Changing Routines

[JoannaStitches]

My hair is evvvvvil and kinda gross and absolutely hates me. I need serious help.

Firstly, it's a weird texture/thickness, I'm a 2c/3aFii/iii and an absolute FRIZZ MONSTER. It's brutal- I can't leave the house without copious amounts of gel or it'll look like I've been electrocuted or something. It starts frizzing even when it's still wet. Blow drying makes more frizz. I've tried a million de-frizzers but they always compound problem #2:

OIL. I make BP look like environmentalists. If I go 24.5 hours without shampooing I look like I haven't bathed in a week. And boy, does it itch! My jaw dropped when I saw how rarely some of you wash your hair! I'm so jealous!

I condition every few weeks when the frizz becomes unbearable, but I have to do it in the morning and then shower again in the evening so I don't look homeless.

I tried a vinegar rinse the other night to try to combat some of the anti-frizz shampoo buildup (you'd think I'd have less frizz with the weight of the natural oil and the buildup, but no...)- I think it worked a little but at this point everything kind of seems like a drop in the bucket, you know?

I've been cruising around here the past few weeks and you all have such beautiful hair- I feel like a monster! I'd be so grateful for any advice/wisdom you could pass on- I don't know anybody with hair even remotely like mine so I haven't even been able to pick up any tips from girl-talk sessions.

Help a sister out...pleeeease?

[krissykins]

All right. Have you read the newbie advice in the Articles section? If you haven't, I suggest you do that now. Ursula's advice (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=39) and Kirin's advice (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=65) were very helpful to me when I first started here.

If you haven't read about all the different wash methods/moisturizing treatments, take some time to browse over those as well. I would find you more links, but I am EXHAUSTED and not up for searching for old threads. :p

If you have been around for awhile and have seen these things, have you tried them out? What were your results? Did you stick with it for a little while with no other variables in the equation? We recommend trying something for at least two weeks.

I hoped this helped even a little bit. I will be back in about 12 hours to check and see how things are going. :D

[Yosha]

Maybe if you tell a little more about your routine it will be easier to help you out. Like: what shampoo are you using, do you wash once only or wash twice in one shower session, when you say you condition once a week do you mean you don't use conditioner after you wash?

The gel you use can be high in alcohol, which means it can dry out your hair making it more prone to frizz.

[milagro]

krissykins gave very good advice, there's such a vast amount of helpful info and tips here, you jst have to bother and pick it. I had lurked for quite a while before I joined and I had/have read a good portion of main routine-related threads, huge as they are. every head of hair is unique so you'll have to tweak and try before you find your perfect routine but it's important to learn what is out there and how it works. I suggest you read CO and CWC threads it seems like these methods would be good for you considering your hairtype. My hair is similar to yours and it greatly benefited from CO. HTH and welcome :flower:

[JoannaStitches]

I did read through some of the routines, including the ones krissykins suggested but I was nervous about trying them-- the idea of conditioning more than, like, twice a month is so scary.

I'll give it a try- I'll do the CWC tonight- but if I come out of this looking like I've got a head full of kelp I'm sooo blaming you guys ;-)

Yosha- I use Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky nightly, then condition every couple of weeks with Garnier frizz control or whatever they call it. My gel is Garniet, and good call about the alcohol- I'll definitely check to see if it has any.

Milagro- A similar hair type! Yay! You've convinced me to take the plunge.

Haha, is it crazy to be this nervous?

[Nae]

If you are a curly, conditioner is likely to be your best friend. Try your CWC and then don't brush when you step out of the shower. Let it airdry without touching it and your curls will form up nicely. If you touch it while it dries *POOF* you will have frizz.

You might put a little gel in it as well to help the curls form. Try to make sure your gel doesn't have alcohol in it as that can dry your hair. Give that a shot and report back!! I too would recommend looking into CO. Best of luck!

[krissykins]

I did read through some of the routines, including the ones krissykins suggested but I was nervous about trying them-- the idea of conditioning more than, like, twice a month is so scary.

I'll give it a try- I'll do the CWC tonight- but if I come out of this looking like I've got a head full of kelp I'm sooo blaming you guys ;-)

Yosha- I use Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky nightly, then condition every couple of weeks with Garnier frizz control or whatever they call it. My gel is Garniet, and good call about the alcohol- I'll definitely check to see if it has any.

Milagro- A similar hair type! Yay! You've convinced me to take the plunge.

Haha, is it crazy to be this nervous?

Psh, if you come out looking like a kelp head, I demand pictures!

Now that I'm refreshed from my sleep and can be of some actual help (lol), I would also highly recommend CO. It's better with a cone-free conditioner since there's not usually any build-up, but I've used it with a coney conditioner before my hair felt really soft.

You may find that the "oil" you're dealing with is actually build-up from cones or some other material. Here are two other articles about buildup:
Build-up and Clarifying (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=194)
Hair Diagnostic Tips (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=44)

As for the frizz, I would definitely recommend deep oiling. You can do it as a pre-wash treatment and see how that works for you.

Also, do you ever wear updos? This can hide the frizz/oiliness.

I hope this helps :flower:

[milagro]

Milagro- A similar hair type! Yay! You've convinced me to take the plunge.

Haha, is it crazy to be this nervous?

Perfectly normal! :D It does take a bit of courage out-stepping the borders of what you're used to. Think that any routine change is not irreversible, you can always go back if some doesn't work for you. And it's actually very interesting, a lot of people here take it as a hobby I guess :) Good luck!

[Lianna]

I have a similar hairtype, and I wash everyday too. Many people here like CO, which you can do everyday, that didn't work for me, not because hair would be greasy, because in that department it was fine, it just slowed my growth. What helps me avoid frizz (I live in a very hot humid climate all year around) is some light oil on damp hair, grapeseed oil is specially good for this.

