Spongy textured 4a's, Let's talk - Page 3

Zinnia · 10-25-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral55

Aw, thanks for the compliments

Napp, can you tell me about the laying technique, too?

Because this is a PRIME example of what her hair's looking like now. Just yesterday I put her hair into 6 plaits and I used the following:

--homemade spray with water, leave-in, African oil blend (you know, like Hot Sixx) and a touch of veg. glycerin

---a whipped mix of pure shea butter (unrefined), African oil blend, and pure coconut oil

This is what her hair looks like today, and to tell you the truth, it looked much like this right after I braided it yesterday. Is this breakage?? What am I doing wrong???

she is so cute!

sorry if i missed the post where you listed all of the products you used on her hair, but could you post all of the products you use on her hair?

i wonder if those oils don't agree with hair? and perhaps the shea butter too? my hair doesn't like straight oils, and definitely doesn't like shea butter or coconut oil.

if you are using the african royale brand, that oil has a cone:
Olive Oil , Canola Oil , Wheat Germ Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Safflower Oil , Castor Oil , Sesame Oil , Vitamins E , Vitamins A , Vitamins D , Cyclomethicone , Sheep Sorrell , Yarrow , Wheat Germ , Slippery Elm Bark , Sage , Henna , Comfrey , Burdock Root , Goldenseal , Cherry Bark , Black Walnut , Chamomile , Alfalfa , Hyssop , Fragrance.

cayisha_azul · 10-26-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral55

Is this just the nature of her hair type? I just feel like it could look so much neater and last at least a LITTLE longer than it does. I did this yesterday afternoon, and it pretty much looked like this a few hours later. I tried smoothing some of the shea butter mix and a little gel over the top of her head to make it lie down better...didn't work

I agree with Windflower, some people's hair do not react well to butters and some oils. In your products that are not natural, try to avoid alcohol, cones, mineral oil, petroluem, and PEGs. Have you thought about trying a natural line of products? It may be a little expensive at first but they generally last a long time. I personally like www.komazacare.com but some people with kids like www.curls.biz.

TeeNeeBut · 10-26-2009, 08:37 AM

After reading the original post I was excited to finally find someone whose hair sounded like mine. But the posts after have me me question that. so here are some pics, do I have spongy hair as well?

First Picture after my Big Chop 8-9-09

A Couple of days aftet my BC

Back View

sinistral55 · 10-26-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windflower

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral55

Aw, thanks for the compliments

Napp, can you tell me about the laying technique, too?

Because this is a PRIME example of what her hair's looking like now. Just yesterday I put her hair into 6 plaits and I used the following:

--homemade spray with water, leave-in, African oil blend (you know, like Hot Sixx) and a touch of veg. glycerin

---a whipped mix of pure shea butter (unrefined), African oil blend, and pure coconut oil

This is what her hair looks like today, and to tell you the truth, it looked much like this right after I braided it yesterday. Is this breakage?? What am I doing wrong???

she is so cute!

sorry if i missed the post where you listed all of the products you used on her hair, but could you post all of the products you use on her hair?

i wonder if those oils don't agree with hair? and perhaps the shea butter too? my hair doesn't like straight oils, and definitely doesn't like shea butter or coconut oil.

if you are using the african royale brand, that oil has a cone:
Olive Oil , Canola Oil , Wheat Germ Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Safflower Oil , Castor Oil , Sesame Oil , Vitamins E , Vitamins A , Vitamins D , Cyclomethicone , Sheep Sorrell , Yarrow , Wheat Germ , Slippery Elm Bark , Sage , Henna , Comfrey , Burdock Root , Goldenseal , Cherry Bark , Black Walnut , Chamomile , Alfalfa , Hyssop , Fragrance.

Hmm, let's see---

---homemade spray consists of water, dab of vegetable glycerin, dab of Africa's Best oil (ingredients at bottom) and Cream of Nature Herba-Rich Leave-In Strand Remoisturizing Treatment in a spray bottle.

The Cream of Nature is a new addition to my homemade spray; normally my spray consists of mostly water and Africa's Best oil and/or glycerin. The C of M is the consistency of water and it's clear. I haven't bought this in a while, and the ingredient list back then was almost completely herbal. Looking at it now, I see at least one -cone, and less herbal ingredients. I use this homemade spray to moisten her sections before detangling.

---Elasta QP hair lotion

---Motions hair lotion

---pure unrefined shea butter mixed w/pure coconut oil and dollop of Africa's best oil.

---large shower comb, and soft boar's bristle brush (to smooth only, not brush the entire head)

**Mind you, I don't use all of these products at one time. Most times I use the homemade spray and one of the hair lotions.**

-------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the ingredients for the Africa's Best Oil:

Ingredients
Soy Bean Oil , Walnut Seed Oil , Kiwi Fruit Extract , Olive Fruit Oil , Castor Seed Oil , Sesame Seed Oil , Jojoba Seed Oil , Carrot Seed Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , Safflower Oil , Calendula Extract , Yarrow Extract , Cucumber Extract , Carrageenan Extract , Ginseng Extract , Sage Extract , Comfrey Extract , Aloe Extract , Fragrance

Is the underlined a 'cone?

