Leave-In Conditioning... Is it Important?

[aloof one]

I have noticed now that I am 7 months post and I have a decent amount of healthy natural hair on my head to take care of (and FIGHT with), the more leave-in I use, the more tangled, mushy, and sticky and gross my hair is and more likely to break off. I know there is a whole protein/moisture balance thing going on, but I usually do handle that and keep it all in line- I alternate based on what I need, etc. But I have lost a fist full of hair this week from washing 3 times in 2 days before I realized it just wasn't working. All of a sudden now that I have this afro under my hair, the more creme leave-in conditioners I use, the worse it is. But tonight I noticed that when I use just a really good deep conditioner, I can detangle, add my CHI Silk Infusion, and put my hair up to dry. The only thing in my hair is the silk infusion and a quarter size drop of water-diluted CON.

But the problem is I know CHI isn't really necessarily something that conditions the hair as much as it does protect and make it shine and dress it up and everything. So I am a bit worried, even though my hair feels great now.

Question: Are leave-ins really necessary? Do I need to apply something (besides my CHI Silk Infusion,... which is my new boyfriend) else to my hair EVERY TIME after DCing? In fact, is it as important as DCing? Or is it just like prepooing (we can live without it, but its just habit now)? A lot of times I feel like I am wasting my money on something I never cared about before I came on this site, and now that they are all turning on me, I have to wonder if they are all that important to begin with (especially since I do moisturize nightly already and I do DC everytime I wash....)

When I say Leave-In I mean actual Leave-In Conditioner. Not what you moisturize your hair with daily. Not some coconut oil or some concoction or a drop of conditioner you put in after you rinse it out. I mean an actual leave-in that you apply after rinsing out your conditoner and before you dry your hair and moisturize or style, etc. EX: GF Curl & Shine Leave-In or Infusium 23.

 

[aloof one]

bumping

I made two on accident... this is the poll. Please answer ladies if you read this... I really need some different POVs from naturals, relaxed, transitioners, etc.. because its driving me nuts.

Thanks ChocalateDiva for responding to the other one, I am keeping that in mind

 

[lollyoo]

personally dont think its necessary if you will still use moisturiser.
I use it though.

 

[Glib Gurl]

Well, like everything else, I think it's about what works for your hair. For me, adding a leave-in conditioner after washing and conditioning has improved my hair tremendously - it's softer and stronger. But, not all leave-ins are made alike. For a while I was using Motions' brand leave-in and it didn't do anything spectacular. But now since using Matrix Biolage for the last few months my hair has flourished. So maybe it's about brand. Or maybe you don't need it at all. See how your hair does for a few weeks without a leave-in . . . I mean, if it's getting a lot of build-up and tangles, that's no good.

HTH!

 

[newflowers]

I use Phyto 7 after every wash. I have found it is an excellent detangler especially on the wild new growth that tends to be drier and tangles more than my relaxed hair.

Perhaps you can try a leave that you spray on - like the recommended Biolage, though I think Phyto 7 and Phyto 9 are simply the best.

 

[Nefertiti0906]

I'm having the same dilemna with my hair. My hair doesn't like leave-in's (leaves my hair too mushy) and doesn't like moisturizers (leaves my hair rough, dry and oily).

So I also wonder if it's necessary. This week I used the lacio lacio as a leave-in and my hair liked it. But I'll have to try it again next week to see how it goes, because like the Chi, it's more of a silicon for shine than a leave-in for moisturizing...

 

[Leslie_C]

I think they are beneficial as long as you are using the right one for your hair. Since you rinse out your regular conditioner, I feel like this gives you conditioning benefits through your next wash. All leave ins are not created equal and all dont work for everyone. Maybe u just need to find a better fit....or maybe you are fine without it!

 

[kally]

For my hair yes. I need it.

 

[LynnieB]

for my hair it definitely is necessary but i don't go out my way to buy a product specifically made as a leave-in (although i have). i'm getting just as good or better mileage using good ole v05 conditioners

 

[Moroni]

After DCing, I use a leave-in to give my hair that extra boost of moisture, before sealing with oil, because my hair is too dry without it. I've tried quite a few "leave-ins", and I've settled on Fermodyl 619 or Aveda DR. I've never stretched as long as you, so I don't have any idea how my relaxed hair would behave with that much NG, period. As long as I clarify once per month, co-wash 3 to 5 times a week, and henna at least 2 times a month, I haven't had any major breakage or shedding. *knocking on wood*

ETA: I know the Aveda DR con isn't a leave-in, but it works just great for me that way.

