My Stylist vs LHCF: Confused

[MrsHdrLe]

I totally understand OP's delimma. If I read correctly, she said that her hair was really dry until she went to the salon then her hair was transformed. She really wants to care for her hair on her own, but she can't deny the condition of her hair after leaving the salon. That is what I think she said in her first post.
My previous hair stylist complained incessantly about me wetting my hair too much. She explained quite eloquently how the water was having an opposite effect on my hair producing dryer hair, breakage, and tangles. I really tried to follow her advice, but it felt so unnatural to me, so I secretly continued to co-wash twice a week. Depending on the products I used, sometimes it would seem healthier and sometimes not. So I totally get the confusion. What works for some may or may not work for me/you and how many years and how much money will we waste in the meantime especially when stylist may or may not be telling us what's best for our hair. Some stylist are really good and some are self serving and try the cookie cutter approach. Oh I'm confused...I need to go lie down now :/

 

[MrsHdrLe]

@ Simply elle
See now I'm confused, cause after so many praises for HELTR, I finally bought some and I loved it last week, but now I'm afraid my hair will suddenly and inexplicably hate it next week....oh what's a girl to do? I'm just trying to to reduce my stash so I can gain some space under my cabinets at this point

 

[NIN4eva]

MrsHdrLe I think there may have been a formula change at some point.

 

[darlingdiva]

My regimen is kinda all over the place, however I have been shampooing and DC together once a week. I like using the bee mine rhassoul clay clarifying bar and I had been using aubrey gpb condish. for cowashes i was using either aussie moist (ok) hello hydration (ok) or the v05 (meh) and cowashes happen like 2 times a week. she also made the statement "how is water hydrating your hair? all that water is probably drying it out" which kinda makes sense but also goes against everything i thought about natural hair "loving" water...

honestly i havent felt like my hair has "loved" anything but the salon dc since my friggin big chop lol. it's like ever since i moved from louisiana to georgia my hair just hates it. dry dry dry. i know it's probably the difference in atmosphere and i think the water too. i guess i just have to find my way out here.

Regarding the bolded, my advice is for you not to feel that a product works only if your hair has a deep love affair with it. All of that isn't necessary for a product to work for your hair.

 

[Simply_elle]

MrsHdrLe I think there may have been a formula change at some point.

IT DID!

Circa 2008 I loooved that stuff...Now it works like one or twice and then hard crunchy hair

NIN4eva

Didn't realize how snarky that sounded... I just wish I could go into the salon and be like yeahh.... Honestly i'm super scared of the attitude because my dense 4a is alien to them...or they just tear my hair up...

I see your in school...I pray there are more knowledgeable stylists..Here soon with the "natural hair boom" to where us curlies feel comfortable going for advice and good hair care... I'm DYING for a good rollerset/trim but I'd be darned if someone takes out my hard work...*venting*

 

[itsallaboutattitude]

toiatoya

I know you are trying to become a DIY. However, if you are interested in finding another stylist who is knowledgeable about natural hair care, check out this website http://atlantanaturalhair.com/

I am not sure if there maybe a stylist listed there in the Augusta, GA area, but you never know.

 

[robot.]

OP, what do you use to moisturize?

I went through a long period of crazy-dryness when I went natural; it seems like something a lot of ladies go through. You probably don't need to shampoo so often, but keep dc'ing weekly. Drugstore conditioners also don't give me much long-lasting moisture from co-washing, especially if I'm not moisturizing at other times/with other products.

 

[toiatoya]

OP, what do you use to moisturize?

