Throw the kitchen sink at popping/'sheening' your coils!
Hi Ladies,
Sorry, this is a long post...But hopefully it'll be worth it to someone.
In terms of CHEAPLY maximizing coil popping (and/or softness/sheen), this method has worked WONDERS for me! I don't have pics (I'm just learning all this/my digital camera) but I SWEAR to you all that since I've been doing this method (~2 weeks), I've been getting an unusual number of compliments on my (~ 2 inch) TWA/wash n go. Interestingly, they've come from folks who, upon seeing my hair before I started this approach, know that their natural is ~ my texture (i.e. basically 4b-ish, 'fro-ish', C-napp-ish as I understand the definition...although I do have coils with no product in SOME places with I finish washing). I know that many of you still haven't cut off your chemically straightened ends (and hence might not get these results). But I'm hoping that this thread/post provides me with a chance to (hopefully) help someone on a website/online community that has given me so much! ...
The ingredients are fairly simple/cheap! Give it a try! ... Let me know how it works out!...
**Some of this is BASIC to LHCF veterans. I basically copied and pasted this from an email message that I sent to those who liked my hair***
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Here is my basic ~ daily regimen for my hair that I gleaned from attending to YouTube and LHCF. The whole thing takes ~ 10 minutes (up to 15 to 20 MAX if you add patting/shaping the hair to get it exactly how you want it).
Needed:
1) Conditioner (for 'conditioner-wash/co-wash' instead of shampoo-wash)
2) Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - ~$2 (MAX) at grocery
3) Cup with the 1 cup liquid equivalent level clearly marked (or an actual 1 cup large measuring cup--of course!
) - for the ACV dilution (I mix mine daily in the shower. Alternatively, you could make several cups all at once--dilution = 1-2 tblspns ACV to 1 cup Water)
4) Container of Faucet-Cold Water (you can make it colder with ice etc. if you want)
5) Leave-in conditioner
6) Hair Oil (Mine is homemade. In an empty plastic water bottle (ex. deer park spring water etc), I mix: ~60-70% Olive Oil, ~15-20% Coconut Oil (melted), ~15-20% Shea Butter (melted), and 1 small bottle of scented body oil (with out the scent, the mix smells kinda bad...I get it from the hair store - the brand with jojoba oil high up in the ingredients list)--The Shea and/or Coconut oil will eventually re-solidify and fall to the bottom. Just remember to shake the bottle with each use, and rub the mixture in your hands to dissolve the solid specks b4 rubbing it through your hair.
7) Eco Styler Gel WITH Olive Oil (there are other types of Eco but this one is ~ best according 2 many YouTubers--I like it!--A large tub of it is sold at Sally's for ~ $5).
The steps are pretty straight forward. The regimen is basically a variant of an approach known online as the "Curly Girl" and/or "Wash and Go" method. *Note: Combing is NOT advised/beneficial for this method (try finger combing in the shower--while washing with the conditioner--as much as possible for detangling)...
Steps:
1) Wash your hair using the conditioner (no shampoo). This is called "Co-washing" online (function: scalp/hair cleansing that does not strip/dry hair -> can be done daily if so desired with no ill effects).
2) Mix your ACV concoction and pour through hair, rubbing it around as you go. (Warning: it stings eyes a bit - lean forward) (function: to seal cuticle coating of hair for sheen/"shine"/softness)
3) Thoroughly rinse ACV concoction out of hair.
4) Pour cold water through your hair (function: to further seal cuticle coating of hair for maximum sheen/"shine").
**Remember: if you want to maximize your coil-clumping pattern do NOT at any time comb hair (at least not past the co-washing point--many folks online say that combing while co-washing--with the conditioner in your hair--is the best in terms of painlessness etc.). Hair should also be/remain as wet as possible**
5) Squeeze dime to nickel sized amount of leave-in conditioner into your hand.
6) Rub the conditioner into your hair (not too roughly so as not to disturb the coil-clumping pattern) (function: maximal conditioning/softness/non-tangling)
7) Pour oil into hand (~ slightly larger than a quarter sized amount 4 my length--again, all this varies by amt of hair of course!--fiddle with it!)
8) Rub oil between hands to dissolve solid bits.
9) Rub oil onto hair (again, not too roughly so as not to disturb the coil-clumping pattern) (function: maximal moisture/sheen/"shine")
**Note: if you want to rock a 'fro (and/or "'fro puff"), stop at this point. You can use a towel to dry it and pick/comb it out as desired. If this technique works for you, you hair will at least be noticeably softer/'sheenier'. Remember, do NOT comb if you want the total look...**
8) Rub a modest to medium amount ((?) - I haven't mastered amount yet) of Eco Styler gel into hair. (function: maximal hold/definition of coil-clumping pattern + additional moisture)...some may see this step as optional...I haven't yet tried the regimen without it...The good thing about this product is that the gel doesn't harden much when dry so it suits my needs just fine...
9) BLOT (do not rub - will disturb coil-clump pattern) hair with an old T-shirt (OR a paper towel--NOT a regular towel) to ~ dry hair (it doesn't have to be all the way dry of course!--just eliminate any annoying dripping--the rest can air dry! Don't worry about a bit of whiteness in the hair. It'll ~ go away as the hair dries...you can blot more to help it along if you want).
10)Hand pat into desired shape.
**(note: shrinkage is MAXIMIZED in this look...you cant have it all folks! LOL)**
Best of Luck Ladies! Again, tell us how/if it worked!