Hair Product OD - Overdose

[Syrah]

Many of us live and die by certain products - I know MaCherie, with her beautiful head of hair, swears by KeraCare. Miss Mizani seems to be quite a fan of the Aveda line of products. I know there are some sisters who can't leave the house without the daily dabble of Elasta QP Mango Butter, Jojoba/Olive Oil, LeKair or ORS Mayo...and me, I go NOWHERE, and I mean NOWHERE without my ABbA Nourishing (I'm so sick I carry a 2 oz bottle in my purse in case I find myself at the pool and in need of some moisture).

But I'm wondering are we overdosing our hair. In otherwords, are all these intensive product regimens really doing anything for our hair, or is it more about the piece of mind?!

Like many when I joined this board I suffered from some SERIOUS PJ'ism - my behind was in critical condition. I purchased all kinds of products trying to see what works and what doesn't. Until one I was like "I cant be bothered" and got lazy - and low and behold, the simplest regimen seemed to do the most for me.

So I'm wondering, all these serious regimens that involve 14.5 products from start to finish - are they really doing anything for our hair?! Or is more for piece of mind - the thought that our individual heads can't survive without _____ or must have _____ when in reality, it's doing nothing for us.

:::Sex and the City moment:::

I can't help but wonder, have we gone mental for hair products?!

 

[Mizani_Mrs]

OK Carrie Bradshaw. I just really love your 'sex in the city' moments... Those were my girls... anyways. I think that the large majority of the PJs on this site, they aren't buying a collection of products to use all of them for the rest of their lives. We are just trying out products so that we can find our staples so that we can create a simple routine with what works best for our hair... Maybe i should speak only for myself, but i believe it to be true. I blew alot of money last year on trying stuff but i certainly do not plan and did not spend nearly as much this year. But there are a few that do add like 8 conditioners to their weekly routine. I personally do not believe the hair would benefit because it would already be fully saturated and fully conditioned by the time the 2nd-3rd product is on the hair. But hey whatever....it's your hair, you can put 50 products on there for all i care....

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

I agree...I think that too many products will actually hurt you in the long run...I agree with Mizani_Mrs...I started to have pjism in a quest to find my staples...but I didnt want to continue to be a pj so I decided enough is enough...I am going to pick a simple routine...basic products try it for 4-5 months...then revaluate... all the women with beautiful hair keep it simple and consistent... its a little daunting to just decide to "marry" yourself to a set of products...but I think in the long run its worth it....

 

[punchinella]

I am so glad I came into this thread because I was just looking in my closet at the 10 different jars of conditioner (I did'nt even count the shampoo). And I was thinking when am I going to use all of this stuff? Sometimes I will mix like four conditioners together and apply it just to use them up. But I have to get it down to at least two lines that I can alternate between before this PJ overdoses.

 

[WomanlyCharm]

When I first found the board I went beserk buying stuff...just yesterday I was looking on top of and under my bathroom sink at ALL THE BOTTLES!
I was like, "what was I thinking?"

I've finally found (what I hope) are the products that work best for my hair. I think that's what drives us to buy product after product after product. For now, my PJ-ism is cured...but I know I can have a relaspe at any time.

 

[macherieamour]

UGh I hear ya! I have closets full of products on top of products.

For me, Sticking with one line enabled me to keep it simple. No more shopping around, trying out new things.. Im done Its like a one-stop shop for me. Pretty much everything in the line works well on my hair. I dont feel the need to try anything else. And after such a long time, that feels sooo good!

Regarding the quantity of products, I think it depends on your hair. I do think Hair companies convince you that you need a lot of products for you hair, esp for black women. But, I remember when i just deep conditioned and used gloss and water to set my hair, my hair was really bouncy at first but dry after that. My hair needs a lot of moisture and as Ive integrated more products, its seems a lot more supple and softer. Im on the Consistency challegne so Ill comment on the results after its over.

 

[HoneyDew]

I do think it is possible to OD on it.

My hair just does better when I keep it simple.

I pretty much stick with the same shampoos, but my conditioner supply is ENDLESS.

I have been on a personal challenge to stop buying more products unless I need to replenish my staples. (Ok, Ok, I bought some of that new Sunsilk)

I used to think the selection of things that worked for my hair were limited, but now that SO MANY yummy conditioners work so well and smell so good, I think I am just addicted to that.

Also,I havea problem of overstocking my staples like they are going to run out of them in america or something. I have issues!

I did sell a bunch of stuff on ebay, but that did not even put a dent in my supply.

