Struggling with your natural hair? Come in here.....

how thoroughly do you detangle? faithVA it doesn't help that my hair seems to be shedding like crazy at the moment I just need to pack it away for a few months before i do something silly
 
fairyhairy said:
how thoroughly do you detangle? @faithVA it doesn't help that my hair seems to be shedding like crazy at the moment I just need to pack it away for a few months before i do something silly
Click to expand...

It depends on how I wear my hair and how long I keep it in that style and if I'm getting ready to wash. Lots of ifs.

If I have worn a style for more than a week without detangling, I will thoroughly detangle before washing. Detangling for me is more about removing shed hairs and not getting tangles out. There is no such thing. As long as I get the shed hairs out I am good.

If I wash my hair several times during a week, I only do a light detangling to stretch my hair out. I have a lot of shrinkage so I need to pull my hair to be able to twist out.

I don't worry about my ends curling back. I just make sure I keep my hair separated in sections. Otherwise its a monster.

All of that is when I had hair a few months ago. Now I am back to a twa, and there really is not such thing as detangling or keeping it separate. I will get back to that in January.
 
@itsjusthair
What's that henna brand? Is it a box? It could just be a peroxide dye with a *little* henna. I used one and had breakage city. Terrible!

Tried the gpb? Fantastic stuff...just used this mornin.
------
Man, I really wanna comment on these posts but things got mad busy...will drop my .02 later...
itsjusthair88 said:
DarkJoy Uh YEA...gas is bonkers I have to really think about whether I need to go places or not (LOL) I went to Whole Foods and got Aubrey GBP condish as well as a henna which I'm going to try this weekend (crossing my fingers)

I'm still on the hunt for a cleansing creme...will check back, thanks for the help, I might be PM'ing yo later

BraunSugar that leave-in sounds fantastic! Is it a creamy or runny? I'm going to go buy the grapeseed oil and crisco this weekend. Thanks for all the help, it's nice to see someone else on a budget!
Click to expand...
 
kristaa.10 said:
HanaKuroi I use Shea Moisture's Shea based DC for deep conditioning.
Click to expand...

Does your hair feel moisturized after? They changed their products somehow and my hair doesn't like Shea moisture products anymore. I read some reviews and people either love it or hate it saying it made their hair drier.

Have you used Aubrey organics conditioners before?
 
Last edited:
I have already put breakage to rest and it's thanks to:

Pre-poo'd with JBCO overnight.
Co-washing with the right products.
Mixed up a dc adding powdered silk amino acids and warmed it in the microwave before applying.
Not using a comb
No longer styling on soaking wet hair.
Stopped using a leave-in and concocted my own shea mix...the only thing i put in my hair.
Braids now dry in a few hours and my hair is very shiney and soft.

Also I think the use of sulphate-free poos have been the major cause of dryness and excessive shedding. I now apply a small amount of Curly Q's cleansing cream to my scalp if it feels itchy during a co-wash.

The ladies in this thread put me on the right track ;)
 
Last edited:
@IrrationalThoughts, yep... I break at the drop of a dime. SSKs are a pain...

To stop the SSKs I have to ignore MY preferences to use minimal oil. When doing wash and goes, my hair needs a LOT. Also ignoring my distaste, I have to use grease. It kills the SSKs AND stops breakage. Old skool thought is sometimes the better choice.

@Bublin is right! Wet manipulation is killer! I'll also add to her list:

-Protein can be your friend as a strengthener. If you are protein sensitive, try reconstructiors like AO GPB.
-Dust regularly. 1/4 inch or less controls any splits and SSKs on the ends. I do it once a month.
 
Bublin said:
I have already put breakage to rest and it's thanks to:

Pre-poo'd with JBCO overnight. - I may try this - I always get oil on my pillowcase...
Co-washing with the right products. - I go back and forth with co-washing - I have been thinking about doing it again, though no time
Mixed up a dc adding powdered silk amino acids and warmed it in the microwave before applying. I am going to add SAA to my list of 'to buy'- when I eventually buy again
Not using a comb - I tried this before and my hair just bout slapped me. My hair seems to want to be loc'd again. I cannot leave styles in for too long or wash in twists cuz they will loc before they dry. I just need to be more conscious of being nicer with the comb.
No longer styling on soaking wet hair. - This here may be the rub no soaking wet or completely dry styling
Stopped using a leave-in and concocted my own shea mix...the only thing i put in my hair. - My hair does not love shea - maybe I will try another butter
Braids now dry in a few hours and my hair is very shiney and soft.

