Do you "seal" your 3a hair?

curlypearl · 07-07-2010, 10:14 PM

Does anyone with 3A hair put some type of oil on before applying gel? I use a tiny bit of cocoanut oil after my hair is completely dry, but I was wondering about the technique of "sealing" hair while damp before applying gel.

It seems to me it would never dry then ?? but I would be interested to hear anyone's experience with this technique.

Thanks to anyone who responds!

kellygreen49 · 07-08-2010, 08:47 AM

I haven't ever tried that, but now I want to! I used to put jojoba oil on after my gel but maybe I should've done it before...
Usually I view my "seal" as the ice cold water I rinse with before I get out of the shower.
All sealants aside, I've been wanting to try coconut oil on my hair. Thin density is thin hair texture right? I'm guessing coconut oil doesn't weigh you down horribly? I tried Olive Oil as a treatment once on my hair and it made it limp for awhile, even through a low poo. So now I'm kind of cautious with my oils. I wanted to try coconut as a treatment though (just leave it in for a couple hours under a shower cap before I low poo.)

curlypearl · 07-08-2010, 09:48 AM

Hi KellyGreen,

You have pretty hair!

Cocoanut oil is very light. It comes in solid form (in a health food store) and I rub a tiny bit between my palms which liquefies it and I put it on my dry hair and it's very light. Just adds shine and a little softness.

I'm interested to know your results if you seal before adding gel, so please keep us posted.

Thanks for responding.

curlykey · 07-08-2010, 09:52 AM

I was doing this a lot during the winter and was really liking the results. I don't remember why I stopped....probably because I was experimenting with tons of new stuff...lol. Anyway, my faves were jojoba oil, camellia oil and coconut oil. I am going to start doing this again. I was applying it before any products including my leave-in. HTH.

OperaDiva · 07-08-2010, 11:13 AM

I have never heard of this, I'll have to try it sometime! Kellygreen, coconut oil does weigh down my very fine hair, if you get the same result try Sweet Almond Oil, my hair loves it

OperaDiva · 07-08-2010, 11:24 AM

So to clarify, would you use this instead of leave in conditioner? Or right after your leave-in, but before gel?

lovelovelove · 07-08-2010, 11:32 AM

the way I seal is this: (and by the way, i'm 3a-b, with fine to medium hair)
After having conditioned in the shower, I rake in my leave-in. Then, I take a dab of coconut oil and smooth in the ends of my hair. After, I apply gel. It works great for me! It keeps the hair from frizzing up at the ends. Also, I've noticed I don't get knots at the ends of my hair when doing this. You should try it!

EponaBlackhorse · 07-08-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OperaDiva

So to clarify, would you use this instead of leave in conditioner? Or right after your leave-in, but before gel?

My hair also prefers sweet almond oil over coconut oil. If I "seal" my hair, I usually use the oil before any leave-in or other styling product. Having said that, in the past I've used oil in many different phases of my routine and in the end it all pretty much looks the same as long as I don't use too much oil.

I think its just a matter of when you want to put it in.

curlycarrottop62 · 07-10-2010, 07:44 AM

i usually seal before my leavin and gel with jojoba oil or really any light oil i find around the house. but yesterday i was at walgreens and i saw this garnier fructis color shield instant color sealer light weight leavein. and i bought it because i thought maybe it would work as a regular sealer too. its cg (one peg cone though) so im giving it a try tonight. ill let you know how it goes.

kasden · 07-10-2010, 09:11 AM

I love sweet almond oil! I emulsify it in my hand with a little LI and scrunch it in soaking wet hair. Sometimes I use LI/almond oil, FSG, then gel, but with the high dews lately I've been having good luck with gel, FSG, then LI/almond oil.

curlypearl · 07-10-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlycarrottop62

i usually seal before my leavin and gel with jojoba oil or really any light oil i find around the house. but yesterday i was at walgreens and i saw this garnier fructis color shield instant color sealer light weight leavein. and i bought it because i thought maybe it would work as a regular sealer too. its cg (one peg cone though) so im giving it a try tonight. ill let you know how it goes.

