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

[faithVA]

I really don't think I have a moisturizer or sealant for my hair. Didn't know I needed one. Smh.

Now is the time to learn about your hair and what it likes. I can provide suggestions but without really seeing your hair, they are just that.

I agree with Hana Kuroi, put the clarifying shampoo on the shelf. Use a regular shampoo weekly and pay attention to how your hair feels when you shampoo. If it feels stripped or it feels too tangled start to search for a new shampoo.

DC weekly for now. You may find after you start cowashing that you don't need to DC weekly. But start off with a weekly DC.

Apply your moisturizer daily. As you do this you may find that you only need it every othe day or every few days. Listen to your hair. Start to pay attention to the signs that say your hair is dry or that it will dry out by the end of the day. This will help you determine how often you need to moisturize.

Start by using what you have first and with each step see how your hair feels. That will let you know if you need a new product. Switch products out one by one and not at all the same time, starting with your shampoo and working your way down the line.

Keep things simple. Don't over mix because you don't know what ingredients your hair likes yet. With too many ingredients you won't be able to tell what to include or exclude.

My regi - and it does vary because I do it on how my hair feels.
1. Oil my scalp with a blend of oils and essential oils and let it sit for a few hours. This is for my scalp.

2. Prepoo either with diluted conditioner or AVG w/oil. This is for my hair.

3. Shampoo with diluted AO Blue Chamomile shampoo.

4. DC with AO Blue Chamomile under a heat cap for at least 30 minutes.

5. Saturate my hair with a leave-in mixed with AVG. I have a lot I'm testing right now. I sit under my heat cap for 15 minutes. Then I reapply. My hair doesn't absorb product well so it takes a lot and it helps to use heat.

Midweek Cowash
1. Apply diluted conditioner to my hair and let sit for 15 minutes or more.
2. Rinse and cowash with Deva Care One.
3. Apply my leave-in as above.

Midweek Moisture
1. I am still learning the right products and techniques for moisturizing. Right now I take a little water and apply it to my hands and rub it through my hair. Then I saturate my hair with a leave-in mixed with AVG. Some days I have to do this daily but sometimes my hair holds moisture well and I can do every other day.

Sealing - I don't find that sealing works very well for me. Right now I apply a light oil right before I style my hair. Too heavy an oil or oiling to often just makes my hair oily and it still doesn't stay moisturized.

This is my regimen based on my low porosity, medium density, tightly coiled 4b hair.

 

[Prettycoach]

Thanks. This gives me an idea on what I need to do for my hair. Thank u soo much. What is AVG?

 

[faithVA]

Thanks. This gives me an idea on what I need to do for my hair. Thank u soo much. What is AVG?

AVG is Aloe Vera Gel
AVJ is Aloe Vera Juice.

 

[Bublin]

Ladies,
I would like to recommend It's a 10 Leave-in. It does have parabens but doesn't have silicones. It is amazing stuff. I have had the spray for a while and keep going back to it.
I think this is the last piece of the puzzle for me.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Hair Product Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimanium Chloride, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Cyclomethicone, Silk Amino Acids, Heli Anthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extractm Camelia Slnesis Leaf Extract, Quaternium-80, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinane and Methylisothiazolinone.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Hair Product. Adds shine, Seals and protects hair color, De-tangles, Creates Silkiness, Prevents split ends. It's amazingly easy to use. Shampoo and condition hair, towel dry, spray product all over hair and comb through. Blow dry or style as desired. Repairs dry damaged hair. Flat iron spray and thermal protector. 4 ounces.

 

[Ravenhairedbeauty]

Is there a product that defines your curls without making the hair greasy? TIA.

 

[Bublin]

Is there a product that defines your curls without making the hair greasy? TIA.

There is regular gel.
Have you tried Flax seed gel?

 

[Ravenhairedbeauty]

There is regular gel.
Have you tried Flax seed gel?

I've tried aloe vera gel but it dries my hair out. Does flax seed gel do that? Where would i get some of that at? Thanks for answering

 

[HanaKuroi]

Flaxseed gel doesn't dry out my hair and it doesn't flake!

 

[Victoria44]

I truly believed my hair could never feel like it feels today. Sooo soft and moisturized like its a completely different head of hair on my head. I have renewed faith in my hair again!

 

[Cruzankink]

UPDATE: I've been pretty consistent w/ my reggie (midweek: CW 1-3x; weekend: prepoo, CW, DC) but I tweaked it just a little. I going back and forth between overnite coconut oil pre-poo and coconut oil HOT for 45 min under mid-high heat. I haven't noticed a difference in the techniques I just switch up depending on what I'm doing. I've only been doing 1 mid-week CW as oppose to sometimes 3x a week. I'm reducing my CW since my styles are lasting longer and my hair feels better moisturized.

