This morning's report (moved from the glycerin thread)

[Myrna]

Ok, I washed with SM, conditioned with Tresemme, washed out the conditioner, added some back in. squeezed my hair good in the shower, then blotted with a curlease towel. Applied Biotera gel and Deva Foam. Result: decent. Two problems: I dont like how my hair feels, which is what happens with conditioner left in as a leave in; and no crunch. I happen to like a little crunch, it gives me good formation and also SHINE. Suggestions appreciated - again. (Cannot find the Suave Sunshine conditioner anywhere. I wonder if they stopped making it. Had to buy a bottle of the Aloe, which I used a long time ago. Just got it for the H of it).

[turquoisecurls]

I think its called Suave Sunrise

[turquoisecurls]

Maybe the LI is too much. Same happens to my daughter if she uses LI.
Did you diffuse? That usually get's the crunch going

[Myrna]

Turquoise I went to walmart, target and to my local grocery store and no Sunrise. I clip my hair with roller Jaw clamps and let it dry but today I diffused some and I think that actually softens it; but I think I may have used too much of the conditioner as a LI, about a quarter size. my hair reaches my shoulders. Too much conditioner?

[turquoisecurls]

I just checked , its called everlasting sunshine
http://www.walmart.com/ip/23516377?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=23516377&sourceid= 1500000000000007346330&adid=22222222227000000000&w l0={matchtype}&wl1={network}&wl2={ifmobile:m}&wl3= 21486607510&wl4={aceid}&wl5=pla&veh=sem
I would try without the LI and maybe diffuse a litte longer , more cold then hot air and don't scrunch the hair while doing it

[Myrna]

ahmm, it was not at my local walmart but I can check another..I used to use their Vanilla and really liked it.

The LI was the first thing I was going to try to do different. Im not sure its the LI. I am wondering, because I used to do this, if I should apply my mousse first and then the gel. Deva does it the other way around but deva doesnt know everything about my hair. I may try a different combination of gel and mousse - maybe not the gel, because it is the only one that I really like - but maybe a different mousse....so complicated!

[Myrna]

Cant find that Suave conditioner at a local walmart.

[Jas76]

Have you tried SM's condish as a LI? I find it doesn't effect the crunch of my gel, mostly I think bc it has low slip.

One of the Suave's or vo5's might be lighter, too. I sometimes co-wash with suave clarifying, bc it's so light. That might be a good one to try.

I rarely use mousse, but if I do it's after plopping (or at least a good MF scrunch, and right before diffusing). I've heard some do it partway through diffusing, but for me I have to pixie diffuse or the clumps get disruptive and I break the gel cast too soon.

[elizard]

leave in definitely affects the crunch factor. i am of the opinion that low porosity hair does not require much leave in at all. i use about a knuckle's worth, sometimes a bit more. and that is only in the winter.

[Myrna]

I forgot too that sometimes a spritz or 2 of hairspray mixed in with my gel works wonders.

[elizard]

yes, i always set with spray gel or hairspray after i diffuse and shake my hair out. it's nowhere near dry, so it really helps the hold.

[Myrna]

Jaz, I looked at that conditioner, and I actually had it in my hands to purchase it; then I read it had emulsifying wax in in. Somehow I dont think I want wax in my hair, Noooooo - I just dont like that idea, and its in a lot of products. I also dont like the idea of hydrogenated castor oil. I am still having a struggle here. As I commented on another post, the only thing have NOT done is apply my product to soaking wet hair. I guess that is next. Just the gel, though, Deva Foam is too pricey for me to apply that over my Biotera gel, and then squeeze it out. I think I am going back to GVP, using less, maybe, than I was. I wonder how much others with coarse, low porousity hair use of their conditioner...and which ones work?