How did it work out? Please do let us know.

curlypearl · 07-10-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasden

I love sweet almond oil! I emulsify it in my hand with a little LI and scrunch it in soaking wet hair. Sometimes I use LI/almond oil, FSG, then gel, but with the high dews lately I've been having good luck with gel, FSG, then LI/almond oil.

I have to try this also. I wish I could find one formula that would work all the time (dream on curlypearl LOL).

curlypearl · 07-10-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlykey

I was doing this a lot during the winter and was really liking the results. I don't remember why I stopped....probably because I was experimenting with tons of new stuff...lol. Anyway, my faves were jojoba oil, camellia oil and coconut oil. I am going to start doing this again. I was applying it before any products including my leave-in. HTH.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OperaDiva

I have never heard of this, I'll have to try it sometime! Kellygreen, coconut oil does weigh down my very fine hair, if you get the same result try Sweet Almond Oil, my hair loves it

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovelovelove

the way I seal is this: (and by the way, i'm 3a-b, with fine to medium hair)
After having conditioned in the shower, I rake in my leave-in. Then, I take a dab of coconut oil and smooth in the ends of my hair. After, I apply gel. It works great for me! It keeps the hair from frizzing up at the ends. Also, I've noticed I don't get knots at the ends of my hair when doing this. You should try it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by EponaBlackhorse

Quote:

Originally Posted by OperaDiva

So to clarify, would you use this instead of leave in conditioner? Or right after your leave-in, but before gel?

My hair also prefers sweet almond oil over coconut oil. If I "seal" my hair, I usually use the oil before any leave-in or other styling product. Having said that, in the past I've used oil in many different phases of my routine and in the end it all pretty much looks the same as long as I don't use too much oil.

I think its just a matter of when you want to put it in.

Well, I guess I have to try sweet almond oil. Thanks everyone for the good ideas. Happy hair days to all!

Maci · 07-10-2010, 11:11 AM

Most everyone on this thread seems to be fine haired. I'm medium and coarse textured and oils work great.

In summer, I use grapeseed and almond. In winter, it's avocado and butters. Jojoba doesn't work well on my hair, but great on my face.

I really want to try apricot and castor oils. And butters by Shescentit. And KBB hair milk and cream.

Logy · 07-10-2010, 08:05 PM

Loved reading everyone's tips. New to the CG way, just started 2 weeks ago with Devacurl products.

Where do I purchase almond oil? How should I apply it?

Thanks for any advice!!!

OperaDiva · 07-10-2010, 11:23 PM

I found my Sweet Almond Oil at The Vitamin Shoppe, you should be able to find it at a health food type store in the beauty section

curlycarrottop62 · 07-11-2010, 10:24 AM

the gf product i was talking about worked quite well!! it wasnt as moisturizing but it was a lot less messy

mamaherrera · 07-22-2011, 07:59 AM

I just think that maybe if you put in seal/oil with your leave in you're going to get it in all the hair and not just the ends, and for me, that tends to weigh my hair down. just a thought. I think I'm sticking with sealing just to the ends for now.

ChrissasaurusRex · 07-27-2011, 10:35 PM

I use Argan Oil (it's pretty pricey, but AH-mazing!) in my hair while it's still wet, and sometimes even after I blow-dry (when and if I do, before straightening, of course)... It makes my hair ridiculously manageable and silky. When I straighten it, people think it's naturally that way! I don't use gel at all- I usually use a creme or putty! I don't like the stickiness of gel (and I really like my curls to be soft enough to run your fingers through!)- Sometimes, because of how awesome the Argan Oil is, I don't even NEED anything else!

mamaherrera · 07-28-2011, 11:15 AM

Where do you get your 100% argan oil at?? I've tried, but I always get stuff with cones and other stuff in it. Can you name acouple of those cremes and putty you use?? I didn't use gel before, and I got ok curls, so I might go that avenue again since I also like soft and natural.