Of the above list, I don't think any of these products have petrolatum or mineral oil.

cayisha_azul · 10-26-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral55

sorry if i missed the post where you listed all of the products you used on her hair, but could you post all of the products you use on her hair?

---homemade spray consists of water, dab of vegetable glycerin, dab of Africa's Best oil (ingredients at bottom) and Cream of Nature Herba-Rich Leave-In Strand Remoisturizing Treatment in a spray bottle.

The Cream of Nature is a new addition to my homemade spray; normally my spray consists of mostly water and Africa's Best oil and/or glycerin. The C of M is the consistency of water and it's clear. I haven't bought this in a while, and the ingredient list back then was almost completely herbal. Looking at it now, I see at least one -cone, and less herbal ingredients. I use this homemade spray to moisten her sections before detangling.

---Elasta QP hair lotion

---Motions hair lotion

---pure unrefined shea butter mixed w/pure coconut oil and dollop of Africa's best oil.

---large shower comb, and soft boar's bristle brush (to smooth only, not brush the entire head)

**Mind you, I don't use all of these products at one time. Most times I use the homemade spray and one of the hair lotions.**

-------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the ingredients for the Africa's Best Oil:

Ingredients
Soy Bean Oil , Walnut Seed Oil , Kiwi Fruit Extract , Olive Fruit Oil , Castor Seed Oil , Sesame Seed Oil , Jojoba Seed Oil , Carrot Seed Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , Safflower Oil , Calendula Extract , Yarrow Extract , Cucumber Extract , Carrageenan Extract , Ginseng Extract , Sage Extract , Comfrey Extract , Aloe Extract , Fragrance

Is the underlined a 'cone?

Of the above list, I don't think any of these products have petrolatum or mineral oil.

Can you provide the ingredients for the products in bold. I tried using a bristle brush and it just made my hair more frizzy. It didn't smooth it at all. Now I use a Denman 3D brush to smooth and clumb my hair together after its been detangled with a wide tooth comb. You can find the brush at Sallys.

cayisha_azul · 10-26-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeNeeBut

After reading the original post I was excited to finally find someone whose hair sounded like mine. But the posts after have me me question that. so here are some pics, do I have spongy hair as well?

First Picture after my Big Chop 8-9-09

A Couple of days aftet my BC

Back View

I don't see the pictures.

Jamtastic Voyage! · 10-26-2009, 03:13 PM

You all have gorgeous hair, including the precious baby girl!

I BC'd (mostly, I'd say 60% of my head is natural) this weekend and I think I have spongy hair.

I'm afraid to over-gel or comb my hair so I haven't achieved a good look yet. I might try shingling or something soon, and get over my fear of too much gel.

I have a 32 oz tub of it, I need to stop being a baby, haha.

hippychic · 10-26-2009, 03:42 PM

@TeeNeeBut - no one can look at your hair and tell if you have spongy, thready, cottony, wiry, silky hair because the description is based on how your hair reacts to certain conditions etc. read thru the LOIS descriptions and see if you identify with any one of them more than the other.

Find Your LOIS Texture:
Shine is a sharp reflection of light while Sheen is a dull reflection of light.

Thready - Hair as a low sheen, with high shine if the hair is held taut (as in a braid), with low frizz. Wets easily but water dries out quickly.

Wiry - Hair has a sparkly sheen, with low shine and low frizz. Water beads up or bounces off the hair strands. Hair never seems to get fully wet.

Cottony - Hair has a low sheen, a high shine if the hair is held taunt and has high frizz. Absorbs water quickly but does not get thoroughly wet very fast.

Spongy - Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.

Silky - Hair has low sheen, a very high shine, with a lot or low frizz. Easily wets in water.

cayisha_azul · 10-26-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeNeeBut

After reading the original post I was excited to finally find someone whose hair sounded like mine. But the posts after have me me question that. so here are some pics, do I have spongy hair as well?

Nice hair. I can see the pictures now. Actually I think its hard to tell from looking at it. It doesn't have anything to do with your curl pattern. This is the description of spony textured hair. Does it sound like yours? "Spongy hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet." http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/Natur...ave/Page1.html

http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/Natur...ppy/Page9.html

TeeNeeBut · 10-26-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippychic

@TeeNeeBut - no one can look at your hair and tell if you have spongy, thready, cottony, wiry, silky hair because the description is based on how your hair reacts to certain conditions etc. read thru the LOIS descriptions and see if you identify with any one of them more than the other.

