When do I moisturize?

WatsonsMommy

At what point or phase of my hair regime do I moisturize? So confused! So many products, so many instructions?

NatrulyMe

WatsonsMommy wrote: »

At what point or phase of my hair regime do I moisturize? So confused! So many products, so many instructions?

Hi, WatsonsMommy. Welcome to NC. I am new to this site myself. Anyways, I do not know your hair type, porosity or density, but you can moisturize daily. I have an applicator bottle that I used to spray my hair daily (spritz). It is filled with 1/3 cup of aloe vera juice and the rest is water. I also co-wash my hair at least 2-3 times out of a week (wash my hair with a moisturizing conditioner or co-wash product). Also, I deep condition my hair every time after I clarify my hair (w/shampoo, ACV & water and or bentonite clay) and sealed my hair with oil mix (coconut, castor, avocado & sunflower oils). I admit, I didn't follow a good regimen on my hair since I outgrown my TWA. Now, I am in my awkward stage, so I have to change my routine and products. I hope this helps. If not, I am sure somebody else can help with their recommendations. BTW, protein treatment is a must. More frequently if you have porous hair (high porosity hair).

NatrulyMe

Best Brand:
Devacurl, Jessicurl and Kinky-Curly

Best Cleanser:
Devacurl No-Poo, Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream, Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Best Second-Day Hair Product:
Jessicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray, Kinky-Curly Curling Custard and Devacurl Mist-er Right.

Best Daily Conditioner:
Jessicurl Too Shea!, Devacurl One Condition and Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner

Best Leave-In Conditioner:
Kinky-Curly Knot Today, Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Milk and Giovanni Direct Leave-in Weightless Moisture Conditioner

Best Deep Conditioner:
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner, Ouidad Deep Treatment Intensive Conditioner and Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment

Best Styling Mousse:
Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse, Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam and Joico JoiWhip

Best Styling Gel:
Devacurl AnGell, Kinky-Curly Curling Custard and Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets

Best Anti-Frizz:
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard, Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper and Jessicurl Confident Coils

Best Pomade:
Aveda Brilliant Humectant Pomade, Oyin Burnt Sugar and Jane Carter Nourish and Shine
Best Styling Cream/Pudding:
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding, Kinky-Curly Curling Custard, AG re:coil

Best Product for Braids & Twists:
Oyin Whipped Pudding, Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Milk

Best Natural/Organic Line:
Amourai Organique, Kinky-Curly and Aubrey Organics

CG Conditioners $10.00 or under

Most of the following conditioners can be purchased at a drugstore or a beauty supply store like Ulta. However, those that can only be purchased at a healthfood store have been marked. Please note that I haven't tried all of the conditioners. This list was especially made for newbies who are looking for cheap CG products. If I have missed a conditioner or made a mistake, please tell me!


Key:
C= available at Curlmart
~= modified CG (water soluble cones, amodimethicone, BIS aminopropyl dimethicone)
/=protein
»=can be used as a rinse out also
H=available at a health food store

