Newbie Support Challenge,Soulie's Team: Relaxed & Fine

[Angel of the North]

RELAXED AND FINE​

Hey guys, apologies for the delayed start, I know you can't wait to get started!!!

Team members:

Soulie - Captain
Angel of the North - Co-captain
IntheMix08
Exubah
Mercie
longnstrong
Aspire
Jasminea
Grow

Unfortunately our captain cannot be with us for a while, so we are gonna get started without her but she will be back as soon as she is able to do so.

Please find below a list of our group's regimens and used products, I've posted them so we can all get an idea of what we are doing with our heads, who is using what and how we may identify with each others regimens. We are here to support and encourage each other, share ideas and any new finds. If anyone has any problems along the way please either post in this thread or PM me, I will do my best to find the answers to your questions (if I don't already know) or try and point you in the right direction. Never feel embarassed to ask anything, this is how we learn and grow (do not excuse the Pun)

Updates and posting pics
Please feel free to post pictures whenever you feel like it (we love the porn) length checks are probably best done after a touch up and feel free to update us whenever you like.

Group Goals:

• take our fine strands to their optimum level of health
• perfect our regimens tailoring them to our individual hair needs
• learn how to take care of our own heads
• perfect our moisture protein balance
• eradicate porosity
• prevent breakage
• retain as much of our hair as possible
• increase our length

IntheMix08
Regimen: Pre-poo: Aphogee 2 minute or ORS Hair Mayo (optional).
Shampoo: Nexxus Therrappe (V05 Tea Therapy to clarify as needed)
DC: Nexxus Humectress.
Leave-in: GVP PM The Conditioner.
Styling Aid: PM Straight works (NG only).
Style: Roller set and wrap or pin curl.
Type of Relaxer (Lye or No-Lye): Affirm No-Lye Fibergaurd System (self-relaxing at the moment).
Current Length: SL
Short term goals (length or otherwise): APL, Growing out my Nape
Long Term Goals: BSL
What are your other Hair Challenges: Knock Out Napes, LHCF Bootcamp and APL by 2010

exubah
Regimen: Pre-Poo: Amla Oil; Burt's Bees Avocado Treatment, Co-wash: Aussie Moist 1x/wk, Poo: ORS Creamy Aloe or Aveda DR 2x/month,
DC: Alter Ego Garlic Oil Treatment; ORS Replenishing Pak, Protein: AOGPB; Aveda DR Treatment; Aphogee 2-min, Leave-Ins: NTM Silk Touch; Rusk Smoother,
Oils: JBCO; EVCO
Type of Relaxer (Lye or No-Lye): Designer Touch Sensitive Scalp Treatment (No-Lye)
Current Length: BSB/BSL
Short term goals (length or otherwise): Healthy Blunt MBL
Long Term Goals: Healthy Blunt WL
What are your other Hair Challenges: Bootcamp (1 session) and Castor Oil (I don't recall the exact names of the challenges and I still haven't perfected navigating this site)

Mercie
Regimen: Wash every 2 weeks. Moisturize hair and Oil scalp as need. Rollerset and deepcondition at every wash. Pincurl and satin rollers at night.
Type of Relaxer (Lye or No-Lye): I am not sure .. The lady at the salon gives me Affirm.
Current Length: Neck Length
Short term goals (length or otherwise): Shoulder Length
Long Term Goals: BSL
What are your other Hair Challenges: N/A



longnstrong
Regimen:
Shampoo: Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair (use twice weekly) followed by Aphogee 2 minute Reconstructor.
DC: Queen Helene Cholesterol
Conditioner Leave-in: Aphogee Green Tea Restructurizer and Aphogee Pro-Vitamin Leave in Conditioner.
Styling Aid: Chi Silk Infusion
Style: Wrap or roller set and wrap.
Type of Relaxer (Lye or No-Lye):Silk Elements Lye Mild (self-relaxing)
Current Length: NL
Short term goals (length or otherwise): Shoulder length, grow nape and fill in crown.
Long Term Goals: BSL
What are your other Hair Challenges: None


Aspire
Regimen:
Daily: Moisturize and seal nightly
2x Week: Cleanse and Condition
Weekly: Deep Condition
Monthly: Henna/Cassia Mix
90 Days: Relaxer and Dusting

