Water does not seem to do my hair any good

[StillGrowing]

Maybe my hair need more training, but for some reason, every time I wash my hair it ends up thick, hard to comb and feeling dry and brittle. I got a relaxer two weeks ago, and yesterday my hair was feeling just fine. It was soft, easy to comb and there was hardly a frizz in sight. But when I washed it for the first time after the relaxer, it look like a big unmanageable frizz ball. (Yea, it took me two weeks but I'm afraid to wash my hair too soon because every time I do, it seem to revert back to the way it was pre-relaxer. I just wanted to enjoy my relaxer as long as I could lol)

What I did was wash with Pantene Relaxed and Natural shampoo and conditioned with the same brand. Then I used some leave in conditioner and heat protector before I got under the dryer for 45 minutes. I didn't wrap it, I just left it straight because I knew if I wrapped it then it'll be hard to undo the wrap after it's dry.

After it dried, I wrapped my hair and went to bed. I didn't use any products then or when I woke up to style my hair because I felt like the conditioner was enough. When I put my fingers through my hair, I can tell I have conditioner on (it comes off on my hand) but my hair does not feel soft and silky. Instead it feels like I have a brillo pad for hair. Very tight and kinky and hard to untangle.

Did I leave out a step?

 

[JustKiya]

How often do you DC? How often do you clarify? Lye or no-lye relaxer? Do you have hard water? Have you tried avoiding silicones?
It's gotta be something that is going on during your wash that's changing how your hair feels........

 

[wheezy807]

Definitely sounds like you need more moisture. Maybe that leave in conditioner is not enough, you probably need moisturizer also. How often do you clarify?

 

[StillGrowing]

@ Justkiya: Is deep conditioning when you use a deep moisturizing conditioner instead of regular conditioner after washing your hair, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wash it out? If so, I hardly ever do that. I don't know what clarifying means. I used Creme of Nature Lye relaxer. Don't know what hard water means. I washed under my shower lol. And silicone? Not sure. I'd have to look at the ingredients of my products.

@ Wheezy: I used a leave in conditioner. It's called Silk Elements, now that I remember the name.

 

[Neith]

Maybe my hair need more training, but for some reason, every time I wash my hair it ends up thick, hard to comb and feeling dry and brittle. I got a relaxer two weeks ago, and yesterday my hair was feeling just fine. It was soft, easy to comb and there was hardly a frizz in sight. But when I washed it for the first time after the relaxer, it look like a big unmanageable frizz ball. (Yea, it took me two weeks but I'm afraid to wash my hair too soon because every time I do, it seem to revert back to the way it was pre-relaxer. I just wanted to enjoy my relaxer as long as I could lol)

What I did was wash with Pantene Relaxed and Natural shampoo and conditioned with the same brand. Then I used some leave in conditioner and heat protector before I got under the dryer for 45 minutes. I didn't wrap it, I just left it straight because I knew if I wrapped it then it'll be hard to undo the wrap after it's dry.

After it dried, I wrapped my hair and went to bed. I didn't use any products then or when I woke up to style my hair because I felt like the conditioner was enough. When I put my fingers through my hair, I can tell I have conditioner on (it comes off on my hand) but my hair does not feel soft and silky. Instead it feels like I have a brillo pad for hair. Very tight and kinky and hard to untangle.

Did I leave out a step?

There are many culprits.

Doesn't that shampoo have PETROLEUM in it? Vaseline has no place in a shampoo imo You may even have build up from it.

You may need a leave in conditioner.

Do you ever seal the moisture in with oil? I know if I don't put any oil in my hair, a lot of that moisture just evaporates!

 

[JustKiya]

@ Justkiya: Is deep conditioning when you use a deep moisturizing conditioner instead of regular conditioner after washing your hair, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wash it out? If so, I hardly ever do that. I don't know what clarifying means. I used Creme of Nature Lye relaxer. Don't know what hard water means. I washed under my shower lol. And silicone? Not sure. I'd have to look at the ingredients of my products.

