Porosity, Clarify, or Something Else?

[divachyk]

This post is long but hang with me please,

This is my first time stretching and I’m 9 weeks post and I’m unsure if some of what I’m experiencing is normal. To my detriment, I think I started too many firsts at one time and can’t pinpoint the problem. Here are my newly incorporated items: stretching, moisturizing/sealing daily, washing weekly, Aphogee 2 min protein treatment with every wash.

Up until yesterday, I felt my hair and NG was manageable. Yesterday I used my typical regimen (see below) but got different results. I feel that my hair is dry, dull, coarse, and rough when I run my hands down the length of my hair. I notice that my hair was snagging on the comb although it’s not tangled. Some of my hairs feel and look raised and some are overlapping on each other. I noticed a few broken hairs on the floor although fairly minimal. Last night I moisturized/sealed and baggie’d as this usually gets my hair back moisturized. This morning, my hair still feels the same as mentioned above.

(1) Do I need to clarify as I’ve never clarified before?
(2) Are my strands porous?? I don’t know the PH of my products and I’ve never used a product to address porosity. I referred to the following http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=341855&page=2 and it seems like I might have a porosity issue although I’m not sure.
(3) Could the rough, dull, tangled feeling result from the weekly use/buildup of a light protein treatment?

Regimen (each one of the below is rinsed before the next step is started)

Night before wash:
Apply evoo, castor, tea tree oil from root to tip

Pre-Poo
- Honey


Poo
- CON Detangling Shampoo

Protein
- Aphogee 2 min reconstructor

CON
Joico Moisture Recovery

D/C
- Mixture of: Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask, Carol’s Daughter Hair Smoothie, and evoo

Pre-Roller Set
- Apply Neutrogena Silk leave-in, Design Essentials H20 leave-in conditioner, Fantasia Anti-Frizz Serum, and evoo to wet hair
- Roller set with water

Post-Roller Set
- Apply a Design Essentials cream hairdress
- Apply oil (either evoo or argan oil) to hair and ends
- Do saran wrap or just leave it curly and go

TIA!

 

[**SaSSy**]

This post is long but hang with me please,

This is my first time stretching and I’m 9 weeks post and I’m unsure if some of what I’m experiencing is normal. To my detriment, I think I started too many firsts at one time and can’t pinpoint the problem. Here are my newly incorporated items: stretching, moisturizing/sealing daily, washing weekly, Aphogee 2 min protein treatment with every wash.

Up until yesterday, I felt my hair and NG was manageable. Yesterday I used my typical regimen (see below) but got different results. I feel that my hair is dry, dull, coarse, and rough when I run my hands down the length of my hair. I notice that my hair was snagging on the comb although it’s not tangled. Some of my hairs feel and look raised and some are overlapping on each other. I noticed a few broken hairs on the floor although fairly minimal. Last night I moisturized/sealed and baggie’d as this usually gets my hair back moisturized. This morning, my hair still feels the same as mentioned above.

(1) Do I need to clarify as I’ve never clarified before?
(2) Are my strands porous?? I don’t know the PH of my products and I’ve never used a product to address porosity. I referred to the following http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=341855&page=2 and it seems like I might have a porosity issue although I’m not sure.
(3) Could the rough, dull, tangled feeling result from the weekly use/buildup of a light protein treatment?

Regimen (each one of the below is rinsed before the next step is started)

Night before wash:
Apply evoo, castor, tea tree oil from root to tip

Pre-Poo
- Honey


Poo
- CON Detangling Shampoo

Protein
- Aphogee 2 min reconstructor

CON
Joico Moisture Recovery

D/C
- Mixture of: Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask, Carol’s Daughter Hair Smoothie, and evoo

Pre-Roller Set
- Apply Neutrogena Silk leave-in, Design Essentials H20 leave-in conditioner, Fantasia Anti-Frizz Serum, and evoo to wet hair
- Roller set with water

Post-Roller Set
- Apply a Design Essentials cream hairdress
- Apply oil (either evoo or argan oil) to hair and ends
- Do saran wrap or just leave it curly and go

TIA!

It sounds as if you are using too much protein and cone induced products. I only use cones in my rinse out conditioners, but never in my leave-in or moisturizers because it blocks essential oils getting into my strands. You really need to clarify which will get rid of the cone build up. HTH

 

[Americka]

If you have not clarified since your last relaxer, I would definitely recommend doing that. Check out this thread How often do you clarify?

If you did the porosity test and you "failed", then I also recommend incorporating a porosity conditioner such as Roux. Follow the instructions on the bottle and you should be fine. How do you use PC?

Hopefully others will chime in with their recommendations as well. Good luck!

 

[divachyk]

It sounds as if you are using too much protein and cone induced products. I only use cones in my rinse out conditioners, but never in my leave-in or moisturizers because it blocks essential oils getting into my strands. You really need to clarify which will get rid of the cone build up. HTH

- Thx! How often should I use the light protein?
- I don't know how to tell cones and how much is good or bad. I'm sure there is a thread on this somewhere and will research it. I've heard others comments on cones but some hair likes it and some doesn't. I guess from what I'm experiencing, mine doesn't. I'm a newbie some I'm learning.