Staple Products
- Amla and Kalpi Tone powders
- Amla, Castor Oils
- Ion Effective Care and Ion Restructor (I think that is the name)
- HE LTR
- Rusk Calm
- Shikakai Shampoo Bar

Other products used
- Castille soap when needed
- Rusk Smooth conditioner
- Argan Oil
- Maka and Behringi powders(sp)
- Various Profective products
- Various Aphogee products


Jasminea
General regimen:
1.wash once a week in winter (alternating conditioner wash and CON red label)
2. Pre-poo with mild protein once a month (Aphogee 2 min or Mane and tail)
3. Deep condition each week with heat (lustrasilk shea/mango, suave humectress, Aussie 3 min miracle)
4. Clarify once a month with Suave clarifying
5. Roux porosity control week of my relaxer only
6. Heavy protein treatment week before my relaxer (joico k-pak or N. emergencee
7.relax every 12-14 weeks with design essential sensitive scalp at salon



Grow
Regimine: pre poo (the night before, at least once a week) with 3 tbsp coconut milk, 3 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp aloe vera juice, 1 tbsp olive oil
i let that sit for an hour or two, then i rinse it out with water.
after my hair has air dried, i put my cayenne pepper oil on first, then jbco, amla & emu oils with added EO of: thyme, rosemary, lavender, cedarwood, & tea tree. i massage it in from root to tips & sleep in plastic cap (towel over pillow).
next day: i co wash (i do this part twice a week) using amla, brahmi, & shikakai powders mixed with fenugreek tea and coconut milk. then i do a second "lather" co wash with a moisturizing or volume condish, i do a pc with vitale porosity control (i love the herbs in it!) and final rinses with: rosemary tea, horsetail tea, then lastly, acv mixed in distilled water. (i keep the teas in little water bottles in the fridge.)
Leave in: vitale, aphogee vitamin instant, and aphogee keratin & green tea, joico k-pak restructure, phyto 7 (moisturizer)
Oils: kukui, argan, red palm, ostrich, broccoli seed, kiwi seed, watermelon seed, carrot tissue, crude baobab, andiroba
Style: wrap or rollerset; i usually wear my hair straight or in a claw clap with the bangs out.
Current Length: SL
Short Term Goals: APL and to grow out my badly damaged hairline, nape, and around my ears sections.
Long Term Goals: BSL with layers grown out
Current Challenges: Drink your way to waist length hair, APL in 2010, BSL in 2010, Castor Oil Challenge, Cayenne Pepper Challenge, Edges and Nape (i forget the exact name) Challenge, Grow Out Your Crown Challenge and i hope to join the Grow Out Your Layers Challenge...


Angel of the North
Regimen
wash day is usually a saturday
prepoo: aphogee 2 min/nexxus or AO/oils(I switch to new oil every month to gain all the conditioning properties they each have to offer also to find the ones my hair prefers)
poo: any AO or dr Organics poo
co-wash: any alberto balsam/dr organics/boots own brand (cone free ones)
DC: nexxus humectress (original formula)/any AO/any dr organics. I mix oils into them and sometimes aphogee 2 min, still trying to find what my hair loves
mild protein: aphogee 2 min reconstructor (my guilty pleasure)
protein treatment: aphogee 2 step but looking to change to non animal protein
moisturizer: quemet BRBC/ A365 hair smoothie (whipped up butters, oils and essential oils, can also be used to seal) african royale hot 6 oil to seal and baby my ends I only need to moisturize 1-2 x per week
style: twists/braids/wigs
styling aid: beyond the zone heat protectant spray
type of relaxer (Lye or no-lye): silk elements sensitive scalp lye
current length: APL (armpit length)
short term goal: to hit BSL (bra strap length
long term goal: blunt WL (waist length)
other challenges: super healthy ends, BSL & MBL 2010, wig challenge, 2010 bootcamp, delightfully delicious DC, lose no/minimal hair while detangling

 

[exubah]

Awesome!!!! Let's get it on!!!

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

YaY! It's official, Relaxed and Fine has gone LIVE!

