MHM Hangout

[GGsKin]

Thank you for the detail. So if your hair is any indication, it sounds promising that my hair will eventually start drying faster. That's a relief, because my scalp even smells mildewy right now and I do not want to develop any fungus.
I had that smell with the intense baggying- I was concernered when my head started to smell like a bad foot under that bag. Its the thing that stops me baggying now (that and I actually do want my hair to dry at some point). If I get a smell (when I put my wet hair up and I don't take it down), usually, after 3 days I am washing again so it doesn't bother me.

I'm wearing my hair pulled back in a big curly/coily puff. I use an old pantyhose to create a pulled back bun thing that sits atop and at the back of my whole head. Hope that makes sense. When my hair was shorter, this same pantyhose tie-style create a afro puff, but now with more length, it's just a larger.

Makes total sense. And yes, it's probably the combination of the length of time doing the method, coupled with the style that makes drying time that much longer. Keep an eye on your hair and scalp. Hopefully it's not problematic.

And, yes, the perimeter of my hair is drying normally and it's super soft and springy. Like, it's a softness I have never felt in my hair, so I know something is working really well!



Thank you! I think I saw Super Wet today. That's a great deal! Glad that it has heaviness for you. That's what I need right now. I went crazy in the beauty supply today buying various gels. I got a cream called, Natural Lengthening Creme by 3 Sisters. I bought this gel called, Tres Flores, which seems to have a really heavy hold. Hoping it works well. Then I bought a couple more (shameful). I'll let you all know my thoughts.

So great that the CA helped you to get over a hump and once done, your hair was like, "so long." Are you still using a leave-in? I decided not to use the leave-in and I'm wondering if I should have tried it, but honestly, besides the annoying wetness of my roots, my hair is so nice and soft and springy. And you telling me to listen to my hair makes me want to go back to the Tropical Avocado conditioner I used to use. It's a Dominican conditioner that I would leave in my hair and it created amazing curls. I would get 2 wng days with that stuff. I used it as my styling product. Because I'll be clarifying with the clay often, I might just try it and see what it does to my hair.



Thank you for responding! So curious, when you wng at night, are you sleeping with loose hair or with it in a baggy? And, dang! Your curls must be popping strong if you think they can hold for up to a week. Do they initially have a hard/firm hold? After you run out of this gel, would you repurchase?


So, a couple more questions for you all, please . . . are most of you applying gel in the shower or are you shingling/doing it in sections? Anyone applying gel, then adding a bit more water to the hair and then doing the shake method? When I used to apply Curly Pudding and or the Avocado conditioner, I would shake my hair, coated in the product, and that would help to create curls. Maybe I shouldn't shake as that could be manipulation?? Maybe I should just apply the gel or product and let the hair do what it do and assume the curls will form on their own? I think that's what I did the first day . . . I forget . . . my brain is probably too wet now.

I shingle my gel on. Out of the shower, I apply heavily diluted KCCC in small sections, smoothing from root to tip so all the hair is covered. I stretch the hair between my fingers and separate the clumps that form. I will wet my hair before applying gel, but not once I'm finished (unless it's another day). I don't shake.
Also, on the max hydration website, I think she says that you can use cream in lieu of gel, so I'm kind of thinking that Avocado conditioner could be my cream, right?

Everyone's hair is different but I do think the gel works best at forming a sealing cast.

Sorry for all of the questions. Hope they make sense. Thank you, ladies!

Editing to add--forget the Dominican Avocado conditioner for now. Reading about the political mess with the Haitians and I can't support anything DR right now.

I bolded my responses.

 

[GGsKin]

1. Clarify: ACV mix
2. Condition: keraPro Restorative Intense Treatment (UA)
3. Mud: bentonite clay, Moroccan clay, water
4. Leave-In: Skipped
5. Seal: flaxseed gel...followed up with Shea Butter

I used way too much water in my mud mix. It was soooo messy.

I'm convinced that I don't like the flaxseed gel. I will make the oatmeal one after this runs out.

My hair feels really soft since I added Shea butter. I hope it stays soft after it's dry.

Still not much definition and still looks dull.

I broke down and bought some rhassoul clay...should get it this week.

I did the strand test and I'm LP. I completely forgot about it for maybe 40 minutes. When I finally checked it, all the hair was still floating.