 

[MizAvalon]

I really like using my leave-in. Gives me that really nice shine for styling.

However, even when I didn't use my hair still looked ok. It blings with the leave-in though.

Whatever works for your hair.

 

[freshlikemoi]

I love perfect for perms leave in...everything about it, it makes my hair so slick. but I will admit that I dont use it after everywash. Sometimes, I forget and other times I dont feel like bending over in my cabinet..lol

 

[back2relaxed]

When I was natural I noticed the same thing. I used things like Miss Jessies Buttercreme or Curls Milkshake after I washed, w/u having the relaxed ends still this would only work if you were going to do a twist out or a braid out or some textured style.

 

[Miss*Tress]

I'm one of the less than 10% who doesn't use a leave-in. DC and oils keep my hair soft and shiny.

 

[wheezy807]

A leave in is very essential to my hair regime. It allows my hair to airdry without becoming dry and brittle.

 

[glamazon386]

It depends on your hair. I only really use one if I know I'm going to be applying gel to my hair. I need the leave in under neath so it doesn't make my hair dry. Other than that, washing and DCing once a week keeps my hair moisturized enough. I don't have to add any other products.

 

[aloof one]

It depends on your hair. I only really use one if I know I'm going to be applying gel to my hair. I need the leave in under neath so it doesn't make my hair dry. Other than that, washing and DCing once a week keeps my hair moisturized enough. I don't have to add any other products.

thanks bmoreflyygirl, that means a lot since I have a lot of natural roots (and I mean a lot) on my head that looks like urs. A lot of times I feel like I'm just adding insult to injury when I put in a leave in, but there are other times I feel like I should use it. I guess its just one of those things I have realized very recently isn't absolutely necessary for my natural hair, but was a requirement for when I was relaxed. Which is hard because I almost have about half of each.

 

[glamazon386]

thanks bmoreflyygirl, that means a lot since I have a lot of natural roots (and I mean a lot) on my head that looks like urs. A lot of times I feel like I'm just adding insult to injury when I put in a leave in, but there are other times I feel like I should use it. I guess its just one of those things I have realized very recently isn't absolutely necessary for my natural hair, but was a requirement for when I was relaxed. Which is hard because I almost have about half of each.

Yeah, it's going to be hard dealing with both. There's always some products one half likes but doesn't really work for the other half. But there's nothing you can really do about it.

ETA: Also, you may have needed the leave in for your relaxed hair merely because it was relaxed. Relaxed hair usually requires more moisture because the chemical has broken the hair down.

 

[silvergirl]

i just use a reg conditioner as leave in. moreso for frizz control than anything else.

 

[ChanelNo5]

My hair likes leave-in conditioner. Shoot, it better love it since I just ordered the liter size Giovanni yall been raveing about.

 

[HoneyDew]

I MUST use one. It is pretty much just applying moisturizer as far as I am concerned - just doing it on wet hair.

 

[halee_J]

I must use leave-in. If I don't, my hair looks and feels like those little mesh pot-srcubber things... but too much makes it feel like what the OP is describing..mushy and tangled.

I was experiencing the mushy-ness for awhile and then I realised I was ODing on the leave-in and not DCing long/often enough and/or not using a sufficently moisturizing deep con. I find that if my hair is well conditioned before the leave-in, I use alot less thus no mushiness. Overnight pre-pooing with oil helped with this also. Again more moisture in the hairshaft before using the leave-in.

I have also recently stopped using shampoo to cleanse my hair and I am using less and less leave-in each wash

ETA: I put oil on damp hair before washing

 

[aloof one]

I must use leave-in. If I don't, my hair looks and feels like those little mesh pot-srcubber things... but too much makes it feel like what the OP is describing..mushy and tangled.

I was experiencing the mushy-ness for awhile and then I realised I was ODing on the leave-in and not DCing long/often enough and/or not using a sufficently moisturizing deep con. I find that if my hair is well conditioned before the leave-in, I use alot less thus no mushiness. Overnight pre-pooing with oil helped with this also. Again more moisture in the hairshaft before using the leave-in.

