mojo.262381/

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/so-this-salt-in-the-hair-thing.262757/

The bolded you stated is ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING, Wow! Thank you @MzSwift! Thank you @Napp for mentioning this initially!









I have not looked through the posted above hair threads, yet. Here is my take on this right now:

I'm a Kitchen Technician and a Kitchen Beautician so let me see hmmm....

Salt has a pH of around 8. It is a base. It is basic and raises the pH of water. What a base does is swell the hair. The hair expands and becomes pliable also called softer, or a fancier word is plasticized>

If the hair is relaxed, it is pretty much a guarantee that the hair is porous and damaged. In my world hair is either porous or not. High porosity is damaged hair, based upon my understanding of hair. I a open to be enlightened, though!

Even beautiful relaxed hair is damaged due to the change of the lye/or no lye process. Not only is the hair strand expanded, and swollen, it is swollen with water. Water is a Master Conductor or Mistress Conductrice. Sorry, I'm too old to pretend to be versed on 'binary terms'. But, I've mentioned it. I digress. Back on topic:

Now, add in amino acids, those tiny molecules can then enter into the hair shaft, especially the sulphur molecules. Those aminos can fortify the hair strand, at least temporarily. With a hair strand swollen, cuticles raised and wet, that is an ideal situation or environment for amino acids to go into the hair or that is an ideal way to facilitate the entry of amino acids into the hair strand.

The heat softens the hair and makes it even more pliable. I know that we have salt bonds in our hair. The salt bonds impact the elasticity and strength of hair. But, my gut tells me that the added iodized salt is probably not participating in any hair bond formation. I think the iodized salt is changing the pH of the hair strand environment, the water, which causes those salt bonds in the hair to be impacted. Now add in the heat which also impacts the salt and hydrogen bonds of the hair and boom: a change in texture and feel of the hair, ie - BUTTER HAIR!

I'm going to try this!!!!!

@GGsKin
@snoop
@caribeandiva
@sunnieb

ONE CAUTION! Baking soda usage:

I personally would not add baking soda to the mix. Why? Baking soda is abrasive. It can literally tear off the the precious cuticles on the hair strand. Baking soda is basic too, in terms of its pH. But the issue is not the impact of the pH, a chemical change. The potential or theoretical issue with baking soda is the physical and mechanical changes or damages it can do to a hair strand. Hair that has been stripped of its cuticles can appear and feel softer and straighter. BUT, what is happening is the hair has had a critical part of its physical structure removed and it becomes limp and unprotected. Breakage will likely follow.