NATURALS SURVEY

[ngaa]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair? moisturisers

What is your main style when you wear it out? pressed

What protective styles do you use?
braids, cornrows, twists, phonytails anything and everything lol

What products have you found that soften your hair the most? s curl, ors carrot oil things with h2o and glyceryn as the first ingredient

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? msm and epo

What is your hair type?
4b
How long is your hair? 5-6inches

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? wen pressin i use vaseline and oils and that makes it silky (see album for more info)

How long have you been natural? since feb 03

Any pics? see album

How hard is your hair to comb? HARD!!

How often do you wash it? depends coz wen in braids once in 2 weeks but wen out once/twice a week depepndin on how much time i have

How long does it take to style? 10-15mins depends if its wash day tho

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb? all of the above, i kno its not healthy but i take extra care of my hair and once in 3 months wen i do starighten my hair i have to blow dry it first and then flat iron it coz it dont cooperate much!!

Does anyone regret going natural? no coz i always wondered what it was like and i missd seeing my natural hair and my hair was breakin beyond control and i needed a new start!

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. yeah it does if i have water and glyceryn in it my hair feels mad soft

 

[hotshot]

i mix an oz of cococare cocoa butter, an oz of raw shea butter 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil, and 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, melt them together and put in the freezer until hard - about a half an hour. it should soften to a buttery texture at room temperature if you leave it in the bathroom. im still experiementing- this last batch came out kind of grainy, im thinking the first batch turned out buttery over time because i didnt use it for a long while after i made it. anyway it makes the hair incredibly soft and healthy. lush, id say. try it out!!

 

[KinkyCurly]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
gel adds the most, but I don't use it anymore

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
Twist out--curl fro

What protective styles do you use?
Phony pony, pulled into a bun/French twist, twists, professional braids, and I am considering getting my first weave

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
A great leave in (Pantene Hydrating Curls, Aubrey Organics), shea butter on the ends, sta-sof-fro

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
I just started MSM

What is your hair type?
3b, 4a

How long is your hair?
25 inches when straight, at shoulders curly

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feeling to your hair?
I LOVE Mango Butter. It is not a silkener, more of a softener. I am amazed by how this product makes my hair feel.

How long have you been natural?
3-4 years

Any pics?
No, but I am going to get an album going soon

How hard is your hair to comb?
Fairly easy in the shower with conditioner and a Damean (did I spell it right?) brush. As someone said previously--ends to roots

How often do you wash it?
With shampoo once a week, with conditioner twice a week

How long does it take to style?
If I am doing twists—about 40 minutes, if a fake pony—10 minutes

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
I am getting it straightened now to have it trimmed about every 3 months. The stylist blows it dry and then flat irons it.

Does anyone regret going natural?
Someone may, but not me. I love the versatility ad the fullness of my hair.

Does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it
Yes, but probably not silky like you are picturing. It feels...curly, and thick and soft

Long hair hanging question
When you ask about hair "hanging" I wonder if you mean with a twist out? If I were to just add product and go, there would be too much fullness to say it hangs. But when I do twist outs it hangs. Does that make sense?

 

[Destanee]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
Aura Elixir, Citre Shine Curl Booster or Gel. (not all used at the same time)

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
Puff

What protective styles do you use?
Braids

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
Daily Defense conditioner ( tender apple)and LeKair cholesterol (green one)

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
No

What is your hair type?
Not really sure? (can someone help me out?)

How long is your hair?
Guessing about 3”

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
No

How long have you been natural?
Since Feb 22, 2002 (1 year 9 months 2 days)

Any pics?
Album in my sig line.

How hard is your hair to comb?
Not hard at all, as long as I take small sections and detangle when wet.

How often do you wash it?
1x per week no longer than 10 days at the most

How long does it take to style?
Depends on the style. Braids about 90 Mins.

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
Since going natural I’ve pressed only once. Blow out’s every once in awhile.

eta...also banding on dry hair!

Does anyone regret going natural?
Nope not one bit.

 

[soslychic]

hotshot, that mixture sounds hairlicious. I've definetly saving that thread. Thanks!

kinkycurly, that makes perfect sense. About how the hair hangs.