I have also recently stopped using shampoo to cleanse my hair and I am using less and less leave-in each wash

ETA: I put oil on damp hair before washing

You know that oil thing seems to help for some reason. I covered my head in coconut oil after shampooing my scalp and massaged it in and detangled... then rinsed it out and it was amazingly moist and soft and shiny. I had previously tried it with EVOO, grapeseed and castor oil but that stuff had my hair tangled. The coconut really did a great job. My hair felt like i had just DCd or something...

 

[aloof one]

Yeah, it's going to be hard dealing with both. There's always some products one half likes but doesn't really work for the other half. But there's nothing you can really do about it.

ETA: Also, you may have needed the leave in for your relaxed hair merely because it was relaxed. Relaxed hair usually requires more moisture because the chemical has broken the hair down.

That totally makes sense! After I came out of the braids (even though it was only 3 weeks) I had more natural hair than relaxed (due to sheer volume, not length) and half of my products just burst out laughing at my during my first wash. Half the methods I had used before are trash now. I guess I should show yall how much of a difference it is just so you can see what a nightmare it was to think I could have done my hair in less than an hour before work... then I looked in the mirror and found this :

I always knew my natural hair takes a short amount of time to dry because it is less porous and damaged than my relaxed hair, but I wasn't prepared for a 'fro after letting my hair aidry for like 5 minutes while I looked for my blowdryer.

Any other transitioners just wake up one day to an afro coming out of your head? Can ya'll imagine what my stuff is going to be like natural? This is only a section of hair about 3 by 2 inches thick... When I straighten it you can't even tell it looked like this, but man... I can't even airdry in a pony anymore.

 

[Determined22]

I use a leave-in sometimes, but normally its just conditioner that I don't rinse out. I've found that products labeled as leave-in conditioner (like Giovanni leave-in) did nothing for my hair. Sometimes I skip it when I'm roller setting (like today) but when I airdry its an absolute must. Without a leave-in airdrying makes my hair brittle and dry.

 

[glamazon386]

That totally makes sense! After I came out of the braids (even though it was only 3 weeks) I had more natural hair than relaxed (due to sheer volume, not length) and half of my products just burst out laughing at my during my first wash. Half the methods I had used before are trash now. I guess I should show yall how much of a difference it is just so you can see what a nightmare it was to think I could have done my hair in less than an hour before work... then I looked in the mirror and found this :

I always knew my natural hair takes a short amount of time to dry because it is less porous and damaged than my relaxed hair, but I wasn't prepared for a 'fro after letting my hair aidry for like 5 minutes while I looked for my blowdryer.

Any other transitioners just wake up one day to an afro coming out of your head? Can ya'll imagine what my stuff is going to be like natural? This is only a section of hair about 3 by 2 inches thick... When I straighten it you can't even tell it looked like this, but man... I can't even airdry in a pony anymore.

Yeah, you might want to step up your deep conditioning. I mean they both moisturize, but they're different. I don't think the leave ins are going to do it for you. Whenever I deep conditioned, it made my hair lay down better. My hair is fine though, so it never puffed up quite that big.

 

[LovelyLionessa]

Using a leave-in is essential for me. I like to have around the clock conditioning for my hair. I don't limit myself to just products that specifically state "leave-in." I love using regular conditioner for a nice boost of moisture and conditioning in one product.

 

[gymfreak336]

I have to use a leave in conditioner. After rinsing out my conditioner, something has to be put on. I like the sunsilk creams, garneir cream and giovanni direct.

 

[HoneyDew]

I use a leave-in sometimes, but normally its just conditioner that I don't rinse out. I've found that products labeled as leave-in conditioner (like Giovanni leave-in) did nothing for my hair. Sometimes I skip it when I'm roller setting (like today) but when I airdry its an absolute must. Without a leave-in airdrying makes my hair brittle and dry.

You know I am the same way! My "leave-in" is actually a waterbased moisturizer, but it works well on my wet hair.

 

[MiWay]

Sometimes I use a leave-in for rollersets, but I've come to realize that I don't NEED one. As long as I use a "good" conditioner, I'm straight.