My hair doesn't like a lot gel, even the alcohol free ones, so I just use some to smooth my bangs into an updo.

I don't find that stretching washes is something everyone would benefit from.

[wendy51]

Ok glycerine is good i think, it defines more the hair ^^ you can for example mix it with coconut oil as a prepoo or mix it with your water base spritz ^^

Silicone too
Also broccoli oil and Henna straighten hair naturally ^^ (L)^


*hope i helped*
=)

[JoannaStitches]

Updos are all I do. I had classic length hair growing up and my mother was adamant about braiding and ponytails so I never got used to having it down- the wear your hair up challenge made me laugh.

I can handle it down when it's short, like after I donate, when it's about shoulder length I can keep it down maybe once or twice a week without losing my mind, but that's about it. For special occasions I'll do half up and half down, but the rest of the time it's in a clip or a bun (looooove my hairagami), and I've recently found the joys of two braids wrapped around my head and clipped on top (PERFECT for yoga).

Some of these things sound like morning routines more than night routines. What do you do about drying in that case?

[krissykins]

For the morning, I usually damp bun my hair. It dries very nicely that way :)

Oh, and did you end up as a kelp head? Still waiting on pictures ;)

[Roscata]

When it comes to frizz these are good things to consider:
- Lemon rinse (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=53745&highlight=lemon+frizz) is pure gold
- pre-wash overnight oiling with coconut oil (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=53786&highlight=coconut+oil)
- consider SLS-free (https://morroccomethod.com/en/educational-resources/cancer-a-chemical-toxicity/175-your-shampoo-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health) shampoos
- Kimberlily's defrizz spray (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=277)
- deep treatments such as SMT (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=128)

As a curly girl you should probably read:
- LiveCurlyLiveFree (http://www.livecurlylivefree.com/curly%20hair%20basics.htm)
- NaturallyCurly (http://www.naturallycurly.com/topics/view/curly-hair-type-3)

When it comes to greasy itchy scalp these are good article to read:
- Treating seborrheic dermatitis with raw honey and virgin coconut oil (http://www.rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosacea_Forum/showthread.php?20789-Seb-derm-Treating-seborrheic-dermatitis-with-raw-honey-and-virgin-coconut-oil.)
- Dry, itchy scalp treatments (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=6)
- consider using a dandruff shampoo and/or henna.
- pre-wash overnight Castor oil (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=18265) on my scalp helps calm down the itches for me

The very first thing you should do though is clarify your hair with either a clarifying shampoo or Baking soda (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/) to remove anything that might be causing frizz right now like cones (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=13) (which can build up on your hair).

Damaged Hair: Understanding, Preventing & Rehabilitating (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79) is a great article to read and links to other great articles which can really help anyone who wants to grow out their hair in order for it to reach its maximum potential.

Lots of luck in your hair journey and welcome to LHC! :D

[krissykins]

When it comes to frizz these are good things to consider:
- Lemon rinse (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=53745&highlight=lemon+frizz) is pure gold
- pre-wash overnight oiling with coconut oil (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=53786&highlight=coconut+oil)
- consider SLS-free shampoos
- Kimberlily's defrizz spray (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=277)
- deep treatments such as SMT (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=128)

As a curly girl you should probably read:
- LiveCurlyLiveFree (http://www.livecurlylivefree.com/curly%20hair%20basics.htm)
- NaturallyCurly (http://www.naturallycurly.com/topics/view/curly-hair-type-3).

When it comes to greasy itchy scalp these are good article to read:
- Treating seborrheic dermatitis with raw honey and virgin coconut oil (http://www.rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosacea_Forum/showthread.php?20789-Seb-derm-Treating-seborrheic-dermatitis-with-raw-honey-and-virgin-coconut-oil.)
- Dry, itchy scalp treatments (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=6)
- consider using a dandruff shampoo and/or henna.
- pre-wash overnight Castor oil (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=18265) on my scalp helps calm down the itches for me

The very first thing you should do though is clarify your hair with either a clarifying shampoo or Baking soda (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/) to remove anything that might be causing frizz right now like cones (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=13) (which can build up on your hair).

Lots of luck in your hair journey and welcome to LHC! :D

These are excellent links! I recommend sticking with CWC while you decide which one is for you, though. Remember to give each method a couple of weeks before you make a firm decision on what works for you :)

[Roscata]

These are excellent links! I recommend sticking with CWC while you decide which one is for you, though. Remember to give each method a couple of weeks before you make a firm decision on what works for you :)

Thanks! And I totally agree. You can't make too many changes at once or else you won't know what works and what doesn't. :D

[JoannaStitches]

Whoa, Roscata, thanks for the awesomeness. :-)

And I haven't washed my hair yet today, silly krissykins. It's only 6:30 here, not shower time yet! Plus the Oscars are on...

If kelp head makes an appearance I promise I won't let you down, haha, I'll post pictures and may even draw up a graph or two comparing my hair and kelp.

[Debra83]

I use this to cwc with and leave a little in as a leave in. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=50881


And, I bought Joico's Chelating shampoo which removes product build up AND minerals from hard water just recently and will use it twice a month. http://joico.com/products/Haircare/kpak/kpak-chelatingshampoo

Good Luck to you!!!

[Roscata]

Whoa, Roscata, thanks for the awesomeness. :-)

And I haven't washed my hair yet today, silly krissykins. It's only 6:30 here, not shower time yet! Plus the Oscars are on...

If kelp head makes an appearance I promise I won't let you down, haha, I'll post pictures and may even draw up a graph or two comparing my hair and kelp.

You're very welcome! :D