Cholesterol treatments?

[Talula]

Ppl tell me to try cholesterol treatments for my frizz.... how do others use this stuff & what results do you get? How is it made? The name sounds odd for your hair.

[coscass]

I used to get cholesterol treatments at beauty school. It comes in a little container (think of a tiny jar of mayonaise, but not REALLY tiny), as far as I know, but it could come in bottles or whatever elsewhere. I always loved the results, but perhaps that was because I was getting city water into my hair for one, and not my hard water. I don't know. I just know that we would wet my hair, then section it, apply it from root to tip, then sit under a dryer for 20-30 minutes with a shower cap on. Then rinse etc.

Now, though, I wouldn't dream of using it even though I have some sitting in my drawer. There's protein in it (or the one I have, anyway) and my hair does not like protein. However, they have some out with aloe vera and stuff in it. So you could always give it a try.

[Talula]

I used to get cholesterol treatments at beauty school. It comes in a little container (think of a tiny jar of mayonaise, but not REALLY tiny), as far as I know, but it could come in bottles or whatever elsewhere. I always loved the results, but perhaps that was because I was getting city water into my hair for one, and not my hard water. I don't know. I just know that we would wet my hair, then section it, apply it from root to tip, then sit under a dryer for 20-30 minutes with a shower cap on. Then rinse etc.

Now, though, I wouldn't dream of using it even though I have some sitting in my drawer. There's protein in it (or the one I have, anyway) and my hair does not like protein. However, they have some out with aloe vera and stuff in it. So you could always give it a try.

What happens to your hair if you use protein? I have no idea if my hair likes that.... I have long/thick/wavy/curly hair.

Thanks!

[coscass]

When I use protein, my hair gets...brittle. If I rub it between my fingers, it sounds like straw. It LOOKS like straw. It's just not a pretty picture lol. Only way to find out is trial and error though

[Talula]

Ok, but you used to love the results? :confused:

Do you think your hair has changed? Or I guess you suspected the water.....

[Gypsy]

You can get it anywhere, literally.
Kmart, Walmart, Walgreen's, Sally's.
There are different brands with different formulations; some are pure cholesterol and some have mineral oil or lanolin or whatever in it, you just have to check the labels, of course.
My hair loves it, but I can't do it more than a couple times a month.
I totally slather it on my hair after shampooing and then maybe after a vinegar rinse. Personally I can't do it without shampooing first since it does leave product in the hair, so if the hair isn't clean, then it will get pretty dirty and grimey quickly. Let it sit while I finish the shower and rinse out- shampooing being the very first thing I do in the shower so I could leave the cholesterol on as long as possible.
The MOST beneficial way, however, is to wash the hair, then out of the shower slather on the cholesterol and put on a processing cap and either use a hood dryer or a heated towel wrapped around the cap and let the heat soak in the product for about 20 minutes and then rinse out.
I'm sure you can search on here or all over the internet and get directions on what to do, though.
And directions are on the product jars, as well.

[Talula]

Ok, so I got some Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol in the green tub - see here for reviews:

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/hollywood-beauty-olive-cholesterol-bonus-size-20oz-reviews#bz-model-reviewTitle

I just washed my hair & then slathered it on & put it in a shower cap with a towel over it. I'm going to leave it on at least an hour, tho the bottle said only 2-10 minutes, I think.

So far I've found: I love the thick creamy texture, the smell is GREAT... you want to eat it, and it's leaving my scalp a little cool & tingly... but not bothering me. I'll update the thread on my results. :poot:

[Kaileida]

I believe it's protein, basically, and it probably won't help frizz. Moisture might!

[Talula]

I believe it's protein, basically, and it probably won't help frizz. Moisture might!

Hmmm... so what is protein used for? What do you recommend for frizz specifically?

My hair's not fully dry after the cholesterol yet, so I can't say for sure how I like it. My hair smells good, tho.

Thanks!

[chloeishere]

Cholesterol is a lipid (i.e. a fat). It's mildly soluble in water, because it has a small hydrophilic region.

It is a major component of cell membranes, and is required for many hormones and other important signaling molecules in the cell.

I would expect that it mostly behaves like an oil for hair, except that it is more water soluble, and the stuff you buy in tubs is generally emulsified with something to keep it in solution in the liquid.

So, it's a moisturizing deep treatment, in the most basic form. If it contains hydrolized protein of some sort, it would also be a strengthening deep treatment. But some people's hair doesn't react well to protein.

[Kaileida]

Well protein helps repair hair, it binds to the keratin and sort of "fills in" spots where it's been weakened. If you chemical dye, it's recommended you do protein treatments as a general rule. Too much protein makes hair brittle and frizzy and very very flyaway... but it's not a forever thing, you just have to clarify and moisturize.