Also I think the use of sulphate-free poos have been the major cause of dryness and excessive shedding. I now apply a small amount of Curly Q's cleansing cream to my scalp if it feels itchy during a co-wash.

The ladies in this thread put me on the right track ;)
Click to expand...

DarkJoy said:
@IrrationalThoughts, yep... I break at the drop of a dime. SSKs are a pain...

To stop the SSKs I have to ignore MY preferences to use minimal oil. When doing wash and goes, my hair needs a LOT. Also ignoring my distaste, I have to use grease. It kills the SSKs AND stops breakage. Old skool thought is sometimes the better choice.

@Bublin is right! Wet manipulation is killer! I'll also add to her list:

-Protein can be your friend as a strengthener. If you are protein sensitive, try reconstructiors like AO GPB. APGPB is my boo. I love this stuff - Henna too.
-Dust regularly. 1/4 inch or less controls any splits and SSKs on the ends. I do it once a month.-I need to get better at keeping up with trims
Click to expand...


I really need to get back to hair...still want to shave it off though but I have a big ole noggin.
 
HanaKuroi

Sometimes it does make my hair feel dry but other times it makes my hair feel really good. I have used Aubrey Organics GPB but none of their other conditioners.
 
This high porosity, color damaged hair is driving me bonkers! I can't cut it fast enough. UGH! Got too happy with the protein, realizing my hair cannot take high humectant products at this time...

It's sooo much to learn. I've been with my hair almost 2 years and I still cannot get a grasp on what it likes...which equates to almost nothing.
 
Arian said:
This high porosity, color damaged hair is driving me bonkers! I can't cut it fast enough. UGH! Got too happy with the protein, realizing my hair cannot take high humectant products at this time...

It's sooo much to learn. I've been with my hair almost 2 years and I still cannot get a grasp on what it likes...which equates to almost nothing.
Click to expand...


I have been where you are. And my experience was similar. :bighug:

See if you can keep it simple and work on your regi one step at a time: Cleansing, Conditioning, Leave-in/Moisturizing, Styling.
 
@IrrationalThoughts

I am responding to your response to my post...:lol:...in red



Pre-poo'd with JBCO overnight. - I may try this - I always get oil on my pillowcase...I applied oil to dry hair and wore a plastic cap then a durag then a beanie.
Co-washing with the right products. - I go back and forth with co-washing - I have been thinking about doing it again, though no time I don't have much time either so I plan on once every 5 or 7 days.
Mixed up a dc adding powdered silk amino acids and warmed it in the microwave before applying. I am going to add SAA to my list of 'to buy'- when I eventually buy again Why not add SAA to what you have now?
Not using a comb - I tried this before and my hair just bout slapped me. My hair seems to want to be loc'd again. I cannot leave styles in for too long or wash in twists cuz they will loc before they dry. I just need to be more conscious of being nicer with the comb. I only wear braid-outs. When you find the right conditioners with slip you WILL beable to fingercomb whilst in the shower. i have extremely tangly/webby hair but I successfully fingercombed and it took no time. Even using HS combs I think I was ripping hair out thinking it was shed hair.
No longer styling on soaking wet hair. - This here may be the rub no soaking wet or completely dry styling Shampoo was drying/tangling my hair out so much that I HAD to do my braids on wet hair. Now that I have started to co wash I can put my hair in 4 large braids, wrap a towel over my hair for 20 mins and continue to style.
Stopped using a leave-in and concocted my own shea mix...the only thing i put in my hair. - My hair does not love shea - maybe I will try another butter That's what I always thought. Shea is a sealant so what i was doing was using way to much leave-in product on stripped, soaking wet hair and then used straight shea butter. Disaster. Now on 50% dried hair I add a Shea Mix only. No leave-ins. Once dried i couldn't beleive how light, smooth and non-greasy my hair was. A first for me.

I know I mentioned I only wear braid-outs but for the last 2 days I have worn my braids 'out' for the first time ever. Not bothered to undo them as they actually look good. It's a miracle!! My hair is not fuzzing and they are hanging. When I used to style on soaking wet hair my hair would shrink up something crazy.
 
