NATURALS: How do you moisturize?

[jtotheb]

I'm newly natural and my hair is super dry. I moisturize with a creamy leave in (usually Sunsilk TLC or Giovonni Direct) and seal with sweet almond oil. I usually just rub the product between my palms and smooth it over my hair, but it's still dry as a bone!

What gives?!? erplexed

Is it product or technique?
(please suggest better products or techniques if you can--TIA).

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

I use Giovanni Direct Leave-In as well but I dilute it significantly. I cover the bottom of the spray bottle with Giovanni and then fill it up with water and shake. Its probably about a 10:1 ratio if not more. It works well. Sometimes I add Rosemary and Peppermint EO's to the mixture to refresh my scalp. I used to seal with a mixture of castor/jojoba oils but recently Ive been using Carol's Daughters Mimosa Hair Honey...its not too heavy and my hair loves it and it smells delish

I think that water is the missing element to why your hair is still dry. Try diluting your conditioners and then sealing. You should see better results.

ETA: Also, sweet almond oil is a very very light oil..I might mix it with castor oil for a better result. I have found that heavier oils work better for my hair now that Im natural.

 

[Tallone]

Giovanni Direct and seal with either avocado butter or red palm butter. I moisturize most nights as well with a little Humectress.

 

[Transformer]

Giovanni Direct and seal with either avocado butter or red palm butter. I moisturize most nights as well with a little Humectress.

Please clarify, I'm new at this. You clarify with the conditioner humectress? How much and where?

 

[jtotheb]

brownsugarflyygirl: is your technique the same for just washed and dry hair? in other words, do you use the spray bottle on wet hair too?

Also, I may have to pick up some castor oil. My hair does not respond well to olive oil (it just sits there looking at me). So i thought a lighter oil might be better.

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

Yep its the same. I never use GD leave-in straight.

The only difference is that usually after its freshly washed, I seal with a mixture of Carols Daughter Healthy Hair Butter and Mimosa Hair Honey because its thicker/heavier. After that I just spray and use the Mimosa for maintenence until I wash again.

My hair doesnt like olive oil
It also doesnt like coconut oil

I use sweet almond oil when I have it pressed because its light and I keep my swang.... but when its natural there is nothing, nothing, nothing like castor oil I only started using Mimosa because I ran out and havent bought anymore yet.

 

[jtotheb]

thanks brownsugarflyygirl, anyone else want to chime in??

Any other techniques other than a spray bottle?

 

[Ms Lala]

I'm newly natural and my hair is super dry. I moisturize with a creamy leave in (usually Sunsilk TLC or Giovonni Direct) and seal with sweet almond oil. I usually just rub the product between my palms and smooth it over my hair, but it's still dry as a bone!

What gives?!? erplexed

Is it product or technique?
(please suggest better products or techniques if you can--TIA).

Well it sounds like you are using leave-in and these really condition the hair and don't necessarily moisturize (some do both). Leave-ins tend to work best on wet or damp hair. I don't use them on a daily basis for moisturizing purposes.

 

[sweetwhispers]

Oil doesn't work for everyone. I only use oils in my DC's. They just sit on my hair leaving it greasy yet dry.

Also how are you DCing? Do you do so regularly?

I think water is probably key here

 

[jtotheb]

Ms Lala: What do you use as a daily moisturizer?

 

[jtotheb]

Oil doesn't work for everyone. I only use oils in my DC's. They just sit on my hair leaving it greasy yet dry.

Also how are you DCing? Do you do so regularly?

I think water is probably key here

I've been trying to DC at least twice a week--i've read that's a good way to knock out dryness.

Usually I use Pantene deep conditioning mask or Neutrogena triple moisture on dry hair with a warm damp towel. I also try to CO wash every other day (moisturizing as described above after each DC or CO wash).

 

[NewYorkgyrl]

I don't like using oils. My hair HATES it!!!!!!!!!! My hair never stayed as moisturized as I would like.


After my hair is freshly washed I use Qhemet Biologics Honey Balm on damp hair. Then I follow up with The Olive and Amla Heavy Creme after letting my hair airdry for about a half hour. (Then I let my hair dry in twists)

For the rest of the week I use Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme to moisturize my hair almost every night.


Also...my hair tends to retain moisture from the products I use ever since I stopped doing wash and go's. They don't work for everyone. I would only have moisture on the first day but then after that my hair would get very very dry and then start to get hard. I wear twist outs now, and my hair ALWAYS feels soft and nice...this is also from the Qhemet products.

 

[tinkat]

After DC, I use organics leave-in. Then I apply shea butter on hair and coconut oil and papaya cream on ends. Moisturize daily when needed.

 

[Tallone]

Please clarify, I'm new at this. You clarify with the conditioner humectress? How much and where?

No i just put a little on the ends to moisturize if it seems dry. Its not a clarifier. Its a moisture rich leave in. I do believe in the power of water though. I use either water or a Giovanni vitapro fusion which is a spray in. Then set the bun

 

[ina]

I am a natural with 4b hair and I moisturize with a mix of glycerin, water and a little bit of castor oil. My hair stays moisturized for days.
I sometimes add a few drops of EO to the mix but basically that's how I do it.

 

[nappity]

Sine my hair is natural- I use a spritz bottle with water/glycerin/jojoba oil and some leave in conditioner ( Giovanni Direct or Bumble & Bumble )and spritz my hair to keep it moist. To protect my ends I baggy my ends with CDHHB or Shea Butter or Qhemets Heavy Cream or Castor Oil.