Find Your LOIS Texture:
Shine is a sharp reflection of light while Sheen is a dull reflection of light.

Thready - Hair as a low sheen, with high shine if the hair is held taut (as in a braid), with low frizz. Wets easily but water dries out quickly.

Wiry - Hair has a sparkly sheen, with low shine and low frizz. Water beads up or bounces off the hair strands. Hair never seems to get fully wet.

Cottony - Hair has a low sheen, a high shine if the hair is held taunt and has high frizz. Absorbs water quickly but does not get thoroughly wet very fast.

Spongy - Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.

Silky - Hair has low sheen, a very high shine, with a lot or low frizz. Easily wets in water.

Thanks for clarifying! And thanks to cayisha_azul as well!

MixedUpCurlyChick · 10-26-2009, 10:44 PM

hmmm...this sounds kinda like my hair. My hair does not absorb products with heavy oils very well. It also takes 8 hours+ to dry. I'm not sure if its cottony or spongy though. The texture is fine with high density. I believe the porosity is low b/c of the strand tests I've done. I get way more shrinkage with creams than gels. I usually can't even absorb a cream

What is the difference between spongy and cottony?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Napp

I cant seem to find anyone who has my hair texture. i have a spongy hair texture. i usally see either silky textured people or cottony textured people. while i appreciate others comments i would like to see what they have to say about this kind of hair.

here is the description of spongy hair
Spongy - Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.

does anyone think that the slow absorbtion of water inhibits curl defition because i noticed my curls just do not get defined unless i have left conditioner on it for a while. when i leave my hair with no products and no manipulation the end result is very undefined and resembles 4b hair.

i only get definition with a gel . i have to shellac it on before my hair starts to react to it and it then gets super defined(and super hard) LOL. its so annoying! im still searching for something that defines my curls with out the crunch. sometimes i feel like giving up.

MixedUpCurlyChick · 10-26-2009, 10:50 PM

oops sorry I hasn't seen this...I guess maybe my hair *is* spongy...it doesn't sound really like any of em to me...maybe I don't understand

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippychic

@TeeNeeBut - no one can look at your hair and tell if you have spongy, thready, cottony, wiry, silky hair because the description is based on how your hair reacts to certain conditions etc. read thru the LOIS descriptions and see if you identify with any one of them more than the other.

Find Your LOIS Texture:
Shine is a sharp reflection of light while Sheen is a dull reflection of light.

Thready - Hair as a low sheen, with high shine if the hair is held taut (as in a braid), with low frizz. Wets easily but water dries out quickly.

Wiry - Hair has a sparkly sheen, with low shine and low frizz. Water beads up or bounces off the hair strands. Hair never seems to get fully wet.

Cottony - Hair has a low sheen, a high shine if the hair is held taunt and has high frizz. Absorbs water quickly but does not get thoroughly wet very fast.

Spongy - Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.

Silky - Hair has low sheen, a very high shine, with a lot or low frizz. Easily wets in water.

cayisha_azul · 10-26-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MixedUpCurlyChick

hmmm...this sounds kinda like my hair. My hair does not absorb products with heavy oils very well. It also takes 8 hours+ to dry. I'm not sure if its cottony or spongy though. The texture is fine with high density. I believe the porosity is low b/c of the strand tests I've done. I get way more shrinkage with creams than gels. I usually can't even absorb a cream

What is the difference between spongy and cottony?

I think the difference is spongy hair is not shiny. When you pull it back, it doesn't reflect sharp light. Cottony hair is shiny when pulled back.

MixedUpCurlyChick · 10-26-2009, 11:04 PM

Thanks!!! I do believe my hair is spongy!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cayisha_azul

Quote:

Originally Posted by MixedUpCurlyChick

hmmm...this sounds kinda like my hair. My hair does not absorb products with heavy oils very well. It also takes 8 hours+ to dry. I'm not sure if its cottony or spongy though. The texture is fine with high density. I believe the porosity is low b/c of the strand tests I've done. I get way more shrinkage with creams than gels. I usually can't even absorb a cream

What is the difference between spongy and cottony?

I think the difference is spongy hair is not shiny. When you pull it back, it doesn't reflect sharp light. Cottony hair is shiny when pulled back.

sinistral55 · 10-27-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cayisha_azul

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral55

sorry if i missed the post where you listed all of the products you used on her hair, but could you post all of the products you use on her hair?

---homemade spray consists of water, dab of vegetable glycerin, dab of Africa's Best oil (ingredients at bottom) and Cream of Nature Herba-Rich Leave-In Strand Remoisturizing Treatment in a spray bottle.

The Cream of Nature is a new addition to my homemade spray; normally my spray consists of mostly water and Africa's Best oil and/or glycerin. The C of M is the consistency of water and it's clear. I haven't bought this in a while, and the ingredient list back then was almost completely herbal. Looking at it now, I see at least one -cone, and less herbal ingredients. I use this homemade spray to moisten her sections before detangling.