 

[darlingdiva]

To answer your first question about clarifying, YES, YES, and YES: I think you need to clarify because it seems like you use quite a few products.

Question: why do you apply evoo, castor & tea tree oils the night before you wash, and then apply honey as a pre-poo? I am just asking because it seems like you may only need the prepoo or the oils that you apply before you wash your hair.

The rough, dull dry feeling may be from high porosity, product build-up or both. I think that you should clarify your hair & use Roux Porosity Control during the same wash session. See how your hair feels, although Roux is one of those products that you have to continually use to see results. I find that I get the best effects from Roux Porosity Control when I use it after I've clarified my hair. Since it helps to make the cuticle lie flat, many people use it as the last step in the hair-washing process.

However, the directions say: "Apply to damp hair before a chemical service. Leave in hair 30 seconds then rinse. Perform the chemical service (color, perm, relax, bleach). Can be used after a chemical service when additional conditioning is required."

 

[divachyk]

Question: why do you apply evoo, castor & tea tree oils the night before you wash, and then apply honey as a pre-poo? I am just asking because it seems like you may only need the prepoo or the oils that you apply before you wash your hair.

No true rationale other than being a newbie and emulating others and have just have incorporated too much too quick which is silly, I know. I'm struggling with knowing what my hair likes. I never had to know this in the past because I frequnted the salon regularly. Now that I don't, it's on me. I see why ppl just BC because developing a regimen is frustrating.

 

[ms.blue]

I agree with darlingdiva. Cone ingredients will generally have an ending -cone and too much cones will leave the hair dry and rough/sticky after awhile.

 

[darlingdiva]

No true rationale other than being a newbie and emulating others and have just have incorporated too much too quick which is silly, I know. I'm struggling with knowing what my hair likes. I never had to know this in the past because I frequnted the salon regularly. Now that I don't, it's on me. I see why ppl just BC because developing a regimen is frustrating.

Don't be frustrated. You'll figure out what your hair likes eventually. Just remember that, sometimes, less really is more.

 

[NIN4eva]

hmm you guys, I'm seeing way more oils than cones in her regimen. ~ Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think you're over doing in on the oils divachyk. Like, if you're using castor oil regularly you don't need evoo at all, ever.

I can't comment on the tea tree. I have no experience with that one. What is it doing for you?

Don't get too frustrated. Most of us had to go through this to develop our regimens. And sooner or later we end up where you are now. What I always suggest is that you use your products as they are for a while and stop mixing things together. That's the only way to find out what works for you. When you find your staples, slowing start mixing things if you want.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

It takes time to find out what your hair likes just be patient. IN the meantime

try to add a clarifying shampoo to your reggie.

Change the protein from once a wk to once a month.

I know when I first started I was using motions cpr weekly. It was ok at first but then my hair started to feel dry brittle snapped off at the drop of a hat. Nothing moisturised it. It looked and felt like hay and had no sheen to it. I got a good moisturising dc and started using it weekly. I completely cut out protein for a while and my hair changed dramatically. Even though aphrogee 2min is a light protein not everyones hair can handle it on a frequent basis. Others hair thrives using it weekly. It really depends.

Also I saw a big improvement when I started using natural products like aubrey organics honeysuckle rose, white chameilla, giovanni smooth as silk and giovanni direct leave in is tha bomb. They actually penetrate the hair shaft instead of sitting on top of it.

 

[divachyk]

hmm you guys, I'm seeing way more oils than cones in her regimen. ~ Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think you're over doing in on the oils divachyk. Like, if you're using castor oil regularly you don't need evoo at all, ever. I can't comment on the tea tree. I have no experience with that one. What is it doing for you?

Tea tree isn't doing much from what I can see and will be eliminated immediately. I had it laying around the house because I use it on my face for the oil cleansing method. I saw where many were combining oils (tea tree being one of them) and I used the tea tree as a means to do the oil combining like many others. I will stick to your and OP suggestions of less is more. When I first joined someone told me this and I scaled back my items, so I see that I need to scale back even further. Thx!!

 

[darlingdiva]

hmm you guys, I'm seeing way more oils than cones in her regimen. ~ Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think you're over doing in on the oils divachyk. Like, if you're using castor oil regularly you don't need evoo at all, ever.

I can't comment on the tea tree. I have no experience with that one. What is it doing for you?

Don't get too frustrated. Most of us had to go through this to develop our regimens. And sooner or later we end up where you are now. What I always suggest is that you use your products as they are for a while and stop mixing things together. That's the only way to find out what works for you. When you find your staples, slowing start mixing things if you want.

I tend to agree with this because they are both heavy oils.

 

[**SaSSy**]

- Thx! How often should I use the light protein?
- I don't know how to tell cones and how much is good or bad. I'm sure there is a thread on this somewhere and will research it. I've heard others comments on cones but some hair likes it and some doesn't. I guess from what I'm experiencing, mine doesn't. I'm a newbie some I'm learning.