Hello team mates! Thanks Angel of the North!! "You da Best!"

 

[Aspire]

Alrighty then!!!!

I have been at this HHJ for less than a year with LHCF. My biggest challenge to date has been retention. I can get up to an inch/month but the breakage is crazy. I definitely need help.

 

[Angel of the North]

Hi Relaxed & Fine ladies, I'd like you all to post a list (10 each as a max) of topics that you are interested in/have concerns about, it could be a product review request, navigating the site i.e. searching the archives, moisture protein/balance ect.

We can focus on a topic each week, I'll find as much info as I can on the subject of the week, you guys can also research the subject and share your findings with us here in the thread, and we can discus/debate the topic and also it's relevance to us. By doing this I think we will all increase our knowledge and be able to apply certain parts of the information to our regimens/healthy haircare procedures.


TIP: Do you keep a hair journal? This is a very useful tool to keep track of practices/procedures and products that you are using. If you change a product, or get a set back whilst trying something new, this is a good way to accurately back track and see where/when/how things went wrong. Maybe something's working, you tweaked your regimen and can't work out what has done it for you, again this can help you keep track of this and can be a big help when trying to put right a setback. You can write in it as little or as often as you like but it is suggested that any major changes are recorded.

 

[Angel of the North]

Alrighty then!!!!

I have been at this HHJ for less than a year with LHCF. My biggest challenge to date has been retention. I can get up to an inch/month but the breakage is crazy. I definitely need help.

Hi Aspire,

I want to ask you a few questions about your retention situation:
where are you experiencing the breakage?
are you shedding excessively, i.e losing more than 50-100 strands a day?
are you using anything to tie your hair up at night i.e scarfs?
do you think your hair is dry/overprocessed?
do you think your hair is overly moisturized?

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

I started writing a journal and that's what led me to my current regimen, which I feel very comfortable with. I agree with Angel, I highly recommend starting one if you guys haven't.

My top hair topics:

• Trims: Yay or Nay!
• Protein/Moisture Balance: Does it really exist and how do you know if you've found it?
• Self-Relaxing: Are manufacturers being overly cautious with the alloted time that they list? AND Is smoothing really the solution to under-processing?
• Roller-Sets: Can you ever get your rollerset hair to look like it's been flat ironed, without using the flat iron?
• Flat Ironing: Is flat ironing your roots a bad thing?

Some of my favorite threads/links:
Relaxed Heads: What's the Secret to Healthy Flat Ironed Hair?

Read this before you buy anything else

Thin/Fine Support Thread

Hair Regimen Building For Newbies

The Fine Art of Protein and Moisture Balancing for Black Hair Care

 

[Aspire]

Hi Aspire,

I want to ask you a few questions about your retention situation:
where are you experiencing the breakage?
are you shedding excessively, i.e losing more than 50-100 strands a day?
are you using anything to tie your hair up at night i.e scarfs?
do you think your hair is dry/overprocessed?
do you think your hair is overly moisturized?

I experience the most breakage in my middle back area. It has thinned out considerably in the last 3 mos. I was DEFINITELY getting more than 100 strand/day. I did give myself an Aphogee 2 step and it seems to be helping. I think it is the season. Every year my hair grows like crazy during the spring and summer and then breaks off when it gets cold. I had hoped that this year would be different because of what I have learned here on LHCF and I am retaining more than usual. Often I get it cut down by Feb.

I do tie it up every night. No direct heat. I WISH I could keep it moisturized, but it is very difficult.

I will post my list later this week, but a lot of what InTheMix has on her list is on my mine.

 

[exubah]

I love the idea of keeping a hair journal.........definitely need to start doing that. Some hair topics that interest me are

1. Shedding - how to decrease excessive shedding
2. Self-relaxing - tips for preventing over and/or underprocessing
3. Relaxer Stretching - successfully managing the two textures
4. Lunar trimming/cutting - does it work?

If I think of any more I will post them while keeping under the 10 limit.

 

[Angel of the North]

Hi Ladies,

I've written down the lists you guys have posted and I'm excited to get started.

Is everyone happy for us to start with the moisture/protein balance? IMHO, I think that this is something very important on the quest for healthy hair and that we can all benefit from it, it could also combat things like excessive shedding, breakage, dry/porous or overmoist hair and other problems any of us maybe experiencing.

