Holy Mother of Honey

CurlyQueer · 07-13-2011, 11:40 AM

This is my first post . . .I say this so I can be showered with advice as you all see fit!

I have been kinda sorta CG for a while now - and totally CG for the last month. I have been using DevaCurl products and, honestly, until getting here I had no idea there were other (less pricey!) options for CG. Maybe because of this, I have gotten on a serious au naturelle kick lately which has left my shower clogged with quinoa, among other things.

Last night, I followed a recipe I found here (somewhere - of course I can't re-find it now!) using honey and EVOO and I am now 100% a believer! My curls (which have always ranged from fairly loose waves to very tight corkscrews, depending on where on my head, season, mood?) absolutely POPPED.

For the last little while, I have been using devacurl no poo, conditioner, b'leave in (recently added) and anGel. My curls were ok, but I had a hard time with hold. They would come out of the shower, I would scrunch and they'd look nice, then I'd let them air dry and find them limp. If i diffused, I got frizz. I was about ready to stop it with the CG routine, until now.

My curls were substantially curlier, all over. Well defined, and held super well. Today, after sleeping on them, they are a bit frizzier than I might like, but overall way more defined, bouncy and lovely than before.

So . . .here are my questions: (Oh! BTW! I have fine hair and low-to-normal porosity)

1. Is it the honey or the EVOO that helped?
2. How often can I/should I do these kinds of treatments?
3. Would a protein treatment help as well (I'm itching to try the egg-mayo-EVOO recipe)?
4. Any suggestions for sleeping on short curls? I'm growing mine out, but right now, they are just past my ears, in a close-to-the-head shape, due to some unfortunate choices in haircuts.

fetus · 07-13-2011, 09:30 PM

1. The only way to know whether it's the honey or olive oil is to try the same recipe and leave one of them out, then compare the results. I know honey works wonders on my hair, which is also fine like yours.

2. I think a lot of people try to do deep treatments like that weekly.

3. You never know until you try!

4. Satin pillowcases usually help out a lot.

Gretchen · 07-14-2011, 01:08 PM

Hey gals! This is slightly off-topic, but I just wanted to let you know our new product review area has the ability to search on products that contain honey and/or other bee products!

If you have any reviews to add, we'd be grateful!

CurlyQueer · 07-14-2011, 01:44 PM

Fetus - do you use honey on a daily basis? If so - how? I was thinking I might mix some honey and EVOO together in a travel squeeze container and add a bit of the mixture to my wet hair (I'll still try because - as you pointed out - its the best way to figure stuff out) Are there other good ways to incorporate honey?

Thanks!

Andie

openseason · 07-14-2011, 03:58 PM

1. Is it the honey or the EVOO that helped?
I would say it's more the honey because I've tried each alone and the results were better with honey alone over EVOO alone. Makes my curls pop too.
2. How often can I/should I do these kinds of treatments?
I DC weekly, but I use honey in products about 3 times a week.
3. Would a protein treatment help as well (I'm itching to try the egg-mayo-EVOO recipe)?
I am protein-sensitive, so I can't help here.
4. Any suggestions for sleeping on short curls? I'm growing mine out, but right now, they are just past my ears, in a close-to-the-head shape, due to some unfortunate choices in haircuts.
A satin pillowcase will do wonders for your hair.

CurlyQueer · 07-14-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by openseason

1. Is it the honey or the EVOO that helped?
I would say it's more the honey because I've tried each alone and the results were better with honey alone over EVOO alone. Makes my curls pop too.
2. How often can I/should I do these kinds of treatments?
I DC weekly, but I use honey in products about 3 times a week.
3. Would a protein treatment help as well (I'm itching to try the egg-mayo-EVOO recipe)?
I am protein-sensitive, so I can't help here.
4. Any suggestions for sleeping on short curls? I'm growing mine out, but right now, they are just past my ears, in a close-to-the-head shape, due to some unfortunate choices in haircuts.
A satin pillowcase will do wonders for your hair.

Thanks! How do you use honey in your products when you're not doing the DC? Just add a bit in with your products?

openseason · 07-14-2011, 04:15 PM

Are there other good ways to incorporate honey?