I've been wearing a puff daily. Whoever came up with using a pantyhose for it is awesome!

@AbsyBlvd how long had you been doing the MHM before getting full definition?

@guudhair You made me take another look at my hair. It's funny because I never considered if my hair was fully defined, but maybe this is what it looks like on my hair IDK (maybe I do have hairnorexia for real lol ).

Ok so I went back through my pics and I think my hair went through its last transformation between March and May- so 6-8 months in.

I sampled DubaiDee4c's modification for the first time in March. Around this time, my detangling became more thorough. I also used proper protein for the first time since starting the method. I'll try to add some pics.

@faithVA I'm having the same problem you were having with the eternal buffering but no upload.

 

[discodumpling]

Are you still using a leave-in?

Yes. My hair needs the constant conditioning that it gets from using a leave-in. I have no desire to eliminate leave-ins from my regimen.

are most of you applying gel in the shower or are you shingling/doing it in sections? Anyone applying gel, then adding a bit more water to the hair and then doing the shake method?

Yes. My whole routine is in the shower. The re-wetting after applying products, which I have termed "The Dickey" after hair guru Anthony Dickey is done sometimes on the weekends when i don't mind my hair takinf HOURS to dry. But for my everyday wash n go I don't re-wet after raking my gel through my hair. Sometimes I shake, sometimes I don't...no rhyme or reason to it, I get what i get and i'm satisfied until the next wash

 

[Honey Bee]

Thank you for responding! So curious, when you wng at night, are you sleeping with loose hair or with it in a baggy? And, dang! Your curls must be popping strong if you think they can hold for up to a week. Do they initially have a hard/firm hold? After you run out of this gel, would you repurchase?

Lemme see... I'll answer them in paragraphs.

When I wng at night, I sleep with three or four loose buns. My hair is short (and getting shorter everyday as I attempt a slow-burn sort of hair shaping thing, I do a little every few days to make sure it's right ), so three or four buns ain't really stretching out nothing.

My curls are popping, girl! I was trynna take some pics the other day, but I couldn't capture the true boldness of the definition, y'all know what I'm saying. It was amazing. I'm literally washing my hair every other day, playing in it until it frizzes up, and then washing it again. And I can't wait for wash day cuz I love playing in my hair. I'm a mess.

Would I repurchase this particular brand? No. I kinda wanna try other ones now. I'd like to find one that doesn't stay so daggone wet for so long. And it was kinda sticky, too, yuck. *shudder* I'm almost done with the tube, I plan to give the rest (about 2 oz) to my mother for further experimentation.

For clarification purposes, here's my reggie.

1. V05 clarifying conditioner, topped with shampoo. Rinse.
2. Any old conditioner. I'm trying to use up my (apparently extensive) stash.
3. Clay (AVJ, ACV, slippery elm bark powder for slip).
4. Diluted KCKT.
[4a. Curl cream, activator gel, etc]
5. My current boo: Wetline Extreme gel. I'm about to finish the jar but I liked it enough that I already bought a back up.

I do all of this out of the shower, I hate washing my hair in the shower. I smooth, rake, and shake. I shake so the curls don't dry in a big glob. As the days go by, it stretches out pretty easy because it's so fine. To bring it back, I lightly mist with water, shake, and reapply gel in the areas that got frizzy. I use different products everytime (except for steps 4 and 5, those are always the same), so I think it's more technique that anything. I will say, however, that I do love a thick heavy gel. There's a cast, yes, but you're free to style without worrying about frizz. Crunch out the cast, but don't throw away the baby with the bath-water.

Editing to add--forget the Dominican Avocado conditioner for now. Reading about the political mess with the Haitians and I can't support anything DR right now.

 

[Honey Bee]

Oh, and I don't baggy. I may once my fist natural winter comes, but I never did it before because... well, when I got here, my hair was over processed, relaxed, highly porous, and over moisturized from Wen. Baggying didn't even make sense to me at that point. I knew there would be a tragedy, and so I avoided it. My hair is a lot stronger now, but still, if I did baggy, it would be 'dry', with no added liquid. On *this* head, baggying with liquid sounds like a problem waiting to happen, imo.

