Questions For Elle About Hair..HELP!
*Marah*
Registered Users Posts: 8,032 Curl Neophyte
in Hair Type 4
Hi Elle,
I decided to make a thread because someone lurking may want to know too. I'm having some issues with my hair..yes.. I know Marah has a problem with her hair.. :goofy:
Okay.. I just started about 2 months (?) actually trying to use "real" products instead of the cond+oil only method I've done for eons. So I'm hooked on Shea Moisture currently. I just do The Smoothie+FOTE or the Curl Milk +FOTE. Let air dry and my normal other stuff..2x week shampoo, co-wash daily, let air dry, or diffuse.
My hair looks okay when I first do it but since I've been using Shea Moisture and the weather has gotten hotter and more humid...IDK something seems off. Like my hair seems drier and more prone to frizz after several hours..which just doesn't happen to my hair because of how I care for it. So I'm at a loss.
Here are my questions: How the heck can I get second day hair with these products ? I just haven't been able to acheive it and I'd like to try.
Can you show on your blog (that I love BTW) how you do a wash n go with your longer hair ? Like a really detailed one and show us the end result when it's dry as well. Because now that I'm trying to use products..I'd like to see how you do yours..cause everyone on YT sucks. Well not everyone..but most. And with your blog and videos I can understand clearly what you are saying about products and so forth..unlike a lot of YTers I've watched.
Are Curl Junkie products really worth the money if someone already has staples ? And with my hair properties (long, med-coarse, porous, dense, dye with Natural Instincts 1x month) which would you suggest I try ?
As a side note: My hair responds very well to sealing with oil. I stopped using the oil (can you believe it.. LOL) because of the Shea Moisture. I thought that would be over kill. Do you think that's the problem why I'm getting frizz and poof all of a sudden in conjunction with the weather ?
HHHHHHHHHHHHELP PLEASE! And I'm serious as cancer..cause you know I don't play when it comes to my hair. I don't feel right when I can't get my full Diana Ross on... :evil5:
I decided to make a thread because someone lurking may want to know too. I'm having some issues with my hair..yes.. I know Marah has a problem with her hair.. :goofy:
Okay.. I just started about 2 months (?) actually trying to use "real" products instead of the cond+oil only method I've done for eons. So I'm hooked on Shea Moisture currently. I just do The Smoothie+FOTE or the Curl Milk +FOTE. Let air dry and my normal other stuff..2x week shampoo, co-wash daily, let air dry, or diffuse.
My hair looks okay when I first do it but since I've been using Shea Moisture and the weather has gotten hotter and more humid...IDK something seems off. Like my hair seems drier and more prone to frizz after several hours..which just doesn't happen to my hair because of how I care for it. So I'm at a loss.
Here are my questions: How the heck can I get second day hair with these products ? I just haven't been able to acheive it and I'd like to try.
Can you show on your blog (that I love BTW) how you do a wash n go with your longer hair ? Like a really detailed one and show us the end result when it's dry as well. Because now that I'm trying to use products..I'd like to see how you do yours..cause everyone on YT sucks. Well not everyone..but most. And with your blog and videos I can understand clearly what you are saying about products and so forth..unlike a lot of YTers I've watched.
Are Curl Junkie products really worth the money if someone already has staples ? And with my hair properties (long, med-coarse, porous, dense, dye with Natural Instincts 1x month) which would you suggest I try ?
As a side note: My hair responds very well to sealing with oil. I stopped using the oil (can you believe it.. LOL) because of the Shea Moisture. I thought that would be over kill. Do you think that's the problem why I'm getting frizz and poof all of a sudden in conjunction with the weather ?
HHHHHHHHHHHHELP PLEASE! And I'm serious as cancer..cause you know I don't play when it comes to my hair. I don't feel right when I can't get my full Diana Ross on... :evil5:
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Comments
What is your dew point?
How are you sleeping on your hair?
Are you touching it a lot?
Are you getting the frizz with the Smoothie, Milk, or both?
Have you tried another gel besides AV gel?
