Moisture Question for Naturals

[MariposaMorena08]

Hello, all! I am a 4 a/b who has some *DRY* hair. I'm sure that it's not scab hair. I have tried so many different moisture products (i.e. Olive Oil Hairdressing and shea butter) and they either do not moisturize my hair at all or they leave my hair greasy. Any folks out there with some seriously dry hair who can offer their assistance?

 

[Belladonna]

Hello, all! I am a 4 a/b who has some *DRY* hair. I'm sure that it's not scab hair. I have tried so many different moisture products (i.e. Olive Oil Hairdressing and shea butter) and they either do not moisturize my hair at all or they leave my hair greasy. Any folks out there with some seriously dry hair who can offer their assistance?

I would try shea butter and or nourishing creme by jane carter solution.Those seem to help with dryness. Hope it helps you

 

[Chicoro]

Hey!

My hair is super dry also. If I don't put anything in my hair, it dries almost crunchy, like brillo.

I think different oils and butters work for different people. A couple of things you may want to try: lightly moisten your hair with water, from a spray bottle. Add a little castor oil or your favorite butter to the moistened hair, then place a shower cap over your head and sleep on it. The next morning your hair will be moisturized and soft. Some ladies poke holes in the cap so that the hair stays moist but is not "wet" in the morning. I like to use this technique at night and use the baggie method during the day.

 

[saqqara]

Hello, all! I am a 4 a/b who has some *DRY* hair. I'm sure that it's not scab hair. I have tried so many different moisture products (i.e. Olive Oil Hairdressing and shea butter) and they either do not moisturize my hair at all or they leave my hair greasy. Any folks out there with some seriously dry hair who can offer their assistance?

Try www.qhemetbiologics.com. She doesn't use shea butter in her products saying it never worked for her hair.

 

[Philosophy]

Like you I have learned that many over-the-counter oils/butters/cremes/moisturizers didn't do a thing for me. These products often just sat on top of my hair and made it feel greasy, even grimy. I discovered that water is the absolute BEST moisturizer ever!!! Additionally, I learned that adding vegetable glycerin to water helps my hair to retain moisture for days!!! Vegetable glycerin is a natural humectant meaning that it attracts water molecules - so once the water itself dries out the glycerin is still attracting water molecules from the air

I like to mix 1 part water with one part glycerin OR 2 parts water with 1 part glycerin. I put this mixture in a spray bottle and use as a daily spritzer. Sometimes I even like to add a few drops of essential oils, especially rosemary!

Although I'm not a huge fan of oils, I have found that natural oils such as jojoba, almond, avacodo, apricot, and grapeseed do a better job of penetrating my strands. This is because the molecules in these oils are some of the only ones small enough to enter the hair shaft. Any of these oils can also be added to the water/glycerin spritzer to help seal in the moisture. All of these oils (including the glycerin) can be purchased at your local health food store or online.

However, from time to time there are a very few OTC products I like and the best of those is S-Curl.

I have Very Course, Extremely Dry Natural Hair. I am a true 4B I above suggestions have worked great for me!! They make my hair so soft... As a child I never thought that I could have soft managably cottainy hair like this. Over time these mixtures have made a huge improvment in my hair, I love it

I haven't tried them yet, but you also might want to consider some of the products made with natural ingedients sold by ladies on the internet. I hear that there are quite a few good ones, I can think of any now but I will post some later. Hope this helps


P.S. Try doing an internet "search" for humectants and glycerin...
AND take a look @ www.nappturality.com - lots of great info and support for naturals...

 

[inthepink]

I'd recommend Carol's Daughter products specifically Healthy Hair Butter and Hair Milk!

 

[Brownshugaz]

water and coconut oil

 

[Shawnee66]

I have type 4b hair and it was extremely dry. I found that since I stopped using harsh shampoos my hair is not dry. I use JASON, Dr. Bonner's or Black Soap shampoos. I also add Lily of the Valley aloe vera gel or juice to my shea butter because I find using shea butter straight makes my hair dry and hard. I apply the shea-aloe mixture while my hair is damp, I find this works well for my hair.

 

[loonatick]

I have type 4b hair and it was extremely dry. I found that since I stopped using harsh shampoos my hair is not dry. I use JASON, Dr. Bonner's or Black Soap shampoos. I also add Lily of the Valley aloe vera gel or juice to my shea butter because I find using shea butter straight makes my hair dry and hard. I apply the shea-aloe mixture while my hair is damp, I find this works well for my hair.

How do you make this?
Do you melt the shea butter and add the aloe juice then?

I would like to try this.....

 

[PaperClip]

Ever since I stopped using direct oils on my hair and focused on water-based products, my hair's doing sooooooo much better.... I suppose the only oils I get are mixed in products (low on the ingredient list) or essential oils as part of a spritz/deep treatment. I do not use oils or butters directly on my hair at all.
HTH

 

[babyblue]

Unfortunately straight shea butter doesn't work for everybody and can leave your hair coated with build up and block moisture out if put directly on dry hair. Shea butter alone doesn't work for me, but blended pomades containing shea along with other oils, aloe, water etc. work much better especially when you apply a light coating on damp hair. I also find that a little bit of castor oil alone on damp hair helps seal in lots of moisture which lasts several days too.
on humid days products with glycerine work very well also ex. s-curl or preferably your own home made water/glycerine combo. But unfortunately this depends on the weather and won't work if you live in a dry climate

 

[Shawnee66]

How do you make this?
Do you melt the shea butter and add the aloe juice then?