My KHA recommended that I cleanse my scalp w/ low poo at least once a week. Although my HHJ has taught me that poo and my hair don't get along, I decided to at least try... again. I diluted low poo w/ water, used an applicator bottle to apply the mixture to my scalp and as expected my hair felt dry. The last few weeks I've been washing w/ low poo mixed w/ conditioner. My hair did not feel dry but did not feel moisturized either (if that makes any sense). So I broke down from my "no buy" and decided to try SH Purification Masque.

Wow!!! I used it for the first time this weekend and my hair looks and feels fabulous! My scalp feels clean w/ no itching and my hair does not feel stripped. It actually made my kinks coil! I know its the first time using it but I believe this product is going to be my solution for my weeked CW.

OBSERVATION(S): Since I cut the remaining heat damaged hair (I hope) I have not noticed any breakage. Yes... I'm actually looking through my shed hair for signs but I found none. I hope this progress continues.

 

[kristaa.10]

Thanks ladies for your advice a couple weeks ago. I cut out cones and sulfates and I've been baggying every night and have definitely noticed a decrease in breakage.

I just have a quick question: is it normal for my ends to feel rough? I feel like they always are, even after a trim. They aren't split, just rough, even though I baby them.

 

[faithVA]

Thanks ladies for your advice a couple weeks ago. I cut out cones and sulfates and I've been baggying every night and have definitely noticed a decrease in breakage.

I just have a quick question: is it normal for my ends to feel rough? I feel like they always are, even after a trim. They aren't split, just rough, even though I baby them.

I can't be of much help here. My ends are always rough but from what I have read they are not supposed to be.

There have been a few times I have been able to get them to smooth down but I never remember the steps to repeat them.

Hopefully someone else can be of more help.

 

[DarkJoy]

kristaa.10. I'm startimg to accept rough ends! I dust religiously. And when I used to go to the salon they woulf take off hair keeping me above sl trying to mitigate my 'damaged' ends. For 20yrs! I'm thinking this is my texture! I have little breaks but only when its soaking wet which is typical for my fine hair. Just a few like...10...so I don't worry.

Looking at my kid's hair I see it probably our genetic normal. She grows out silky straight for 2 inches and then curls with a little roughness. Mine is curly 1inch at the root then coils tight and roughens towards the ends...its not breaking off so gonna leave it alone.

Maybe wait a cpl inches and see for yourself..

 

[faithVA]

@kristaa.10. I'm startimg to accept rough ends! I dust religiously. And when I used to go to the salon they woulf take off hair keeping me above sl trying to mitigate my 'damaged' ends. For 20yrs! I'm thinking this is my texture! I have little breaks but only when its soaking wet which is typical for my fine hair. Just a few like...10...so I don't worry.

Looking at my kid's hair I see it probably our genetic normal. She grows out silky straight for 2 inches and then curls with a little roughness. Mine is curly 1inch at the root then coils tight and roughens towards the ends...its not breaking off so gonna leave it alone.

Maybe wait a cpl inches and see for yourself..

My hair is similar. The curls bunch up at the ends. I used to think I could cut them away but that never worked. So now I just dust on a schedule and don't worry about the rest.

 

[DarkJoy]

Cruzankink--that SM PM is truly the business! Glad it worked for you too!

 

[Sunbeam]

Thanks ladies for your advice a couple weeks ago. I cut out cones and sulfates and I've been baggying every night and have definitely noticed a decrease in breakage.

I just have a quick question: is it normal for my ends to feel rough? I feel like they always are, even after a trim. They aren't split, just rough, even though I baby them.

This is what I did, it may or may not work for you...I dealt with rough ends about a little over a year ago & couldn't figure out what to do. I trimmed my ends, used a wide tooth comb, extra conditioner/oils on the ends, blew it out , flat ironed, & trimmed...none of it worked for me, in fact my ends didn't look uneven or damaged they just felt rough. What worked for me was the tangle teezer. After detangling with conditioner & a wide tooth comb, I carefully ran it through my ends & was fortunate enough that the tangle teezer didn't cause split ends or breakage & my ends were no longer rough.