 

[ChocoKitty]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair? Not exactly sure, last thing I tried was Generic Sabastians laminate.
What is your main style when you wear it out? Afro, curly head, pressed? curly ponytail or flatironed
What protective styles do you use? bun, looped ponytail, curly ponytail
What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
LeKair Cholesterol with the addition of Honey, coconut milk & lime
Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
No
What is your hair type?
I'm guessing 3c or whatever (holly robinson/kelis)
What products have you found that soften your hair the most? My preconditioning concoction: Lekair, honey, coconut milk & lime
Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? No
How long is your hair?
Bra length
Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? my proconditioner and tressemme marine botainicals sealant
How long have you been natural? over 10 years
Any pics? a couple--more to come very soon photos.yahoo.com/shak_fu
How hard is your hair to comb?
Not at all when conditioned properly
How often do you wash it? at least once a week
How long does it take to style?
2 hours at least--I try take my time so that I don't lose much hair.
Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb? Yes, blowdrying on a cool setting until 95% dry then while holding the hair taut drying with heat until straight but not bone straight. I flat iron for complete straightness.
Does anyone regret going natural?
NO!
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. yes

Whew!

 

[AFashionSlave]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair? I don't know. I don't really have curl definition. My hair has different hair textures scattered all through my head. I have a few waves, some curls, some napps.

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed? I do not press my hair anymore because I lost my napps from pressing once this year. I normally wear fros and twist-outs.

What protective styles do you use? I wear a lot of snoods and cornrows.

What products have you found that soften your hair the most? My hair is in pretty good condition so it's pretty soft most of the time. My favorite hair product is CD healthy hair butter.

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? I do not believe that MSM changes your hair type. I do take Women’s' Ultra Mega, Biotin, MSM, and flax seed oil. My hair is the same texture it was before, but it is thicker than it was before the supplements. I'm loosing less hair so my hair looks a lot thicker than it used to.

What is your hair type? My hair type is Nappy.

How long is your hair? My hair is about 5 1/2" to 9" all over. It would be longer if I wasn't so scissor happy.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? I don't really have any silky feel hair products. My hair is very soft and cotton like and it has never felt silky.

How long have you been natural? I've been natural since 1997.

Any pics? Yep, http://public.fotki.com/AFashionSlave/
the password is : hair
How hard is your hair to comb?My hair is very easy to comb when wet or damp. Once my hair detangled and moisturized it is somewhat easy to comb when dry. It depends on the hairstyle. Twist-outs are hard to comb through, but fros are easy to pick and brush through.

How often do you wash it? I shampoo at least once a week. Sometimes I shampoo every day. It all depends on my activity level and hairstyle.

How long does it take to style? My normal twist-out hairstyle takes about an hour to create the twists. It takes all night to dry (I dry my hair while sleeping) I finger comb for about a minute or so every morning.

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? I do straighten my hair every once in a while. I straighten it by first doing a roller set, second I use a blow dryer with an attachment, and third I bump it under with a curling iron. It is a lot of heat but it is less heat than a hot comb.

Does anyone regret going natural? I do not regret getting rid of those harsh chemicals.

I don't know about silky but my hair does feel very slip like when I brush the conditioner through my hair.

 

[dorothy]

okay i feel a little retarded asking this but can someone please describe this "conditioning wash" process to me. i'd like to start doing them but i'd like a little more info on them and why they are so popular with naturals. links would be much appreciated also.
thanks all!

 

[SVT]

[ QUOTE ]
dorothy said:
okay i feel a little retarded asking this but can someone please describe this "conditioning wash" process to me. i'd like to start doing them but i'd like a little more info on them and why they are so popular with naturals. links would be much appreciated also.
thanks all!

[/ QUOTE ]

Conditioning washes are when you use conditioner or other products/recipes instead of shampoo to clean your hair.

The basic theory is that shampoos are generally drying to the hair and scalp. If you can reduce or even completely cut out the use of shampoo, then your hair and scalp can retain most of their natural sebum and be healthier.

I do conditioner washes and I've also used a baking soda/water mix to cleanse my hair and scalp. Some folks mix lemon juice into their conditioner for extra cleansing. Still others use castille soap as their "shampoo". There are as many variations as there are people doing this conditioner wash thing.

Oh, and you still use your regular leave-ins and oils and whatnots after a conditioning wash.

