Hidden gems from the past

[snoop]

Your question:
"The trends have come and gone, so forgive me when I ask what the difference is between why we oil our hair before applying ayurvedic masks vs when South Asians do it?"

My response:
At what point the hair is oiled, during the process, is simply an observation about a detail, to be noted, for me. Nothing more. Nothing less.
But, the details may become pertinent if I see a trend of something that is positively, impacting the health and growth of afro-textured hair.

I'm looking forward to watching these. Thanks!

Edit: I looked at all of them. One mentioned you can put oil in the hair before. But to me it's still different. With most women with afro-textured hair, there seems to always be some form of purposeful oil used with powders. In these videos, treatments are used with our without oil. But, these videos were interesting to watch.

Most importantly, you are someone who currenty uses ayurverdic processes. You obviously have deep and wide knowledge of it. And your hair is thriving beautifully and magnificently. At the end of the day, It's the results that are the proof in the pudding. Your gorgeous results speak for themselves.

Even though I quoted your other post, these were the two statements that I had in mind when I replied. I still don't understand. As always, I'm interested in your observations and attention to details.

All of the videos that I posted have the women putting on oil before, so I wonder how it is different? Same with the selection of oils and powders. Truely I'm asking to understand. I think I'm caught up on the word "purposeful" because I still see a lot of trending media of use X herb for growth and a lot of people asking which herb can I use to make my hair long (or to get rid of dandruff). The/this hair board, Insta, YT, and Facebook have seem to have very different groups of people who are willing to use herbs mainly for essentially the same reasons but starting with different intentions, if that makes sense...?

 

[Chicoro]

Even though I quoted your other post, these were the two statements that I had in mind when I replied. I still don't understand. As always, I'm interested in your observations and attention to detail
All of the videos that I posted have the women putting on oil before, so I wonder how it is different? Same with the selection of oils and powders. Truely I'm asking to understand. I think I'm caught up on the word "purposeful" because I still see a lot of trending media of use X herb for growth and a lot of people asking which herb can I use to make my hair long (or to get rid of dandruff). The/this hair board, Insta, YT, and Facebook have seem to have very different groups of people who are willing to use herbs mainly for essentially the same reasons but starting with different intentions, if that makes sense...?

When I watched, I didn't see anyone put on oil. It's quite possible I missed that or maybe it was stated as information without showing the oiling. I watch videos at 2x the speed.

By purposeful, this means that the oil is primary and the herbs are secondary. From what I've observed, It seems to me that women with afro-textured hair rarely use herbs without an oil. And when women with afro-textured hair use oil, they coat the hair thoroughly and often separately and apart from using the powders. The oiling of the hair is primary. I'm specifically referencing powders such shikakai, amla, brahmi, neem and arithmi from Hesh.

Women with non-afro textured hair may or may not use an oil in conjunction with using herbs. They may put oil into their pastes or they may use water. They also may oil the hair first. But, oiling seems like it can be an option. Whereas with afro-textured hair, in general, oiling the hair is not optional and is done more than not to get the optimal results of the powders on afro-textured hair.

 

[VinDieselsWifey]

I think for us with Afro-textured hair, oiling is a must because our hair is already naturally dry and the powders can be drying.

 

[snoop]

@Chicoro

Video 1: She says "apply this pack on oil or damp hair". (4:55)
Video 2: She says "now here comes a very important step before applying this hair mask..." then she says that you need to apply the jatamansi oil to the hair before applying the mask. (2:37) -- in her video demo with her daughter's hair, she shows that she has her hair oiled for two days then she does the mask routine. So her daughter's hair stays heavily oiled, which I imagine acts like the pre-oiling.
Video 3: She is spraying oil all over her hair before applying a really lumpy mask (looks like it would never wash out of my 4c hair) (7:21)
Video 4: She talks about the "touch up oil" but doesn't show her actually oiling. But you can see her hair is oily. Then she applies the mask (4:00)

I should have put the time stamps in last night, but I was on my phone and was about to go to bed.