Activate Hydrating *
Alagio Silk Obsession Silk Smoothing Leave-In Detangler »
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose H
Aussie Aussome Volume Conditioner ~
Aussie Catch The Wave Conditioner ~
Aussie Cleanse & Mend ~
Aussie Hair Insurance Conditioner ~
Aussie Moist ~
Aussie Three Minute Miracle Original ~ (has simethicone at the bottom of ingredient list)
Aussie Sun Touched Shine Conditioner ~
Aussie Sydney Smooth Conditioner ~
Back To Basics Pommegranate **
Burt's Bees More Moisture Raspberry & Brazil Nut Conditioner / H
Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Hair Treatment H
Burt's Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Conditioner H
Burt's Bees Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner / H
Burt's Bees Color Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Conditioner H
Burt's Bees Hair Repair Shea & Grapefruit Deep Conditioner H
Charles Worthington Nourish Rebalancing Conditioner /
Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Super Conditioner
Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Conditioner H
Desert Essence Shea Butter Conditioner / H
Elucence Moisture Balancing / C
Freeman Papaya & Awapuhi High Tide Volume Conditioner
Freeman Papaya & Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Fortifying Conditioner (for Fine Hair)
Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave-in Conditioning Cream »
Garnier Fructis Curl and Shine Leave-in Conditioning Cream »
Giovanni 50/50 Remoisturizer / H
Giovanni Smooth as Silk / H
Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner » / H
Giovanni Tea Tree Tripple Treat Conditioner H
LaCoupe Shine & Smooth Silky Smoothing Conditioner / ~
LaCoupe Color Rescue Color Quench Conditioner / ~
L'oreal Vive Pro Nutri gloss for medium to long hair that's wavy/curly /
L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioning Treatment /
L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Medium-Long Hair that's Damaged / ~
Nature's Gate Organics Grapefruit & Wild Ginger / H
Nature's Gate Organics Persimmon Rose Geranium / H
Nature's Gate Organics Mandarin Orange Patchouli / H
Nature's Gate Organics Asian Pear & Red Tea / H
Nature's Gate Organics Lemongrass & Clary Sage H
Nature's Gate Organics Chamomile and Lemon Verbenda / H
Nature's Gate Organics Tea Tree & Blue Cypress / H
Nature's Gate Organics Lavender & Aloe / H
Nature's Gate Chamomile / H
Nature's Gate Jojoba Conditioner / H
Nature's Gate Herbal Original H
Nature's Gate Hemp / H
Nature's Gate Awapuhi H
Nature's Gate Tea Tree Oil H
Nature's Gate Aloe Vera H
Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner C
Regis Olive Oil Conditioner
Suave Naturals Waterfall Mist
Suave Naturals Lavender Lilac
Suave Naturals Ocean Breeze
Suave Naturals Juicy Green Apple
Suave Naturals Fresh Mountain Strawberry
Suave Naturals Aloe & Waterlilly
Suave Naturals Citrus Smoothie /
Suave Naturals Cucumber Melon
Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying
Suave Naturals Fresh Berry /
Suave Naturals Toasted Vanilla & Sugar
Suave Naturals Coconut /
Trader Joe's Nourish Spa
Trader Joe's Refresh
Trader Joe's Essential Herbal
VO5 Sun Kissed Raspberry
VO5 Tangerine Tickle
VO5 Tea Therapy Calming
VO5 Vanilla Mint
VO5 Tea Therapy Healthful Green Tea
VO5 Passion Fruit Smoothie /
VO5 Strawberries and Cream /
VO5 Honeydew Smoothie /
VO5 Vitaburst Grapefruit Mandarin Splash
VO5 Vitaburst Nectarine Orange Surge
VO5 Free Me Freesia
VO5 Creamy Peaches
VO5 Champange Kiss
VO5 Lavender Luster
VO5 Kiwi and Lime Squeeze
White Rain Extra Body
White Rain Lavender
White Rain Energizing Citrus
White Rain Tropical Coconut
White Rain Ocean Mist
White Rain Apple Blossom
White Rain Fruit Fortifying ~
Zerran Moisture Pak

*-Activate recently announced that it is having a price hike. However, you can still find it for $7.00 at Walgreens. Unfortunately, it will now sell for $20.00

**-Although this conditioner sells for over $10.00, you can get it at many places for less, and Ulta offers many coupons.

Other Conditioner Links:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...ic.php?t=91196
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...ic.php?t=97077
site moved

**ALL INFO IS FOUND FROM NC FROM AN OLD THREAD

NatrulyMe

1. Cowash
What does it mean to cowash? You wash your hair with conditioner. I know it sounds gross, but your hair doesn’t need all the nasty sulfates in your shampoo – they just strip your hair of essential oils =( If you want more convincing, most shampoos contain a sulfate called “sodium laureth sulfate.” What else has this same sulfate? DISHWASHING LIQUID. Know that horrible feeling on your hands if you ever accidentally wash your hands with dishwashing liquid? Now imagine that on a million strands of hair on your head! =( Washing your hair with conditioner is enough. Just be sure to use LOTS of friction so that you “rub out” all the dirt, oil, grime, etc.