 

[NGC]

1. What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
It does not take much. Usually just adding ABBA Nourishing leave-in conditioner after I have conditioned and detangled my hair in the shower.

2. What is your main style when you wear it out?
If you mean when it is not in a protective style like a bun, I wear my hair in a variety of ways. Usually box braids (no extensions) or a wash and go.


3. What protective styles do you use?
I wear my hair in a bun almost every day. I use the Kemi Oyl Shea Butter Pomade to protect my ends (following the V-challenge - I love it!)


4. What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
Applying Carol's Daughter's Marguerite's Magic and some type of oil to my hair (either olive oil or Hairobic's Detangling oil).

5. Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
no

6. What is your hair type?
I don't know. It's mixed. Check out my photo album to see it:
www.geocities.com/nappgirlcurl

7. How long is your hair?
I don't know. I haven't measured in awhile. My best guess 9 to 11 inches.


8. Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
Marguerite's Magic and Hairobics Detangling Oil.

9. How long have you been natural?
My last touchup was November 2000.

10. Any pics?
Yes. Two albums. One on Geocities and an old one on fotki.

11. How hard is your hair to comb?
For the most part it's easy (until you get to my ends which tend to curl a lot).

12. How often do you wash it?
It depends on my mood. Sometimes every day and sometimes once a week. I don't go beyond once a week cause I hate to "smell" my hair.

13. How long does it take to style?
It depends. Wash and go takes 5 minutes outside of the shower. Bun takes 10 minutes outside the shower. Box braids may take two movies (or about 3 hours)! Twists take about the same. Rollersets take 4 plus hours!

14. Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
I rollerset my hair. I have a flatiron but have not tried it yet.

15. Does anyone regret going natural?
Never. I wish I had stuck to it much sooner. I actually went natural in high school but didn't stick to it and then I went natural in 1995 but again didn't stick to it.

16. Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. I have no idea why but this is kinda important to me
Yes.

Hair hanging question: It depends. If my hair is moisturized and detangled , it hangs. It has to be a certain length to hang though. I think at least 6 inches.

 

[dorothy]

thank you so much, i will be doing some starting tomorrow

 

[Guest]

So doing a conditioner wash is healthy for natural hair? I have never heard of that before. I mostly keep my hair pressed with light touch ups in between because my hair frizzes easily...is it still necessary to do a conditioner wash? Because I was going to start this thing where I would be washing my hair with "shampoo" twice a week. Now I find that it is unhealthy for the hair according to these posts...I'm not sure if I want to jump on the conditioner wash bandwagon.

 

[Guest]

*bump*

 

[dorothy]

i just came back from Ralph's and purchased the two conditioners i will be using for my conditioning washes. i bought the "strawberries and cream" and "fresh vanilla bean" VO5 conditioners. they smell so good, especially the strawberries and cream one, it makes me want to eat my hair...as gross as that sounds. if anyone is interested in the no-poo method here's a great link.
htttp://motowngrl.8m.net/no_shampoo.htm
this woman is a genious. i am so excited about this. i can't wait.
i made the mistake of purchasing the ORS lock and twist gel. i look like i have about 1 inch of hair on my head. i wish someone had warned me about how much shrinkage this product causes. by the way, this thread is so great. it's so nice to see so many naturals sharing the hair care regimen. keep it up!

 

[hotshot]

i just bought the VO5 too- talk about aromatherapy!!

 

[DelightfulFlame]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
-- Carol's Daughter Hair milk

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
--I like twists, coils, twistouts, coilouts, and my fro

What protective styles do you use?
two-strand twists, finger coils

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
LeKair cholesterol conditioner, Elasta QP DPR-11 Remoisturizer mixed with oil

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
Yes, when I remember too. Not so much for softening hair, but that is a nice side effect. I take a women's multi-vitamin (b/c I need the iron), flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, vitamin e, biotin, msm, protein shakes, silica, nettle, kelp

What is your hair type?
4a I guess. S and O shapes throughout, and lots of very straight strands as well all mixed in.

How long is your hair?
2-3 inches. It's growing fast...I had less than 1/4" in some areas just 3 months ago.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
nope. Not really going for a "silky" feel. I realize that my natural hair type isn't silky, so I love it for what it is. I do shoot for a "moisturized" feel b/c I can't stand my hair to be dry.

