HESMU not the HG I was hoping for...

tinah · 05-25-2009, 05:50 AM

Well I went out and got some HESMU gel. I like the hold! It's done a lot to help with frizz. However, this stuff makes my hair feel really dry after a couple hours. I've been using SheaM under it for my leave in. I'm loving the SheaM but the gel...I don't like the way it makes my hair feel. I've used it twice now and it's just really dry feeling in my hair.

Does anyone know of a gel with strong hold that is moisturizing? I've seen posts on the 4boards for Elasta QP feels like silk but it is a light hold if I remember correctly. Any suggestions for a strong hold that actually moisturizes? Does that even exist?

CurlyHairedFarmer · 05-25-2009, 06:15 AM

BRHG doesn't dry my hair out

loewin · 05-25-2009, 06:36 AM

Have you tried doing the flax seed gel? You make it, you control the ingredients. You can add oils, humectants, whatever you like. There are no alcohols or anything else to dry out your hair.

Also, Botticelli Babe, a member here sells her flax seed gel on Etsy.com a lot of people rave about it and I intend to buy some fairly soon.

As for the HESMU I liked it a lot better on my longer hair, don't know why.

finch · 05-25-2009, 06:48 AM

HESMU dries my hair out as well. I've been doing a lot of reading here lately, and I think one solution may be to SOTC with something like coconut oil or jojoba oil or something similar.

I'll try it today and report back with results. LOL.

tinah · 05-25-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loewin

Have you tried doing the flax seed gel? You make it, you control the ingredients. You can add oils, humectants, whatever you like. There are no alcohols or anything else to dry out your hair.

Also, Botticelli Babe, a member here sells her flax seed gel on Etsy.com a lot of people rave about it and I intend to buy some fairly soon.

As for the HESMU I liked it a lot better on my longer hair, don't know why.

I thought that FSG was a light hold? Is it a stronger hold?

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch

HESMU dries my hair out as well. I've been doing a lot of reading here lately, and I think one solution may be to SOTC with something like coconut oil or jojoba oil or something similar.

I'll try it today and report back with results. LOL.

I have some jojoba oil - I'll give that a try tomorrow. I'll be looking forward to seeing what your results are with doing that.

kayemmkay159 · 05-25-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

I thought that FSG was a light hold? Is it a stronger hold?

I'm pretty sure that if you order some from BB you can have more hold or less hold.
heres a forum about it-
FSG made by Botticelli Babe!

Lilylou · 05-25-2009, 10:48 AM

My hair is thin, and maybe 3B. HESMU and BRHG really dry my hair out too. I was trying to SOTC with a drop of olive oil, maybe mixed with a little aloe gel. That worked okay. Lately I have been using Aubrey moisturizing gelee. I scrunch it in like Mystery Flavored does the KCCC, then use a drop of Garnier Super Stiff gel on each three sections, srunching it in. My curls dry a little crunchy (not crispy like the other two.) But they scrunch out to big, soft curls. I think it is the castor oil that helps. I've been using Kathymack's soap bar samples twice a week. They really do help with the curl and I don't get any build-up.
Linda

RozettaStone · 05-25-2009, 11:52 AM

HESMU is a disaster for me, too. I don't even know if the hold is hard, it just makes my hair all dry and frizzy right away, and sticky feeling. I like HEBE much more even if the hold is less. BRHG is probably your best bet.

Flax seed gel -- you can adjust the hold somewhat. I've only made two batches so far, so I'm not an expert by any means, but I had a *really* good hair day on Friday even after going out with still-wet hair into VERY windy nasty foggy weather. Once my hair dried, it looked great.

To adjust the hold, you would use either a higher proportion of seeds to water or you would cook it longer until it's thicker. I'd make the first batch "normal," tho, so you can get a sense of it. Be sure to strain it while it's hot and before it firms up too much. If you're going for thicker gel, you can strain the seeds at the usual point, then cook the strained gel longer until it's thicker. Whisk it up really well when done to break up the texture a little to make it easier to apply (I use a mini wire whisk).

People say that adding honey or agave nectar increases the hold, too.

finch · 05-25-2009, 02:59 PM

Well THAT sucked. I haven't used my SMU gel in a little over a week, just to let my hair have a break. Holy crap. Even when I SOTC with coconut oil, my hair just FREAKED OUT. Dry dry dry dry DRY. Please, nobody light a match near my head, it will surely go up in flames.

I glopped a pile of coconut oil on my head and will have to DT tonight to recover from this. My curls look lousy, too.