As for what I might recommend for frizz... well even with my hairtype I'm really not prone to frizz so I can't speak from experience. But if my ends feel gross I slather a lot of cheap conditioner onto dry hair, bun it for an hour and wash it out... worth a try right?

[AmericanWoman]

Hmmm... so what is protein used for? What do you recommend for frizz specifically?

My hair's not fully dry after the cholesterol yet, so I can't say for sure how I like it. My hair smells good, tho.

Thanks!

The biggest things that stopped my hair from being frizzie were:1) combing not brushing.(except a BBB)2) Not touching my hair til dry. 3)oiling 4)CO washing
That being said Queen Helene Colesterol Treatment was around when I was a teenager. (back in the 70's!) It does have mineral oil and lanolin, so I wouldn't use it.
Dollar General has Lustra Silk Colesterol treatments, For about $2. One is Olive Oil, and one is Shea butter and Mango
The important thing to keep in mind is:don't disrupt your curl pattern and moisturise, moisturise moisturise!
I didn't mention heat styling because I don't but it goes without saying.....

[Sissy]

I like cholesterol treatments and they do tend to make my hair less frizzy. I used to use them overnight until I joined LHC. I now use them for maybe a half hour to an hour under my heat cap and then I rinse it out and heavily apply conditioner and follow up with a moisture treatment for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. If I have extra time I might even do an oiling after that to seal the moisture in.

I think people can def. overdo protein, at least I know I can, whereas I don't think it's possible for me to overdo moisture!

My favorite protein treatments are the Joico Reconstructor, the GVP generic Joico Reconstructor, Lustrasilks Shea Mango Cholesterol, and Henna N Placenda.

Oh, and if your hair does like protein a lot several of the Aubrey Organics conditioners contain protein.

[sarahbrownie]

The only thing that I found that works for me is Living Proof Frizz Serum. The stuff is genius, literally--it took two MIT scientist to come up with it. The only draw back is you have to use a heat appliance to activate it. What I did was to blow dry my hair upside down, which kept the body and a slight wave. It kept it frizz free in bad humidity.

ETA: Also, the stuff isn't cheap. A 4oz is $15 at Sephora.

[Talula]

The biggest things that stopped my hair from being frizzie were:1) combing not brushing.(except a BBB)2) Not touching my hair til dry. 3)oiling 4)CO washing
That being said Queen Helene Colesterol Treatment was around when I was a teenager. (back in the 70's!) It does have mineral oil and lanolin, so I wouldn't use it.
Dollar General has Lustra Silk Colesterol treatments, For about $2. One is Olive Oil, and one is Shea butter and Mango
The important thing to keep in mind is:don't disrupt your curl pattern and moisturise, moisturise moisturise!
I didn't mention heat styling because I don't but it goes without saying.....

Thanks a lot for the advice! I don't heat style..... haven't used a hair dryer since I was a teenager. What do you mean, don't disrupt your curl pattern? Like don't try to straighten? I don't do that... I only brush before showering (what's a BBB?), and don't touch my hair much while it's drying. The more I mess with it, the frizzier it gets, I agree. I haven't figured out the CO thing yet for my hair, but I'm cutting down on shampoo. I haven't tried oiling as yet, but others have suggested that to me, and I have some amla oil on order. Why are mineral oil & lanolin bad?

[Talula]

I like cholesterol treatments and they do tend to make my hair less frizzy. I used to use them overnight until I joined LHC. I now use them for maybe a half hour to an hour under my heat cap and then I rinse it out and heavily apply conditioner and follow up with a moisture treatment for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. If I have extra time I might even do an oiling after that to seal the moisture in.

I think people can def. overdo protein, at least I know I can, whereas I don't think it's possible for me to overdo moisture!

My favorite protein treatments are the Joico Reconstructor, the GVP generic Joico Reconstructor, Lustrasilks Shea Mango Cholesterol, and Henna N Placenda.

Oh, and if your hair does like protein a lot several of the Aubrey Organics conditioners contain protein.

So for my cholesterol treatment results....my hair was soft, felt smooth, smelled great, was kinda' thick & chunky (tho it's normally pretty thick anyway) BUT.... did nothing for the frizz on top of my head. :( No big surprise, nothing ever helps. Maybe ONE day...

Interesting you mention Henna N Placenta.... I just tried that about a week ago. Similar results to the cholesterol, for me I'd say.

What exactly is a "heat cap"? And you condition after the cholesterol? I considered the cholesterol gunk to be a heavy duty conditioner. Then you did a moisture treatment? Then maybe oil? See I'm really confused.... I'd think either the cholesterol or the conditoner or the oil would all be for moisture.... so what does your moisture treatment consist of? I'm clueless, I guess!