I've noticed that a lot of the South Asian videos don't actually demonstrate, they just show making the masks. The comments are where people ask pre-about or mention pre-oiling, if you can catch the ones written in English.



Thank you for explaining.

My observation about the oils is different. I haven't seen Hesh mentioned anywhere but here on older threads. Fenugreek, hibiscus, aloe vera, and so many others are being mixed into water, aloe vera gel, cornstarch, and other bases. Also a lot of people also use glosses and gloss bars if they don't want to mix from scratch.

At the end of the day, I'm not saying that oiling is right or wrong. I was just saying that I've seen South Asian women use this method as well.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro

Video 1: She says "apply this pack on oil or damp hair". (4:55)
Video 2: She says "now here comes a very important step before applying this hair mask..." then she says that you need to apply the jatamansi oil to the hair before applying the mask. (2:37) -- in her video demo with her daughter's hair, she shows that she has her hair oiled for two days then she does the mask routine. So her daughter's hair stays heavily oiled, which I imagine acts like the pre-oiling.
Video 3: She is spraying oil all over her hair before applying a really lumpy mask (looks like it would never wash out of my 4c hair) (7:21)
Video 4: She talks about the "touch up oil" but doesn't show her actually oiling. But you can see her hair is oily. Then she applies the mask (4:00)

I should have put the time stamps in last night, but I was on my phone and was about to go to bed.

I've noticed that a lot of the South Asian videos don't actually demonstrate, they just show making the masks. The comments are where people ask pre-about or mention pre-oiling, if you can catch the ones written in English.

View attachment 484523

Thank you for explaining.

My observation about the oils is different. I haven't seen Hesh mentioned anywhere but here on older threads. Fenugreek, hibiscus, aloe vera, and so many others are being mixed into water, aloe vera gel, cornstarch, and other bases. Also a lot of people also use glosses and gloss bars if they don't want to mix from scratch.

At the end of the day, I'm not saying that oiling is right or wrong. I was just saying that I've seen South Asian women use this method as well.

Understood.

 

[snoop]

I think for us with Afro-textured hair, oiling is a must because our hair is already naturally dry and the powders can be drying.

I think it depends on what ayurvedic herbs you use and how you mix them and what ingredients you use as a buffer. For example, I use kaolin clay, add my herbs, and apply to dirty, unoiled hair. Honey is my friend for softness. So is triphala.

Coconut oil makes my hair feel like straw. Marshmallow root makes my hair feel like straw. Both of these curly hair tends to love.

Aloe vera in products makes my hair feel like straw but fresh aloe is great.

My hair cannot handle ziziphus, but no one seems to get it stuck in their hair like I do.

What I did when I first started Ayurveda some of what didn't work, works now with no issues. I may be the exception.

 

[VinDieselsWifey]

I think it depends on what ayurvedic herbs you use and how you mix them and what ingredients you use as a buffer. For example, I use kaolin clay, add my herbs, and apply to dirty, unoiled hair. Honey is my friend for softness. So is triphala.

Coconut oil makes my hair feel like straw. Marshmallow root makes my hair feel like straw. Both of these curly hair tends to love.

Aloe vera in products makes my hair feel like straw but fresh aloe is great.

My hair cannot handle ziziphus, but no one seems to get it stuck in their hair like I do.

What I did when I first started Ayurveda some of what didn't work, works now with no issues. I may be the exception.

I can use coconut oil as a pre-poo or mixed in conditioner no problem but my hair does not like coconut oil as a leave in.
I’ve never tried using any Ayurvedic powders without pre-oiling or mixing oil in with a paste.

 

[snoop]

I can use coconut oil as a pre-poo or mixed in conditioner no problem but my hair does not like coconut oil as a leave in.
I’ve never tried using any Ayurvedic powders without pre-oiling or mixing oil in with a paste.

I wouldn't necessarily try it, especially without knowing what's in your mask. I will not be held responsible for breaking your beautiful hair.