How long have you been natural?
I did the big chop (really big chop) in August 2003.

Any pics?
Lots! www.fotki.com/delightfulflame

How hard is your hair to comb?
I don't comb it much. I detangle with a denman brush or a wide tooth comb every so often, but I mostly finger style.

How often do you wash it?
Once or twice a week, depending on what styles I'm wearing and how busy I am.

How long does it take to style?
It depends on the style. Usually about 2 hours, but the styles last for a week or more so it's worth it.

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
No. It's too short now, and I don't really have the desire too.

Does anyone regret going natural?
Not me! It's such a liberating feeling to be FREE!!!

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it.

Yes...if I'm using a good product for my hair.

 

[DelightfulFlame]

[ QUOTE ]
Natori24 said:
So doing a conditioner wash is healthy for natural hair? I have never heard of that before. I mostly keep my hair pressed with light touch ups in between because my hair frizzes easily...is it still necessary to do a conditioner wash? Because I was going to start this thing where I would be washing my hair with "shampoo" twice a week. Now I find that it is unhealthy for the hair according to these posts...I'm not sure if I want to jump on the conditioner wash bandwagon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Doing them is healthy for some people's hair...not mine. Or I should say that they were great for my hair but terrible for my scalp. Made me itch like crazy. No amount of rinsing could stop it. I would be okay with conditioner washes (aka no poos) for a day or two but that was it.

Since it's winter time, I really don't want to be washing my hair everyday. What works for me is to use natural shampoo once a week. I use Aubrey Organics. Then I deep condition with a little oil mixed in under the hair dryer. I can go for a week without washing by doing this.

Note: my scalp hates regular shampoo. It is way too drying. I can only use natural shampoo without that sulfate(sp?) stuff in it.

 

[Natural_Girl]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
ORGANICS CHOLESTEROL (STOPPED USING IT AFTER READ THE INGREDIENTS: FIRST FEW WERE DIRREFENT TYPES OF ALCOHOL!)
What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
WINTER TIME, PRESSED, TWIST OUTS, BLOW OUTS; SUMMER: FLAT TWISTS, TWIST OUTS, PULLED BACK IN 2 MINI PONYTAILS!)
What protective styles do you use?
WHEN PRESSED, AFTER WEARING IT OUT, IN 2 MINI PONYTAILS; WHEN NOT PRESSED, TIE IT UP FOR A HIGH FRO
What products have you found that soften your hair the most? LEKAIR CHOLESTEROL, KERACARE HUMECTO (BOTH EXCELLENT!) - STILL HAVEN'T FOUND A LEAVE-IN - ANY SUGGESTIONS?????????
Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? NO
What is your hair type? 4A, 3B, SOME 4B AND STRAIGHT STRANDS
How long is your hair?WHEN PRESSED&STRETCHED: FRONT 7.5", BACK 8.5"
Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? NO
How long have you been natural?SINCE MAY 1996 - WOULD'VE BEEN MUCH LONGER BUT HAD SOME BAD EXPERIENCES SINCE THEN WITH HAIR STYLISTS, NOT TAKING CARE OF HAIR
Any pics? NOT YET - TRYING TO CREATE A POOL OF PHOTOS TO BE ABLE TO POST BY FEB 04
How hard is your hair to comb? BEST TO COMB WHEN WET AND/OR WITH CONDITIONER IN IT - LATTER BEST TO DETANGLE
How often do you wash it? EVERY 3-4 DAYS AND ALWAYS DEEP CONDITION EACH TIME - WILL START CONDITIONER RINSES IN BETWEEN AS I START TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH EXERCISES!
How long does it take to style? DEPENDS: SINCE I DEEP CONDITION EACH TIME, PRE-TREAT, POO AND DEEP CO ALONE TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS THEN AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 HOURS (TWISTS), 2-3 HOURS PRESS(SINCE I ROLLER SET AND SIT UNDER DRYER FOR ABOUT 1HOUR+ THEN PRESS WITH A FLAT IRON OR CURLING IRON DEPENDING ON HOW STRAIGHT HAIR IS AFTER DOME DRYING)
Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb? YES, ROLLER SET, AND EITHER FLAT IRON OR CURLING IRON - THE FLAT IRON I HAVE IS EXCELLENT - GET AN EXCELLENT PRESS! STOPPED BLOW DRYING TO KEEP SOME HEAT AT BAY - GOING TO START ROLLER SETTING AND AIR DRYING SOON TO REALLY COMBAT HEAT USAGE
Does anyone regret going natural? SOMEDAYS FEEL A LITTLE DOWN WHEN HAIR IS NOT ACTING RIGHT - SOME DAYS DESIRE THE STRAIGHT LOOK (WHICH I CNA GET WITH PRESS - STAY AWAY FROM RAIN THOUGH!!) - BASICALLY I LOVE MY NATURAL HAIR - MY HAIR AT IT'S LONGEST WAS ABOUT 4-5" PAST SHOULDERS - ALL NATURAL - JUST EARLY THIS YEAR BEFORE A SCISSOR HAPPY STYLIST AND ME NOT JUMPING OUT OF THE CHAIR CUT OFF WAYYYY TOO MUCH. WITH MY NATURAL HAIR, I HAVE VERSATILITY WHICH WORKS GREAT WITH WHO I AM - THOSE DAYS OF GLOOM ARE DWINDLING WITH EACH DAY I DISCOVER A NEW STYLE AND SEE THE GREAT HEALTH OF MY HAIR AND HOW FAST IT'S GROWING!!!!
Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it SILKY WHEN THE LEKAIR CHOLESTEROL IS IN IT - WHEN MY HAIR USED TO BE BLOW DRIED, IT WAS ALWAYS SOFT TO THE TOUCH - THE LADY USED TO USE A FLAT IRON TO SEAL THE CONDITIONER INTO MY HAIR WHILE IT WAS WET B/F RINSING IT OUT - MAYBE THAT'S WHAT HELPED IT TO STAY SOFT AND EASY TO STYLE