2. Baking soda; ACV rinse

A lot of people use baking soda and an ACV (apple cider vinegar; you can also use regular vinegar) rinse to get that “squeaky clean” feeling, and for a naturally clarifying effect. I don’t want to say anything more here that is incorrect, so I’m going to quote some nc.com users

curlymaybe wrote: »

The baking soda is alkaline (as are soap and most shampoos), so you need the acidity of an ACV or citric acid rinse to restore you hair's pH.
(With the baking soda wash and ACV rinse you don't get the volcanic reaction of mixing straight vinegar and baking soda, BTW.)
Here's a recipe from Live Curly, Live Free:

Baking Soda Clarification
With some silicone-based products, clarification must be done to remove the product that builds up over time on the hair shaft. Rather than resort to sulfate-based shampoos to remove this build-up, which can damage and dry the hair, a baking soda cleanse is preferable:

Combine:
1 tablespoon baking soda
3 tablespoons silicone-free conditioner

Apply mixture to the scalp and massage firmly, then continue to massage the mixture down the hair shaft to the ends. Work into hair well. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow IMMEDIATELY with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Note: you MUST follow any baking soda cleanse with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Baking soda is alkaline -- meaning it will raise your cuticle and open up your hair shaft. The apple cider vinegar is acidic and will close your cuticle back down. If you don't follow the cleanse with an ACV rinse, you'll be leaving your hair shaft open and setting yourself up for more frizz than you'd probably like.

3. Honey rinse

I’m not sure exactly where I found this idea/recipe, but I do know that it works! Mix a tablespoon of honey into a cup of water (that’s the ratio, multiply as needed) and pour it on to your hair. Let your hair soak for a few minutes, then rinse to get an extra shot of moisture and shine!

4. Condition – icequeen method

At this point, rinse everything out of your hair, and condition as you usually would. You can try the the icequeen method, created by nc.com user "icequeen."
Here’s the gist of her method:

icequeen wrote: »

I rake a large amt. of conditioner through my hair in the shower, then flip over and scrunch it through until it feels like seaweed and squishes which gets the clumps going. It sits on my hair through the shower routine. I then rinse upside down in cool water and firmly scrunch in a small amt. of conditioner

Here is the link to a thread about her method. There are a few variations, so be sure to check those out

5. The “in-shower” part of your CG routine is now complete - I thought I’d throw this step in there for clarification!


6. Leave in

A lot of people just use their cowash conditioner as a “leave-in” conditioner. Basically, you scrunch a small amount of conditioner into your hair after you're out of the shower. This is step one of your "base coat" (as Rudeechick calls it).


7. Curl cream

This is step two of your base coat. Curl creams promote curl formation and give your curls extra hold. NOTE: If you use a curl cream that has humectants in it, DO NOT use it over your conditioner and skip the leave-in step. If you mix the two, you’ll be left with little white flecks all over your hair – don’t say you weren’t warned!

Side note: here are two articles about humectants – article one and article two.

And here's a post I wrote about humectants and emollients.. good read, IMO!

8. Comb your hair with a fine-tooth comb or a denman.

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but this promotes clumping, for whatever reason! Play around with it though, because it doesn’t work for everyone.

9. Super soaker

Another revolutionary method!! Naturallycurly.com user Rudeechick created this method. Here is the link to the thread and her video!


10. Gel/mousse

This is another experimental realm. Some people like gel, some people like mousse! Search your hair type thread to find out what people with your hair are using

Here is a link to a wildly popular flax seed gel!

11. Plopping/plunking

Another great technique! Here is a link to the how-to article, and here is a link to a great video by Jessie of the Jessicurls brand. Jessie uses a special towel, but you can just use an old t-shirt!

12. Diffuse – pixiecurl method

Another technique! I’m not sure if the user “pixie curl” created this technique, but here is the link to the thread if needed, and here are the general directions:

rejoicingcurlygirl wrote: »

Pixiecurl is a method of drying your hair using a diffuser. You press the diffuser into your hair so the bowl is scrunching your curls, then you turn the dryer on. Before moving the dryer, turn it off. It is a lot of turning on/off, and some do get annoyed/ask if there is something wrong with your dryer, but it keeps your hair from blowing around and helps prevent frizz.

13. For 2nd day…3rd day…etc hair!

Use the pineapple technique to “set” your hair when you sleep at night, and then spray your hair in the morning with a curl spray. (I just use water )

To continue from the quote above…

rejoicingcurlygirl wrote: »

Pineapple is done to dry hair at the end of the day before going to bed. You loosely gather the hair at the very top of your head, and put it in a ponytail. Because it sticks up and flops over your head resembles a pineapple.