Now...your questions -
1. Second day hair: IMO, second day hair is all about the hold you have the first day + how you sleep on your hair at night. I cannot stretch my hair too much or it loses shape, which is why I stopped pineappling at this length. It's too short to do one loose pineapple, but too long to do several pineapples like I did before because I would mess up my part. I LOVE my Sue Maesta hood. It smushes my hair a bit, but not as much as pantyhose, and it's smushed in its shape, rather than getting smushed all over the place like it would wearing a bonnet or possibly sleeping with it out.
Ex. Nighttime Routine & Refreshing My Wash and Go for Natural Hair « Quest for the Perfect Curl
2. Wash and Go: Okay...lol, I have to laugh at you. I'm sorry! People ask me to do another wng video allll the time (well they did until I made it a FAQ) and I tell them no because I still section my hair, shake, and go. I'm looking into updating my regi though because my hair sits on my shoulders wet now, and I have to kind of lollygag around my place for a little (when I say a little, I mean like...two hours lol) with a bandeau on before I can get dressed so I don't get my clothes wet. If I'm in a hurry I have to diffuse it. I just got one of those Hand Dry Towels that you're supposed to use AFTER you apply products, so if that works I'm going to use that to get drippies out (I super hope it works).
Depending on what I'm using, my sections vary from 6-18 sections. Initially, I was doing a LOT of sections because I was scared that my hair would tangle if I did less, but I've been doing 6-8 and it's been great, which makes me think that my tangles were more from washing my hair altogether rather than applying my products in less sections. The current wng regi has pics of my dry hair and second day hair. Tutorial: Wash and Go (Sectioning) – UPDATE! « Quest for the Perfect Curl Let me know if you have more questions but I really think this one goes over the process thoroughly. Doing thick hair like ours in sections also helps get second day hair because you aren't missing spots that can frizz out. For awhile I was only doing two sections and basically missing the entire underlayer of my hair. Like, if you lifted my hair up there was NO product on it.
3. Curl Junkie: If you already have staples, I say no. I love Curl Junkie to death, but not everyone loves it, and not all of the products have worked for me. I like trying out new things, but if you already have stuff you love that won't potentially damage your hair (like Shea Moisture and AV gel, both of which are some of my staples), I say you're fine.
However, for your hair, you might want to try the Curl Queen, especially if the AV gel isn't giving you enough hold. The Beauticurls LI also has butters/oils, which your porous hair should like. I love the Smoothing Lotion, but if you are having issues with frizz you might need to stay away from glycerin laden products. The Rehab doesn't have glycerin and it might go well with the AV gel...buuuut it is very moisturizing so your hair might get poofy. I usually save this as a LI when my gel is a bit drying (like with Eco Styler).
The fact that you aren't oil sealing probably isn't what is causing you frizz - both of the SM products you mentioned have MORE than enough oil. However, the Smoothie has glycerin, which might contribute to the frizz and the Milk (at least for me) is pretty moisturizing, so that + AV gel (humectant) + humid weather could be making your hair too soft. Have you tried using just oil with your AV gel? I've done that before with a butter or oil and had great results.
I think I just beat you in terms of long posts.
YouTube
The products I am using are the Repair Me, Hibiscus and Banana deep fix, the Cleansing conditioner and the Curl Rehab in strawberry ice cream. I do believe they are worth the price because the products are THICK. I have a heavy hand and am shocked that I have barely put a dent into these jars. HTH
YouTube
I feel dumb asking this since I've been natural long enough to know, but is a sulfate shampoo a clarifier like a clarifying shampoo? Or is that something completely different? Either way I can use my Kinky-Curly Come Clean, I'm just curious. The sulfate shampoo I have actually leaves my hair feeling less stripped than the KCCC. :dontknow:
I think I'll try clarifying tonight though, and then start from square one.
I've been using that LocSoc..but um.. welll..um.. my husband..he...well let's just say it err comes off during the night.
Yes, my whole family touches my hair constantly.
The Smoothie mainly.
