Hey Everybody!!!
Since I've joined LHCF, I started co-washing my hair. I'm really experimenting to see what I like and what works for me. I have relaxed hair, a mix of type 2,3 and 4a in the nape. This is also the longest I've ever gone without relaxing. I'm now 3 months post-relaxer :bouncegre
Just rinsing with water and applying a leave-in doesn't work for me. I've tried VO-5 (Hydrators, Strawberry & Cream, Volumizing, Freesia, Clarifying, Jasmine), Suave (Coconut, Green Apple, AloeVera..etc), Clairol Herbal Essence, John Freida Conditioner, Tresemme, Rx5 by Proctor & Gamble, NTM, KeraCare Hemecto, Pantene, Nature's Gate Rainwater & Rosemary, and Avalon Botanicals conditioners.
I co-wash daily...every night. My routine has been one of 2 ways....
FIRST WAY:
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Apply an oil blend (mix of essential oils - Rosemary, Lavender, with Emu, Castor, Johoba, Olive, Almond, Grapeseed, Sunflower, and KeraCare Essential Oils). I usually heat it up in the micro first. Leave this on under plastic cap for minimum 10-15 minutes.
Rinse out oil blend and co-wash with one of the above conditioners.
Apply a quick deeper/moisturizing conditioner. Depending on how I feel I may leave this on 10 minutes...up to 1-2 hours because I'm in the house doing stuff, and not going anywhere.
After rinsing, I apply John Frieda's Hair Serum to wet hair, NTM DDC as my leave-in, ElastaCare Curl Activator on new growth, QP Mango Butter on ends, a quarter size amount of oil (any kind - Castor, Emu, Johoba, Almond, Grapeseed, Olive, BBD Keala, or Kukui Nut...), Carol's Daughter Hair Milk and Hair Butter. Brush back top layer of hair with a baby brush, then wrap with a long satin scarf and put a satin cap on top to hold it down tight.
My hair always looks like I had a fresh relaxer. It lays down nice.
Other products I've tried so far and like but don't use everyday are:
Dark & Lovely Honey Wave Glaze - to slick back the hair
Jane Carter's Sculp & Condition - to slick back the hair
Bed Head TIGI Control Freak Serum - OMG!!! Lays it down really flat!!!
NTM Shine Serum - apply to towel-dried hair immediately after co-washing.
Dark& Lovely Almond Rain Mist - Oil spray....probably good for natural hair. I apply and massage as a finishing product right before tying down my hair to airdry.
SECOND WAY:
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I'll apply conditioner to dry hair with or without the oil blend, massage for 5 minutes or so and put on plastic cap. Clean my face (MaryKay junkie!!!) and then pop in the shower and use a large tooth comb to comb/rinse conditioner out of my hair.
Then I do the same after rinse routine as above.
Monday, Tuesday, Thurday and Friday and Sunday are regular co-wash days.
Wednesday is deep conditioner day, and Saturday is deep conditioner or heavy protein and deep conditioner day. I only do heavy protein once every 6-8 weeks. I may do light protein (Dudley's Cream Protein Conditioner) every other week.