hmixon

All my reading around here is showing me that really the most important thing about product advice is similar hair type (not wave pattern necessarily) -- as in coarse vs fine, and porous vs non porous.

So I am looking for others with hair like mine so we can share product likes and dislikes, techniques, and other stuff that works or doesn't work for us.

I am new at this so I won't have a lot of helpful advice-- am hoping to learn and eventually have helpful advice when I get some success under my belt!

So here's my hair profile:
coarse
very porous.
dry and sucks up moisture
wavy (loose pattern in front and on top, tight underneath)

other things I am dealing with:
--still determining if I have a protein sensitivity
--easily tangled
--dealing with awful hard well water issues that make the porosity much worse (mineral poo is very drying but minerals increase dryness and porousness....)
--live in GA where the humidity will be an big issue soon and low dewpoints have been an issue these last few months and the weather changes dramatically during the day
--can not get clumps- just stringlets and it's annoying me!

Product stuff:
I am finding out that my hair can soak up the conditioner. I am leaving in vast quantities and it really helps my curl. I was always concerned that it would weigh me down but that doesn't happen. I am starting to want to experiment with butters and other products that normally 4s use.

I DT every week now. Tried JCWDT and loved it.

Still trying to determine how my hair does with oils and would move to dee if that is related to porosity and coarseness too.

Anyone else with similar hair want to share?

meadowlark2

HI! It sounds like we are hair twins. As I am fairly new to this, I can only share what I've learned so far. Check out my signature too see what I'm using.

I think the discovery of Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle rose was the best thing so far. I like the way it feels when blended with TJ's Nourish (contains some protein) which provides slip.

I'm finding that my roots need less moisture than the rest of the hair shaft, which can tolerate lots of moisture and some oils (not straight on the hair, but in a creamy conditioner like the AOHR). I use the KCKT (leave in) on the shaft and away from the roots or my roots seem greasy. The ends can suck up a lot of moisture. I tried using the AOHR by itself as a rinse out and as a leave in. I ended up with stringy hair.

I'm experimenting with applying product to very wet hair and finding that it really does help promote clumping.

Is your hair porous from heat damage or coloring? Now that I'm taking better care of my hair, it is definitely growing in less porous. I'm still wondering if puffiness is related to porosity alone or if it is a combo of coarseness, porosity & uneven curl pattern. I'm going to post this question on Struttswife's thread on porosity/texture.

I haven't tried the JCWDT yet. It is on my list.
I'd love to know what else is working for you.

__________________
cg Dec 08
fine to med texture w/ some coarse / high porosity 2c to 3a

hmixon

Hi!
I have never colored or heat styled my hair (except on rare occasions) or used chemicals since a perm on 85 (that's long gone!) so the porosity is natural- except that I am sure that this awful well water has made it much worse. I moved to GA from Oregon 1.5 years ago and had to stop using my natural products coz they didn't work with this water. I went to harsh shampoos and silicones to get my hair to be decent (plus there's no access to products here except through the internet or driving over an hour so I couldn't run down to the natural store and try new stuff...) but I didn't realize what I was doing to my hair in the long run. Now I know.

I liked suave coconut and used it for a month but then I started realizing that I needed to determine if I am protein sensitive. I also tried AOHR and my hair got strawlike. (plus I HATED the smell) but I LOVED the thickness and that product go to me to really understand that I could put GOBS of conditioner on and it really helped my curls.

I REALLY want curls/waves on my canopy and front so I have to choose between leave-in condish there and getting greasy faster or not putting it there and being FLAT-- some products have really increased the wave and not left me with a helmet flat head (but some do give me a flat head) -- and I was surprised because I have NEVER put condish up there in all my years.

One confusing thing for me is trying to figure out what I really want from my hair. Since I want root volume and waves that might require one routine but wanting my hair less messy everywhere might take another! I am tying to see that it's a good thing that my hair can do so many different things!

This canopy wave is such an issue for me that I am considering a perm on the canopy-- but first I am getting a curly cut this Thursday to see what that will do. But since I've never had waves up there no matter what the length I am not holding my breath- even though the hair stylist thinks she can help.


The other issue I've dealt with is STRINGLETS- constant!!! and I have realized that mag sufate makes them worse, and so does honey. But I haven't figured out what make them better!!! JCWDT helped a little so I am hoping more stuff in that direction will help. Gels don't help so I am going to try creams when they get here.

I am ordering lots of samples from kathymack of some heavier butters and condishes to see what combo of ingredients works for me. This is ALOT of science!!!