Thanks so much for all you gals' help! Love it here. :)

[Talula]

The only thing that I found that works for me is Living Proof Frizz Serum. The stuff is genius, literally--it took two MIT scientist to come up with it. The only draw back is you have to use a heat appliance to activate it. What I did was to blow dry my hair upside down, which kept the body and a slight wave. It kept it frizz free in bad humidity.

ETA: Also, the stuff isn't cheap. A 4oz is $15 at Sephora.

I'd try it.... except I don't even own a hairdryer, and don't really want to start heat styling after all these yrs of air drying. But I appreciate the tip!

[zule]

Yes, cholesterol is extremely important to the body. But I thought it was a waxy alcohol/steroid, not a lipid. I can't find anything on google, but I must be using the wrong keywords.

[Sissy]

So for my cholesterol treatment results....my hair was soft, felt smooth, smelled great, was kinda' thick & chunky (tho it's normally pretty thick anyway) BUT.... did nothing for the frizz on top of my head. :( No big surprise, nothing ever helps. Maybe ONE day...

Interesting you mention Henna N Placenta.... I just tried that about a week ago. Similar results to the cholesterol, for me I'd say.

What exactly is a "heat cap"? And you condition after the cholesterol? I considered the cholesterol gunk to be a heavy duty conditioner. Then you did a moisture treatment? Then maybe oil? See I'm really confused.... I'd think either the cholesterol or the conditoner or the oil would all be for moisture.... so what does your moisture treatment consist of? I'm clueless, I guess!

Thanks so much for all you gals' help! Love it here. :)

Hi,

From what I understand. Cholesterol is considered a protein treatment and it's always good to follow up a protein treatment with a good deep conditioning treatment. You see, protein and moisture treatments are not the same thing. Protein treatment = Cholesterol treatment. Moisture treatment = moisturizing conditioner or conditioner or shea butter mixed with some kind of humectant like honey or molasses or castor oil. Humectants attracts and retains moisture in your hair. A moisture treatment could be an SMT or just your favorite conditioner. Put it on your hair after you rinse out the cholesterol (protein) treatment and leave it in for a bit. When I spoke about following up with an oil I was referring to seal in the moisture. Not all oils provide moisture, but they do a nice job of sealing it in. I think there are a few oils that can penetrate the shaft and moisturize the hair (there are varying beliefs about this though as far as I'm aware). One thing is for sure, oils can do a great job at sealing in moisture. Therefore, if you do a protein treatment (too much protein can make your ends brittle) you may want to follow up with a moisture treatment (deep conditioning of some sort) then you can seal in all that goodness with a tad of oil as a leave in.

A heat cap is a cap you put over your head and it gets quite warm/hot and helps to let the good stuff on your hair work. I have this Mastex (http://www.amazon.com/Mastex-Electric-Thermal-Warmer-Beauty/dp/B0012IZAWW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1264646949&sr=1-3) one (however, when I Got mine amazon was doing free shipping on it). You can also get one at Sally Beauty Supply or maybe even Wal-Mart. For me, they have made a definite improvement in my SMTs and other deep conditioning and cholesterol treatments. If you don't have the extra dash to invest in one you can mimic one by wrapping a hot towel on your head. Put your treatment on and cover your hair with an inexpensive plastic shower cap. Moisten a towel throw it in the dryer until it gets hot. Wrap it around your head.

Hope this helps!

[EmpressRi]

I usually mixed honey and oil into mine for a deep treatment but I used the lustrasilk argan oil one the other day as a leave it and it totally obliterated my frizz and my curls are feeling very silky and soft right now.

[AmericanWoman]

Thanks a lot for the advice! I don't heat style..... haven't used a hair dryer since I was a teenager. What do you mean, don't disrupt your curl pattern? Like don't try to straighten? I don't do that... I only brush before showering (what's a BBB?), and don't touch my hair much while it's drying. The more I mess with it, the frizzier it gets, I agree. I haven't figured out the CO thing yet for my hair, but I'm cutting down on shampoo. I haven't tried oiling as yet, but others have suggested that to me, and I have some amla oil on order. Why are mineral oil & lanolin bad?

Well, not touching my hair til dry helps my curls/waves form. When I was brushing with a regular brush, I'd get Bush. lol Over brushing or combing will turn the curls into frizz. I can use a BBB (boar bristle brush) on 2nd/3rd day without getting a frizzy bush. I get the little ripples you see in my sig pic. My hair is much curlier the day I wash/CO. If I brushed my hair the 1st day it would go POOF- I'll make you look like the wicked witch now!take that!!
Mineral oil is hard to get out of hair, builds up even with washing and I think it dries hair out over time. Some here might disagree. Try a little oil whle your hair is still damp, or before washing.
I can go to sleep with my hair wet and my hair is curly and soft as silk when I wake up. HTH