I would suggest starting off every two weeks to see how your hair reacts to the protein, if your doing fine with that then you can have a better assessment of your hair's needs. I personally use it once a week because its light enough to use that often, but strong enough to keep me balance.

My thing about limiting and avoiding cones was a personal decision because I notice that while my hair is wet, cones were great for detangling, but once my hair was dried my hair was also dry and felt coated. It was almost like a endless cycle. The drier my hair felt, I would use more product, and over and over again. It reminds me of using chap stick over and over again, but your lips are still dry.

Well anyway I made a decision a while back to only use rinse out conditioners with cones to help soften my NG, but only moisturize with natural butters and oils, and it's all I been using for almost a year now.

Once a month I clarify. It's a must because I co-wash with cone conditioners. I use either Aveda detoxifying shampoo, or baking soda mixed with water.

 

[lovelexi]

I was using NTM for a about a week then i noticed that it started to make my hair feel sticky and weird. i clarified and im now using beemine hair milk. my hair feels so much better. i think it may be the product build-up. not necessarily the product. or it could be that you are using to much. i know that i am guilty of being heavy handed.

 

[**SaSSy**]

This post is long but hang with me please,

This is my first time stretching and I’m 9 weeks post and I’m unsure if some of what I’m experiencing is normal. To my detriment, I think I started too many firsts at one time and can’t pinpoint the problem. Here are my newly incorporated items: stretching, moisturizing/sealing daily, washing weekly, Aphogee 2 min protein treatment with every wash.

Up until yesterday, I felt my hair and NG was manageable. Yesterday I used my typical regimen (see below) but got different results. I feel that my hair is dry, dull, coarse, and rough when I run my hands down the length of my hair. I notice that my hair was snagging on the comb although it’s not tangled. Some of my hairs feel and look raised and some are overlapping on each other. I noticed a few broken hairs on the floor although fairly minimal. Last night I moisturized/sealed and baggie’d as this usually gets my hair back moisturized. This morning, my hair still feels the same as mentioned above.

(1) Do I need to clarify as I’ve never clarified before?
(2) Are my strands porous?? I don’t know the PH of my products and I’ve never used a product to address porosity. I referred to the following http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=341855&page=2 and it seems like I might have a porosity issue although I’m not sure.
(3) Could the rough, dull, tangled feeling result from the weekly use/buildup of a light protein treatment?

Regimen (each one of the below is rinsed before the next step is started)

Night before wash:
Apply evoo, castor, tea tree oil from root to tip

Pre-Poo
- Honey


Poo
- CON Detangling Shampoo

Protein
- Aphogee 2 min reconstructor

CON
Joico Moisture Recovery

D/C
- Mixture of: Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask, Carol’s Daughter Hair Smoothie, and evoo

Pre-Roller Set
- Apply Neutrogena Silk leave-in, Design Essentials H20 leave-in conditioner, Fantasia Anti-Frizz Serum, and evoo to wet hair
- Roller set with water

Post-Roller Set
- Apply a Design Essentials cream hairdress
- Apply oil (either evoo or argan oil) to hair and ends
- Do saran wrap or just leave it curly and go

TIA!

hmm you guys, I'm seeing way more oils than cones in her regimen. ~ Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think you're over doing in on the oils divachyk. Like, if you're using castor oil regularly you don't need evoo at all, ever.

I can't comment on the tea tree. I have no experience with that one. What is it doing for you?

Don't get too frustrated. Most of us had to go through this to develop our regimens. And sooner or later we end up where you are now. What I always suggest is that you use your products as they are for a while and stop mixing things together. That's the only way to find out what works for you. When you find your staples, slowing start mixing things if you want.

In the pre-roller set selection there are a few products with way too much cones/protein.

The Fantasia has cones such as: Cylomethicone, Dimethicon, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Benzophenone-3
That is way too much cones IMO to use. Alot of these cones are not water soluble and will just build up wash after wash if not clarified away.

The H20 Plus has protein in it: Sea Mineral Complex®, Wakame, Sea Lettuce, Sea Fennel, Red Marine Algae, Plankton Extract, Provitamin B, Lecithin

 

[divachyk]

In the pre-roller set selection there are a few products with way too much cones/protein.

The Fantasia has cones such as: Cylomethicone, Dimethicon, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Benzophenone-3
That is way too much cones IMO to use. Alot of these cones are not water soluble and will just build up wash after wash if not clarified away.

The H20 Plus has protein in it: Sea Mineral Complex®, Wakame, Sea Lettuce, Sea Fennel, Red Marine Algae, Plankton Extract, Provitamin B, Lecithin

Thank you so very much. Most of my reggie was developed since starting LHCF about a month ago. I read what everyone was doing and loaded up on products/processes to achieve their healthy hair. Prior to my LHCF enrollment, I did very little: wash (Joico moisture recovery), condition (Joico moisture recovery), deep condition (Carol's daugher smoothie/Moroccan Oil Mask), roller set with leave in conditioner and diluted lottabody, that's it. The moisturizing/seal, etc resulted from my LHCF readings. Maybe I need to go back to the basics and gradually add items in.