In addition! Here are some helpful links

Here is a link to help out with abbreviations that people on this site use.

Here is a link to start out CG on a budget.

Here is a link to the “best of the best” products available!

Here is a ink to some useful curly links.

Here is a link to great summer vs. winter seasonal changes.

Here is a link to a lot of great curly blogs!

Here is a link to the Spritz and Condish Method!

Here is a link to an article about dew points - veryyy important when it comes to styling!

** ALL INFO IS FOUND FROM NC FROM AN OLD THREAD

WatsonsMommy

Gotcha. The variations of methods, products, steps are all based on probability so it seems! One of my steps is in fact moisturizing, I just didn't know it was called that!! I have 3b, fine.

Thanks, Gina

Reservechic

The usage of a moisturizer in ones hair can be done on ones hair wash day, before they apply their styler or one can also choose if needed to apply a leave in moisturizer to their hair inbetween their hair wash says as needed. There are lightweight moisturizers (such as moisturizing lotions or milks) and then there are heavier moisturizers (such as medium textured moisturizing creams or heavy creams which are the most moisturizing). Is the use of a moisturizer needed in every curlies regimen? No. You simly go by what your hair tells you, and if you see that a leave in moisturizer is needed, then buy and try one at a time, so that way you can tell just how effectively it works for your hair of not.

Also, don't allow for yourself to become overwhelmed, when it comes to putting together a good haircare regimen. No one can provide any guarantees on what will work best for your hair product wise, or even say for a fact which brands are the absolute best when it comes to managing naturally textured hair. The reason why is simple? None of our hair is genetically the same or has the very same exact hair needs as any other person on this earth.

Also, when it comes to protein, our hair is made up of 91% protein (keratin protein to be exact). So, therefore, our hair doesn't regularly need a whole lot of protein used on it, because that will lead to protein overload. One should use recommended protein treatments or reconstructors or any products that contain a large amount of protein in them, in order to repair, re-strengthen and bring ones hair's protein balance back up to par, only after ones hair has undergone a process that ends up badly depleting ones hairs' protein. Such major protein depletion ordinarily happens when one has their hair chemically relaxed, chemically texturized, chemically curly permed, gotten a BKT or any other professional salon straightening treatment. Depletion of protein in ones hair can also happen as a result of mechanical damage to ones hair.

I have a naturally loose curl pattern, very dry, fine textured, low density, and high porosity hair. No, I can personally say that just because I do have high porosity hair. My hair doesn't crave protein treatments at all, as most protein treatments wreak havoc on my hair. Which is why, I currently do not use any within my regimen. And, my hair is thriving well. As, your hair will never lead jou wrong, which is why, it's my hair that I look towards letting me know what ingredients it loves and which it hates, and the same definitely goes for products.

Just take things one step at a time and see what ends up working best for you hair. And, when you find such, definitely keep using it! Because consistency is very key towards having the best looking curls that you can. Also, be sure to have any split ends that you see properly trimmed off as well.

Good luck!

NatrulyMe

Reservechic wrote: »

Also, when it comes to protein, our hair is made up of 91% protein (keratin orotein to be exact). So, therefore, our hair doesn't regularly need a whole lot of protein used on it, because that will lead to protein overload. One should use recommended protein treatments or reconstructors or any products that contain a large amount of protein in them, in order to repair, re-strengthen and bring ones hair's protein balance back up to par, only after ones hair has undergone a process that ends up badly depleting ones hairs' protein. Such major protein depletion ordinarily happens when one has their hair chemically relaxed, chemically texturized, chemically curly permed, gotten a BKT or any other professional salon straightening treatment. Depletion of protein in ones hair can also happen as a result of mechanical damage to ones hair.

Good luck!

I agree with your post. Yet, I always had high porosity hair. The health of your cuticle layer is partially determined by genetics, chemical processes, harsh treatment, and environmental exposure are all responsible for causing cumulative, irreversible damage to the cuticle layer.

Just thought I will put this post out there, so others can know that having high porosity does not necessarily means you do not have healthy hair (I read your post about you having more than one hair porosity too).