SheaMoisture and a few ?
 

I was a member way back when Suave Aloe Gel was my holy grail of products, and the forums were nothing like they were now (2001?) Anyway, I used the CG method right when the book came out. I have since gone back and forth between a million products and routines, but landed back here when I started trying to find info on what to use on my daughter's hair.

All that said, I just bought a bunch of new products to try. I never knew anything about porosity prior to coming back looking for information, but now that I've learned a little, My hair is really droopy lately, and doesn't seem to want to clump (I have a bunch of stringy curls - I'm assuming from my highlights, but when I use a deep conditioner, it seems to over-condition).

I found the SheaMoisture line at Walgreens, and decided to try it out. Does anyone have any tips for me on using these products? The set I bought included:

Curl & Shine Shampoo
Curl & Style Milk
Hold & Shine Moisture Mist
Curl Enhancing Smoothie

also bought some Aloe and Waterlily conditioner and some LA Looks gel (blue) after reading a bit about them. I'm trying to transition back to the CG routine, but I wanted to have some options. I guess I'm sensitive to protein, and I think the LA Looks has protein in it, but it seems to be widely recommended, and was cheap.

You don't mention your texture, but droopy curls usually indicates that it's time for a PT. It is probably over conditioned.

I've had highlights for a LONG time. I figure that they might be 5% of my hair, so wouldn't say that they are the cause for anything. Depending on the chemical used, they could cause damage and loose curl. However, I'd attribute a head of stringy curls to lacking protein (which would also help any damage caused by highlighting.)

Thanks for the reply! I don't know if you could see my signature, but I have low porosity. I'm sure at this point, the droopy curls are over conditioned. I've tried deep conditioners, leave-ins, and co-washing all over the last month or so, and they've not been very happy. The stringy curls seems to be mostly about the product I'm using, I think, but I could certainly be wrong. I'll assume PT is protein treatment? Any tips on what I should use, since I thought I was sensitive to protein, being low porosity?

PS - your curls are gorgeous! I don't know if that's a new description since I've been around the forums, but I think corkicelli pretty much describes my hair perfectly. I'm boticelli mostly, but corkscrews around my face and around the back of my neck (basically my whole hairline). My hair isn't fine, but otherwise, our hair sounds very similar.

The only place that I've read about protein sensitivity and low porosity is on the nc.com page on properties. That's why I never use that link when I suggest that people determine theirs.

I meant texture--and not porosity. I'll have to edit that. Fine hair generally likes/needs protein, as does porous hair. PT is protein treatment. I generally use moisturizing commercial ones--CJ Repair Me, SS Protein Repair and the SSI Okra Repair. My hair LOVES protein. Never met one it didn't like. I do at least one PT a week and use a lot of products with protein. There is a homemade PT on the 2 forum--I forget the exact title, but it has "As Promised" in it.

Corkicelli is a descriptor from the new CG book that came out almost two years ago. I think it describes my hair perfectly, too. If your hair is medium, it should still like some protein (maybe not as much as mine) or specific proteins. That's trial and error, as a lot of things are.

I cowashed for about six months. It didn't do much for me. I started using natural soap bars to cleanse a little over 4 years ago when they were the rage on nc.com. I use minute amounts of really rich products. The soap bars are just enough to remove any residual ingredients (oils, butters, etc.) that remain in my hair.

Thanks for the information - I'm really out of the loop on all of the new terminology (that said, I still mourn the loss of the Suave Aloe gel/mousse - I've never found anything I like as much). I'm going to try this sheamoisture and see how it goes, and will look into some of those protein treatment options, as well.

KathyMack,
Which soap bars do you use? I cannot get away with co-washing either. It leaves my hair over-moisturized. I have been using CJ gentle shampoo, but I would like to find another product to gently cleanse my hair.

KathyMack,
What brand of soap bars do you use? I also have not had luck with co-washing and have been using CJ gentle shampoo. However, I have better luck with switching products and could use another hair wash.

PM me.

So far, I've used it twice. The first day, I was a little heavy-handed with the souffle, and while it smelled amazing, my hair felt coated and weighted down. The following day, I used less, and mixed it with some LA Looks gel to see how it would do there. It looked GORGEOUS at home - still wet, it was perfect. Drying, started to frizz slightly, but I was able to get it to the point where I had great definition and volume, and it looked pretty much perfect.

However, it appears that it doesn't hold for long. After looking at some pictures that were taken throughout the day, it looks like the curl "fell out" of my hair. I don't know how else to explain it. It looks droopy and flat. I don't know if it was being outside near the river (if anything, I'd have thought it would just have made it BIGGER and more frizzy), but it's like the curls slid out of my hair (which often happens if I don't use something with enough hold). I'm going to try a day without the sheamoisture and see how it goes with just the LA Looks, but I really love how my hair feels and smells with sheamoisture. If the hold was better, I'd be in love.

I don't know if this picture will work or not, but this is a picture from yesterday - I know I don't have a picture of the "before I left the house" but this is the "what the heck happened to my hair?" picture that my husband took and I was surprised by. Progressively, through the day, they loosened to waves (which is odd, because my hair is never just wavy - ever - unless I try to straighten it, which is about as straight as I can get it, lol).
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...40335628_n.jpg

Oh, and I should also add that today, on day 2 hair, I am going to HAVE to wash because my hair looks (and feels) greasy. I don't get a chance to wash every day typically (haven't needed to - and usually don't have time to go through the whole routine), so that's a deal-breaker. I'll try it in other combinations to see, but I'm really disappointed.

That pic is GORGEOUS. I think, like me, you may have the type of hair that can vary from 2b to 3a depending on various and sundry factors. I usually just go with it. That said, a way I sometimes deal with drooping mid-day/second-day curls is to refresh with water or a refreshing spray, and then use more gel - but not the same mega hold gel I used in the first place. I'll use a lighter hold gel so things don't get too crispy.