Dry fuzzy straight-ish hair needs help

2AonaGoodDay · 03-01-2011, 06:55 PM

Hi all - I have chin-length, vaguely wavy hair that is fine, porous and color treated. I have been doing modified CG (no silicones, no harsh detergents, low-poo about once a week or less) since last summer and I'm frustrated by how dry and lifeless my hair looks. It gets weighed down and greasy looking very easily so I would love suggestions for something that would help moisturize without weighing it down. I avoid gels or anything with any hold at this point, because it's so dry looking that hold-y products just make it look drier and stiff looking.
Please help! Thank you!

pedaheh · 03-01-2011, 07:39 PM

My hair doesn't get weighed down, so I'll let someone else suggest lots of products.
Homemade FSG adds moisture, curl enhancement, and doesn't weigh hair down. Some people can use this in large amounts without getting weighed down.
Try adding honey to your conditioner. This works great at moisturizing my dry hair. It is a complete bust for some people. I mix my honey and conditioner 50/50, but you might like less honey. I can't imagine honey would weigh hair down.
Try the spritz and condish method. It is an excellent way to add moisture to dry, porous hair.
Spritz and Condish Washing for Porous Types+Thirsty Curls Everywhere!

RitaCeleste · 03-02-2011, 06:17 AM

Do a quick hair strand test. If the hair has some stretch and will go back to its right shape, is kinda strong its OK. If it doesn't stretch, just breaks you need more moisture. Do a Deep conditioning treatment with something like Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose. That means putting it on dry hair, waiting 20 mins or so before CO washing it out. Then test it again. If it now stretches out but doesn't shrink back into shape, or is super stretchy, you need a product with protein too. I noticed a section the store that has conditioners with protein too so I'd go there and look for something.

pedaheh · 03-02-2011, 07:15 AM

I was also thinking you might be over moisturized. Being over moisurized mimics dry hair. Over moisturized hair hair feels mushy when wet and can look like cotton candy when dry. When you do the elascticity test, over moisturized hair streches and stretches and does not return to its original shape.
I've heard that Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle and Rose can weigh some people down.
This is a good article on protein/moisture balance. Page 5 has info on hair diagnosis.
The Fine Art of Protein and Moisture Balancing for Black Hair Care - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

2AonaGoodDay · 03-02-2011, 09:13 AM

Okay, I did a strand test and it did not really stretch and broke pretty quickly, so moisture it is. I think all of my conditioners have protein in them, so maybe I need to find one without protein? Feel free to keep adding ideas/product recommendations, by all means.
Thank you all so much!

RitaCeleste · 03-02-2011, 10:15 AM

I haven't tried anything lighter than the Honey Suckle Rose. My hair is mostly type 2c and porous (good luck weighing that down! lol). In the store there is a handy section for moisture only conditioners. Anyone with fine hair have a favorite?

pedaheh · 03-02-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2AonaGoodDay

Okay, I did a strand test and it did not really stretch and broke pretty quickly, so moisture it is. I think all of my conditioners have protein in them, so maybe I need to find one without protein? Feel free to keep adding ideas/product recommendations, by all means.
Thank you all so much!

If you hair is fine, you probably need protein AND moisture. Fine hair needs protein and porous hair needs protein. That article makes it seem like you can't need both, but you absolutely can. I do. In fact, protein can help your hair hang on to moisture.
Here is an old thread that suggests moisturizing conditioners that won't weigh hair down.
calling fine haired wavies
AOHR does work for some people who get weighed down. It worked for my friend and it is very moisturizing. But some people find it weighs them down.
Gotta go, but you may also like this PT.
PT recipe - as promised

RitaCeleste · 03-02-2011, 11:11 AM

My hair really needs both. I use the AOHR as a deep conditioner about twice a week plus Aphogee Kertin 2 Minute Reconstuctor once a week. But I can see on it's list of ingredients Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Amodimethicone, Mineral Oil. I'm thinking this can't be CG friendly. I thought I needed the moisture and protein kinda separate so I could try and balance it out. Is there a CG friendly reconstuctor that compares to Aphogee?

pedaheh · 03-02-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RitaCeleste

My hair really needs both. I use the AOHR as a deep conditioner about twice a week plus Aphogee Kertin 2 Minute Reconstuctor once a week. But I can see on it's list of ingredients Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Amodimethicone, Mineral Oil. I'm thinking this can't be CG friendly. I thought I needed the moisture and protein kinda separate so I could try and balance it out. Is there a CG friendly reconstuctor that compares to Aphogee?

I haven't tried it yet, but you might like the aphogee green tea. It also has keratin.
Amazon.com: Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer 8 oz: Beauty

2AonaGoodDay · 03-07-2011, 11:57 AM

Just to follow up - it seems I needed more moisture, so I did a couple of moisture treatments which seemed to help. Adding a conditioner with protein kind of brought out the dry-fuzzy hair again, so I think I need to focus on a couple of daily conditioners that do not have protein. (I've got plenty that have protein.) Other than AOHR, which is indeed a bit heavy for daily use, does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks all!

BekkaPoo · 03-07-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedaheh

I haven't tried it yet, but you might like the aphogee green tea. It also has keratin.
Amazon.com: Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer 8 oz: Beauty

Wow.. they are charging a lot for that on Amazon! I think you can get this for $5-6 in your local bss.

pedaheh · 03-07-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2AonaGoodDay

Just to follow up - it seems I needed more moisture, so I did a couple of moisture treatments which seemed to help. Adding a conditioner with protein kind of brought out the dry-fuzzy hair again, so I think I need to focus on a couple of daily conditioners that do not have protein. (I've got plenty that have protein.) Other than AOHR, which is indeed a bit heavy for daily use, does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks all!

GVP conditioning balm (from sally's) is moisturizing and I'm fairly certain it doesn't have protein.