 

[faithVA]

@guudhair You made me take another look at my hair. It's funny because I never considered if my hair was fully definied, but maybe this is what it looks like on my hair IDK (maybe I do have hairnorexia for real lol ).

Ok so I went back through my pics and I think my hair went through its last transformation between March and May- so 6-8 months in.

I sampled DubaiDee4c's modification for the first time in March. Around this time, my detangling became more thorough. I also used proper protein for the first time since starting the method. I'll try to add some pics.

@faithVA I'm having the same problem you were having with the eternal buffering but no upload.

discodumpling said to hit the "more options" button. Sometimes it works for me sometimes not.

 

[GGsKin]

discodumpling said to hit the "more options" button. Sometimes it works for me sometimes not.

Thanks. It's been slow this past couple of weeks, and I used to refresh the page and find my pic attached anyway. It's not working now. I'll keep trying though.

 

[GGsKin]

@guudhair You made me take another look at my hair. It's funny because I never considered if my hair was fully defined, but maybe this is what it looks like on my hair IDK (maybe I do have hairnorexia for real lol ).

Ok so I went back through my pics and I think my hair went through its last transformation between March and May- so 6-8 months in.

I sampled DubaiDee4c's modification for the first time in March. Around this time, my detangling became more thorough. I also used proper protein for the first time since starting the method. I'll try to add a few pics from then to now.

It worked this time.
Pic.1. I think this was just before I started the modified regimen. It was the first time noticing definition at my roots after my hair dried. The definition didn't travel the whole length- mainly ends and root.

Pic.2. I was doing modified proper, with no conditioner. Left- my hair was shinier and more defined but my clumps weren't really separated. Right- applying gel and separating more thoroughly.

Pic.3. Left- how my hair dried the next day (31/03). Right- my wet product-free hair after I used protein conditioner for the first time (since starting the regimen).

Pic.4. How my pony puff looks as a comparison to the first pic in March.

Pic.5. May. Left- 'Dirty' hair fluffed out. Right- wet hair product free.

Pic.6. Beginning of June. Wet hair product free (with exception of oils). Dry wash and go.

 

[faithVA]

^^I think my hair is similar to yours. I think I said that last time I saw it. My hair currently looks like your hair in the 18/03 shot. My hair just isn't as long as yours. I'm hoping as it gets longer it will look more like the 30/03 side, of course as I do my hair more often.

 

[KiWiStyle]

My hair is exactly like me; it doesn't like change and loves consistency. When you change the game of any sorts, we get all stressed and discombobulated. Lesson learned!!!

The good news! I now know exactly how long my hair is and I cannot believe how fast/much it has grown.

 

[GGsKin]

^^I think my hair is similar to yours. I think I said that last time I saw it. My hair currently looks like your hair in the 18/03 shot. My hair just isn't as long as yours. I'm hoping as it gets longer it will look more like the 30/03 side, of course as I do my hair more often.

I believe it will.

Taking the step to try the modification was a turning point for me so I have you to thank for that @faithVA , that and my favourite thread.

 

[tallnomad]

I believe it will.

Taking the step to try the modification was a turning point for me so I have you to thank for that @faithVA , that and my favourite thread.

Your hair looks great! And, I love your eyebrows!

When you hair is stretched, about how long is it? Curious. My hair looks similar to yours in length and texture a bit. Have you been experiencing growth/length retention with this method? As your hair gets longer, is your detangling an issue or seems to be going well?

 

[GGsKin]

Your hair looks great! And, I love your eyebrows!

When you hair is stretched, about how long is it? Curious. My hair looks similar to yours in length and texture a bit. Have you been experiencing growth/length retention with this method? As your hair gets longer, is your detangling an issue or seems to be going well?

Thank you.
I have various lengths- my hair grows in layers and I'm growing out some damage (bald spots). I roughly measured (from a no heat curlformer stretch) at the beginning of May. To keep it short, I'd say the top half is neck length (but the front just passes my top lip). The bottom half is full shoulder length.

I've dusted regularly (mere millimetres), and one trim with my hair in twists. I am going to try and lay off the scissors now (except for single strand knots I feel) to see what I can retain. Especially with with my unstretched hair/ends out and exposed.

I think I have well and truly forgotten what it was like to detangle my hair before I modified my regimen. I know I used to do it with the conditioner step. When I've tried that since, it did feel a little akward lol.