As a wavy do you need to low-poo at all? I can go 4 days with one co wash on day 3 okay, and possibly I could go another few if I co washed each day but I don't like getting all my hair wet every day- it's waist length and it takes HOURS to dry.

I tried KC Come Clean yesterday and liked it. I am looking forward to trying KCKT since I tangle so easily and KCCC for a cream styler that might help me clump.
It looks like you like KCCC?

I've tried lots of products so far. I am thinking that it may be the jojoba oil in the AOHR that didn't agree with me.

I co wash with VO5 Tea Therapy now and it's an okay replacement for suave and it's protein free.


I've also tried LPRNG and I think the protein was too much for me. And Lustrasilk OOC and Lustrasilk SMC. I really wanted to love these and they did leave my hair soft, but alas, stringlets....

I have tried products on dripping, and damp hair but haven't noticed and difference really except they are easier to spread when I can squish!

I want to like mousse but haven't really noticed much from it- I've tried Aussi moist and Joiwhip.

I hated LOOB. I like HHSMU and HHTT gels but I don't think that's the look I want. I am also just now trying BB's FSG and Brulee. They may be good with a good cream underneath-- they definitely make my hair soft.

I have loved really the porosity head and saw your post about puffiness. I am so looking forward to when Struttswife answers our questions again!

Gee, this turned into novel!!!!

meadowlark2

Interesting,

Sounds like some of the products I love haven't worked for you. I wonder why the AOHR made your hair feel straw like since there is no protein in it. Have you tried combining it with a protein free conditioner?

I'll check out the VO5 tea Therapy as a co-wash since it has no protein. I don't think the Suave coconut has protein. But it does have glycerin, which is no good if you are living in a low dew point climate. I should try and eliminate it and see what happens. I won't bother with the Lustrasilk based on your experience. I was curious about it.

The only place I seem to get good clumping is underneath. And that only when my hair is really wet and I don't comb the product through. The canopy is so dry and wavy, its hard to get it to clump. I get stringlets. Sometimes, I resort to twist curling to get a more even overall curl pattern.

I co wash every time I do my hair. Since I don't have good 2nd day hair, I wet my hair about every other day. If I get too much product near the roots my scalp tends to get itchy after day two. I didn't use a leave-in yesterday and my hair feels fine at the crown and roots. Unfortunately, its too dry on most of the shaft.

Check this thread on mineral buildup. I'm hoping to address this issue, since I think it can contribute to puffiness. Help from ingredients, hard-water, and/or clarifying experts

I think we need a thread that attacks the puffiness issue.

__________________
cg Dec 08
fine to med texture w/ some coarse / high porosity 2c to 3a

DEL2C

We share some similarities. This Winter has been a struggle for me. I tried lots of RICH conditioners with Oils and Styling products as well. I was left with this same feeling you're describing. It turns out, my hair doesn't do well with a lot of oils such as Jojoba, Avocado and Shea. Coconut oil on the other hand my hair drinks up and coconut milk as well.

The one diff. I see is that my hair does not suck up conditioner I have to be careful how much I use. But, my hair is shorter than yours and when it was much longer it did suck it up, quite a bit! I found that GVP Conditioning Balm was fantastic when my hair was longer but right now not so much. You would probably love it.

I really like EO Chamomile and Honey condish, LVPNG, DevaONE-C. Honey is great in the Summer but not in the cold weather because it is a Humectant. I don't know if you've tried Honey in the Warmer months. Honey in commercial products haven't bothered me though.

You may like MOP-C curl cream it has a nice hold a lot of finer haired curlies don't like it but thick hair like mine does well with it. HTH!!

__________________
Discovered CG 2007

2C Fia BSL/Thick/Med-Coarse/Low(crown)-Normal Porosity Protein and Oil Sensitive

Link-Spritz & Condish Washing

I'm aCurlJunkieJunky

My hair LOVES Coconut DESPISES Soap Bars


CJRehab or H&B Fix, Deva NO POO, EO Rose & Cham POO & Condish, CJ CurlFix, CJ Pattern Pusha, CJ CIAB, SS FHG, KCCC, BRHG, AG Mousse Gel, ACV Rinses,Shikakai Conditioning Hair Rinse.

redcelticcurls

for the AOHR straw thing.

Some people don't react well to oil heavy conditioners, and the hair feels coated or crunchy or straw like.

Also, it does have jojoba, which is really a wax and does have some protein. While many protein sensitives *can* use it, the jojoba is bound to bother someone.

