Struggling with your natural hair? Come in here.....
- Thread starter JudithO
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Cruzankink
Well-Known Member
UPDATE: This weekend I did my overnite prepoo using the 'Moisture Drench Method' by adding aloevera whole leaf juice and EVOO to my EVCO. For more info go to "You need a MOISTURE-DRENCHED Pre-Poo?!!" thread. My hair didn't feel anymore moisturize w/ this technique than just using EVCO but it was worth a try. I CW as usual and did a protein treatment followed by a moisturizing DC.
When I first joined this thread I mentioned that after my BC my mom hated my hair and made snide remarks. Then things started changing. First she'd stopped making negative comments. Sometimes she touch it and pull it. Then she started commenting and how good it looks. Now she can’t take her hands of it! My husband and I took her out for her b-day this weekend. I wore my hair in a stretched out twist out. It was big, fluffy and my mama's hands was all over it. She confessed that the BC was a shock and she thought that I would look "country" w/ natural hair. What a difference time, growth and styling makes!
LESSON - Use Ingredients in Moderation: For months I was able to do weekly protein treatments w/o overload. Lately, I can only use protein every 3-4 weeks to minimize adverse effects. I thought my hair was becoming protein sensitive. Now I believe that I’ve added too much quinoa protein in my conditioner. What gave it away was that it started to look like caramel, the color of the quinoa protein.
STRUGGLES: I am noticing that my hair is not responding as well to Giovanni DLI as it used to. Maybe it’s time to try other options…
When I first joined this thread I mentioned that after my BC my mom hated my hair and made snide remarks. Then things started changing. First she'd stopped making negative comments. Sometimes she touch it and pull it. Then she started commenting and how good it looks. Now she can’t take her hands of it! My husband and I took her out for her b-day this weekend. I wore my hair in a stretched out twist out. It was big, fluffy and my mama's hands was all over it. She confessed that the BC was a shock and she thought that I would look "country" w/ natural hair. What a difference time, growth and styling makes!
LESSON - Use Ingredients in Moderation: For months I was able to do weekly protein treatments w/o overload. Lately, I can only use protein every 3-4 weeks to minimize adverse effects. I thought my hair was becoming protein sensitive. Now I believe that I’ve added too much quinoa protein in my conditioner. What gave it away was that it started to look like caramel, the color of the quinoa protein.
STRUGGLES: I am noticing that my hair is not responding as well to Giovanni DLI as it used to. Maybe it’s time to try other options…
Cruzankink
Well-Known Member
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
Uggh - Hair has been feeling so dry lately. Ends have been looking shot too. My hair was doing better since I started cowashing 2x a week, but I've been having a dry spell despite DCing, sealing, etc. I dusted my ends last night and baggied them before going to sleep. I hope that helps some.
HanaKuroi
Well-Known Member
faithVA said:
I did! I used Millcreek Botanicals Tea Tree on my scalp and Millcreek Botanicals Keratin on my length. I really like the MC protein conditioners. My hair is springy. I get those small coils in the back. I want to use the ion but I am against shopping at the Sallys here. I hope I can find it elsewhere. I plan on weekly protein. My hair feels better. I hope I can find the ion soon. I'll make sure to post faithVA
*rant*
I really dislike the Sallys here. They run up on you as soon as you step in the door and try to guess what aisle you are going on and chase you around. And they do this to the yt people too. They should know me by now. I used to spend a lot of money there. The last time I was in there with my kids I almost knocked her down when I turned around. She was that close.
My Korean BSS is very nice. She always told me to wear my natural hair. And she doesn't chase me around.
I can't see any mentions on my IPhone. PM me if it is a must see. Allons y
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
Aww thank you Cruzankink! I'll put another of her hair shots up soon. LOL. the new releasing baggage siggy spoke to me. Thought it was perfect for LHCF
Update on my SSKs: Well, I ended up giving myself a trim, mostly in the crown. Yeaa, my hair is uneven now, but the rest is in great health. It all looked so beautiful after the trim! Nice and thick (for me) and shiny!
I had forgotten when I BC, I didnt want to take it to 1" or a fade. There was still a little color damage I was cutting into with each dusting. So the next couple months will tell. Right now, I've put it in crochet braids again. Will know what's up in another 3 weeks or so...
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
First, glad your mother is making the turnaround! That must feel great!
Second, the Gio DLI is funny. I had the same issues. First, it worked great then it started leaving my hair dry after like 6 months of use. I don't use any LIs anymore. Tried dozens over the years and ends up the same. Hope you find something your hair enjoys, though! Cruzankink
AJellyCake
Well-Known Member
DarkJoy What's your regimen since you don't use leave-ins? Honestly, I kind of feel the same way. I don't use a lot of leave-ins to M&S because they don't usually do anything for my hair. Some do, but a lot just sit there. I feel like cowashing regularly is the only thing that keep my hair from drying out completely.