I would like to try this.....

I like my shea butter whipped so I melt the shea before I apply the aloe. I place some shea butter (about 2-3 tbls) in a bowl, place the bowl in a pot or pan with boiling hot water. Once the shea butter melts, I place the bowl in the freezer for about 10-15 mins (until it starts the form solid), I then take it out (sometimes I add a few EO oils such as Rosemary, Myrrh, sandalwood or grapefruit) and whip it with a hand blender or mixer until it looks like frosting. I then add about 1 tbls of aloe vera gel or juice to it, whip it some more. I put it in a jar and use it to twist my hair, I usually apply it when my hair is wet. I hope this helps.

 

[locabouthair]

i have EXTREMELY coarse and dry 4b natural hair. the only thing that has worked for me is s curl. my hair is sooooo much softer when i use it. i highly recommend it. if there is a target near you buy the small 8 oz bottle for about $2. just in case you dont like it it wont be a big waste of money.HTH

 

[Wildchild453]

I recommend Qhemet Biologics, I love it and it keeps my hair really moisturized. I also use a olive oil, water, conditioner spritz that works great

 

[so1913]

Ever since I stopped using direct oils on my hair and focused on water-based products, my hair's doing sooooooo much better.... I suppose the only oils I get are mixed in products (low on the ingredient list) or essential oils as part of a spritz/deep treatment. I do not use oils or butters directly on my hair at all.
HTH

I do a lot of conditioner washes and a water based leave in (BBD Stretch) and it helps keep my hair very well moisturized.

 

[freedom]

i,ve found that adding an extra deep conditioner a week and coconut oil have really helped my natural 4a/b hair.

 

[angellazette]

Frequent CWs and a spritz of water, conditioner, oil (coconut)

 

[BamaBelle]

Ever since I stopped using direct oils on my hair and focused on water-based products, my hair's doing sooooooo much better.... I suppose the only oils I get are mixed in products (low on the ingredient list) or essential oils as part of a spritz/deep treatment. I do not use oils or butters directly on my hair at all.
HTH

I think you've made a great point! I'm going to try using water-based products instead. Thanks RelaxerRehab... BTW, did you get my PM?

 

[nefertitiblack]

Frequent CWs and a spritz of water, conditioner, oil (coconut)

ITA. CW's helped me most of all. And realize that you may have to moisturize your hair more that once per day.

 

[misspriss]

Ever since I stopped using direct oils on my hair and focused on water-based products, my hair's doing sooooooo much better.... I suppose the only oils I get are mixed in products (low on the ingredient list) or essential oils as part of a spritz/deep treatment. I do not use oils or butters directly on my hair at all.
HTH

Cosigning! If I put oil on dry hair it comes out greasy not moisturizing, but if I use these same oils on wet well-conditioned hair then when it dries, it's nice and soft. If I moisturize dry I always use water-based products (I like CD Hair Milk or leave-in conditioner).

 

[morehairplease]

great thread ladies. My hair is extremely dry no matter what I do to it/for it. This weekend I am going to wild oats for sage oil & rosemary tea and will look for the vegetable glycerine as well.

thanks ladies

 

[PaperClip]

I think you've made a great point! I'm going to try using water-based products instead. Thanks RelaxerRehab... BTW, did you get my PM?

No, I didn't get your PM... I'm still new trying to figure this board out! (Smile!) I'll check it now.... Thank you!

 

[MariposaMorena08]

Wow, ladies, thanks for the great suggestions! I have used shea butter as well as shea butter mixed with eo's on damp hair, and it has never seemed to work well for me. I do CW and wet my hair every morning, but it still seems very dry. I am slow to use s-curl because I am thinking that it will sit on top of my hair like the shea has.

I would like to try the glycerin as well as the coconut oil. I used Healthy Hair Butter while transitioning and really liked it, I'm not sure why I didn't buy any more??

Next question, ladies. If you apply styling products, do you apply your moisturizing products before or after?

 

[curlilocs]

You could try a glycerin and water spritz, or any glycerin based moisturizer. They seem to work best in the summer months when there's a lot of moisture in the atmosphere. You could also add honey to your conditioners for an extra kick of moisture since it is a humectant. Make sure you drink pleanty of water too. Dehydration effects us all differently, your dry hair may be your body's way of saying it needs more water in general.

 

[MariposaMorena08]

Chicoro, I like that method of moisturizing. I will certainly give it a try! Thanks!!

Ladies, one more thing...what deep conditioners do you guys use?

 

[nurseN98]

For moisture I have to use more water based products too but I mix some oils and butters into it. I can't just slap butter or oils on my hair either. I use Abba nourishing or Elucence for a leave-in.

I put my moisturizing products in first then styling...or If I'm short on time I mix em in my hand first.

 

[MissDiva]

There a some great suggestions here. I'm all for any water based products. I usually mix water with some vegetable glycerin also and spritz a couple of times a day. I also do frequent CW which help. I've been using Lekair Cholesterol or Motions CPR for my deep conditioning treatments (once a week at least).

 

[*ElleB]

Try www.qhemetbiologics.com. She doesn't use shea butter in her products saying it never worked for her hair.

I second that! I'm not a natural, but I have DRY hair. I just made a post about one of her products....

 

[hopeg80]

The glycern/oil spritz really works. I am going to have to look for some vegtable glycern. Rosewater is good in spritz also.

The ladies gave some good advice, I am also taking notes.