HOPE THIS HELPS!!

 

[Guest]

Thanks Delightfulflame for your response about conditioner washes. I am trying to find a shampoo myself that doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

 

[Nacai23]

Q) What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
A) Elucence moisture balancing conditioner.

Q) What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
A) Twist out.

Q) What protective styles do you use?
A) Mostly two strand twists. I wear them in different sizes. Lately I've been wearing micro twists.

Q) What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
A) Elucence moisture balancing shampoo and conditioner. These products detangle my hair so well, I don't have to use anything extra.

Q) Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
What is your hair type?
A) No, but I'm thinking about it. My hair type is 3c with a little bit of 4a on the sides.

Q) How long is your hair?
A) In inches, 7-8 all around. Top/front touches my cheekbones. Sides touches my shoulders. The back is one inch past my shoulder.

Q) Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
A) Yes. I've tried John Frieda's relaxed serum. This product makes my hair shine and feel very silky.

Q) How long have you been natural?
A) A little over one year.

Q) Any pics?
A) no.

Q) How hard is your hair to comb?
A) It's hard to comb my hair because it's so thick. I only comb it on wash days with tons of conditioner.

Q) How often do you wash it?
A) Once or twice a week.

Q) How long does it take to style?
A) For medium/large sized twists, about 3 hours. For micro twists, about 6-7 hours.

Q) Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
A) Nope I've never straightend it. I may do so in the future.

Q) Does anyone regret going natural?
A) I'm not going to lie, sometimes I regret it. My hair would have been way past my bra strap by now.

Q) Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. I have no idea why but this is kinda important to me

A) Ummm, I don't think it feels silky when I'm washing it. But while it's conditioning it feels smooth and silky.

 

[SouthernGyal]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
Honestly i'm not concerned with curl definition, i focus more on softness. However, Elasta QP Glaze shows off the "wave pattern". I put it on the front for puffs.

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
Puff. I never use heat on my hair.

What protective styles do you use?
Twists or i wear a scarf.

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
African pride daily doctor and Elasta QP mango butter

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
no

What is your hair type?
4B

How long is your hair?
6-8 inches.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
No, i only like softness.

How long have you been natural?
June 2003 i stopped wearing braids. I've been wearing braids for years.

Any pics?
No pics, i need to create some.

