Quick ? About my MOISTURZING regimen

[goingBack2black]

well lately what i have been doing to moisturize is this:
(for the past week)

1) I have been applying my MN to my scalp every night and morning
2) Add some Elasta QP mango from my roots to my ends
3) Spray a "good" amount of Hawaiian 14 in 1 to my whole head...like EVERYWHERE
4) And then applying my EO as a sealant

I like the fact that the Hawaiian Spray keeps my hair WET and since it stays wet from this, it stays moisturized. I am in the process of experimenting with the MN to see if it grows back my protein damaged patches.

My question is this: Am I over-processing my hair with TOO MUCH moisture?

I need to know bc my hair has been dry and brittle for the longest and I am trying to transition also. My last relaxer was Dec 5th so its been 1 month and 2 weeks and I dont usually get a touch up until 2-3 mnths.

But now that my hair IS getting its moisture, am I OVER moisturizing it?

 

[Hair2Here]

well lately what i have been doing to moisturize is this:
(for the past week)

1) I have been applying my MN to my scalp every night and morning
2) Add some Elasta QP mango to from my roots to my ends
3) Spray a "good" amount of Hawaiian 14 in 1 to my whole head
4) And then applying my EO as a sealant

I like the fact that the Hawaiian Spray keeps my hair WET and since it stays wet from this, it stays moisturized. I am in the process of experimenting with the MN to see if it grows back my protein damaged patches.

My question is this: Am I over-processing my hair with TOO MUCH moisture?

I need to know bc my hair has been dry and brittle for the longest and I am trying to transition also. My last relaxer was Dec 5th so its been 1 month and 2 weeks and I dont usually get a touch up until 2-3 mnths.

But now that my hair IS getting its moisture, am I OVER moisturizing it?

From what I've learned, you do want to achieve a good balance of protein and moisture in your hair. I recently posted my moisturizing regimen and I pretty much follow the same technique you do with only one exception. I bag my hair every night. When my hair begins to feel 'gummy', I simple spray a little Chi protein spray on my hair and this usually snaps it back with no problems. I'm a natural btw.

hth...

 

[goingBack2black]

bump bump bump!

 

[NaturalPath]

well lately what i have been doing to moisturize is this:
(for the past week)

1) I have been applying my MN to my scalp every night and morning
2) Add some Elasta QP mango from my roots to my ends
3) Spray a "good" amount of Hawaiian 14 in 1 to my whole head...like EVERYWHERE
4) And then applying my EO as a sealant

I like the fact that the Hawaiian Spray keeps my hair WET and since it stays wet from this, it stays moisturized. I am in the process of experimenting with the MN to see if it grows back my protein damaged patches.

My question is this: Am I over-processing my hair with TOO MUCH moisture?

I need to know bc my hair has been dry and brittle for the longest and I am trying to transition also. My last relaxer was Dec 5th so its been 1 month and 2 weeks and I dont usually get a touch up until 2-3 mnths.

But now that my hair IS getting its moisture, am I OVER moisturizing it?

That sounds alittle too much...if it works for you then keep doing it. You will need to access constantly to determine if you need a protein treatment if you hair gets to mushy.

What is EO?

Btw http://public.fotki.com/Chicoro123/hair-care/tutorials/how-to-strategicall/006.html is a great tutorial from chicoro that suggests using a water based moisturizer then an oil based and then a creme/butter.

Using that tutorial you could use the hawaiian then the EO (if thats an oil) and then the mango

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I think you may be overdoing it just a tad. You shouldn't need to actually wet your hair with product to keep it moisturized, and if that's what it takes at the moment, maybe you should look into using different products, because maybe the ones you use now aren't the right ones for your hair.
Or try different methods of moisturizing. Or check the porosity of your hair.

 

[nymane]

Do you DC regularly? I Find that DC'ing weekly keeps my hair moisturized for days...I still moisturize and seal daily but my hair is never dry.

 

[sharifeh]

Hmm, it sounds like you use a lot of product; does your hair ever get weighed down?
I was going to ask, what is your deep conditioner?

 

[Truth]

Maybe eliminate one of those steps..... maybe add MN then spray a decent amount of the 14n 1 , and seal with EO (what's that?? do tell oke .. I do agree, water based moisturizers will help, that way you will not have to completely saturate your head with 14n 1 just to get the "moist" feeling.. Honestly you can use the mango butter alone I believe that is water based. If this method does work for you then go for it.. but remember..keep it simple..

 

[goingBack2black]

That sounds alittle too much...if it works for you then keep doing it. You will need to access constantly to determine if you need a protein treatment if you hair gets to mushy.

What is EO?

Btw http://public.fotki.com/Chicoro123/hair-care/tutorials/how-to-strategicall/006.html is a great tutorial from chicoro that suggests using a water based moisturizer then an oil based and then a creme/butter.