I add a Tablespoon of honey to a bottle of conditioner. I few times a week, I put on hair while I am getting ready for work and rinse-out in the shower.

ninja dog · 07-14-2011, 06:39 PM

Not a honey user, but just want to say that this thread has a great title.

fetus · 07-14-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndiePants

Fetus - do you use honey on a daily basis? If so - how? I was thinking I might mix some honey and EVOO together in a travel squeeze container and add a bit of the mixture to my wet hair (I'll still try because - as you pointed out - its the best way to figure stuff out) Are there other good ways to incorporate honey?

Thanks!

Andie

No, I only use it once every couple of weeks when I remember to. I'm gonna try to get in the routine of using it weekly, though.

Like openseason, I usually just mix honey with my conditioner (about an even amount of each) and leave it in for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. I microwave the honey for about 30 seconds to destroy the hydrogen peroxide in it beforehand, since peroxide can be damaging.

Some people make "curl refreshing sprays" by mixing together things like honey and oils and aloe vera juice/gel in a spray bottle mostly full of water. If you try the EVOO/honey mixture in the travel bottle, you might want to try diluting it since too much honey left in your hair will make it sticky. Let me know how it works!

HeadDress · 07-14-2011, 07:17 PM

Hi guys, could've sworn I read that honey is a humectant... Anyone having issues using honey in high dew points?? Do you all use honey yr round?

I did a molases rinse today... I got similar results but not exactly as clumpy... But still overall very pleased

fetus · 07-14-2011, 07:39 PM

Honey is a humectant, so it works best in high dew points. A lot of people find it's best to lay off the honey (and humectants in general) during dryer seasons, but it works very well this time of year.

redcelticcurls · 07-14-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadDress

Hi guys, could've sworn I read that honey is a humectant... Anyone having issues using honey in high dew points?? Do you all use honey yr round?

I did a molases rinse today... I got similar results but not exactly as clumpy... But still overall very pleased

Honey and other humectants tend to work best moderate dew points. They can cause fruzz in high dew points, especially in porous hair. They can cause dryness in low dew points.

HeadDress · 07-14-2011, 08:07 PM

Thx Rcc! I knew I read that before. I'm pretty sure my hair is medium to high porosity since it tends to swell in high dew points. I'm such a "toe the line" sorta gal though and all these months have never ventured to experiment much. I think I can count on 1 hand the products/ methods I've tried lol...

Btw Rcc, I like your new avitar

redcelticcurls · 07-14-2011, 08:10 PM

Thanks! That's me circa 1976

curlypearl · 07-14-2011, 08:13 PM

I'd like to try honey but I am phobic about bees. Anyone think it could attract them?

juanab · 07-15-2011, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlypearl

I'd like to try honey but I am phobic about bees. Anyone think it could attract them?

CP, I use honey twice a week when I co-wash. No bee issues.

HeadDress · 07-15-2011, 05:56 AM

Hey Cp, lots of the way honey is used in these cases are very diluted. Also there are poos/ co that have honey in them... ie. Suave coco co...

CurlyQueer · 07-15-2011, 10:39 AM

So . . .last night I made my first batch of flax seed gel (let me tell you, my partner finds it hysterical how much weird stuff I've put in my hair recently!) and added a bit of honey to it (in addition to vegetable glycerin, some epsom salts and some essential oils) I cribbed the recipe from here (duh) and also reading other gel recipes. So far . . .I'm liking it. It seems like it has helped with the bouncyness of the curl but is not super crunchy or weighty, and super soft.

I'm also planning to try the other suggestions, but thought I would update y'all.

Also . . .I live in Colorado (ie: semi-arid desert!) but its been crazy rainy here the last few weeks . . .I should probably do some more investigation on this 'dew point' stuff before I get too addicted to the honey, eh?

Also - anyone have a leave-in (drugstore or pretty cheap) they <3? I've looked through the product reviews, but it gets a little overwhelming. Right now, I'm using deva products, but once they run out, I want to switch to something more affordable (I'm tired of decided to not eat lunch out so my hair can look fabulous - doesn't seem like a fair trade off!)