I'm still trying to figure out my regimen though.
natural2008
Well-Known Member
natural2008
Well-Known Member
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
Lots of women on LHCF have left LIs behind AJellyCake--
for any styles like WnGs, twist outs, etc. most ppl put a LI then oil or styler. I skip the LI part. You can use water to moisten and seal with your favorite product. Done.
I make a concotion of tea and glycerin (in the summer) and keep in a spray bottle. Makes my hair soft w/o build up or drying it out. You can just put (bottled) water in a sprayer and be done with it. lol
Nonie
Well-Known Member
natural2008, you need to say no to drugs. Why didn't you send me a Visitor's message. Gotta put me to shame in public?? What's wrong witchu?
shunta
New Member
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
you crack me up sometimes 
Hairness
Active Member
UPDATE: Two weeks ago I decided to co-wash. I used VO5 Silken experience, then deep conditioned with Jessicurl in the back with some in the front but mainly Shea Moisture Deep Conditioning Masque for 4 hours. I put an oil mix on my hair right after rinsing then my leave in (Giovanni DL) and pomade. None of this helped my hair! I woke up the next day to dry, rough noisy hair. Shea Moisture Deep Conditioning Masque is useless by the way. During the week my scalp itched terribly. It felt like bugs were crawling across it.
I re-moisturized it on Monday night and gave myself a little trim. It helped to keep the ends from sticking together.
I decided to go to Whole Foods and get a real deep conditioner…did this after Qhemet’s deep conditioner was out of stock. I purchased Aurbrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose. I slept in that this weekend. I even workout with it still in my hair the next day. Added that usual oils and leave in. The next day my hair and scalp were bone dry.
My hair continues to break at an alarming rate. Just touching my hair causes hairs to come out. I’ve also lost some of my edges…the whole reason I started this healthy hair journey in the first place.
No matter how many moisturizers, conditioners or oils I put in my hair, the next day, it’s all evaporated! Sealing before or after the leave in conditioner seems to make little difference.
So this weekend, I’m going to do a protein treatment. Nothing heavy but a little more than the Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. I can’t remember the name right now but it’s by Elucence. I will follow up by deep conditioning overnight or many, many hours. Sigh. Trying to get my hair back has taken over my life…I just want to do my hair in one day and wake up with moisturized hair…is that too much to ask? Sigh…
P.S. Please excuse my sporadic postings on this thread, it’s been busy at work and otherwise. Thank you always for your help and assistance.
I re-moisturized it on Monday night and gave myself a little trim. It helped to keep the ends from sticking together.
I decided to go to Whole Foods and get a real deep conditioner…did this after Qhemet’s deep conditioner was out of stock. I purchased Aurbrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose. I slept in that this weekend. I even workout with it still in my hair the next day. Added that usual oils and leave in. The next day my hair and scalp were bone dry.
My hair continues to break at an alarming rate. Just touching my hair causes hairs to come out. I’ve also lost some of my edges…the whole reason I started this healthy hair journey in the first place.
No matter how many moisturizers, conditioners or oils I put in my hair, the next day, it’s all evaporated! Sealing before or after the leave in conditioner seems to make little difference.
So this weekend, I’m going to do a protein treatment. Nothing heavy but a little more than the Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. I can’t remember the name right now but it’s by Elucence. I will follow up by deep conditioning overnight or many, many hours. Sigh. Trying to get my hair back has taken over my life…I just want to do my hair in one day and wake up with moisturized hair…is that too much to ask? Sigh…
P.S. Please excuse my sporadic postings on this thread, it’s been busy at work and otherwise. Thank you always for your help and assistance.
Prettycoach
New Member
Uuurrrggg back to the struggle again smh. Starting to get frustrated a little. My hair doesn't seem like it wants to stay moisturized. First I found out I had low porosity. Then I went on a forum and found out that most of the products I used contained protein. So I started co washing 2x a week with AIA coconut cowash Dc with AIA hydration elation and used AIA leave in. Didn't see a difference really. It would be nice on the first day and dry on the second day. Then I started to back to basics and used kimmaytube's leave in. My hair feels soft but usually is hard or dry by the next day. Smh. The only difference I see in switching is that my hair absorbs and dries quicker now than when I was using protein. The product used to sit on my hair for the whole day almost and not dry. Now it dries in about 3 hrs or less.
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OceanEyes
New Member
Since becoming consistent with my regimen, my hair has become stronger and more moisturized. However, it's been four months and my hair is still the same length (which is also the length it's been since a year or two ago) and my ends have not improved, even with trimming. Whenever I trim, I usually take off 1/8" to maintain but even when I took off an inch, my ends would look the same a month or so later. I don't see any breakage, though. I don't know what else to do. It's like, in theory, I should have healthy, long hair but in reality, no.
HanaKuroi
Well-Known Member
Prettycoach said:
I do not like AIA products. I also don't use leaveins. I am not sure what thy are supposed to do. Whatever they are supposed to do, they didn't "do" anything to my hair!
faithVA has low porosity I believe.