 

[faithVA]

Sunbeam[/USER];16904013]This is what I did, it may or may not work for you...I dealt with rough ends about a little over a year ago & couldn't figure out what to do. I trimmed my ends, used a wide tooth comb, extra conditioner/oils on the ends, blew it out , flat ironed, & trimmed...none of it worked for me, in fact my ends didn't look uneven or damaged they just felt rough. What worked for me was the tangle teezer. After detangling with conditioner & a wide tooth comb, I carefully ran it through my ends & was fortunate enough that the tangle teezer didn't cause split ends or breakage & my ends were no longer rough.

Girl you trying to start a war? I'm kidding Sort of.

 

[HanaKuroi]

*runs into thread*

Noooooooooooooooooooo

Tangle

Teaser


I am too tired to say more at this time. Don't use the tangle teaser.

 

[faithVA]

*runs into thread*

Noooooooooooooooooooo

Tangle

Teaser


I am too tired to say more at this time. Don't use the tangle teaser.

Ok. Everyone take a couple of deep breaths. Count to 10. Good. As you were

 

[Sunbeam]

Definitely not trying to cause any problems or setbacks for anyone. It just happened to work for me, so just wanted to mentioned what worked.

 

[faithVA]

Definitely not trying to cause any problems or setbacks for anyone. It just happened to work for me, so just wanted to mentioned what worked.

I know you aren't. You haven't been here long enough to know about the tangle teezer controversy. It is one of those things on this board that comes with a lot of heated discussion.

It does work for some of us. I do agree with you on that.

 

[DarkJoy]

If she means her ends arent tangled but the texture of each strand towards the end feels rough, then that's different anyway, I suppose. It's a texture issue which really can't be changed. At least not without chemicals (relaxers, texturizers, etc).

 

[HanaKuroi]

Definitely not trying to cause any problems or setbacks for anyone. It just happened to work for me, so just wanted to mentioned what worked.

I was acting extra. Sorry. I really hate that thing. I loved it so at first. The damage wasn't apparent at first. I had midshaft splits. My hair felt so smooth. Then months later I saw the damage. There are some of us that swear by it and those of us that curse it.

Guess which one I am?



Sunbeam

 

[DarkJoy]

*peeks back in nervously* lol Those of you from the TWA thread already read about my recent luck with the water filter. Posting here...Sorry to be redundant, but maybe it can help someone here too!

I wrote in the TWA support thread about the massive hair boost I got this week when I added a filter to my showerhead. I can't rave enough about how my hair feels softer. I know I have hard water because in a bathroom here that's not really used the water line in the toilet turns rusty after 4 days if I don't keep it scrubbed. Also, you can smell the chlorine as the water runs in the tap.

There's almost no tangles, my 'fro doesn't draw down to my scalp like it did just at the beginning of last week! It's fluffy and even bounces a bit (before I put in product). NEVER had that before! I haven't even clarified out the chlorine and minerals yet, but will do so now.

BTW, the model is called Sprite. It's an add on attachment to your existing shower head. Only $20!

Today will be a start from "scratch" with a chelate/clarify with my Mane and Tale clarifying shampoo. I'll use the SM purification masque to mix with that shampoo. It's worked in the past to not make it so stripping. I'll then tea & oil rinse and DC with SM Deep Treatment for a cpl hrs. This is not much of a difference from my usual--I just only oil rinse ever 1x a month or so.

I'll update with how my hair feels after a full chlorine removal and wash with chlorine-free water!

 

[fairyhairy]

well I am 100% sold on finger detangling with conditioner, co washed today and had very little breakage, I also notice that my hair want to do certain things so finger detangling has allowed it to clump the way it should

 

[Sunbeam]

I know you aren't. You haven't been here long enough to know about the tangle teezer controversy. It is one of those things on this board that comes with a lot of heated discussion.

It does work for some of us. I do agree with you on that.

Thanks for understanding

 

[Sunbeam]

I was acting extra. Sorry. I really hate that thing. I loved it so at first. The damage wasn't apparent at first. I had midshaft splits. My hair felt so smooth. Then months later I saw the damage. There are some of us that swear by it and those of us that curse it.

Guess which one I am?



Sunbeam

I understand

 

[kristaa.10]

Seriously, I love y'all! Thanks for helping me get my hair together.
I figure it may just be the way my hair is. I probably won't try the tangle teaser because when I use my blow dryer with a comb attachment I get mid strand splits. Combs are the devil lol

 

[DarkJoy]

Invest in a seamless comb. Expensive as far as what we're used to spending on combs. But I havent noticed any midshaft splits since I got one.

 

[Krystle~Hime]

My hair shrinks to 80%. No lying.
And short hair doesn't suit me
I tried braid, I tried threading/banding. It shrinks. I have a full apl head of hair and can't do nothing with it