4A/B, Dense, Low Porosity Hair--Need Advice

cupoftea

I chopped off my relaxed hair and am now dealing with natural hair. Not too sure about typing but I suspect I'm 4A/B. I have super low porosity hair and have no idea how to condition it so it doesn't dry out (I live in dry climate of Colorado). Moisture, water and products are no match for my hair shaft--they just sit in bubble form on the hair demanding to be let into the shaft but to no avail. I don't know what products will help my curls to pop, which products will keep hair moisturized or which order to put on the products. Since my hair is short (.5 to 1 inch UNstretched) I wash it everyday so the hair recurls.

Please someone take a moment to give some advice because I don't want to relax my hair again but it looked way better relaxed primarily because I knew how to do it. Now, I am totally clueless and frustrated. I keep buying products and they don't work! I think my natural hair has promise and potential but not without help--your help!

mrzrapp2015

Ok. I've been natural for a year. My hair is a little over 5 inches and I'm a 3c/4a mix. Mostly 4a. I have Lo porosity hair as well. I follow Cynthiaarf on YouTube's regimen of co washing Daily. Also I wash with a sulfate free shampoo weekly to remove products. I deep condition weekly WITH HEAT TO ALLOW THE PRODUCT TO ABSORB. HEAT IS KEY. DON'T rinse your hair like other girls with cold water. They don't have low porosity hair if they do this. Even warming up your conditioners will help as well. Steaming is great. Also look up the baggy method. All these things are great for low po hair. For definition I used eco styler and My co wash mixed with Giovanni direct leave in. APPLY IT ON WET HAIR IN SHOWER AND SHAKE. THIS gives me the best definition. WE have twa still so we can get away with doing this daily for now. Don't forget trims every 4 months! You will end up needing more than you want if you go too long not trimming. LET me know if is works....oh yeah the Co wash I use is VO5 MOISTURE MILKS STRAWBERRY IT'S CHEAP GREAT SLIP AND GREAT DEFINITION. LEAVE IN IS GIOVANNI DIRECT LEAVE IN. SHAMPOO IS DESIGN ESSENTIALS SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO. GOOD LUCK!!! CONGRATS ON YOUR BIG CHOP!!!!!!!

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cupoftea

I tried adding my products to my hair while I am in the shower and that made a huge difference. I am going out to buy all the products you recommended. What do you use when you deep conditioner your hair once a week? Also, do I apply the cowash/giovanni mix first and then ecostyler gel or are both mixed together in your hand and applied at once? Thanks a bunch!

mrzrapp2015

YES applying in the shower works great. You can experiment with applying the products. Co wash first with the vo5 moisture milk strawberry (it's like 89 cents at frys) THEN rinse out. You can leave a little if you want, I do... I enjoy the slip. Then I add a bit of Giovanni direct leave in...it doesn't take much. Then your eco styler gel. Then sometimes if my hair isn't drenched I'll let the water run on my hair for a very quick second and shake my head hard. LOL DON'T GET WHIPLASH As for my deep conditioner I have used different ones. Shea moisture 10 in 1 is great. I've just looked up Giovanni deeper moisture. It's the deep conditioner Giovanni makes I found it online for 15.00 for a LITER!! I'll send you the name of the site. I've heard great things about it. You should be able.to do everything in the shower. Remember don't touch your hair after you get out. Let dry. It will FRIZZ and loose definition of you touch. KEEP me posted on how it works for you. ❤❤❤ Keep that relaxer away from those beautiful strands!!!

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cupoftea

Thank you so much! I think I might be 4a/3c. I don't quite get how the typing works (the photos sometimes aren't helpful, but once I put the product in the shower like you said and let my hair dry I could see all the curls. There's a bit of fuzziness that seems to plague my head so it is like a bouquet of roses in which the roses are the nice curls surrounded by baby's breath that is the fuzzy part. I'm sure once I get the right product combo down I'll be seeing more rose :-P Also once the hair is longer I will better be able to see what I'm working with.

cupoftea

Can you tell me what my curl pattern is? I just got out shower when I thought to ask you. My hair is wet and since it is low porosity the product is just sitting on it :-( if my hair needs to be dry I can upload tomorrow. Thanks!

cupoftea

I thought I replied directly to you but it seems I didn't. I posted about my curl pattern. Can you take a look in this thread at last post for pics and give me your wise diagnosis :-)

mrzrapp2015

Give me a dry pic after you Co wash no product

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mrzrapp2015

They have very cheap hair dryer bones to deep condition and hot oil treat your hair at Sally or online...invest in one...Will help

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cupoftea

Just wanted to let you know that I got the Giovanni direct leave-in finally and it is a miracle! Even better than the low porosity Shea Moisture leave in which I thought was a miracle when I found it a few days ago.

I couldn't find a window of time when I didn't need to leave the house when I could wash my hair without product and let it dry because I always have to go out. It didn't make sense washing at night and letting dry while I sleep because then my hair gets all flattened by the pillow. Anyway, I finally found a link on naturallycurly that explained how to figure out curl pattern so I'm a 4a, but I have come to find out it doesn't really matter the type because it seems porosity is the main factor to figure out.

Thank you sooooo much for your help! Adding product while hair is wet was super helpful. The Giovanni Direct leave-in is now my hair savior! My hair looks great now! Super curly and no effort. I finally feel stabilized and like I can manage my hair.

It was really wonderful that you took the time to explain your experience and offer suggestions. I can't thank you enough!

cupoftea

Just wanted to let you know that I got the Giovanni direct leave-in finally and it is a miracle! Even better than the low porosity Shea Moisture leave in which I thought was a miracle when I found it a few days ago.

I couldn't find a window of time when I didn't need to leave the house when I could wash my hair without product and let it dry because I always have to go out. It didn't make sense washing at night and letting dry while I sleep because then my hair gets all flattened by the pillow. Anyway, I finally found a link on naturallycurly that explained how to figure out curl pattern so I'm a 4a, but I have come to find out it doesn't really matter the type because it seems porosity is the main factor to figure out.

Thank you sooooo much for your help! Adding product while hair is wet was super helpful. The Giovanni Direct leave-in is now my hair savior! My hair looks great now! Super curly and no effort. I finally feel stabilized and like I can manage my hair.

It was really wonderful that you took the time to explain your experience and offer suggestions. I can't thank you enough!

mrzrapp2015

what i tell you it's the BOMB I'm in AZdry heart too.im so happy my tips worked for you

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mrzrapp2015

Dry heat* But I'm so happy you are loving your hair. Seems we have similar hair loves. OUR HAIR MUST BE DISTANT RELATIVES. 😉 STAY IN TOUCH !!!

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_t_a_t_u_m

@cupoftea: I am now having the same experience as you described at the start of your journey. I’d love to hear an update of your journey, products and processes that work for you and how your hair has been in the last year or so