Product Overload..

[Kindheart]

Browsing around different thread and youtube vids i ve found a few girls using loads of products all at once ,for instance mixing two or three conditioners at once,IMO that would just overload the hair with chemicals,cones,proteins found in each product ,especially if used for cowashing .Some pree po then Poo+DC+leavein+moisturize+seal+wrapping lotion(in case of relaxed hair)+heat protectant+serum+Oil sheen
I m like WHOA wont that give you some serious build up ?wont all that gunk make your hair more prone to shedding as it will increase its weight .
I know different things work for different people but perhaps its possible to achieve better results without overloading the hair with lots of products ...Just a thought ,What works for you ladies ?

 

[Minty]

it depends.

*all conditioners must stand on their own. - I know what conditioners can be used depending on what I've done to my hair. Henna rinsing requires a particular "type" of conditioner versus cw.

*I layer moisturizers (ex. Anti-Snap, Karakady, BRBC, Hemp oil mix)

 

[AHeadOfCoils]

Browsing around different thread and youtube vids i ve found a few girls using loads of products all at once ,for instance mixing two or three conditioners at once,IMO that would just overload the hair with chemicals,cones,proteins found in each product ,especially if used for cowashing .Some pree po then Poo+DC+leavein+moisturize+seal+wrapping lotion(in case of relaxed hair)+heat protectant+serum+Oil sheen
I m like WHOA wont that give you some serious build up ?wont all that gunk make your hair more prone to shedding as it will increase its weight .
I know different things work for different people but perhaps its possible to achieve better results without overloading the hair with lots of products ...Just a thought ,What works for you ladies ?

Layering might be necessary, for some, to achieve sufficient moisture. I would rather layer for moisture than to have breakage from dry hair.

I used to layer when I was flat ironing but when bunning, I kept it simple and used one product.

I can assume that when people find that ONE product that does everything those few products do, they will make the switch. Nobody wants to have to buy a bus load of hair products.

 

[Traycee]

I used to make the same mistakes at the beginning of my journey ....But I learned with the help of others that all that isn't required... I learned to save my money and keep it simple...They will learn too...

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I also agree that it depends. When I used to layer a ton of stuff, it was because I hadn't found the right products for my hair. So just to get my hair feeling and looking decent, I had to use 50-11 conditioners, oils, moisturizers, etc. Now that I have products that work for my hair, I don't need to use so much stuff or seriously doctor up what I have.
I assume it's the same for those women...they haven't found the product that satisfies them, so they keep layering until they get the look or feel they want. When they find the right products, they'll stop.

Also, some people's hair is just in need of more stuff. I think women with healthier or more resilient hair can get away with using small amounts of stuff. But for people who are dealing with damaged or more fragile hair, it makes sense that they would need more stuff to fortify and moisturize the hair. It's like with weight loss and fitness. It usually takes more effort to lose weight than it does to maintain your current weight.

Either way, I don't really care when I see people on youtube or around here using 50-11 products. If they like it and it works for them and they aren't asking my opinion/advice, then I shake them warmly by the hand and KIM.

 

[omachine]

I used to make the same mistakes at the beginning of my journey ....But I learned with the help of others that all that isn't required... I learned to save my money and keep it simple...They will learn too...

i wholeheartedly agree with traycee...it is a learning process... the key is to resist jumping onto every product bandwagon...this is sooo hard let me tell you!!!...but my reggie has gradually become super simple and thankfully, my hair is growing quickly thanks mainly to the advice i receive here....

 

[Vashti]

When watching some YT videos I've wondered about this myself. I add ingredients to make my own conditioner but some do seem to go overboard, IMO. It could be that they have a closet full of hair products that they are trying to use up.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

I keep it very simple. I only use one shampoo, one conditioner and one leave-in conditioner during each wash session. If I am blow drying I apply a couple of drops of serum. That's it. My hair starts to break if I overload it with products.

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

Hmm, I think trying products one at a time helps to figure out which one does what for your hair. If you're using a lot of stuff at the same time, you don't know which one is giving you the desired affect. More importantly, that's expensive! (lol) Too many products, not enough money.

For me, I do have to layer leave-ins/moisturizers for my fine hair. Using one heavier product doesn't work for me. However, I tried all of my moisturizers (about 2 or 3) at different times so I know why I'm doing what I'm doing (lol).

 

[Loves Harmony]

I was doing the same thing not to long ago. I found out it was the reason my hair wouldnt hold any moisture. My hair was breaking in i didnt know from which product because i was using to many. No i just prepoo, wash, dc, leave in. My hair will stay moist for 3 days.

 

[lamaria211]

i do mix my conditioners sometimes but thats just cause i have so many and im trying to use some up

 

[kaykaybobay]

I have finally learned to keep it very simple. Since I have been using very natural products I have not had a need to clarify. I use a Anita Grant shampoo bar, Natures gate conditioner, hemp oil and castor oil. So far so good. I really want to leave experimenting behind.