---Elasta QP hair lotion

---Motions hair lotion

---pure unrefined shea butter mixed w/pure coconut oil and dollop of Africa's best oil.

---large shower comb, and soft boar's bristle brush (to smooth only, not brush the entire head)

**Mind you, I don't use all of these products at one time. Most times I use the homemade spray and one of the hair lotions.**

-------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the ingredients for the Africa's Best Oil:

Ingredients
Soy Bean Oil , Walnut Seed Oil , Kiwi Fruit Extract , Olive Fruit Oil , Castor Seed Oil , Sesame Seed Oil , Jojoba Seed Oil , Carrot Seed Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , Safflower Oil , Calendula Extract , Yarrow Extract , Cucumber Extract , Carrageenan Extract , Ginseng Extract , Sage Extract , Comfrey Extract , Aloe Extract , Fragrance

Is the underlined a 'cone?

Of the above list, I don't think any of these products have petrolatum or mineral oil.

Can you provide the ingredients for the products in bold. I tried using a bristle brush and it just made my hair more frizzy. It didn't smooth it at all. Now I use a Denman 3D brush to smooth and clumb my hair together after its been detangled with a wide tooth comb. You can find the brush at Sallys.

I haven't forgotten ya! I'll do it as soon as I get home this evening!~

Looking at the description, I think my daughter is a mixture of spongy and cottony. I just wish I could find something that makes her pigtails look neater yet doesn't COAT her hair.

I'm thinking about just using water and a little oil in her homemade spray and cutting out the other ingredients I make it with. Maybe use the Cream of Nature Leave-In less often. Her hair seems to get greasy very easily, too.

Quote:

does anyone think that the slow absorbtion of water inhibits curl defition because i noticed my curls just do not get defined unless i have left conditioner on it for a while. when i leave my hair with no products and no manipulation the end result is very undefined and resembles 4b hair.

i only get definition with a gel . i have to shellac it on before my hair starts to react to it and it then gets super defined(and super hard) LOL. its so annoying! im still searching for something that defines my curls with out the crunch. sometimes i feel like giving up.

Yes. Yes, this is her hair exactly--except I'm too afraid to use gel because she doesn't get her hair washed as often as I'd like. Sometimes I feel like giving up, too. Particulary since her hair is so LOONNNNG...stretched out, it's about 4-5 times longer than the picture of her in the braids.

She's definitely got SOME spongy, though.

cayisha_azul · 10-27-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Napp

Quote:

Originally Posted by cayisha_azul

Quote:

Originally Posted by Napp

OMG YES. i'm so glad im not the only one

ive been wearing twists since march. im sick of them and they still dont look cute on me.(the length) im thinking why am i wearing a style that looks bad on me? there are other protective styles!Shoot i think i might buy a new flat iron and wear it straight soon!

im looking into doing sets like roller sets, braid outs and twist outs for a while.

and i like that video. her vids are great. i may try some of those styles!

I tried the puff and it was a little bit of a disaster. No matter how much gel I put on my hair it doesn't slick back. I would have to use gel and tie it down at night for it to be flat. Does your hair slick back? (BTW Before you get a new flat iron, you may want to invest in curlformers. You can get it straight without the heat.)

No i CANNOT slick my hair back. this is also why i have difficulty doing a "simple" puff. to pull my hair back i kinda "lay" my hair together. when i dont use my laying technique my hair gets "flat" which is a flat,dull, crinkled look which i do not like. to lay my hair required alot of gel though which is why buns and puff are not staple styles of mine.

also curlformers are 'spensive!

i rather get flexi rods and a new flat iron.

Napp are you going to help us out by giving us your coveted laying technique?

Napp · 10-27-2009, 04:18 PM

sorry i was actually trying to think how i can explain without being confusing.

to lay my hair instead of trying to smooth hair toward the scalp i smooth it away from the scalp.

i find that a fine toothed comb is the best for this but a denman like brush can work also.

only the top layer of the layer needs to be done this way so first i comb the majority of the hair back.

then i slap on the gel and comb outwards, away from the scalp. this produces a large wavy layer or hair.

then i smooth the layer down with a light pressure. too little pressure cause the layer to lift and too much pressure cause it to beome flat.

also if i use too much gel it will become flat. when it becomes flat because of too much gel i cannot fix it without washing it and starting all over.

for some reason i cannot do this with wet hair. the hair had to be on the drier side of damp from really good results. i think this is why i use so much gel.

my gel of choice for this is wet line xtreme gel. it always gives me consistent results when i use this technique.

i also got good results with using petroleum jelly but i found it to be hard to find the right balance between good hold and greasiness.

im sorry if this sounds confusing. i plan on doing a pictorial of this next month.

this is when i 1st bced

this is with grease and conditioner