The much-recommended SMT (Snowymoon's Moisture Treatment)

**knobbly** · February 13th, 2021, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by stardust lady

Just did my first SMT the other night, with Paul Mitchell Super Strong conditioner (I think it has protein in it, but I didn't have any other conditioners). I applied it from root to tip and left on overnight. The results were incredible. But my scalp has broken out in painful acne. Any ideas how I can avoid this? Maybe not apply to scalp, or different conditioner, or reduce the time?

I wouldn’t keep it in overnight, nor would I apply all the way to the roots. My scalp isn’t particularly sensitive, but I do avoid it being wet for that long to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

I get better results keeping it in for less than an hour and processing with heat while it’s on my hair. My hair is on the lower end of the porosity spectrum so processing deep conditioners with heat is always best practice for me.

**Jane99** · February 13th, 2021, 11:11 AM

Ugh, painful scalp acne, that sounds terrible and I hope it clears soon. I suppose putting the SMT on your scalp was not what your scalp wanted.

**JasminxCat** · February 13th, 2021, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by stardust lady

Just did my first SMT the other night, with Paul Mitchell Super Strong conditioner (I think it has protein in it, but I didn't have any other conditioners). I applied it from root to tip and left on overnight. The results were incredible. But my scalp has broken out in painful acne. Any ideas how I can avoid this? Maybe not apply to scalp, or different conditioner, or reduce the time?

Do you use fruit of the earth's aloe vera gel? If so, there could be DMDM hydantoin in it and if you have a sensitivity to it, that can happen. I know a lot of LHCers use fruit of the earth so that's why I'm wondering. I use it with no problems, but then again I'm not sensitive to the ingredient

**stardust lady** · February 13th, 2021, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by knobbly

I wouldn’t keep it in overnight, nor would I apply all the way to the roots. My scalp isn’t particularly sensitive, but I do avoid it being wet for that long to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

I get better results keeping it in for less than an hour and processing with heat while it’s on my hair. My hair is on the lower end of the porosity spectrum so processing deep conditioners with heat is always best practice for me.

Yep, I might try that. I followed the original SMT instructions, which said to apply to hair and scalp and leave on as long as overnight (I woke up halfway through the night actually, because it was uncomfortable). I have sensitive skin, so maybe I'm just an outlier.

How do you apply heat? I always assumed I had high porosity hair, but I just did the glass of water porosity test for the first time, and the hair stayed on the surface and never sank. So I suppose that makes it low porosity? Sounds like I should be using heat as well.

Originally Posted by Jane99

Ugh, painful scalp acne, that sounds terrible and I hope it clears soon. I suppose putting the SMT on your scalp was not what your scalp wanted.

Thanks

It's starting to clear up today, which is a relief. Will not be applying to my scalp again. Also sleeping with anything in my hair was a terrible sleeping experience. 0/10

Originally Posted by JasminxCat

Do you use fruit of the earth's aloe vera gel? If so, there could be DMDM hydantoin in it and if you have a sensitivity to it, that can happen. I know a lot of LHCers use fruit of the earth so that's why I'm wondering. I use it with no problems, but then again I'm not sensitive to the ingredient

I used Real Aloe (ingredients are aloe vera, water, Irish moss, xanthan gum, citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate).

**knobbly** · February 13th, 2021, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by stardust lady

Yep, I might try that. I followed the original SMT instructions, which said to apply to hair and scalp and leave on as long as overnight (I woke up halfway through the night actually, because it was uncomfortable). I have sensitive skin, so maybe I'm just an outlier.

How do you apply heat? I always assumed I had high porosity hair, but I just did the glass of water porosity test for the first time, and the hair stayed on the surface and never sank. So I suppose that makes it low porosity? Sounds like I should be using heat as well.

I wrap my hair around my head trying to keep the thickness even, and then cover it in clingfilm. Then I use a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment to blast it with heat for 3-4 minutes, then put on a wooly hat. I repeat this every ten minutes or so for 30-40 minutes.

FYI that porosity float test is bogus. It’s better to just look at descriptions of different porosity levels and match them with how your hair feels/acts. My hair is medium to low because it’s completely virgin and unprocessed, not damaged, and fairly shiny on its own.

**stardust lady** · February 13th, 2021, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by knobbly

I wrap my hair around my head trying to keep the thickness even, and then cover it in clingfilm. Then I use a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment to blast it with heat for 3-4 minutes, then put on a wooly hat. I repeat this every ten minutes or so for 30-40 minutes.

FYI that porosity float test is bogus. It’s better to just look at descriptions of different porosity levels and match them with how your hair feels/acts. My hair is medium to low because it’s completely virgin and unprocessed, not damaged, and fairly shiny on its own.

You don't say? Well, mine is probably fairly normal porosity based on how it looks and how I've treated it. Heated deep conditioning is probably still a good idea.

**catysue** · March 19th, 2021, 09:30 PM

SMT remains the absolute best moisture treatment for me. Earlier this week I mixed one up using this conditioner as my base and accidentally way more honey than usual. My hair LITERALLY felt and looked like silk. The shine and softness was off the charts and absolutely no frizz. I wasn't able to take a picture of my hair down before styling, but here's a selfie after heat styling. It's the best hair day I've had in ages.

**catysue** · March 19th, 2021, 09:31 PM

double post! sorry

**JasminxCat** · March 23rd, 2021, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by catysue

SMT remains the absolute best moisture treatment for me. Earlier this week I mixed one up using this conditioner as my base and accidentally way more honey than usual. My hair LITERALLY felt and looked like silk. The shine and softness was off the charts and absolutely no frizz. I wasn't able to take a picture of my hair down before styling, but here's a selfie after heat styling. It's the best hair day I've had in ages.

Wow stunning. My hair also loves SMT more than any other moisturizing treatment I've tried. Any day with SMT is always the best hair day. Like silk. It's mostly the aloe my hair loves so much, but works amazingly paired with honey and my preferred conditioner

**pisinoe** · April 29th, 2021, 06:24 AM

Is there a favorite replacement for aloe gel in this recipe? I don’t have any and it’s not easy find here (and I don’t like the Amazon options), but would like to try the recipe.