I've pretty much managed to lock my M/P balance down but every now and then I feel like my hair needs a little extra of one or the other - this is usually when I've let something slide, I need to keep up on my game in this department.

I plan to post my research findings by no later than sunday evening, that way we can start the research weeks from Mondays - Sundays.

In the meantime, what are you all doing with your heads at the moment?

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Moisture/Protein Balance sounds like a great place to start. I look forward to it.

This week, I've been pin curling my hair nightly and wearing my hair down each day. Tonight, I'll be moisturizing with NTM Silk Touch as I pin curl.

 

[Angel of the North]

Hey ladies,

Today I decided to give my hair a little TLC, I've kind of neglected it a little this week. I spent the weekend at my mum's and didn't have my products with me but went ahead and washed it anyway.

I did a prepoo on dry hair with Humectress mixed with aloe vera oil (supposed to be a moisturizing oil), sat with a plastic cap for a couple of hrs and then went under the dryer for 45 mins.

I'm planning on co-washing, moisturizing and then air drying on Sunday I will braid it ready for my wig on Monday, I need to focus on my ends too.

 

[Angel of the North]

Hi Ladies, this is a long post! Unfortunately I cannot find the original posts that assisted me with finding my correct M/P balance, but I believe it was a post from Nonie that had a link to an article from associated content. I learned quickly that my hair needs protein but not as much as it needs moisture, as long as I was giving my hair an adequate amount of protein, it stayed moisturized. I now only need to moisturize once a week on washday and very rarely need to reapply moisturizer in between. I truly believe that the moisture/protein balance exists and I’ll put my neck on the block by saying that I also see it as the general consensus here on the board, I did look but could not find anything to support that it doesn’t exist. There are a lot of articles and threads for you to get your teeth into by the time you’ve read them all you should have a better understanding of what the M/P balance is and how you can achieve it. Some of it may seem repetitive but it’s good to have various sources of information. I may have to break it up into a few posts.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278612/the_fine_art_of_protein_and_moisture.html?cat=69

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1476956/protein_and_moisture_balancing_in_black.html?cat=69 http://www.care-

http://www.divinehaircare.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=153

http://www.care-gear.com/care-gear/info_pages/01_long_hair.htm


http://afroliciousdynasty.blogspot.com/2009/08/protein-and-moisture-balance-by-audrey.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5145658_determine-hair-needs-moisture-protein.html

http://forum.hairfinity.com/viewtopic.php?t=38 I extracted the article below from this website

hairfinity
Site Admin
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 46
Posted: 2-20-08, 3:50 pm Post subject: How to Use Protein and Moisture Treatments

Use protein treatments to rebuild hair structure and strength. Your hair is about 88% protein. These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. When hair is chemically straightened, these bonds are broken, causing the hair to lose strength. If this protein is not replaced, it will eventually cause the hair to break. Mizani Kerafuse is a good protein treatment for black hair. It should be used every week (for chemically relaxed or damaged hair) under a heated dryer with a plastic cap for 10-15 minutes. For healthy hair, a protein treatment should be used every other week, alternating with a moisture treatment.

Use moisture treatments. – Moisture treatments help build hair’s resilience and prevent breakage. If protein is not balanced with moisture, it can lead to breakage. A good moisture treatment for black hair is Mizani Hydrafuse. It can be used after your protein treatment. Or on alternating weeks (one shampoo do the protein, and then the other shampoo do the moisture.) This treatment may not leave your hair feeling as "smooth" as many conditioners that contain silicones. You can use any instant conditioner that you like after your treatments to get a smoother feel. Instant conditioners are not necessary and do not need to be applied with heat.

 

[Angel of the North]

Black Hair with protein and Moisture.
By: Sistaslick
Protein
Protien is what gives the hair its strength and structure. Hair is about 70% keratin protein by nature. Protein is found most prevalently in products like
1. Instant conditioners (bargain brands like Suave and V05),
2. Leave in conditioners,
3. Protein treatments (such as aphogee),
4. Protein conditioner treatment
5. Even some moisturizers.

http://news.google.co.uk/nwshp?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8
Here are some threads that I found on the board , there was another one but when I copied the link it came up as a google ad!

