Frustrated, giving up CG, maybe?

Syrenah

I have been CG since November, and my hair looks exactly the same.

I have super long hair, 2b, I think. A better cut might show that it's 3a. Coarse, medium porosity (damages easily) and normal to low elasticity.

I wash with Suave Green Apple co. I use [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Hair-Cleansing-Cream-p-103.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-hair-cleansing-cream]Jessicurl HCC[/buylink], and either Terax Crema or Biolage Conditioning Cream. My leave in conditioner is Lustrasilk Olive Oil, and I use Jessicurl RR and CC together. I have also tried [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink] and [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today-p-207.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-knot-today-leaveindetangler]KCKT[/buylink], and they are okay, but maybe I didn't use enough or too much.

I don't want to spend a fortune trying products that don't work.

Here are some pictures I have of my hair.

Before CG


After CG




Help? Advice? Thanks.

bedhead

Hey, no brilliant advice here.
My no-poo experience hasn't been as dramatic as some posters here, so I sympathize. After four months, my hair looked a lot like it did before I stopped shampooing.
Three things kept me going. First, worst case scenario, my hair looked exactly like it had before but it cost me about 1/20th what it had before... Second, it took me a while to completely give up non-CG products that I had sitting around. I could always blame them for poor results! And, finally, my hair was so long I thought it might take a while to see real progress.
Of course, when I went completely CG, I still didn't see a jaw-dropping difference.
Ultimately, I cut off about half my length. That was the first OMG hair day I've had in years (at least without a good stylist armed with a super flat iron).
The hardest thing thing for me is that there is no absolute formula that works perfectly every time.
As for cutting down the cost of finding the right stuff, I've pretty much forced myself to buy the smallest size available of any new product. Then I use ALL of it before I make a decision about effectiveness.
There were so many different products suggested on this board, I started with the cheapest AND most frequently mentioned in my very unofficial scan of signatures... For me, that was the Suave Coconut, Garnier Triple Nutrition, and the Herbal Essence mousse.

Morgan_Adcock

I don't know all the products you mentioned, and my connection is flakey, so I'm not finding their ingredients lists either. But I've got to say that your hair looks like it's got cones on it. I think one or more of your products may have hidden cones. The Suave Naturals conditioner, the Jessicurls products, Biolage Conditioning Balm, and Kinky Curly products are fine. But I think it might help to thoroughly read the ingredients lists on the Terax Crema and the Lustrasilk Olive Oil. The big reason those of us who've gone CG don't use products with cones is that non-sulfate poos don't remove them, and neither do the mild surfactants in conditioners. As a result, your hair dries out (and may look oily) -- and that causes frizz.

I'm also kind of confused, because it reads like you're using some products together (like the Suave Naturals Conditioner as a co-wash/no-poo[and/B] the Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream) which would normally be either/or.

I'd say you need to go back to basics after clarifying. First do a baking soda wash with 1 tablespoon of baking soda in water or in your Suave Naturals conditioner as a co-wash. Then follow up by rinsing with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water (or 2 in 2, considering the amount of your hair), which will counter the alkalinity of the baking soda, and restore your hair to a normal or close to normal pH.

Then apply your Biolage Conditioning Balm, comb your hair really well to get any loose hair out (which will also cut down on frizz), and rinse. If you feel you really need a leave in conditioner, you can add a little more of the BCB back in or apply KCKT. After that apply either JCRR and JCCC or KCCC, let it get sucked up into your hair, then scrunch.

HTH

kellygreen49

Morgan_Adcock wrote: »

I don't know all the products you mentioned, and my connection is flakey, so I'm not finding their ingredients lists either. But I've got to say that your hair looks like it's got cones on it. I think one or more of your products may have hidden cones. The Suave Naturals conditioner, the Jessicurls products, Biolage Conditioning Balm, and Kinky Curly products are fine. But I think it might help to thoroughly read the ingredients lists on the Terax Crema and the Lustrasilk Olive Oil. The big reason those of us who've gone CG don't use products with cones is that non-sulfate poos don't remove them, and neither do the mild surfactants in conditioners. As a result, your hair dries out (and may look oily) -- and that causes frizz.