How hard is your hair to comb?
I only use the Denman Brush 3 and a pick on my hair or a wide tooth comb. "Regular" combs are made for straight hair. They were originally made for European hair. In African cultures they used pics.

How often do you wash it?
once a week no-poo, once a month full shampoo

How long does it take to style?
15-30 min

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
Never

Does anyone regret going natural?
Nope, best decision i ever made.

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. I have no idea why but this is kinda important to me
Silky??? It feels like hair LOL. Before going natural you have to LOVE your natural hair type and not compare it to anyone elses. You must love what God created for you specifically and not be concerned with how other folks hair may feel. Love your hair.

 

[bellydancer]

this thread is soooooooooo helpful to me. I love my 4a/b natural, but damn.. sometimes it wants to fight back.

 

[dorothy]

hey guys, i posted up the wrong link...my bad!
http://motowngrl.8m.net/

 

[soslychic]

Guys you all are helping me so much! But I know theres more of ya out there....there are 93 responses to the thread, "How many naturals are there really" Come on yall!

 

[jada1111]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
Loreal Anti-Frizz gel and also makes it soft.

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
A curly fro, braidouts and occasionally a puff


What protective styles do you use? None. I like my hair out.

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing Conditioner w/Shea Butter
KemyOyl Shea Butter Pomade (for braidouts on hair spritzed Biolage Detangling Solution)

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? No.

What is your hair type? 4a

How long is your hair? I don't know. Medium sized curly fro.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? Yes. Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing Conditioner w/Shea Butter and KemyOyl Shea Butter Pomade (for braidouts). Loreal Anti-Frizz gel is also great at making the hair feel soft and moisturized all day.

How long have you been natural? Nine months, but transitioned for a year before the big chop.

Any pics? Unfortunately, no. It's not like I do a lot with my hair anyway. It's either wash-n-go, wet puff or braidout. That's it.

How hard is your hair to comb? Not hard at all. I only comb my hair with conditioner in it. If I do braid outs, I grab a section of hair, spritz with Biolage Detangling Solution, apply some KemyOyl pomade and braid. Then let loose in the morning.

How often do you wash it? Depends on what look I'm going for. Sometimes everyday, other times two or three times a week.

How long does it take to style? Wash-n-go - a few minutes; braid outs - 40 minutes to braid, then 20 minutes to undo braids and fluff the way I want. It lasts for a couple of days.

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb? I do NOT apply heat to my hair, unless I'm doing a deep condition or I want to dry my braids faster.

Does anyone regret going natural? No, NEVER. I tried to do it a few years ago, but didn't know what products to use. I wish these boards were around back then.

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. I have no idea why but this is kinda important to me.
Yes. When using the right products, natural hair can feel very silky and soft.

 

[Beloved]

[ QUOTE ]
soslychic said:

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
conditioner containing lecithin, cold water rinse, shake-n-go

What is your main style when you wear it out?
chunky fro with headband

What protective styles do you use?
cornrow combos (big and little--regular and inverted), individual twists, flat twists (single-strand and double-strand)

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
deep moisturizing conditioners, unrefined shea butter, UBH Hair Lotion, Sta-Sof-Fro

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair? no

What is your hair type? 4ab with 2 in the crown

How long is your hair? 6-7 inches

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair? no

How long have you been natural? 1yr and 2 mos

Any pics? none online

How hard is your hair to comb? not at all

How often do you wash it? 2x/week

How long does it take to style? avg = 5-10 min, intricate styles, 2 hours

Do you ever straighten it?
I have not used direct heat on my natural hair.

Does anyone regret going natural? no, I really love it

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. yes



[/ QUOTE ]

 

[keke]

"Before going natural you have to LOVE your natural hair type and not compare it to anyone elses. You must love what God created for you specifically and not be concerned with how other folks hair may feel. Love your hair"

SouthernGyal that is an EXCELLENT statement cause maaan i be going to other folx sites and i be seeing how their hair loowks sooo nice in its natural state it gets me wondering why mine isnt like that. I'm tryin and tryin and stuff right now dont seem to be workin but im gonna keep on trying. glad u said that i gotta keep that in mind

 

[DragonPearl]

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?
I don't use products to get curl definition. But I guess you could say that twisting or braiding the hair gives curl definition.