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=328931
The OP, 4 & 29

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=430754
This is a helpful thread

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=343507
This is a good example of someone (OP) who needs protein more than moisture

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/archive/index.php/t-103611.html
The OP, posts 2,6,7,11 & 20

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/archive/index.php/t-83078.html
This maybe a good thread for you Aspire, Candy C is an ayurvedic practitioner, you can try and PM her for some advice


I will try and get hold of a list of protein products and/or ingredients as this will help to work out which products are needed and when

 

[longnstrong]

Oooo! Thank you so much Angel. I think I have this protein moisture thing down, but you can never learn too much when it comes to caring for your hair so thank you for doing the work to find these links. I will be reading.

 

[exubah]

Great info Angel......right now I am pre-pooing with Burt's Bee Avocado Butter Treatment for about 1 hour.....detangled like a dream btw. I will then move on to pooing with ORS Creamy Aloe after which I will DC with Alter Ego Garlic propably applied to my NG with a tinting brush. After DCing (I haven't decided if I will use heat or not) I may rollerset because I have not done that in months!!!

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Thanks for those links Angel, I'll probably do a protein treatment with my next wash to see if I can tell a difference with my hair...

 

[Angel of the North]

Hi Ladies, You're welcome, so far it's looking like shedding will be the topic for wk beg 2.1.10

My hair's got her mojo back, so back to the wigs on Monday for me!!!

@ IntheMix08 be sure to let us know how you get on with the protein treatment.

@ exubah, I haven't tried any of burt's bees products, I'm gald you're having a good experience with it though, the easier hair is to detangle, the more of it will stay where it belongs, on our heads Lol.

@ longnstong I couldn't have said that better myself

 

[Aspire]

Sitting with my Ayurveda con mix tea in my hair. Will probably keep it in for the next few hours while I put away Christmas decorations (yeah, I'm late).

Thanks for the info Angel. I will study it tonight because I still struggle with the balance of moisture/protein. Can we do a mix for next week - shedding vs. breakage?

 

[jasminea]

Hello fine and relaxed ladies! Is the one newbie spot still open?? If so I would love to join this team and try to get to bsl by summer!

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Sense being here I've kept hearing about a protein/moisture balance and you always have to find the right balance. I really did not know what this meant or how you would know until going through this PJ phase. I just want to share my story and give some examples of what I've gone through.

I've been washing my hair every week and deep conditioning. I straighten once a week. Sometimes it comes out great, and other times TERRIBLE. But although it is very important, it hasn't been in my tools or how I did it. It was my moisture/protein balance.

For example:

1. One week I washed my hair and conditioned with ORS replinishing. Was pretty good, but after I pressed my hair out it felt a little light and wispy.
   
2. I did a Henna treatment=Protein. Deep conditioned after with ORS Replinsihing and added Aphogee Leave in, came out great! Hair was healthy, shiny, pressed out great!
   
3. I got paranoid and though my hair was breaking after the Henna treatment. Decided I needed moisture, so I used KeraCare for Dry/Itchy Scalp. Came out terrible! Moisture my butt! My hair got knots in it, was hard to press, I felt like it was snapping each time I combed or did anything to it. Bad hair week.....
4. Conditioned my hair with a mix of Aphogee 2 min and ORS replinishing mixed together. CAME OUT GREAT! Silky smooth press, no nots, roots went flat. Great!
   
5. Tried to condition the next week with just UBH Conditioner.......Sad day again Tried to use ORS Replinishing to add moisture and some leave ins. Helped a little but still a bad press
6. I deep conditioned the next week with MOtions CPR and added tons of Olive Oil too it. CAME OUT GREAT!!!!!!
   

I don't know if this was enough examples for everyone but when my protein/moisture balance was correct, my hair blow dried straight, felt soft afterward, straightened with ease, and was bouncy after....

When it was off, my hair was more difficult to blow dry, the roots wouldn't press straight, sometimes I'd get nots on the ends of my hair, and every time I wanted to run my fingers through it it felt like it was snapping. This happend with either the wrong moisture, or too much protein.

