Natural hair regime without oils and butters

[tolly]

Hello ladies,
I have been on this site for years but have not paid attention to the hair forum for a long time.
I need your expertise and recommendations about the methods that advocates skipping oils and butters.
For these regimens, are gels necessary? I tried shampoo and conditioners alone and my hair ended up looking very dull and with absolutely no defination.
Thank you

 

[faithVA]

I am doing the no oils/butters regimen. First off, with this regimen you also need to have multiple shampoos in rotation because it is the most important step. Your primary shampoo is an ultra-moisturizing shampoo. Will explain more if you want to know.

After your shampoo and conditioner, you use a styler based on whatever style you want to wear. If you are wearing a curly set/wng then you would use 1+ gels/mousse or other product for a curly set. If you are wearing twist or twist out you would use a leave-in and then some type of cream styler meant for twist and twist outs. If you are bunning then probably a leave-in and mousse or just mousse, depending on your hair.

You always have a styler after your conditioner. And if you are going from using oils and butters to not, there is a detox or adjustment period.

For myself, it has been wonderful because I simplified my regimen and my products.

 

[tolly]

@faithVA
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the details in your post.
Please tell me more about the shampoo. You picked an important point because I have only one shampoo albeit a moisturizing shampoo.
I will try using a mousse with my leave in. The adjustment period/hair behaving weird has me second guessing my choice. It is really dry and an afro: no clumping which I was hoping to get.

 

[oneastrocurlie]

@faithVA
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the details in your post.
Please tell me more about the shampoo. You picked an important point because I have only one shampoo albeit a moisturizing shampoo.
I will try using a mousse with my leave in. The adjustment period/hair behaving weird has me second guessing my choice. It is really dry and an afro: no clumping which I was hoping to get.

It varies person to person (or stylist to stylist) but the thought is having a clarifying shampoo, an all purpose and a moisturizing shampoo.

Using examples from my own stash:
Clarifying: Elucence, Adwoa Blue Tansy
All purpose: AG Natural Balance
Moisturizing: Giovanni Smooth as Silk, Adwoa Beauty Baomint.

Some will use an all purpose followed by a moisturizing shampoo. I personally just use one per wash day. The Adwoa blue tansy is gentle enough clarifying shampoo that doesn't need a moisturizing one after (exception being if I don't use that shampoo, then I will follow up with another shampoo).

I like alternating using my all purpose and my moisturizing. If I used a stickier gel or a custard I'll lean towards my all purpose. If I went a few more days than intended to wash my hair I'll lean towards my more moisturizing shampoo.

 

[tolly]

@oneastrocurlie thanks for sharing your products.
I look forward to tweaking till I get a method that suits me needs.

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the details in your post.
Please tell me more about the shampoo. You picked an important point because I have only one shampoo albeit a moisturizing shampoo.
I will try using a mousse with my leave in. The adjustment period/hair behaving weird has me second guessing my choice. It is really dry and an afro: no clumping which I was hoping to get.

If you haven't been using any stylers after the conditioner then yes your hair will be dry. You may or may not see clumping with just conditioner and leave-in. My hair only clumps with gel even after doing this process for 2 years. Hair is different.

Every 2 to 3 months, I use Elucence's clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing shampoo. If you haven't clarified you want to do this before continuing the process.

If I use heavy products, I will use an almost clarifying shampoo - TGIN. Then I follow with a moisturizing shampoo.
I use an all purpose shampoo if I don't shampoo every week or if I feel my hair is extra dirty - Jessicurl and follow with a moisturizing shampoo.

Most washes I use salon quality moisturizing shampoo for colored hair - Madison Reed.

I condition with Madison Reed after every wash. I typically use gel even when I put my hair in twist. It just holds moisture in my hair better.