 

[iri9109]

usually i use one conditioner to cowash and detangle, but sometimes i mix if im trying to use something up quickly, and one condish as a leave in, which is 90% of the time the same one i used to cowash, and seal with one oil but when it comes to DCing im guilty of mixing atleast 2 conditioners plus honey and one or two oils lol...i dont really use gels/stylers anymore, but when i do i only use one b/c i find most dont play well with other products...when i shampoo i only use one type of poo/soap, and only do it once, but i do prepoo with condish and/or oil

 

[Kindheart]

Hmm, I think trying products one at a time helps to figure out which one does what for your hair. If you're using a lot of stuff at the same time, you don't know which one is giving you the desired affect. More importantly, that's expensive! (lol) Too many products, not enough money.

For me, I do have to layer leave-ins/moisturizers for my fine hair. Using one heavier product doesn't work for me. However, I tried all of my moisturizers (about 2 or 3) at different times so I know why I'm doing what I'm doing (lol).

IA,Also,I don't think is necessary to mix so many products at the same time..perhaps use a different conditioner/leave in etc for each wash so eventuallly you ll come across a combination of products that works for you.

 

[NaturalBoss]

I keep it very simple. I don't even think that layering/mixing products will cause my hair to break, I just think it's a waste of time and money for my hair. I don't need all that stuff. If I had to mix up a whole bunch of products and pre-poo and all that, I would just rock a TWA. I'm lazy and I just don't wanna be bothered w/ all that. My hair is doing fine w/o it.

I've read threads where some do all that extra mixing and what not, and their hair is not doing any better than anyone else's. But who knows, maybe if they didn't mix products they would be bald...

 

[sydaree]

I also agree that it depends. When I used to layer a ton of stuff, it was because I hadn't found the right products for my hair. So just to get my hair feeling and looking decent, I had to use 50-11 conditioners, oils, moisturizers, etc. Now that I have products that work for my hair, I don't need to use so much stuff or seriously doctor up what I have.
I assume it's the same for those women...they haven't found the product that satisfies them, so they keep layering until they get the look or feel they want. When they find the right products, they'll stop.

Also, some people's hair is just in need of more stuff. I think women with healthier or more resilient hair can get away with using small amounts of stuff. But for people who are dealing with damaged or more fragile hair, it makes sense that they would need more stuff to fortify and moisturize the hair. It's like with weight loss and fitness. It usually takes more effort to lose weight than it does to maintain your current weight.

Either way, I don't really care when I see people on youtube or around here using 50-11 products. If they like it and it works for them and they aren't asking my opinion/advice, then I shake them warmly by the hand and KIM.

You are so right. The stage I'm in now is that I'm still searching for my mainstays. I read the forums/youtube and then make purchases based on others experiences. I just have to continue to experiment and find out what is right for me.

Like, I found out (no matter how hard I tried) that my hair doesn't like shea butter. I can massage it into my scalp with better results than rubbing it on top of my hair. But, shea works wonders on my skin.

After this learning curve, I'm hoping to simplify my routine because I am really a low maintenance person. My husband commented once that I fool with my hair more now than I did with a relaxer.

 

[LushLox]

I rarely mix my conditioners, but I have done in the past and probably will do at some point in the future. At the moment though I'm happy with the way my treatments work, I don't feel there's any need to add anything to my mix.

When I'm styling my hair though I always use two or sometimes even three products; my moisturiser, a finishing creme (a must for smooth, polished buns) and sometimes some serum or oil. I don't have any problems with build up.

 

[AlliCat]

I mix conditioners sometimes (moisturizing ones ONLY, who knows how 2 diff proteins will react). I find it a good way to use up products, as well as get a greater benefits from my long DC sessions.

I think layering products is really beneficial. Isn't that how moisturizing and sealing is so popular

 

[Tiye]

I think conditioner cocktail is fine - provided they don't have ingredients that clash with either other. It's one way of creating your own deep conditioner. I know someone who was into this years ago when I was growing up and I never understood why she was mixing all those conditioners from the "other side of the aisle". But now I understand what she was up to and why she did it. However imo some people do layer it on a bit too much. I think this is because they are fans of a lot of different products/product lines and whenever they do their hair they want to fit them all in or use as many as possible. I like to keep it fairly simple because my hair type does not benefit from being loaded down with product, but it's their hair, not mine so to each her own (or his own) of course.

 

[Nix08]

Maybe it's because I'm a relative newbie (not sure when I'm no longer considered a newbie anywhooo), I use a couple different things during my deep conditioner as well as my leave ins. I actually don't find it to be a waste of money because I am very stingy with product - always have been. My hair is doing very well - since I'm new I don't have tons of length too show yet so I guess my opinion doesn't count to much YET!

 

[lovelexi]

Well I was forced to learn that less is more had to do some budgeting. I wash, DC, then apply a leave in on wash days. Other days I just moisturize and seal. No need for heat protectant because I don't use direct heat. I like to add castor and grapeseed oil to my DC but that's pretty much it. Since starting my HHJ I'm actually starting to save money. By this time next year I'll know if using less is the key to my healthy hair.