Yes, I tried La Bella Lots of Curls with it. My hair had hold but felt dry.
Actually yes.. and I love that look... but I call myself trying to be more like yall and use some darn products. ROFL! But I've always been nervous because I have my method (condit+oil+sometimes the gel). And nothing more which has always worked out so well for me. But hearing and seeing what others (including here on NC) have been saying about product this and product that.. I figured stop being so adamant and give it a try.
Yeah..I don't mind. I love to read and the more details the better for me. But I understand now not everyone is like me so my posts need to be much much shorter from now on.
Thank you for the links and the info ELLE. I'm going to watch them ASAP.
Oh wow.. Tae..you too! :scratch: So what kind of hair do you have.. meaning is it fine, thick, what porosity, density ? Cause if our hair is similiar maybe that's why SM is having a field day with us.. ROFL!
All I know is at first SM was doing me good..then all of a sudden..it got hot..and DDDDDDDDDAYUM. Instead of Diana Ross I was more like Jerry Curl from Hollywood Shuffle when his stuff got dddddddddry and I wilted! Child, I was confessing that I killed Cookie Head Jenkins and I wasn't even round there!
Don't know what I mean.. watch this.. for real.
YouTube - Gimme my Activator, Man
SMDH.
I do shampoo 2x per week and I co-wash daily. But perhaps I need to actually clarify my hair. Because I do notice when I co-wash and I've used SM..I can just tell the SM is still there on my hair. So maybe it's product build up ...
You are funny lol and so was that video clip. As for my hair it is fine, low density and as far as porosity I believe it is normal but I'm not 100% sure it could be high. I tried using the hair milk first and then the smoothie and my hair was just not liking that stuff at all. The only shea moisture product I can use is the original leave in.
I'll send you cookies in the fall when they won't melt in the heat.
http://www.facebook.com/PlatinumPJ
Extremely thick, kinky curls/coils that have a mind of thier own!!!!
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Ain't dat da troof.
Welcome!
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Nom!!! :love10:
Have you ever heard of My Grandma's of New England (or something like that) Coffee Cake? My mom told me it was so good, but I told her I wasn't gonna buy the whole cake from the store and eat the entire thing, so she sent me four slices in the mail - it was soooo good. I love my mommy.
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Although, I've been being really simple with my hair lately and I'm kind of feeling it. For the past few days all I've done daily is rinse my scalp, deep condition and rinse it out and put oil or pomade on my hair. I've mainly been doing it because I've been lazy and after the Enso disaster I grew to be annoyed with my hair. But my hair is responding nicely to it.
Ditto! Though my hair does like leave-in and oils/butters for the most part. I joined that PJ thread and realized I really don't have an issue. I may experiment with one or two new products a season (especially big holiday sales), but I cant think of anything new that most of my existing products don't already do. Winter is my hardest months because of the low dew points and all...
I'm not having issues with SM products yet because spring hasn't showed up yet. Time will tell...
My Fotki!
Below: Typical PS bun
Sent from my SPH-M920 using CurlTalk App
Thick/coarse/low porosity/low elasticity
4a/b cottony/spongy
At war with my indestructible, armadillo hair...MY WILL BE DONE!
This is how I feel as well. I've seen a lot of "natural hair" blogs and watched countless YTer's discussing natural hair this and that.. and I have to say Elle's blog is stellar in my personal opinion. Not only because of the content but because of the CLEAR and CONCISE explanations she gives in language that is articulate but not so damn over the top it's like she's trying to be "MissNaturalHairScienceGuru" (I ain't gonna say no names..ROFL).
And not only that her hair looks fabulous so it's obviously she has a handle on how to care for her own hair properly... cause if I see one more YTer with janky ass hurr trying to tell somebody what the HELL they should use.. I mean I can't. Cause some of these natural YTers some many are all up on..oh no. Some long scraggley ass hair or "good hair" that you can't even take care of well that you fakin the funk with..don't effin impress me.