Yes, that's what DC'ing is - I asked, because your hair sounds dry. I'd suggest picking up a DC and using it at least every other week.
Clarifying is using a product to remove product buildup that happens over time. The more product that is built up on your hair, the less new products can actually get to your hair (it basically 'seals' your hair), and the - wierder your hair starts to feel. A lot of people clarify with a teaspoon or so of baking soda in their conditioner, and others use a clarifying shampoo product.
Hard water means that your water has a lot of minerals in it, and that can cause mineral build-up and lend to your hair feeling - harsh and dry. You would need to find a chelating product to get rid of that (if you have it - here's a map of hard water areas). One benefit of chelating products is that most of them also clarify.

Good luck - I hope you figure it out....

 

[KrimsonKween]

Still also check out your wrap lotion. I used to use olive oil wrap lotion and it made hair hard after it dried. I now use Paul Mitchell foam pomade and it is so good and leave my hair shiny and soft. Hope all the info helps. Good luck.

 

[StillGrowing]

There are many culprits.

Doesn't that shampoo have PETROLEUM in it? Vaseline has no place in a shampoo imo You may even have build up from it.

You may need a leave in conditioner.

Do you ever seal the moisture in with oil? I know if I don't put any oil in my hair, a lot of that moisture just evaporates!

You must be in my house lol, I actually have a LOT of dandruff (or build up) today. I picked the wrong time to wear black. All I had to do was comb my bangs and bam, the whole shirt is covered with snowflakes. I remember using petroleum jelly when i was younger and getting a lot of build up from it so I stop using it. Thanks for that tip, I need to throw that away ASAP. I only used it because it's a highly recommended brand for women of color. I don't seal the moisture with oil, I know that when I put my relaxer in, it had oil on the side to mix in with the activator liquid. Maybe that's why my hair was soft and silky.

 

[StillGrowing]

Yes, that's what DC'ing is - I asked, because your hair sounds dry. I'd suggest picking up a DC and using it at least every other week.
Clarifying is using a product to remove product buildup that happens over time. The more product that is built up on your hair, the less new products can actually get to your hair (it basically 'seals' your hair), and the - wierder your hair starts to feel. A lot of people clarify with a teaspoon or so of baking soda in their conditioner, and others use a clarifying shampoo product.
Hard water means that your water has a lot of minerals in it, and that can cause mineral build-up and lend to your hair feeling - harsh and dry. You would need to find a chelating product to get rid of that (if you have it - here's a map of hard water areas). One benefit of chelating products is that most of them also clarify.

Good luck - I hope you figure it out....

GREAT advice! Clarifying might be the thing I need. I'll do it next time I wash my hair. Do you know of any good clarifying shampoos? According to the map, I live in a slightly hard water area, so I'm probably good.

 

[Platinum]

Yes, that's what DC'ing is - I asked, because your hair sounds dry. I'd suggest picking up a DC and using it at least every other week.
Clarifying is using a product to remove product buildup that happens over time. The more product that is built up on your hair, the less new products can actually get to your hair (it basically 'seals' your hair), and the - wierder your hair starts to feel. A lot of people clarify with a teaspoon or so of baking soda in their conditioner, and others use a clarifying shampoo product.
Hard water means that your water has a lot of minerals in it, and that can cause mineral build-up and lend to your hair feeling - harsh and dry. You would need to find a chelating product to get rid of that (if you have it - here's a map of hard water areas). One benefit of chelating products is that most of them also clarify.

Good luck - I hope you figure it out....

Wow! I didn't realize I live in a hard water area. My area is listed as "extremely hard". I guess I'll have to pick up some Chelating Poo. Thanks for the info, JK!

 

[JustKiya]

GREAT advice! Clarifying might be the thing I need. I'll do it next time I wash my hair. Do you know of any good clarifying shampoos? According to the map, I live in a slightly hard water area, so I'm probably good.

I don't, actually, since I don't use shampoo....... I'm sure someone will have some suggestions for you, though.

