Sealing - Share your tips, post your questions

IAgirl · 03-23-2012, 10:54 AM

Summer is coming! Not that sealing isn't good for winter too. Sealing hair with oil is a way to help keep moisture in during cold/dry weather and to keep excessive moisture out during warm/humid/rainy weather so your hair doesn't frizz or lose its definition.

So, how do you seal, wavies?

IAgirl · 03-23-2012, 11:04 AM

I'm gonna start.
Here's my "fine hair sealing" technique for wavy curls. It helps reduce frizz, but if overdone, also relaxes the wave/curl a bit because of the weight of the oil. If you get it just right, it can be curl-and-clump-enhancing and defining.

I use 2-5 drops of oil, spread it well in my palms and especially on the palm-side of my fingers.
1) With my hair damp (lightly squeezed with microfiber towel), I flip my hair forward and smooth my hands over the "underneath" hair. Then I flip back upright and smooth over the canopy. Then I rub my hands to re-distribute the oil and smooth over each side, the canopy in back, and the underside in back like making ponytails with each section. I try to close my hands as I reach the ends so the ends are sure to be sealed. *Could also comb through or finger-comb for less frizz at this point.
2) Re-activate curls: This smoothing tends to pull out some wave. So I spray my hair with water in a spray bottle to get it almost soaking wet again, then re-scrunch with my towel to re-activate the waves and curls. If hair looks stringy at this point, you either used too much oil, or did not get your hair wet enough.
3) Put in my gel, diffuse a bit, clip the top and impatiently finish air-drying.

My favorite oil to use is grapeseed because it does not feel too "oily," adds nice shine and doesn't make my hair look a different color.

I think the oil may soften the hold of some gels, so more oil = need a bit stronger hold.

ninja dog · 03-23-2012, 11:46 AM

I've had nothing but blah from trying any oil, but I may give this method a shot some day when I'm feeling adventurous.

Thanks, IA!

IAgirl · 03-23-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja dog

I've had nothing but blah from trying any oil, but I may give this method a shot some day when I'm feeling adventurous.

Thanks, IA!

Nothing like the cheap adventures that don't require a canteen and pith helmet.

wavychica · 03-23-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAgirl

I'm gonna start.
Here's my "fine hair sealing" technique for wavy curls. It helps reduce frizz, but if overdone, also relaxes the wave/curl a bit because of the weight of the oil. If you get it just right, it can be curl-and-clump-enhancing and defining.

I use 2-5 drops of oil, spread it well in my palms and especially on the palm-side of my fingers.
1) With my hair damp (lightly squeezed with microfiber towel), I flip my hair forward and smooth my hands over the "underneath" hair. Then I flip back upright and smooth over the canopy. Then I rub my hands to re-distribute the oil and smooth over each side, the canopy in back, and the underside in back like making ponytails with each section. I try to close my hands as I reach the ends so the ends are sure to be sealed. *Could also comb through or finger-comb for less frizz at this point.
2) Re-activate curls: This smoothing tends to pull out some wave. So I spray my hair with water in a spray bottle to get it almost soaking wet again, then re-scrunch with my towel to re-activate the waves and curls. If hair looks stringy at this point, you either used too much oil, or did not get your hair wet enough.
3) Put in my gel, diffuse a bit, clip the top and impatiently finish air-drying.

My favorite oil to use is grapeseed because it does not feel too "oily," adds nice shine and doesn't make my hair look a different color.

I think the oil may soften the hold of some gels, so more oil = need a bit stronger hold.

How long is your hair?

IAgirl · 03-23-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavychica

How long is your hair?

Shoulder-length.

Touch.of.ink · 03-23-2012, 02:47 PM

After my hair is "squeezed damp", I use a detangler, and then put 4 drops of pure argan oil in my palm. I rub this oil over my hands, including in between my fingers and then rake it through my hair.

I focus a little more on the ends, because they're damaged right now. I don't wash the argan oil off my hands when done, because it's great for my cuticles, too.

(Mousse and then diffuse to about 80% dry, let air dry while driving to work.)

kimmidawn · 03-23-2012, 06:37 PM

IAgirl, I was do excited today when I went to Walmart and I was looking at the oil and realized they had both grapeseed and safflower oil on the top shelf. I got the grapeseed, and I can't wait to try it on sealing.

Jas76 · 03-23-2012, 07:28 PM

Wait - where in Walmart do you you find oils??

I have jojoba oil in my FSG, so that's how I seal!

Though I may start using some coconut oil when out in the sun!

kimmidawn · 03-23-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jas76

Wait - where in Walmart do you you find oils??

I have jojoba oil in my FSG, so that's how I seal!

Though I may start using some coconut oil when out in the sun!

I was shocked as well...but I was in the cooking area where the olive oil is and I know canola oil is a potential oil to use for sealing (I think its one good for finer hair) so I started looking for some and right there on the top shelf was a decent sized bottle of grapeseed oil and another one of safflower oil. It made me really excited and the guy who was with me gave me this funny look but kept going because he knows how I get with things for my hair.

IAgirl · 03-23-2012, 09:36 PM

I love a little oil in my FSG - hadn't thought of that as "sealing" - just more of a crunch-modifier. Brilliant!

SCarrin · 03-23-2012, 11:09 PM

The softest my hair has ever been..... Re-Doing a bantu knot set on dry hair. For each part I was knotting, adding water and vitamin e oil. My hair was super soft and full of body which lasted me 2 days.

Sent from my ADR6350 usin.g CurlTalk App

Wavy Brunette · 03-23-2012, 11:31 PM

I use to think that my hair despised all oil. I have tried coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, and also jojoba oil to seal. They all made my hair looser and seemed to weigh me down a little. I bought 100% argan oil online and I LOVE it. My hair is so soft, shiny and keeps its definition. I seal with about 3 drops, I just add it to my ends first then sort of smooth it up the hair shaft and re-scrunch. I've also used it to SOTC when I've had more crunch then I wanted and it has worked great for that also!

Shellwe · 03-27-2012, 07:21 AM

Besides the Walmart reference, where do ya'll buy your oils from? Please and thank you

kimmidawn · 03-27-2012, 08:18 AM

@Shellwe - kind of off topic, but I see in your siggy that you use UFD Curly Magic; how do you like it and what do you use it with?

Shellwe · 03-27-2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmidawn

@Shellwe - kind of off topic, but I see in your siggy that you use UFD Curly Magic; how do you like it and what do you use it with?

Don't want to hijack the thread so I'll PM you

Jas76 · 03-27-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellwe

Besides the Walmart reference, where do ya'll buy your oils from? Please and thank you

I bought mine through drugstore.com!

Shellwe · 03-27-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jas76

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellwe

Besides the Walmart reference, where do ya'll buy your oils from? Please and thank you

I bought mine through drugstore.com!

Thank you Jas76

swtndspcy · 03-28-2012, 04:41 PM

Hobby Lobby has jojoba, tea tree, and some others I don't recall in the soap making section. Heath food stores are a really good place to find oils. Some groceries have a natural food section that you can find oils in. GNC is also a good place.

I usually seal after scrunching in my LI. I scrunch as much water out while scrunching in the condish, so it's still pretty wet. It depends on my mood what oil I use. Coconut is my favorite. But if I need better sealing I will use jojoba. I also use tea tree or evoo.

kimmidawn · 03-28-2012, 09:01 PM

I never knew Hobby Lobby has oils, definitely good to know.