I think my hair needs moisture

[windinherhair]

I think my hair really needs a moisture treatment. My routine since joining LHC has been: organic shampoo scalp washes, and conditioning the lengths. I rinse completely, then rinse again with ACV. I let my hair air dry, and later I apply camilla oil. I repeat this same routine every 4 to 7 days. This has always worked really well for me.

I read the article again about To Cone or not to Cone. (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=13) Although oil has always made my hair feel soft and silky before, I feel it has that crunchy and dry feeling expressed in the article above. I really think my hair needs a moisture treatment. I'm just not sure what I should do since I have not needed that before until now.

I could try my organic conditioner and leave it in my damp hair over night. Would that be considered a good moisture treatment? I'm not sure if I am ready to use cones again after my hair has been used to going without it for so long. Of course I want what is best for my hair, and that it gets the moisture it needs. My biggest concern about cones, in the article it states that it requires a detergent or sulfate shampoo to remove? I dont know if this would apply to me if I would only use the cones one time for a deep conditioning treatment. Wouldn't my organic conditioner do the same? The thing with cones is they lock in the moisture, right?

Any suggestions for a natural, yet simple, moisture treatment that has just as good results?

[Katze]

I really like SMT with natural conditioner. It always does the trick. When my hair is just feeling dry and nothing helps, and/or my scalp is itchy or crusty, SMT really makes a difference. When I feel like my hair is just 'blah' I sometimes do SMTs with every wash (but this is hard to do when you work AND have a baby!)

SMTs really rescued my hair and scalp so I am a bit biased.

hth!

[Gothic Lolita]

It is aslo possible that you have oil built up un your length. A wash with your normal shampoo should take care of that. After that you still can use your organic conditioner as a moisture treatment. Simply apply it all over, leave it on as long as you wish and rinse. To make it even more moisturizing you could, as Katze suggested, add a few ingredinets to make an SMT. For example you could use Aloe Vera gel, honey, but also add oil, plain organic yoghurt, but also mix different conditioners together.

[aisling]

I think you should start by clarifying as not only cones may cause buildup. everything you write makes me think you have buildup, using a probably gentle shampoo on scalp only, conditioning the length, oils that have stopped working and a routine that you've had for quite a while. A harsher sulfate shampoo is nothing evil at all, use it!

[Carolyn]

Cones can lock in moisture if your hair is already well moisturized. But they will also lock out much needed moisture if your hair is dry. I agree with Aisling, the first thing to do when having a hair problem is to clarify your hair and go from there.

[Fethenwen]

Hmm, I do wonder if I have an oil build up going on too? I have been pre-oiling my hair quite much lately, and alway on dry hair. I wash my hair with indian herbs at the moment, I was suspecting I was using a too strong dilution of the herbs so they dry out my hair.

But what if it's the oils that lock out moisture :hmm: Maybe I should try and oil my hair when it's wet next time, I'm afraid in my case, clarifying would make my hair super frizzy in this state.

But to the OP I recommend clarifying if you feel your hair needs it, and an SMT to follow.

[MandaMom2Three]

I've had wonderful results from an overnight catnip soak! I just make a mug of catnip tea, dip my ponytail in then tie a bag around my ponytail and go to bed. I rinse out in the morning. Feels wonderful! I wish I could do that right now but I packed my catnip LOL. I wonder if hibiscus would work as well :hmm: . I think I know what I'm doing tonight :D

[windinherhair]

Thank you all for the responses. I will check out much-recommended SMT! :thumbsup:

I think I may have built up on my length too, so I will do a complete wash next time. I can't remember the last time I did that, but it has been a while. :) I just get so used to my routine, and there has been a lot going on for me right now, I've had a lot on my mind. I will read more about the help from catnip too.

[windinherhair]

Thank you SMT!!! :cheese: It really worked well. ;)