I can't see any mentions on my IPhone. PM me if it is a must see. Allons y
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=342565 said:
You have made some progress. I know it's rough. You may want to lay off products with coconut oil for right now until you can figure out your regi. Coconut oil can absorb into your strands and keep water from getting in. We low porosity ladies have so little space we want to get as much water in as possible. If that is all you have than go for it. But just keep that in mind when buying products until you are sure your hair likes coconut oil.
After your rinse out your DC (presuming that you do), don't towel dry or touch your hair. Baggy for 15 minutes, under a heat cap if you have it. Then apply your kimmay tube.
I'm not going to promise you days and days of moisture. You have low porosity hair so if you make it through 24 hours with moisture you are good. If you get 48 that's even better.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=345965 said:
So is your hair not growing or are you not retaining. You have to figure out which one. The probability is that you aren't retaining, which means its breaking and you aren't detecting it.
My ends look raggedy a week after I trim so I am familiar with that. But I also know that I am not retaining all of my hair.
What is your regimen?
faithVA
Well-Known Member
Prettycoach
New Member
Thank you. I will look into products with no coconut oil to see if that makes a difference. Unfortunately I don't have a heating cap. I can just do it the old fashion way. Lol.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=342565 said:
The old fashion way will work. Just baggy for 15 minutes. I read an article which stated it would take that long for the hair to absorb as much water as it can.
I have been doing it for a month or so and it definitely has helped. I can't go a week but I can get a good 48 hours of moisture. I use the LOC method after I baggy. I apply apricot oil and then a leave-in or moisturizer.
Try what you have with the baggying and see how it works. My hair was meh with the AIA cowash. But it did seem to like the leave-in. I didn' try the DC. I do have the gel. My hair seems to like that.
OceanEyes
New Member
I guess retention is the issue. My hair is fine. I try to be consistent with everything on a day-to-day basis but I get kinda lazy.
Cowash at least 3x/week
DC weekly
Protein whenever needed - every 2 - 3 weeks (same w/shampoo)
Moisturize & seal at least 3x/week (this past week I've been using only avj & coconut oil)
I've been bunning for a few months.
czyfaith77
Well-Known Member
Not struggling too much anymore....I have found a great stylist who does well with natural hair. I go to her once a month for a blowout. With her a trim is a trim. She is careful with my hair and her products are good. When she is finished it looks like I have had a fresh relaxer. All I do to maintain it is use Fantasia Frizz Buster serum and pin curl at night. I have not seen any broken hair and very minimal shedding. I will continue to do this until... I may go to twists and twist outs for the summer. I prefer to keep it simple.
Product I do want to try Qhemets Olive and Amala heavy cream...
Product I do want to try Qhemets Olive and Amala heavy cream...
Hairness
Active Member
@faithVA: I used Mehandi henna from the Henna for Hair people. I think I read that entire thread before I tried my first henna. I haven't been there since this happened though. I'll give them a try.
The highlighted!!!!! I think you have something here!! I’ve never thought that coconut oil was moisturizing. I’ve seen so many raves about coconut oil and how good it is for your hair and mainly the moisturizing properties. However, my hair felt hard, oily and I darn near gagged at the smell.
The homemade pomade that I make has coconut oil in it! It has other great stuff but it has coconut oil too! The last couple of times that I made it, I was a little heavy handed with this oil. Maybe this is preventing my hair from becoming moisturized (as opposed to not retaining moisture.) Maybe my hair never was fully moisturized in the first place! I don’t know but I will go home and cut the daily stuff I’m using with the shea butter mix. It also has coconut oil but not as much.
On a positive note, when I took my hair down yesterday, it felt soft. It was very oily and there were still some rough spots but for the most part it was soft, like old times. The hairs on my hairline and the ends of my twist madw little curls too. This is encouraging!
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faithVA
Well-Known Member
faithVA: I used Mehandi henna from the Henna for Hair people. I think I read that entire thread before I tried my first henna. I haven't been there since this happed though. I'll give them a try.
The highlighted!!!!! I think you have something here!! I’ve never thought that coconut oil was moisturizing. I’ve seen so many raves about coconut oil and how good it is for your hair and mainly the moisturizing properties. However, my hair felt hard, oily and I darn near gagged at the smell.
The homemade pomade that I make has coconut oil in it! It has other great stuff but it has coconut oil too! The last couple of times that I made it, I was a little heavy handed with this oil. Maybe this is preventing my hair from becoming moisturized (as opposed to not retaining moisture.) Maybe my hair never was fully moisturized in the first place! I don’t know but I will go home and cut the daily stuff I’m using with the shea butter mix. It also has coconut oil but not as much.
On a positive note, when I took my hair down yesterday, it felt soft. It was very oily and there were still some rough spots but for the most part it was soft, like old times. The hairs on my hairline and the ends of my twist madw little curls too. This is encouraging!
Sounds like you are ready for a comb back. Yeah what others rave about, us low porosity girls are like
erplexedSunflower oil and apricot oil have been good to me so far. I have tried a lot of oils but those two seem to work whether my hair is in good shape or not. I have relegated most oils to after shower oils
I don't think a little coconut oil will hurt. It really depends on formulation.