The shed hairs just fall out. When I take time, I can usually separate the hairs down the the one that doesn't wanna let go. I've previously yanked out clumps of hair in the shower with poor technique.

Also the watery clay mix makes it easier to detangle to the degree that I like. Now, it takes me around 40mins to apply my clay and detangle. I don't mind this, but I do wonder how long it would take to detangle this way once I reach ...say BSB

 

[tallnomad]

Thank you.
I have various lengths- my hair grows in layers and I'm growing out some damage (bald spots). I roughly measured (from a no heat curlformer stretch) at the beginning of May. To keep it short, I'd say the top half is neck length (but the front just passes my top lip). The bottom half is shoulder length.

I've dusted regularly (mere millimetres), and one trim with my hair in twists. I am going to try and lay off the scissors now (except for single strand knots I feel) to see what I can retain. Especially with with my unstretched hair/ends out and exposed.

I think I have well and truly forgotten what it was like to detangle my hair before I modified my regimen. I know I used to do it with the conditioner step. When I've tried that since, it did feel a little akward lol.

The shed hairs just fall out. When I take time, I can usually separate the hairs down the the one that doesn't wanna let go. I've previously yanked out clumps of hair in the shower with poor technique.

Also the watery clay mix makes it easier to detangle to the degree that I like. Now, it takes me around 40mins to apply my clay and detangle. I don't mind this, but I do wonder how long it would take to detangle this way once I reach ...say BSB

Thank you! I think I might need to do a better job at detangling. I just applied some clay now and have a shower cap on before I shower it out. Shed hairs did just seem to fall out, however, I'm not really finger combing that well, although I am working in the clay. Maybe I'll spend time detangling with the clay on Sunday nights. Your hair looks longer to me. When stretched, mine is below my armpit. I'm praying to get to WSL because I personally think it'll be easier to care for my hair. Even though I have length, it shrinks up so much, but thankfully, so far with this method, it's not shrinking and matting/tangling like it did before.

 

[GGsKin]

Thank you! I think I might need to do a better job at detangling. I just applied some clay now and have a shower cap on before I shower it out. Shed hairs did just seem to fall out, however, I'm not really finger combing that well, although I am working in the clay. Maybe I'll spend time detangling with the clay on Sunday nights. Your hair looks longer to me. When stretched, mine is below my armpit. I'm praying to get to WSL because I personally think it'll be easier to care for my hair. Even though I have length, it shrinks up so much, but thankfully, so far with this method, it's not shrinking and matting/tangling like it did before.

It's funny because for a while now I've been thinking that my hair doesn't shrink up as much anymore. My 'pull' checks seem way less dramatic too. There is obviously some shrinkage but it's like 50% or less (I'm not pushing these percentages hard I promise), maybe 65% if I leave it a few extra days.

 

[aharri23]

Hey yall its been a while since I posted that video currently experimenting with some more things and will post it soon

- My hair feels 10x better when using my homemade gel (all natural) compared to using Sweet Soul Magic and KCCC, TBH I think they are lying about the ingredients in them so for now I just use my own gel and I actually KNOW what's in it. Sweet Soul Magic dries my hair out for some reason and is super sticky so im probably going to stop using it. Probably just going to stop using storebought gels in general to save money and I get better results.

- I've been experimenting with the modified MHM again because I work out everyday and haven't had time to do the full steps, however this time I'm using an all natural gel (denise recommends a plant based gel like flaxseed, okra, etc) which seems to be helping with tangles and dryness comapred to using a MHM store bought gel.

- Leaving in conditioners on my hair under gel gives me flakes no matter what amount (diluted or not), so I've stopped doing that. My homemade gel gives me definition and softness. If it's too crunchy I can just put some oil on it 2nd day. I thought flakes were unavoidable but nope, once I stopped using a leave in conditioner the flakes stopped. I only use one product to style my hair (homemade gel)

- I've been using a watery clay mix in the shower in the applicator bottle but for some reason my sodium bentonite clay stains my shower so I will probably go back to using a thicker clay mix and applying it outside of the shower.

- I can water wash with hot water inbetween clay washes if needed, I only do the clay 1-2x per week. ACV rinses are good too.