 

[myco]

You must be in my house lol, I actually have a LOT of dandruff (or build up) today. I picked the wrong time to wear black. All I had to do was comb my bangs and bam, the whole shirt is covered with snowflakes. I remember using petroleum jelly when i was younger and getting a lot of build up from it so I stop using it. Thanks for that tip, I need to throw that away ASAP. I only used it because it's a highly recommended brand for women of color. I don't seal the moisture with oil, I know that when I put my relaxer in, it had oil on the side to mix in with the activator liquid. Maybe that's why my hair was soft and silky.

Also, if you can rub your hair over your hands and feel product, that's definitely contributing to the problem. That screams build-up/product residue. Whenever I use a product that has left a film/coating on my hair, my hair always ends up feeling dry and rough.

This is just my personal opinion, but the whole Pantene Relaxed and Natural line sucks. Pantene conditioners smell good and give good slip because of all the silicones, but they've never been very moisturizing for my hair over time.

 

[StillGrowing]

I don't, actually, since I don't use shampoo....... I'm sure someone will have some suggestions for you, though.

Thanks for your help!

 

[StillGrowing]

Also, if you can rub your hair over your hands and feel product, that's definitely contributing to the problem. That screams build-up/product residue. Whenever I use a product that has left a film/coating on my hair, my hair always ends up feeling dry and rough.

This is just my personal opinion, but the whole Pantene Relaxed and Natural line sucks. Pantene conditioners smell good and give good slip because of all the silicones, but they've never been very moisturizing for my hair over time.

I always thought the opposite: If you don't feel anything, then you didn't put in enough. Man, what kind of ladies I grew up with?! Everything they told me about hair was totally wrong ugh.

 

[Eisani]

A reasonably priced chelating poo is ORS Creamy Aloe. Make sure to follow it up w/a moisturizing shampoo as well. Creme of Nature is a good one, if you can find it. Make sure you're washing your hair in one direction, and not piling it on top of your head. Add poo to the scalp only, not all the way down the shaft. This dries your hair out as well. You'll have enough run off when you rinse to get the ends clean. Also double check your leave in to make sure it's not too protein heavy. Sounds like you need all the moisture you can get. I've never been a Pantene fan, even though I bought some of their products this week. I had a stylist tell me when Relaxed & Natural first came out that the products contained too much wax (cones) and could cause excessive dryness and even breakage w/extended use.

 

[StillGrowing]

A reasonably priced chelating poo is ORS Creamy Aloe. Make sure to follow it up w/a moisturizing shampoo as well. Creme of Nature is a good one, if you can find it. Make sure you're washing your hair in one direction, and not piling it on top of your head. Add poo to the scalp only, not all the way down the shaft. This dries your hair out as well. You'll have enough run off when you rinse to get the ends clean. Also double check your leave in to make sure it's not too protein heavy. Sounds like you need all the moisture you can get. I've never been a Pantene fan, even though I bought some of their products this week. I had a stylist tell me when Relaxed & Natural first came out that the products contained too much wax (cones) and could cause excessive dryness and even breakage w/extended use.

I rinse my hair out one way but when i shampoo it, I do the piling thing lol. I'll change that net time. I never knew that you can just apply shampoo to the scalp, I do the whole head of hair because I don't want to miss a spot. Thanks for the advice, this should help me out greatly.

 

[michaela]

If u are having problems with hard water i would Suggest After you Shampoo and Condition Rinse your hair with Bottled water. I do all the time and my hair thanks me for it. Its Much Softer after!

 

[myco]

I always thought the opposite: If you don't feel anything, then you didn't put in enough. Man, what kind of ladies I grew up with?! Everything they told me about hair was totally wrong ugh.

Have you ever rubbed a laundry dryer sheet in between your hands. You can still feel the softener on your hands afterwards. That's the kind of feeling I'm referring to. Once I dry and style my hair, I shouldn't be able to feel anything on it - but it should still be soft and smooth if I conditioned it properly.

Also, make sure you rinse your hair really well. Seperate sections of your hair to make sure the water reaches and doesn't just run over the top. I know sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I miss spots.

I agree with Eisani, ORS is a really good chelating shampoo.