Last edited:
faithVA said:
I have been where you are. And my experience was similar. :bighug:

See if you can keep it simple and work on your regi one step at a time: Cleansing, Conditioning, Leave-in/Moisturizing, Styling.
Click to expand...

faithVA, that is what I am doing...this weekend's wash session was a little better. I did do a protein treatment and a moisturizing treatment.

My leave in and sealer of choice was off....probably my leave in more so than anything.. :ohwell:

I used hemp seed butter to seal, which I think would have been a good idea if I had a better leave in underneath. But as I suspected, my hair reacted better with no glycerin or aloe vera high on the list in my leave in products.

I can say that I'm confident and happy about the direction my hair is going :yep:

Just have to be patient.

Thank you for being so supportive! You have been great! :yep:
 
Arian said:
@faithVA, that is what I am doing...this weekend's wash session was a little better. I did do a protein treatment and a moisturizing treatment.

My leave in and sealer of choice was off....probably my leave in more so than anything.. :ohwell:

I used hemp seed butter to seal, which I think would have been a good idea if I had a better leave in underneath. But as I suspected, my hair reacted better with no glycerin or aloe vera high on the list in my leave in products.

I can say that I'm confident and happy about the direction my hair is going :yep:

Just have to be patient.

Thank you for being so supportive! You have been great! :yep:
Click to expand...

Aw Shucks :blush: -- You're Welcome. I'm glad that things are progressing. I know it's frustrating at times.
 
We shall see if I struggle after this.

Working my butt off this gorgeous Sunday (from home obviously). Decided it would be a great time to have wash day and let the DC sit for a few hours as I work. Also making an experiment:

-As my 'clarifyer' using the SM Purification Masque. Decided to add more bentonite clay from my stash. Lots of bentonite clay. It's like a paste on my head! Will see how this finicky hussy responds...

-Then cowash with my fake Wen

-DC with AO Blue Camellia

-Blow-out and dry twist

PS: Noticed more SSks. Last week I was lax with the grease/oils on my wash and go. She told me! Will hold out on the scissors til my regular dusting day in 3 weeks
 
fairyhairy said:
Great! Thank you :) so what difference has it made to your hair?
Click to expand...

Do you mean the SAA's? It's supposed to support the hair in absorbtion/rentention of moisture. It doesn't harden the hair like 'regular' protein, which my hair hates. I have had the jar for a long time but only used it once along time ago. I'm planning on mixing it into my dc everytime.
 
I straightened my hair last week. I don't know if I should henna, gpb, or dc. I might even have some curl junkie curl repair stuff.
 
Had my first success today with a leave-in mix. I mixed Taliah Waajid Mist Bodifier with equal parts of AVG and saturated my hair with it while wet. I sat under my heat cap for about 15 minutes and reapplied. Then I twisted my hair and applied some to each section. I didn't take my twist out yesterday. Yesterday evening I put more mix on my hands and moisturized the twists again and baggied for an hour. Then I did the GHE method overnight. Today my hair is soft and moisturized. I will have to see if this last all day.

My hair feels nice but it looks like nothing more than a fro, even though I put in a lot of twists. So it didn't give me any definition at all. :ohwell: Will work on one step at a time.

At least now I have something to compare other leave-ins to.
 
HanaKuroi said:
I straightened my hair last week. I don't know if I should henna, gpb, or dc. I might even have some curl junkie curl repair stuff.
Click to expand...

What do you ladies recommend? :) I really don't know.

I pressed my hair and used some sort of shine serum. Grapeseed oil, coconut oil, jojoba, and palm and it had essential oils. It was a janelle's beauty product that was in my stash.

I am not sure if I am supposed to add lots of moisture or some light protein. I don't remember what to do after pressing.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Struggling with your relaxed hair? COME ON IN.....
2 3
Replies
71
Views
19K
InBloom
I
M
HAIR DENSITY: Natural vs. Relaxed.
Replies
29
Views
5K
havilland
havilland
T
Struggling With Dry Hair...please Help!
2 3 4
Replies
116
Views
19K
trueheartofgold
T
naptrl
Rollersetting Natural Hair-HOW?
Replies
10
Views
1K
CICI24
C
Endlesslegs
Extremely dry, hard to cornrow 4c natural hair
Replies
24
Views
10K
SunRai Naturals
SunRai Naturals
Back
Top