So you know I'm impressed with Elle cause I don't ask people opinions about MY hair. I'm like Nino Brown when it comes my hair.. "I don't trust a mmmmmmmmmuthhhhf....." LOL!
NC owners.. yall help Elle BLOW UP too..shoot.
+1
Sent from my iPod touch using CurlTalk
Cleanse: SM Moisture Retention or Suave Naturals shampoos
Co-Wash: Suave Naturals, L'Oreal EverCreme or EverCurl
RO/Detangler: Tresseme Naturals:nemo:, GVPCB
Leave-In: SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie, TN, GVPCB
Styler: EcoStyler, GF Pure Clean gel, KCCC
Just discovering my hair likes protein! :dontknow:
:wav:
Thank you Elle for all your help. I really appreciate your time. I think I better head on back to my old method like you and the other ladies suggest. And just have some fun with different gels like I did last time. And I'm going to take your advice and just experiment with various oils and conditioners. I mean I do like the SM line but maybe I better just use that in colder months cause it worked really well for me in colder weather.
And yeah.. I love my wash n gos so doesn't bother me doing my hair everyday. And I don't think they would stay out of my hair even if I asked. But sometimes I'd like to get second day hair.. and with the cond+oil+gel+dryhair+locsoc...I can do it.
((((((((((((((((((THANK YOU ELLE))))))))))))))))))
Still will be following your blog though..I'm in LOVE with Izzy. She's stunning just like her mother (mini Chante Moore)!
Totally.
I've been natural since, like, forever and I learned more from Elle about products and maintenance than from anyone else from NP.con (from 2002) my years of lurking on LHCF, longhaircommunity.com, blackhairmedia.com, NC.com - I could go on.
(Sounds like a Elle infomercial)
My Fotki!
Below: Typical PS bun
Ohhh yeah that's right.. I forgot you and I have similiar hair properties!!! :queen: Well it feels like SUMMER here..will be officially soon! I see I have to just save my SM for the Fall. I'm glad Elle suggested me trying new oils and conditioners.. now I can still have my normal method but also feel like I'm trying new things too like the other ladies here.
Oh and I didn't even think my hair would like butters...cause I tried Shea butter a long time ago and my hair acted weird. Well I whipped some Shea Butter with Macadamian nut oil some months back...my hair LOVED it. So I'm going to try that again too!
You know I didn't think dew points were all that important for me..and I guess they aren't when I use my old method but I see if I use products like SM I'll need to pay attention to them.
My hair texture twin!
My hair does OK with shea butter but only blended with other oils - not so much solo. One balm/butter NEA turned me on to is from Zipporah Beauty. Her butters are thick, but not heavy and easily melt on skin into an oil. I love their Delight My Hair Butter and GF (glycerin free) Green Tea Hair & Body Butter.
My Fotki!
Below: Typical PS bun
You can get all of Elle's tips in this book for just $19.95...........but if you call in the next 5 minutes..we'll throw in a shower comb AND a nail file...for free!!!
Sent from my iPod touch using CurlTalk
Cleanse: SM Moisture Retention or Suave Naturals shampoos
Co-Wash: Suave Naturals, L'Oreal EverCreme or EverCurl
RO/Detangler: Tresseme Naturals:nemo:, GVPCB
Leave-In: SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie, TN, GVPCB
Styler: EcoStyler, GF Pure Clean gel, KCCC
Just discovering my hair likes protein! :dontknow:
:wav:
My Fotki!
Below: Typical PS bun
Lol! Gotta keep them nails tamed! can't be havin em rippin ya curls off while you do ya wash n go's! Lol!!
Sent from my iPod touch using CurlTalk
Cleanse: SM Moisture Retention or Suave Naturals shampoos
Co-Wash: Suave Naturals, L'Oreal EverCreme or EverCurl
RO/Detangler: Tresseme Naturals:nemo:, GVPCB
Leave-In: SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie, TN, GVPCB
Styler: EcoStyler, GF Pure Clean gel, KCCC
Just discovering my hair likes protein! :dontknow:
:wav: