Product mixing, is it good or bad?

[CurlsBazillion]

Hey yall! I love mixing several products for my weekly DC but I sometimes wonder if the chemicals in each product will disagree with each other. Have any of you ever experienced a bad product combo?

 

[Lady S]

Hey yall! I love mixing several products for my weekly DC but I sometimes wonder if the chemicals in each product will disagree with each other. Have any of you ever experienced a bad product combo?

If it works, it works.

I have a feeling some of the ingredients overlap anyways. Unless it's a relaxer or one of those keratin treatments, I think you'll be fine. Worse case scenario, you may end up having something cancel the other out.

 

[leiah]

I only mix products that don't work for me - usually they are too strong and need to be diluted
But if it works, I leave it alone

 

[Nonie]

I am a stickler for following instructions and do not mix products that I buy ready-made. I would probably have no problems with natural oils and mixing an essential oil elixir, but I'm too lazy to bother. So I buy what pros have created and follow the directions they recommend. I do think sometimes products cancel each other out when you mix them.

Like if you were trying to open your cuticles with an alkali so that you could add conditioner to the core of your strands and then close them with an acid to seal, you mix the two first and you end up with a neutral-ish product that really doesn't do what the products would have done on their own. Probably not the best example but you get my point.

 

[divachyk]

Use to mix because I was buying lesser priced products - those not salon grade quality. Now I'm trying to focus my attention on items that are of higher quality/salon grade quality. I find I do not have to mix those types of products. However, if a product does not work, then mixing is the way to go in order to use the product and not be wasteful. So with that, it's situational...but mixing (for me) is the exception not the norm.

 

[AlliCat]

I mix natural oils and edibles into my conditioner...if mixing 2 conditioners I would make sure one is protein and the other is moisture...

 

[destine2grow]

I do not mix anything! I am lazy and hate mixing things! I also want the product to work like its suppose to with out having to mix it with anything.

 

[Vashti]

The only products I mix up are conditioners and/or oils.

 

[empressri]

I mean it really depends on what it is.

Oils, honey or maybe even another conditioner...I might.

I've seen folks adding panthenol...which if you use too much can actually be corrosive to your hair. I saw citric acid being used at some point...so I just don't get too crazy.

 

[mzteaze]

I mix a few things, mostly oils into my conditioners which have worked well. I have no problems mixing homemade items after carefully researching how they should work. I made a nice clay mix for my hair which works nicely.

 

[RedVelvet310]

I am not a mad scientist, I have never felt the need to try and experiment by mixing my products, maybe one day if I'm feeling adventurous

 

[CurlsBazillion]

I am a stickler for following instructions and do not mix products that I buy ready-made. I would probably have no problems with natural oils and mixing an essential oil elixir, but I'm too lazy to bother. So I buy what pros have created and follow the directions they recommend. I do think sometimes products cancel each other out when you mix them.

Like if you were trying to open your cuticles with an alkali so that you could add conditioner to the core of your strands and then close them with an acid to seal, you mix the two first and you end up with a neutral-ish product that really doesn't do what the products would have done on their own. Probably not the best example but you get my point.

That's precisely why I searched for this subject and started this thread. I had an inkling this could happen.

I mix natural oils and edibles into my conditioner...if mixing 2 conditioners I would make sure one is protein and the other is moisture...

Makes perfect sense to not use the same type of conditioners to mix. I love adding coconut milk or cream and wheat germ oil to my DC.

 

[Angelicus]

Thank you for this thread.

 

[Myjourney2009]

I mix natural oils and edibles into my conditioner...if mixing 2 conditioners I would make sure one is protein and the other is moisture...

I was mixing my conditioners in the beg. of my HHJ that did not work and then stopped because they acted the same.

I just got back into mixing stuff thats no good alone and I decided to mix like the bolded and it is a score. I also add a bit of SAA and Wheat protein and oat protein. Its all good.

 

[Curlykale]

I played the mad scientist trying to make my own conditioners and styling products and even face stuff but I learned the hard way that for me it only works with few natural simple ingredients. My hair can even tell the difference between apple cider vinegar or citric acid (despite using ph strips I found it stripping). I had issues with build up as well and never got it right. Things like oils, flax seed gel and butters I can mix or add... but shampoos and conditioners are something I prefer to buy.
One thing I never mix is 2 moisturizing deep conditioners or 2 protein conditioners as I got moisture overload or protein overload by doing these 2 things. I also don't experiment with natural protein rich foods as I am protein sensitive.

 

[Sheena]

I generally think products should be used as directed. If I have a product that doesn't work for me, I'll either dilute it with distilled water or add some jojoba oil depending on the circumstance, but I never mix two or more products together eg mixing one conditioner with another.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

I don't mix commercial products together. I do like mixing butters, oils, and food items, but I don't get into adding chemicals, acids, proteins, and such. For me that is too complicated, but mixing up simple concoctions is fun.

 

[nikolite]

I mix my conditioners a lot, usually a protein/reconstructor with a conditioner I like (sometimes more than one), and when I need deeper conditioning I add coconut oil. My main protein conditioner is a blend of LeKair cholesterol, Renpure reconstructor, and castor oil. My after Henna deep, deep conditioner is a blend of Giovanni Deep Moisture, AO Honeysuckle Rose, and coconut oil. My body cream is a mix of shea butter and coconut oil with essential scented oils. And of course I'm always mixing the ingredients for Kimmay's leave-in. The only thing I don't mix or make is shampoos.

Never have had any problems with mixed products, and they usually work better for me than the products themselves (or else I wouldn't be mixing them!).

 

[SuchaLady]

I dont mix anything either. I am too lazy and honestly if I have to do work and mix something with my products then I probably should have purchased something different.

 

[WhoIAm]

I mix out of pure laziness. I'm not trying to fool with my hair all day. Haven't had any adverse reactions.

 

[CurlsBazillion]

FoxxyLocs[/URL];13439603]I don't mix commercial products together. I do like mixing butters, oils, and food items, but I don't get into adding chemicals, acids, proteins, and such. For me that is too complicated, but mixing up simple concoctions is fun.

I literally have the time of my life mixing up things but seriously lately I've been going too far. Right after my BC i mixed errthing I had into one bowl and then i put it on my head for several hours. I can't even remember exactly what all was in that concoction (avocado, egg, conditioners, banana, olive oil, coconut oil, yogurt, and God knows what else I threw in there) all know is I had a protein overload like nobody's business! I strayed away from that for over six months out of fear then I started pre-pooing with a mixture of a few carrier oils. Then the mix itch started again. I tried the coconut cream and yogurt and it came out great. Next thing I know my kitchen turned into a lab! I knew I had a problem when I almost bought dried powdered eggs for 15+ dollars. Whats even worse is I have a very simple reggie but i like to mix up magic potions, smh.

 

[WantNatural]

In the beginning I didn't like mixing, but it's growing on me now. I don't mix products with each other, but I have added oils and honey to conditioner before. I'm thinking about making my own butter, and I might try a shampoo w/castile soap and herbs. I'm trying to get away from chemicals in my products, so I'm researching how to make some of my own natural products. I do keep it simple though. I'm no chemist!

 

[C@ssandr@]

Wow, I'm surprised that so many ppl are adverse to mixing products.
I never mix anything that I'm not sure of. Plus I use alot of natural products, so the ingredients are simple. I also know what works for me and what does not.
I can never use a protein w/o mixing it with mositure. When I found out that I was protein sensitive, I have no choice but to water down my products (even avocado oil hardens my hair erplexed).

And of course I have an arsenal of oils in constant rotation (I assumed that all of LHCF had an arsenal too erplexed)

Mixing is the only way to go, imo!

 

[faithVA]

The more I learn about my hair the more I am mixing. But its still simple. If the product works well I leave it alone but most of the stuff I have my hair is like No Thanks. I find it easier to mix based on what I understand than to try 25 different products. I hate having a stash of stuff. When I find the products for my regimen I may stop mixing - who knows.

As far as using products as intended, I edited out my long rant on the behind the scenes strategies of advertising, marketing and legal depts. :lol

 

[CurlsBazillion]

Wow, I'm surprised that so many ppl are adverse to mixing products.
I never mix anything that I'm not sure of. Plus I use alot of natural products, so the ingredients are simple. I also know what works for me and what does not.
I can never use a protein w/o mixing it with mositure. When I found out that I was protein sensitive, I have no choice but to water down my products (even avocado oil hardens my hair erplexed).

And of course I have an arsenal of oils in constant rotation (I assumed that all of LHCF had an arsenal too erplexed)

Mixing is the only way to go, imo!

@keyawarren Thats probably why my set back occured! I put a whole avocado in my head with eggs and yogurt, smh I was begging for a protein overload. I still can't use avocado, i guess if I ever moisture overload I know what will bring my hair right back

The more I learn about my hair the more I am mixing. But its still simple. If the product works well I leave it alone but most of the stuff I have my hair is like No Thanks. I find it easier to mix based on what I understand than to try 25 different products. I hate having a stash of stuff. When I find the products for my regimen I may stop mixing - who knows.

As far as using products as intended, I edited out my long rant on the behind the scenes strategies of advertising, marketing and legal depts. :lol

@faithVA I guess this is why I just mix what i have with something else. I don't really wanna throw away money on a possible dud when I already have one I used to buy hair products of some sort everytime I set foot in a store but now I'm hip to the game.

 

[Solitude]

I don't mix because I'm lazy. But I used to mix essential oils with a cheap conditioner to pre-poo and that concoction worked great.

I think higher quality products are better left alone.

 

[Your Cheeziness]

I use as directed. I figure the chemists that made the product know better than me. Besides, if I buy it, I expect it to work, not to have to buy and mix it with other products. If that's the case, I'm using the wrong product.

 

[CurlsBazillion]

^^^ I'm thinking the same thing as far as the chemist go. how do i know what product mixed with some other product is gonna have adverse effects on my hair down the line because I knocked the balance of both products off by mixing them.

 

[darlingdiva]

I am not fond of mixing products. I need the product to be formulated to work for my hair. If the product has to be mixed in order for it to work on my hair, then it must go. The only products that I mix are Redken's Smooth Down Heat Glide and Elasta QP's Foam Wrap, and I only mix those when I decide not to disturb DH with the blow dryer.

 

[LaidBak]

I'm a mix-a-holic! I love to mix conditioners with oils and adjust the protein levels by adding in this or that. It took me a while to learn what worked, but that's part of the fun.