To diffuse or not to diffuse?

Neleke · 03-07-2013, 02:05 AM

Good morning everyone! (or at least here it's morning)

I'm a newly natural curly (2 weeks) and I'm left with a dilemma...
This evening I will go for a swim with a friend, but that means that when I shower it will be 8pm...
My hair takes at least 6 hours to airdry so I'm considering to maybe diffuse it but I've never done this before.

SO: I have a couple of questions:
1) Is your hair "prettier" when diffused?
2) Is your hair more curly after diffusing than after airdrying? (I'm a 2b-2c at the moment, but not yet CG, will start to get CG next week probably, but I would love to get 2c-3a results)
3) Do you have any tips for me, as I am a diffusingnewbie? How should I "handle" it?

Oh... and another question that is not related to diffusing but still: so, when you go CG, you should try to stop shampooing. However I will probably go for a swim once a week and I guess the chlorine isn't good for my hair either. Would it be better to use shampoo after the swim then? (Yesterday I have bought a shampoo with 1 sulfate and no silicones) Or should I just stick to using only conditioners and no shampoo?

And: complaint of the day: omg, my hair is so frizzy and dry today! ugh... probably because for once I didn't pineapple it over night... With pineappling I can easily get "nice" 2nd and 3rd day hair...

Anyways:
So: to diffuse or not to diffuse?

kathymack · 03-07-2013, 05:21 AM

First off, it's good to know your hair properties. Here's a link to help with that Live Curly Live Free - Curly Hair Basics It will help people advice you about your hair.

My hair is fine/low porosity. It's not longer dense (age, thyroid and a medication I take.) When I worked, and didn't use product, I'd shower around 6 am, diffused for a few minutes and my hair would still be damp around 11:30--that's low porosity.

Now, I use product in soaking wet hair, wrap in a Curlease towel while I dress and put on make up, use a Curls Like Us cloth to scrunch out more water and help shape curls--then I diffuse for a while. Diffusing not only helps dry, but it causes the products to "set" and hold the curls while they dry.

My hair is too short to pineapple.

Many of us start out with similar curl type. As you get to know your hair and ingredients it likes, it's possible that you'll get tighter curls.

The foundation for everything is a good cut. You need good layering to help "lighten" your curls and avoid the weight from pulling them out. It also "shapes" your hair and helps avoid the "triangle" look.

kathymack · 03-07-2013, 05:24 AM

Forgot to answer your question about chlorine. Look for products that have a chelating agent--CJ Daily Fix has Tetrasodium EDTA. You may want to use that, or something like it.

Neleke · 03-07-2013, 01:59 PM

It seems I'm not good at diffusing yet...

I put a section of my hair in the diffuserbowl, brought it up to my head, put the dryer on, left it there for 30 seconds, put the dryer off and repeated that with every section until 80% dry.

I didn't get more curl definition but it just got more messy.

I will however try again when I don't have a lot of time, but for now, when I have the time to let it airdry I will not diffuse.

@kathysmack: I find it really difficult to determine my hair properties with every site. I keep on doubting between low and high porosity and fine and thick hair.
I already have considered sending a bit of my hair in to the hair analysis thingie from livecurlylivefree but 1) it's a bit expensive for a student who doesn't work yet and 2) especially: I live in Belgium, so shipping costs would probably be high and also, I noticed that where I live, post packages tend to disappear..

However: I posted a topic on the low porosity board with a description of how my air acts and what is strange about my hair... But nobody answered yet