I hope this helps some people understand. It took a lot of trial and error for this to click for me. Comment if you like on your own experiences!

^^^This post, from the links you gave us Angel, inspired me to give myself a protein treatment and flat iron my hair.

So I washed (nexxus therappe) my hair, did a protein treatment (Aphogee 2 minute) and DCed (nexxus humectress). Then I proceeded to blow dry and flat iron my hair.

The end results were that my hair feels light and airy. And I'm not sure how I feel about that. My hair feels soft but I'm not sure that I would say that it feels moisturized. It also doesn't feel *dry* I'm just confused. I don't know if the way that my hair normally feels is better or worse than my hair feels now. But I will say that my hair does feel different right now.

I think it's pretty clear that I'm lost and don't have a clue about protein/moisture balance.

 

[Aspire]

^^^This post, from the links you gave us Angel, inspired me to give myself a protein treatment and flat iron my hair.

So I washed (nexxus therappe) my hair, did a protein treatment (Aphogee 2 minute) and DCed (nexxus humectress). Then I proceeded to blow dry and flat iron my hair.

The end results were that my hair feels light and airy. And I'm not sure how I feel about that. My hair feels soft but I'm not sure that I would say that it feels moisturized. It also doesn't feel *dry* I'm just confused. I don't know if the way that my hair normally feels is better or worse than my hair feels now. But I will say that my hair does feel different right now.

I think it's pretty clear that I'm lost and don't have a clue about protein/moisture balance.

Is Humectress a DC? Isn't Humectress more a light rinse out conditioner? I think a DC must be formulated to sit in your hair for at least 10 mins and often utilizes heat. Using a regular conditioner meant for 2-5 mins and leaving it in longer will not DC your hair. As a matter of fact, I belive leaving it in longer can be more counterproductive.

I feel your pain though. Often light and airy leads to dry and brittle for me. Whenever I get that, I immediately moisetrize. Also, did you use a heat protectant? You did not mention one. . . .

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Is Humectress a DC? Isn't Humectress more a light rinse out conditioner? I think a DC must be formulated to sit in your hair for at least 10 mins and often utilizes heat. Using a regular conditioner meant for 2-5 mins and leaving it in longer will not DC your hair. As a matter of fact, I belive leaving it in longer can be more counterproductive.

I feel your pain though. Often light and airy leads to dry and brittle for me. Whenever I get that, I immediately moisetrize. Also, did you use a heat protectant? You did not mention one. . . .

Oh no, I thought the Nexxus Humectress was a DC Thanks for the heads up Aspire. If it's not a DC then that would explain my light airy hair that I had on Saturday turning into dry brittle hair this morning. I cowashed with the Nexxus Humectress this morning. It's still a little damp but I think I'm doing better now.

Any suggestions for a DC with Ceramides, ladies?

And I did use a Heat protectant (Nexxus Heat Protexx). I also used GVP PM The Conditioner and PM Straight Works.

 

[Mercie]

is it okay to cowash hair a few days before you get a relaxer.
I was supposed to get a relaxer last weekend but, things happend and I'm having to making it 3 weeks since my last shampoo wash and deep condition. My hair is so dry and when I moisturize it at night it just becomes stiff. I think there is too much build up

 

[Angel of the North]

^^^This post, from the links you gave us Angel, inspired me to give myself a protein treatment and flat iron my hair.

So I washed (nexxus therappe) my hair, did a protein treatment (Aphogee 2 minute) and DCed (nexxus humectress). Then I proceeded to blow dry and flat iron my hair.

The end results were that my hair feels light and airy. And I'm not sure how I feel about that. My hair feels soft but I'm not sure that I would say that it feels moisturized. It also doesn't feel *dry* I'm just confused. I don't know if the way that my hair normally feels is better or worse than my hair feels now. But I will say that my hair does feel different right now.

I think it's pretty clear that I'm lost and don't have a clue about protein/moisture balance.

Have you tried to do the strand test where you pull your hair to see how it breaks.