I'm also kind of confused, because it reads like you're using some products together (like the Suave Naturals Conditioner as a co-wash/no-poo[and/B] the [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Hair-Cleansing-Cream-p-103.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-hair-cleansing-cream]Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream[/buylink]) which would normally be either/or.

I'd say you need to go back to basics after clarifying. First do a baking soda wash with 1 tablespoon of baking soda in water or in your Suave Naturals conditioner as a co-wash. Then follow up by rinsing with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water (or 2 in 2, considering the amount of your hair), which will counter the alkalinity of the baking soda, and restore your hair to a normal or close to normal pH.

Then apply your Biolage Conditioning Balm, comb your hair really well to get any loose hair out (which will also cut down on frizz), and rinse. If you feel you really need a leave in conditioner, you can add a little more of the BCB back in or apply [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today-p-207.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-knot-today-leaveindetangler]KCKT[/buylink]. After that apply either JCRR and JCCC or [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink], let it get sucked up into your hair, then scrunch.

HTH

I really agree with Morgan, I think that'd be the perfect procedure. You look either overconditioned or your hair has surface frizz from cones. You could also have a protein problem with one of those products. If the baking soda and ACV doesn't work for you after, maybe you need to low poo every once and awhile (like 1x a week or 1x every couple weeks). Could simply be product choices too. Also, how's your water? Hard or soft? Hard water gives me odd build up. And soft water can give me some surface frizz if not using the right *kind* of moisture. Odd stuff.

KurleeEdna

KellyGreen - I love your hair!

And, yes... I agree with all of the above suggestions before giving up.

Syrenah

Thanks to everyone, especially Morgan.

I took your suggestions, and they WORKED! I don't SEE any cones in the Terax or Lustrasilk, but I didn't use them. I think my hair was overmoistured in a bad way.

I am now using coconut oil the day before I wash, as a deep conditioning treatment. I couldn't believe that it washes out with just conditioner, but it DOES. It gives me those clumps I LOVE, and it makes my hair very soft. Also, it doesn't feel like I need to condition more when I wash.

The baking soda wash was weird, so I'll research on how often that should be done, and when. I never paid this much attention to my hair, but it made my hair feel like it had LESS slip, and unmanageable. It was AMAZING how the ACV rinse completely changed the feel of my hair, too. The slip came back, and my hair felt better than normal, and maybe it will be more resistant to damage.

I was really on the verge of quitting this, and I'm glad I followed your suggestions and support.

I did have a WOW moment for the first time and I'll take pictures to show you. I have curls EVERYWHERE, and VOLUME! Still have a little frizz at the very front of my hair line, and the nape of my neck, though. Don't know what to do about THAT yet, but I'm very pleased and encouraged now.

Thank you all so very very much!!!

emthefantastical

Syrenah wrote: »

Thanks to everyone, especially Morgan.

I took your suggestions, and they WORKED! I don't SEE any cones in the Terax or Lustrasilk, but I didn't use them. I think my hair was overmoistured in a bad way.

I am now using coconut oil the day before I wash, as a deep conditioning treatment. I couldn't believe that it washes out with just conditioner, but it DOES. It gives me those clumps I LOVE, and it makes my hair very soft. Also, it doesn't feel like I need to condition more when I wash.

The baking soda wash was weird, so I'll research on how often that should be done, and when. I never paid this much attention to my hair, but it made my hair feel like it had LESS slip, and unmanageable. It was AMAZING how the ACV rinse completely changed the feel of my hair, too. The slip came back, and my hair felt better than normal, and maybe it will be more resistant to damage.

I was really on the verge of quitting this, and I'm glad I followed your suggestions and support.

I did have a WOW moment for the first time and I'll take pictures to show you. I have curls EVERYWHERE, and VOLUME! Still have a little frizz at the very front of my hair line, and the nape of my neck, though. Don't know what to do about THAT yet, but I'm very pleased and encouraged now.

Thank you all so very very much!!!

i'm so glad you're having better results now!! stick with it! it's just all trial and error, which makes it frustrating, but keep up the good work!

Morgan_Adcock

Glad that helped!

There's really no need to do a DS/ACV unless you seem to have buildup that you just can't shift with low-poo; and I don't recommend doing it otherwise. Co-washing and low-pooing are much gentler to your hair.