I do believe the HESMU is going under the counter in the product graveyard. Meh, there wasn't much left in this tube, anyway.

DEL2C · 05-25-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

I thought that FSG was a light hold? Is it a stronger hold?

The Honey or Agave is what gives it hold, if your hair acts funky with Humectants in super high dews the FSG may not provide enough hold for you. Most have to put a hard hold gel on top of it so it ends up being more of a curl enhancer then a stand alone gel.

ETA: BRHG doesn't dry me out at all and I've been using it since last Summer almost exclusively. I play around with other gels like Got2B and recently LaBella #10 and got decent results in higher dews. BRHG is still my fave though. I started a thread about hard hold gels Hard Hold Gel Besides BRHG, SMU

Aquage Mega Hold has worked as hard hold for some too some salons carry it.

Calling all PJ's: Who's tried Aquage Molding Mega Gel?

finch · 05-25-2009, 03:17 PM

Hey DEL, I've been thinking of getting some Aquage. Is it drying too?

Jess the Mess · 05-25-2009, 03:31 PM

I didn't find the Aquage to be drying but BRHG doesn't dry me out either. There are 2 Aquage gels to choose from if you want to try it. There was a small review thread here if you're interested.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...d.php?p=967018

finch · 05-25-2009, 03:33 PM

Yeah, I read the review threads, hence my interest in it. You women are seriously bad for my PJ tendencies. LOL. I already told my sister I want a gift certificate to Ulta for my birthday (in 2 weeks). LOL. How sad and pathetic is that??

DEL2C · 05-25-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch

Hey DEL, I've been thinking of getting some Aquage. Is it drying too?

I have no earthly idea the minute someone said it gave them volume it sent me running for the hills!!

Plus Jess didn't find it as hard holding as BRHG and we both need lots of hold. It's just too expensive to "try it out"....

Jess the Mess · 05-25-2009, 03:50 PM

Kathymack has samples of the Mega gel that gives you volume if that's what you're looking for. Honestly I finished my sample and decided to stick with BRHG. It was just "ok" gel in the end and way to pricey for just "ok" for me.

rudeechick · 05-25-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch

Hey DEL, I've been thinking of getting some Aquage. Is it drying too?

I have no earthly idea the minute someone said it gave them volume it sent me running for the hills!!

Plus Jess didn't find it as hard holding as BRHG and we both need lots of hold. It's just too expensive to "try it out"....

The Aquage gel is a teensy bit drying for me - its the first gel I have ever needed a leave in under. But the curl/definition retention is amazing.

DEL2C · 05-25-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudeechick

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch

Hey DEL, I've been thinking of getting some Aquage. Is it drying too?

I have no earthly idea the minute someone said it gave them volume it sent me running for the hills!!

Plus Jess didn't find it as hard holding as BRHG and we both need lots of hold. It's just too expensive to "try it out"....

The Aquage gel is a teensy bit drying for me - its the first gel I have ever needed a leave in under. But the curl/definition retention is amazing.

rudee you're not using the Mega Hold don't know if there's a big difference in the ingredients or not??

rudeechick · 05-25-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudeechick

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

I have no earthly idea the minute someone said it gave them volume it sent me running for the hills!!

Plus Jess didn't find it as hard holding as BRHG and we both need lots of hold. It's just too expensive to "try it out"....

The Aquage gel is a teensy bit drying for me - its the first gel I have ever needed a leave in under. But the curl/definition retention is amazing.

rudee you're not using the Mega Hold don't know if there's a big difference in the ingredients or not??

Right- am using the Defining Gel. FYI, it has Castor in it.

RozettaStone · 05-25-2009, 04:45 PM

This stuff is pricy but it sounds very interesting and apparently it gives a lot of hold -- just noticed this thread from HeatherOkay today. Scroll down to see how she uses it.

I'm mostly interested in trying this Seamoillient product made by the same vendor.

*GoW Majik Lockes and Seamollient*

tinah · 05-25-2009, 06:33 PM

I mixed some AVG with the HESMU and it's not nearly as drying. In fact, i did it at ten this morning and it's 8:30 at night right now and it feel pretty darn good. It's soft and feels hydrated but it's giving me some frizz. Plus I really want to just have one product and not have to mix them to get a firm hold gel that doesn't dry me out! So until I find one I'll keep doing the AVG with it but I'm almost out of that so I somehow see this being a vicious cycle. I think I'm gonna try something else soon tho.