I went through a long period of crazy-dryness when I went natural; it seems like something a lot of ladies go through. You probably don't need to shampoo so often, but keep dc'ing weekly. Drugstore conditioners also don't give me much long-lasting moisture from co-washing, especially if I'm not moisturizing at other times/with other products.

what conditioner and deep conditioner are you using? to condition i WAS switching between aussie moist, hello hydration and v05 coconut lime. now im kinda not sure what to use. i like them all equally in different ways. i am currently in search of the right DC for me. I really like what was used on me yesterday, but couldnt find it today in the store. She used DesignLine Reconstructor and i think its discontinued. I really like the Redken Fresh Curls Curl Refiner leave in anti frizz detangler for unruly curls. I think that's my staple right now. It is the ONLY thing that moisturizes and brings my curls to life. My hair feels happy. and baggying is a new staple as well to help hold it in. I also like coconut oil to seal and I am taking 2 vitafusion multivites gummies everyday. i try to drink water

 

[isawstars]

I wish I made a post like this when I was in your shoes. I had been with my stylist for 7 years and she gave me those same comments although my hair had become the longest it has ever been. I started listening to her and my hair started breaking. I told her I was doing everything she said and she said she didnt know but she was really concerned. I kept torturing my hair with those high end products when he ltr and aussie helped my hair thrive. All bc I trusted her... Dont make the same mistake as me op! I refuse to listen to any stylist now. I dont even want to be bothered by them bc I am still very upset.

Sent from my VS910 4G using VS910 4G

 

[NIN4eva]

@Simply_elle It's good, I didn't read that as snarky at all. Passionate discussion is what it's all about. The sad truth is just because someone has a license it doesn't mean they know hair from straw, not to mention product knowledge. I had a natural 4a/b client last night who needed a wash and 2-strand set after wearing braids for a few months. LOL, they didn't even know how to ring up her service at the front desk and I had to leave her to read labels in dispense for a while before I found something I would use on her hair. Fortunately she didn't mind the wait because she realized I was making sure I was using nothing but the best for her. We're not allowed to bring our own products. smh. We drew a crowd during the service and some of my fellow students wanted to try their hand at a twist or two. My client was very patient and sweet about it... err, better that I would have been. And yep, I'm hoping to be an LHCF approved stylist

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

Thank u all! I just showed her my suave coconut and v05 lime and she was like "no" lol. I will try her suggesztions cuz they work but continue trial and error.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using SAMSUNG-SGH-I897

After a while the VO5 wasn't working for me either....My stylist recommended I mix 2 types of Motions conditioners together and add a dollop of the oil of my choice (I use Argan) and DC every 1-2 weeks with that. It has mineral oils in it but it works....!!! My hair is in looooveee!

I was doing the VO5 co-washing-every 3rd or 4th day, twisting, it M&S/Baggying, etc...and my hair still grew fine, it just had these spells of dryness on and offerplexed.....I think its because the VO5 just isn't creamy enough....natural hair loves the more creamier products...and yes if you have color-treated hair then something specific to that is appropriate....I think the stylist's opinion/suggestion carries weight...its fine if it works, and if what they suggest doesn't work then you move on, or get another suggestion, etc....as long as it works for YOU!

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

@ Simply elle
See now I'm confused, cause after so many praises for HELTR, I finally bought some and I loved it last week, but now I'm afraid my hair will suddenly and inexplicably hate it next week....oh what's a girl to do? I'm just trying to to reduce my stash so I can gain some space under my cabinets at this point

If its working, its working.....On this journey you are going to hear so much stuff about this product is the bomb, and this is not...I jumped on the VO5 bandwagon, and after about 6 mos, I went to a salon, and she was like, you hair is dryer than before....she didn't recommend what her salon was selling, she told me to go straight to Walmart...she didn't diss my little 1.00 product...she just said its not working for you....

I use the HE LTR on my ends only for protection. I re-apply it on my ends when its in twists every 4th day///...its tha BOMB....on MY HAIR....If its working, then forget if you hear otherwise....Some people hate HE LTR and they HATE Cantu....But its workin workin workin for me....My hair be like "Thank ya kindly"....

Do you!

 

[Ivonnovi]

If the products work for you....GO FOR It.

WHY NOT buy from her? She "looks" like you, whereas the folks at your local BBS (where you might choose to buy from) DONT.

If you find your natural hair has a problem with these, stop and "clarify" before moving on to different products.

TO WHOM YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY IS (TO) WHOM YOU GIVE YOUR POWER!