__________________
Kiva! Microfinance works.

Med/Coarse, porous curly.

hmixon

Reddicurls:
I have been reading and reading and reading and reading on this site and have seen you say that info on Jojoba and oils before and it was SO helpful. I was freaking about the straw feeling a few weeks ago- but the more I read the more I saw that I really do need to experiment and try one thing a time. I've been off protein for 10 days- much improvement. Now I can add them back one at a time and see which ones I can handle if any, or if the problem is just with oils.

DEL2--I've followed your threads about your struggles this winter and it's been helpful for me to pay attention to oils too.


I have to say I NEVER thought I would be involved in scientific research when I decided to try CG! And I am do grateful to those of you that keep pouring out your experience for us newbies!
I have tried the Biolage Conditioning Balm- but it was during my Straw Episode so I need to give it another try- I don't think it was rich enough for me!!

I am hoping that a simple HAIRCUT might help some of these issues too!!! And that happens in 2 days (fearfully excited)

Robin-in-FL

I will be watching this thread with interest. My hair is coarse (meaning the hairs themselves are thick), moderately thick (4inch ponytail circumference) and I'd say wavy not curly though it does make wavies right up to the scalp. I just cut more than a foot off the bottom and now it is bra-strap length more or less. The underneath hair is completely different from the crown and does not curl much at all, it is sort of silky and smooth, but the rest of the hair is mixed but a good % of very thick wiry hairs. Not shiny, not ever smooth naturally, but I sort of don't want it tamed, if that makes sense, I like the crazy strong hair and actually kind of wish the underneath hair was like that too.

What I do know:
Plunking or scrunching works great, letting the hair find its own wave.
Twisting Does Not Work on my hair. Unless I actually want to set it on rollers and wait 2 days until the hair is dry, there is no chance that it would be willing to just roll up and then keep that shape. It may not be that curly, but it is very committed to its own pattern.

I do not seem to have issues with silicones. TreSemme shampoo was disasterous, made my hair feel like sticky cotton thread. I can leave in a lot of conditioner or styling stuff and it does not get lank and greasy, it just seems to get absorbed.

What I would like to know:
Will getting the hair really really good and moisturized, if that's even possible, just relax the curl and leave me with less?
Is the underneath hair straight because I have slept on it for so many years and mashed it straight? Or is it really different hair?

What I would like to do:
Get the maximum curliness and less frizz. Better light reflection. Keep lots of volume.

And hi everybody, first post, glad to be here.

hmixon

Welcome Robin!

I have found that getting lots of moisture into my hair really increases the curl and makes everything about my hair better. I've been doing DTs (love JCWDT) every Saturday for almost 2 months and am nowhere near overmoisturized. I can leave in a lot of leave-in and only a few times has it felt like too much. I am trying some pretty rich products now and they are getting enough moisture in finally- I used DM detangler and leave-in yesterday and my hair feels silky and almost fine and very smooth and soft- that a first for me, and there's very little frizz even on day two. I prefer more volume and it is definitely reduced so next time I'll use less leave-in, but it's good to learn how much moisture I can tolerate- and it's alot. Enough moisture does increase the curls- too much makes them reduced.

I got samples from kathymack of some of the natural and very moisturizing stuff to see what they would do for me and it's great to play around with so many products so cheaply.

I have liked MOP-C curl cream and KCCC (a steep learning curve with that one.) They both make my 2a's become 2 c's and my 2c's become 3a's.

I am learning that there's balance between max volume and max curls- I seem to give up one for the other. And I haven't found the happy medium yet. The thread on "Am I the only one who likes my hair puffy" is interesting on this topic.

I also just got a foot cut off and now I'm above BSL with layers. That has really made all the products work better! But I do still long for root wavs/curls.

I don't know that I ever had problems with silicones, but now that I've been off sulphates for 3 months I really notice how much healthier my hair is- much more moisturized. I used to love the squeaky feeling but now I am glad I'm not stripping out the moisture. I never knew what moisturized hair was! I really like KC Come clean and MOP=C shampoo.

Robin-in-FL

@HMixon, I also meant to say that I am your water & climate twin, we also have a well and water in general in FL is hard 'cause of the limestone underground. And if you think you have humidity, come down here, LOL. But I love what the humidity does for my hair, it frizzes but better curl, dry days not so good.

Thank you for info on moisture; I will condition freely.

Today one side of my hair is curlier than the other, yuck. It is hard for me to get product applied even close to evenly.