What is your main style when you wear it out? A fro, curly head, pressed?
Twistouts

What protective styles do you use?
2 strand twists.

What products have you found that soften your hair the most?
Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner, sometimes mixed with oil. But, since I am not a product junkie, there might be other products out there that are better. I just don't want to buy too many products.

Do you use any supplements to soften your hair?
No.

What is your hair type?
4a/b.

How long is your hair?
Bra strap. But I had to cut off 4 inches on top because for some reason, part of it had become 3a a few inches from the end.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feelin to your hair?
Basically doing conditioner washes will create a silky feeling to my hair. Other than that, I am not really interested in silkening my hair.

How long have you been natural?
Last relaxer August 2000. Big chop April 2001.

Any pics?
In my signature.

How hard is your hair to comb?
I gave up combing my hair when it's dry. I only comb my hair when I am washing it, after it is soaked with conditioner, and that's after I have separated my hair in 4 sections. I would never attempt to comb my hair even wet, without parting it first.

How often do you wash it?
Usually 1 a week. If I can help it, every other week.

How long does it take to style?
To do my twists, it takes me about 1 hour. To remove them, 15 minutes. If I am doing any other style like buns, 1/2 up and 1/2 down, puffs, etc, no more than 5 or 10 minutes. More than that, I know I am fighting with my hair, so I know the hairstyle is not right for me.

Do you ever straighten it? If so how? Blow drying and/or flat ironing and/or hot comb?
Never ironed it or hot combed it. I tried blow drying once, and my hair came out so dried out, I never did it again.

Does anyone regret going natural?
Not me. I only wish I had done it sooner. My hair is the longest and the healthiest it's ever been.

Ok now this may be a really silly question but...
does your hair feel silky when you're washing and conditioning it. I have no idea why but this is kinda important to me
Yes, only because I wash my hair with conditioners.

 

[dorothy]

soslychic,
I just wanted to say something about the silky hair thing. I just bought this product called sta-sof-fro and i don't know about the other girls on this forum but it sure makes my hair feel soft and silky. Keep in mind that I have thin hair.
I hope this helps!

 

[pookeylou]

Nice thread:

What products add the most curl definition to your hair?

<font color="blue"> </font> No real products do that for me...I hear a shake and go will do that...but your hair needs to have some lenth. Right now I do a bantu knot twist out with shea butter...and I get curls for days. <font color="blue"> </font>

<font color="black"> </font> What is your main style when you wear your hair out?

<font color="blue"> </font> Curly fro with a headband for me...occasionally a puff...but I have not done that in a while since I did the Big Chop.

What protective styles do you use?

None really...I treat my hair with kid gloves though...so I am not combing it or pulling it alot to cause breakage and I sleep with my hair covered every night.

What products do have you found that soften your hair the most?

SHEA BUTTER, SHEA BUTTER, SHEA BUTTER...did I say shea butter?

Do you use any supplements to soften hair?

I take MSM...but originally for my knee...I hear that it does benefit hair though so I will continue to take it.

What is your hair type?

Some will say it is 4B...I say Distinctly Me...

How long is your hair?

About 4 inches at its longest parts.

Do you use any products to create a "silky" feeling to your hair?

To me "silky" implies...smooth. My hair feels like soft cotton batting. Very moist and flexible. Springy and spirally...(can you tell I have a terminal case of the "hand in fro disease"?)

How long have you been natural?

1 month and 2 days (Hey...I missed my one month anniversary...I need to buy myself a present...Maybe another bottle of SURGE!)

Any Pics?

See my signature.

How hard is your hair to comb?

Not at all...cause I dont...not dry any way. I actually brush my hair in the shower...while it is loaded with conditioner. And then I only use a comb to part my hair in sections to begin my twist. I finger comb it to style it.

How often do you wash it?

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

How long does it take you to style?

I takes about 45 minutes to an hour to twist my hair and about 15 minutes the next morning to take them down and finger comb it out.

Do you ever straighten it?

I have not yet.

Does anyone regret going natural?

Not me.

Does your hair feel silky when you wash it?

Again that implies "smoothness"...my hair feels moisterized, heavy (like a towel soaked in water) and my curls feel like they have a bit of oil on them...not greasy...but quenched.