- Baking soda is unnecessary seeing as I haven't used conditioner in a while. I would use only a little in the CLCT

- Less is more with low porosity hair, our hair is already healthy. No need to layer a bazillion products

- My main issue with the modified MHM was the tangles before, but this time I am not going to use any store bought gels. Its been 12 days so far and I haven't had any major tangles. I'm hoping I wont have to go back to using conditioner because it doesn't do much for my hair.

 

[Cattypus1]

I've got definition, softness and growth retention...my hair will not hang no matter what I do. It hangs when wet but wants to stand up once dry. I just think my hair is destined not to hang when dry. I see the pics on here and I really want some hang time. It really doesn't seem to matter what I do, I end up with the same style-a bigger TWA. I guess I have hair that is finer than fine and has no weight to it. Ok...I think I'm just having a moment, whine over.

 

[guudhair]

@AbsyBlvd

Thank you. Seems like we have the same texture. Did you do the seven days straight? And do you wash (or wet) every three to four days?

 

[GGsKin]

@AbsyBlvd

Thank you. Seems like we have the same texture. Did you do the seven days straight? And do you wash (or wet) every three to four days?

Ooh would love to see pics. When I started in September, I did the '7 day kickstart' over two weeks (I was doing the bald spot regimen but with regular washes).
I wash my hair every 2, 3 or 4 days.

 

[guudhair]

Ooh would love to see pics. When I started in September, I did the '7 day kickstart' over two weeks (I was doing the bald spot regimen but with regular washes).
I wash my hair every 2, 3 or 4 days.

It hasn't started clumping yet. This is from earlier this month. One wet, one dry, same day.

 

[GGsKin]

@guudhair That is one impressive head of hair you have. I can't make the pic bigger but I'm admiring the shape and volume.

 

[guudhair]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to wash n gos when it starts clumping. I wear puffs for now.

 

[aharri23]

Also I've been using bana baby food instead of regular bananas for my CLCT treatments and my hair is liking it!

 

[Honey Bee]

Also I've been using bana baby food instead of regular bananas for my CLCT treatments and my hair is liking it!

I just bought two jars (SO was looking at me like, 'Que?' ), glad to know I didn't waste my money.

 

[KiWiStyle]

I've got definition, softness and growth retention...my hair will not hang no matter what I do. It hangs when wet but wants to stand up once dry. I just think my hair is destined not to hang when dry. I see the pics on here and I really want some hang time. It really doesn't seem to matter what I do, I end up with the same style-a bigger TWA. I guess I have hair that is finer than fine and has no weight to it. Ok...I think I'm just having a moment, whine over.

I have a feeling I'll be a twist out girl when my hair grows up. I can't see my fine strands hanging much either.

 

[Honey Bee]

I have a feeling I'll be a twist out girl when my hair grows up. I can't see my fine strands hanging much either.

I thought I might be a twist out girl too, but I'm loving my hair so much that I don't care whether it hangs or sticks straight up, don't make me no difference.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Breaking out my Bentonite clay, aloe vera, honey powder, slippery elm mix today.

 

[faithVA]

I did a quick mud finally. Last night I water rinsed, did a keratin protein treatment, DCd with NG Marshmallow and then used a thick mud to remove the conditioner residue. Rushing as usual so didn't get to let it just marinate.

The shampoo I used for my color did a number on my strands. I think it's going to take a few weeks to get my hair back to normal.

 

[GGsKin]

Washed my hair today. I stuck to clay, oil and gel, but used the As I Am Curling Jelly as I am oh so low on KCCC. I like the AIA but last time I used it I had a few flakes once it dried. Oh and why are these jars so small? I got 3 or 4 uses out of this one (finished today).

OAN I could really see my henna in the sunlight today.

 

[faithVA]

Washed my hair today. I stuck to clay, oil and gel, but used the As I Am Curling Jelly as I am oh so low on KCCC. I like the AIA but why are these jars so small? I got 3 or 4 uses out of this one (finished today).

OAN I could really see my henna in the sunlight today.

They make a larger jar but they don't sell it everywhere. When only Sally's sold the line they had only the larger jar. When they decided to sell it in other locations, they came out with the smaller jars.

You can dilute the AIA as well as the KCCC to make them stretch a little further, if diluted gel works on your hair.