Someone had a good idea about prepooing more to get rid of extra conditoners and that has been going well.

 

[Syrah]

And I think that's the idea - so many of us have gone mental over products. Lord knows I was stoppin at the beauty supply daily - I swear I covered their rent alone for a few months.

And then I realized, all this nonsense isn't doing anything for me. keep it simple, right?!

I'm just wondering do some of us stick to these SERIOUS hair regimens more for piece of mind - that it's got to be doing something for our hair - even though it isn't?

 

[2cute2B4gotten]

I thought I was bad with products until I started reading some of the posts here... I had to STOP buying all of those products and the way I did it was stopping my weekly runs to the BSS. I knew it was bad when I would be late for class because I couldn't pull myself out of there. I realized that trying all of those products weighed my hair down and made it look like I had like 2 strands of hair. Right now, I am moisturizing with one product per week (because I suffer from dry hair) to see what really works in my hair.

 

[foxybrownsugar]

I have gotten rid of alot of products esp. the redundant ones like 5 bottles of condish makes no sense because I go to the store every weekend. Now, I only have a small basket filled with products. The only multiple products I have now are oils (that's ok for me) and gels (I probably will give to my niece). Yesterday, I trashed my bbb cuz some bristles came out. I will not be buying another (I hope) I am just using my pik, large rake comb, and my fingers to smooth my hair down. I am working my way down to minimal products so I don't have to clarify too much, those sulfates are the devil!

 

[gradygirl]

I am very much a recovering pj. For me at first it was almost impossible not to be because I had no idea what worked on my hair so alot of it was just trial and error but like someone said earlier you have to get to a point where you say thats enough. I was so glad when I finally found my staples. It was such a relief to be finally satisfied with what I was using.

 

[LovelyLionessa]

I do think it is possible to OD on it.

My hair just does better when I keep it simple.

I pretty much stick with the same shampoos, but my conditioner supply is ENDLESS.

I have been on a personal challenge to stop buying more products unless I need to replenish my staples. (Ok, Ok, I bought some of that new Sunsilk)

I used to think the selection of things that worked for my hair were limited, but now that SO MANY yummy conditioners work so well and smell so good, I think I am just addicted to that.

Also,I havea problem of overstocking my staples like they are going to run out of them in america or something. I have issues!

I did sell a bunch of stuff on ebay, but that did not even put a dent in my supply.

Someone had a good idea about prepooing more to get rid of extra conditoners and that has been going well.

This is my little OCD too, I've got issues too! I stockpile like crazy! erplexed


Thank God for the old "use up the conditioners you don't want" pre poo trick. My brand of pjism has calmed down, I have been able to resist a lot products mentioned on the boards and new lines that are out in stores now. And thank goodness for NTM, it has added a new found stability to my haircare life, finding my staple line. But cheap conditoners that smell delicious are the monkey on my back. The weakness that I have to deal with now, besides stocking up on faves, is compulsively buying those insanely cheap VO5 conditioners. I think I have about 20 of them in my product closet. This is disturbing to me on so many levels.

 

[sherann]

I have to admit, I am a product junkie and recovery is far in the future. For me it is not enough to find one thing that works, I have to have several backups. I can't tell you how many of my faves have been discontinued or have changed formulas (and the new formulas don't work for my hair). So I'll always try something new so that I won't lose my mind if a dependable product is no longer available (well, maybe I'll slow down the rate at which I add new things ).

 

[Shine-On]

These are the types of products my hair seems to need:

• Pre-poo w/ DC (protein or moisture depending on what my hair needs)
• Shampoo
• Rinse Out Conditioner
• Leave-in
• Serum

Once my hair is rollerwrapped, I moisturize nightly with the leave-in and wrap it up. I use a polisher for shine if needed. 6-7 products should do the trick. Why do I have a closet full with ear-length hair

I hope to get to the point where I can use the same conditioner for my pre-poo DC, rinse-out and leave-in. 3 staples, that would be heavenly.

When I think of it this way, this seems so simple. What else does my hair need? Am I missing something?

 

[trinigul]

I have to admit, I am a product junkie and recovery is far in the future. For me it is not enough to find one thing that works, I have to have several backups. I can't tell you how many of my faves have been discontinued or have changed formulas (and the new formulas don't work for my hair). So I'll always try something new so that I won't lose my mind if a dependable product is no longer available (well, maybe I'll slow down the rate at which I add new things ).

As long as you all keep on raving, I'll be at the BSS.

"I got 20" with Brand X," then I look at your pics and they're gorgeous...I just wanna be like Mike.