Dry canopy?

Rubber Biscuit · 05-26-2012, 12:58 PM

Hey y'all! I have a little problem, that I think many of us curlies share, and maybe you can help me out with it.

My canopy (top layer of hair) is very dry and the texture is much coarser and less curly than the rest.

I'm aware that the top layer of hair takes the most "beating" from the sun, wind, the pillow, etc., so I don't expect it to ever look and feel like the rest of my hair, but I would like to improve its condition to some degree.

My hair is 3b with a 3a canopy. Medium porosity and coarseness overall, but very coarse for the canopy. The canopy doesn't really clump or lie flat. It's always puffing up off the top of my head. If the wind blows, it poofs out even more and all the strands separate from each other.

I'm currently using Renpure Organics Amazing Miracle conditioner, then a nickel-sized amount of Camellia oil, then KCKT, then Biotera styling gel, and if it is really humid, a touch of BRHG.

How do you handle your dry canopy?

kathymack · 05-26-2012, 02:49 PM

When I first started on nc.com, my crown/canopy was really an issue. Now, it's not. I think it was getting the right products to supply the correct protein/moisture balance for my hair. A lot of curlies mistake coarseness for dryness. If your hair is coarse, then protein isn't the answer. If it's just dry, then it might be.

I didn't find KCKT moisturizing enough for my hair. You may want to try more moisture. I was allergic to anything Bioterra, but I also found that my hair didn't like the chemicals in gel type products (especially polyquats 4 and 10.) I use jelly products--I define that as the gelatinous consistency without the chemicals.

Overall, my hair likes the more natural products from the online, boutique type companies. I use minute amounts of really rich products and finish with a jelly. Do at least one PT a week and use a lot of products with protein. No more canopy issues. It's been a few years.

The other thing that really helps is regular haircuts.

Curlini · 05-26-2012, 07:36 PM

I agree with Kathymack's advice to take a closer look at the products you're using - perhaps switch to a more moisturizing conditioner and jellies rather than gel. Perhaps a curl cream on your canopy would help too. Since you describe your hair as medium texture you may want to experiment to see how your hair responds to protein treatments and protein heavy products - you may not need as much protein as someone with fine hair like Kathymack's . Your hair has similar properties to mine - I'm wondering if you ever use Aloe vera gel, Flax seed gel or KCCC? I find all of these help me maintain moisture. Plus, I sleep on a silk pillowcase and I think this has helped too. Good luck!

Rubber Biscuit · 05-28-2012, 12:48 PM

You ladies are awesome! Thanks for taking the time to answer my silly little question

In a nutshell, I experimented like crazy when I first joined this site and have learned that protein, mousse, coconut oil, anything Curl Junkie, and curl creams are not my friends

Everything else seems to be fair game, though.

I had been using KCCC religiously for 3 years, but it recently started to seem like it wasn't doing what it used to do. The Bioterra is pretty good. 90% of my hair looks quite lovely with the combination of products I'm using, it's just the top layer of my hair that has the problem. Actually, no matter what I've used, it is has always looked problematic. Which has lead me to always finish my hair with a hard hold gel -- it's needed just for that section alone.

I guess my problem is that that layer of hair is just much coarser (not really drier), and less curly than the rest of my hair so it's not reacting the same way to these products.

I tried adding another thin layer of the Renpure as a leave-in just for the canopy and skip curling (is that what it's called???) the top, and it looked better, but not good.

Do you have any recommendations for other jellies and more moisturizing conditioners I could try? Although, I have to admit, I'm loving the Renpure right now (was using Elucence and thought it was meh).

ETA: I used to love using the original Shea Moisture leave-in conditioner, back when it was referred to as SheaM on here. That did wonders for my hair. I can't find it locally, and online places want to charge more for shipping me two bottles than for what they actually cost. Is this Shea Moisture the same line as the one that is now sold at Target and elsewhere? I tried and disliked the stuff from Target.

kathymack · 05-28-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubber Biscuit

You ladies are awesome! Thanks for taking the time to answer my silly little question

In a nutshell, I experimented like crazy when I first joined this site and have learned that protein, mousse, coconut oil, anything Curl Junkie, and curl creams are not my friends

Everything else seems to be fair game, though.

I had been using KCCC religiously for 3 years, but it recently started to seem like it wasn't doing what it used to do. The Bioterra is pretty good. 90% of my hair looks quite lovely with the combination of products I'm using, it's just the top layer of my hair that has the problem. Actually, no matter what I've used, it is has always looked problematic. Which has lead me to always finish my hair with a hard hold gel -- it's needed just for that section alone.

I guess my problem is that that layer of hair is just much coarser (not really drier), and less curly than the rest of my hair so it's not reacting the same way to these products.

I tried adding another thin layer of the Renpure as a leave-in just for the canopy and skip curling (is that what it's called???) the top, and it looked better, but not good.

Do you have any recommendations for other jellies and more moisturizing conditioners I could try? Although, I have to admit, I'm loving the Renpure right now (was using Elucence and thought it was meh).

ETA: I used to love using the original Shea Moisture leave-in conditioner, back when it was referred to as SheaM on here. That did wonders for my hair. I can't find it locally, and online places want to charge more for shipping me two bottles than for what they actually cost. Is this Shea Moisture the same line as the one that is now sold at Target and elsewhere? I tried and disliked the stuff from Target.

Pretty sure they are the same company. I was allergic to the SheaM li, so wasn't interested in trying any more of their products. Most of the time, the mass marketed products don't have the same high quality ingredients. CURLS line is different, too. KCCC sells the "same" product by the same name, so I think the quality has stayed the same. I haven't bought it on the ground.

Many of us rotate products. My hair has always satiated on product, even back in my shampoo/conditioner only days. I wet, use a rinse out and style every day. Seldom let myself use any one product more then once every five days, it that. I use a lot of rich, moisturizing products and jellies. Most of my favorites are in my signature.