For me if I have too much moisture in my hair, when pulled the hair strand will be very elastic before it breaks (stretches too much) for some people their hair feels what they would describe as mushy, I interpret this to mean looking wet (although hair could be dry) and too soft as in no texture to the hair. I would then use protein

If I have too much protein or my hair is dry, it will snap as soon as I pull the strand. I would use a moisture DC and avoid protein until my hair felt normal to me.

When my hair feels normal and I do a strand test, my hair will stretch a little (but not as much as when it is over moist) before it snaps. I would usually do 30mins with a light protein followed 30 mins moisture when I DC

I'm hoping my explanation of my way of working out when I have enough/too little/much of moisture or protein in my hair can help you in working out your balance.

If anyone else has got their balance right would you share your methods on how you work out what your hair needs and when? TIA

 

[Angel of the North]

is it okay to cowash hair a few days before you get a relaxer.
I was supposed to get a relaxer last weekend but, things happend and I'm having to making it 3 weeks since my last shampoo wash and deep condition. My hair is so dry and when I moisturize it at night it just becomes stiff. I think there is too much build up

three to four days before a relaxer should be fine but I wouldn't recommend leaving it any sooner to the relaxer date, I'd probably do a DC after the co-wash too, if your hair is too dry this could cause breakage when you relax, I hth

 

[Angel of the North]

Oh no, I thought the Nexxus Humectress was a DC Thanks for the heads up Aspire. If it's not a DC then that would explain my light airy hair that I had on Saturday turning into dry brittle hair this morning. I cowashed with the Nexxus Humectress this morning. It's still a little damp but I think I'm doing better now.

Any suggestions for a DC with Ceramides, ladies?

It would be probably true to say that nexxus humectress is not marketed as a DC but I think it works as DC. I cannot say that I've known them to have any other conditioner that has the same or better moisturizing properties and I think I've used all their poos and cons at one stage or another.

What I will say is that nexxus humectress does not work the same for everyone, I've seen many posts across the board where other ladies have not found it to work for them at all and some have questioned the hype over the product so this may have something to do with why it has not worked for you as a DC

I love it as a DC but I don't use it as a leave-in, which is a recommended way to use the product according to the bottle.

IntheMix, how long have you been using the humectress? Are you aware they recently changed their formula? The old formula (the one I love) comes with a grey lid with light grey writing on the bottle and is a cone free conditioner, the new one would have a black lid and writing and comes loaded with cones which synthetically coats the hair strands and could prevent moisture getting to the shaft. This could also be a reason why it hasn't worked for you.

 

[grow]

you ladies have started a great thing here!
i'm fine haired, too, and relax, so i hope it's ok to pop in from time to time!
HHG!

 

[jasminea]

Thanks for adding me to the team Angel!
Hi everyone, looking forward to learning together.

As for the moisture/protein issue, I thought I had it figured out this summer. My hair was super soft but still with great body and texture. I was using protein DC every week and all my products had protein. I live in a humid climate so it worked great to balance the moisture in the air.

Now that it's cold and dry outside, my hair is hard and breaks easily. I had to completely change my routine and only do protein DC once a month now. I had to also change my leave-in to one with more moisture and cut back on use of cones. As Angel mentioned, they block moisture and were keeping my hair from absorbing my moisturizer.

Still trying to get the balance right for winter with the cold dry winds. I have found that as much as I like wearing my hair out in low mani styles, I am going to have to adopt some true protective (ie ends tucked in) styles to get through winter with my hair intact and growing.

 

[grow]

Thanks for adding me to the team Angel!
Hi everyone, looking forward to learning together.

As for the moisture/protein issue, I thought I had it figured out this summer. My hair was super soft but still with great body and texture. I was using protein DC every week and all my products had protein. I live in a humid climate so it worked great to balance the moisture in the air.

Now that it's cold and dry outside, my hair is hard and breaks easily. I had to completely change my routine and only do protein DC once a month now. I had to also change my leave-in to one with more moisture and cut back on use of cones. As Angel mentioned, they block moisture and were keeping my hair from absorbing my moisturizer.

Still trying to get the balance right for winter with the cold dry winds. I have found that as much as I like wearing my hair out in low mani styles, I am going to have to adopt some true protective (ie ends tucked in) styles to get through winter with my hair intact and growing.

hi Jasminea! which products do you use without the cones?

thank you!