Using that tutorial you could use the hawaiian then the EO (if thats an oil) and then the mango

yeah it does. after i did it and looked in the mirror after awhile i thought to myself that maybe this is too much. Oh yeah and the EO is essential oil. I dont have a specific one, bc they are actually mixed in a bottle together.

 

[goingBack2black]

I think you may be overdoing it just a tad. You shouldn't need to actually wet your hair with product to keep it moisturized, and if that's what it takes at the moment, maybe you should look into using different products, because maybe the ones you use now aren't the right ones for your hair.
Or try different methods of moisturizing. Or check the porosity of your hair.

i am trying to learn to listen to my hair and see what it needs, but for some reason, this is so hard for me. i have been use to going to a hair dressor for the past....4 years give or take every two weeks, so they only thing I knew was when I needed a wash or touch-up. I didnt touch my hair at all, only enough to wrap it and tie it and un-wrap it and comb it down.

 

[goingBack2black]

Do you DC regularly? I Find that DC'ing weekly keeps my hair moisturized for days...I still moisturize and seal daily but my hair is never dry.

I usually DC once a week. Yesterday I did and sunday I know I am going to again.

 

[goingBack2black]

I guess I am trying to find a regimen for myself with failed success erplexed

My mother actually asked me "why do you keep buying all these things if the ones you already have arent working for you?" I actually felt bad when she said this bc I do feel a lil confused and stuck but I am still trying to find my way

I know that I bought Aphogee 2 min treatment and the keratin and green tea spray. I would apply the 2 min treatment every other day and sometimes mic it with a moisturizing conditioner. sometimes a DC and use both as a co-wash. I would then spray the green tea and keratin spray all over my head, brush out, put a silk scarf on my head and air dry.

I believe this aided in my hair breakage also.

I guess I am in DYER need of someone to help me come up with a regimen with me. I have all these products and I am a lil confused on how to use them.

Like how exactly do I use the Elasta QP mango?
(I have been rubbing it in my hands and rubbing it all over my wet hair to my ends)

When do I use the Aphogee keratin green tea spray?
(i have a full bottle, I am just a lil scared to use it now)

I do know that my regimen will consist of every 2-3 days I will co-wash with my V05 and apply my MN. I am just not good on how to moisturize.

Then DC once or twice every week
If I DC twice a week I will do a moisturizer first and then a couple days later do a protein DC

If once a week I will do a moisturizer one week and then a protein the next



Why is this so hard for me??

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I think it's hard for everyone starting out, especially if you don't know anything at all about your hair.

To answer your question in a nutshell, you should use your products the way that it says to in the instructions. Many ladies here don't follow the instructions on the bottle *raises hand*, but I think when you are newer to haircare or even just when you are trying out a new product, following the instructions is best. Watch how your hair responds to the product while using it as intended. If it seems as if it would be better to leave it on a little longer than recommended, or for a little less time, then do that. If it seems as if it would make a good leave-in, or a better sealant than a moisturizer, then do that.

But you have to start listening to your hair over your brain or even over LHCF. Your brain might tell you that your hair is dry, so you bombard it with moisture. But your hair might be saying, "Omg this sucks." You won't hear it, but it may start getting mushy, greasy, weighed down, limp, stretchy, and it may start breaking at the ends from build up. LHCF might tell you that cones are the devil, but your hair might say, "Ohh, I love the cones." Once again, it won't speak to you...but it may not play so nicely with your comb anymore. Just start getting used to picking up on the stuff that your hair says to you. It's not going to be easy, but it can definitely be done.

Addressing the regimen-building, from what I'm reading, it seems like you're overwhelmed by all the information available and are doing too much at one time. I think you should read this great article by Sistaslick.

I definitely think starting out, it's best to keep the regimen simple, in order to let you get a basic feel for your hair. Then as you go, you can add in or remove step and products, according to what your hair needs or does not need. I also don't know if you've seen this:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=50291

but it's a great guide to getting started with haircare. hth.

 

[NaturalPath]

It is definitely hard! It took me almost 2 years and some months before I realized that moisturizing AND sealing with an oil wasn't neccessary for my hair. I was trying all these different products and alot of the products I bought I threw away.

Now I pretty much just stick with a leave-in....very simple.

 

[charmtreese]

You're still in the experimental stage...don't worry or stress too much. You have to find out what works for your hair. If your hair is not responding well to what you are currently doing, scale it down a bit. Use one product at a time to see how it works alone, and then build from there. Many of us have gone through this, spending time and money on products and techniques that are not beneficial to our hair.

Personally my hair does not like cream or spray moisturizers. I have to use serums and castor oil between washes to keep my hair happy!!

Unfortunately part of finding out what works, may lead to you being a small PJ, but once you find your staple products it's somewhat smooth sailing from there. HHG!!!