 

[Colliecole]

After a co-washing/wetting hair, add 100% shea butter and vegetable glycerine into my hiar. Add wave neuvo:moist. lotion if I want to wear it extra curly and shiny. No residue at all, and super moist all day ( I hate using oils directly on hair because everytime you touch it, your hands look like you've been eating friend chicken ...so this regime is perfect for me)

If I need EXTRA moisture I add castor oil to my co-wash. But beware: it will have an oily residue throughout that day. But it's worth it for the moisture.

 

[yodie]

she's right. castor oil is GREAt at moisturizing my hair.

Yep its the same. I never use GD leave-in straight.

The only difference is that usually after its freshly washed, I seal with a mixture of Carols Daughter Healthy Hair Butter and Mimosa Hair Honey because its thicker/heavier. After that I just spray and use the Mimosa for maintenence until I wash again.

My hair doesnt like olive oil
It also doesnt like coconut oil

I use sweet almond oil when I have it pressed because its light and I keep my swang.... but when its natural there is nothing, nothing, nothing like castor oil I only started using Mimosa because I ran out and havent bought anymore yet.

 

[Barbara]

After DC, I use organics leave-in. Then I apply shea butter on hair and coconut oil and papaya cream on ends. Moisturize daily when needed.

What is the brand name of your papaya cream, and can it be bought at any beauty supply store or health food store?

 

[Sunshine0801]

I spritz with water, Giovanni Direct Leave In, CD Hair Milk, EO's (rosemary and tea tree), and glycerin. I seal in the moisture with avocado butter.

 

[JustKiya]

I moisturize a couple of different ways.

Bi-Weekly: When I put in my two strand twists, I use a very moisturizing 'pudding' to put the twists in - it's Oyin's whipped pudding, conditioner, shealoe butter, and glycerin....
Weekly: I DC, usually with Elasta QP IFC, on the weekend my hair is out, it's something more intensely moisturizing...
2-3x a Week: I redo my up do, and I get it damp, then smooth AfroDetangler (or Oyin's HoneyHemp) into the twists.
Daily: I mist my hair every morning and every night with a mixture of water, glycerin, amla oil, conditioner, and tea tree oil....

 

[Ms Lala]

Ms Lala: What do you use as a daily moisturizer?

I like Hawaiian Silky 14-1 moisturizer and EQP oil Recovery moisturizer. I also think what the other ladies said about deep conditioning is so important. I have to moisturize much less during the week when I deep condition.

 

[MissJ]

Olive Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion after a wash.

 

[Anancy]

For me it has to be Amla oil for my pre-poo's it's nice and thick, i think if your hair is dry you need thick oils.

I also love ORS Olive oil (in the jar) as a daily moisteriser, it's a nice creamy texture which makes my hair feel silky and when i apply it to my scalp and hair strands it's almost like i applied water to it.

Always make sure you deep condition your hair.

 

[sweetwhispers]

I've been trying to DC at least twice a week--i've read that's a good way to knock out dryness.

Usually I use Pantene deep conditioning mask or Neutrogena triple moisture on dry hair with a warm damp towel. I also try to CO wash every other day (moisturizing as described above after each DC or CO wash).

Do these two products contain sillicones? I think the Pantene might. Sillicones can end up drying out your hair when used over time

 

[Bigghair]

I use Alma and Olive Heavy Cream to moisturize my hair.

 

[blazingthru]

there other reasons you could be experiencing dry issuses. Do you drink soda- worst thing you can drink for your body and skin. I love soda its hard not to drink it. I drink it once in a blue moon when I stopped my scalp started getting better. Chocolate, coffee, tea with caffeine is a contributing factor as well. soda is the number one reason I haven't seen the growth that I wanted to see and so I gave it up only drinking it once in a blue moon. I stopped having problems with acne as well and giving up fast foods should be consider when your trying to grow your hair. I use to drink Soda all day long we get it free at work so its hard to not pass it up. Plus its cheap. But its very damaging to the body. If you can make some changes with your diet perhaps you will see some changes in your hair. It worked for me. I still have along way to go but I am getting there. HTH

 

[ricochet]

I deep condition after every wash and moisturize daily with a spray water bottle concoction of ORS olive oil lotion, distilled or spring water and avocado oil. I seal my ends w/castor oil. I do this when needed. I am baggying this year so I am doing this almost every night before bed. Low maintenance, I love it!

 

[jtotheb]

Thank you for all of the responses!

i went to wal-mart last night and picked up some castor oil and a new spray bottle. Looks like now all i'm missing is some glycerine--which i'll pick up today. I'm going to try some bathroom chemistry to see if i can create my own moisturizer.

Trudy: I don't drink a lot of sodas or sugary juices. I'm mainly a water girl and I'm addicted to pure cranberry juice Anyhoo, thanks for the suggestion. I do have an affinity for Burger King thought i try to eat fresh fruit and veggies daily.

sweetwhispers: I'll have to look into that. This may be a silly question, but how can i tell if there are silicones? Like, what words should i look for?

Also, a lot of you ladies report using some sort of heavy cream/butter. I have QP mango butter (love the smell), but doesn't really do anything for me. it beaded up into itty bitty white granules on top of my hair. Maybe i'll have to revisit it.

 

[NewYorkgyrl]

I use Alma and Olive Heavy Cream to moisturize my hair.

YEP! Qhemet Biologics Baby!!!!!!!