Hair Care

[Resplendent_Maria]

Has anyone tried that new product called "Breakthru" by Optimum Care? (in the bright orange bottle) I've been looking for another good conditioner but have been disappointed with ones that do not work too well. It's pretty costly and wanted to know if anyone has tested this product yet.

I have tried L'oreal's Mega Moisture and it's GREAT. A little expensive ($8.50 for 8oz.) but it works wonders.

[ZChi4Life]

Maria,
I haven't tried that product, but the conditioner I use is by Alternatives. It's their Frizz Free line and it's a deep conditioner. I've been using that for a while and it works well for my hair. It's also not that expensive either It's supposed to work w/ the heat from your blow dryer to keep your hair from frizzing out and stuff.

Have any of you ladies ever been on the Hairweb.com? If not, go! It's the bomb! Talk about hairstyles galore! If you're looking for a new hairstyle, check this site out. It has a lot of other great features on it too...too many for me to explain here. But take a look, it's definitely better than going out and buying those expensive hair magazines

[Resplendent_Maria]

ZChi,
Thanks for referring me to that website - it's HOT! I am the sucker who spends $ for hairstyle mags, and hairweb has so much info and hairstyle ideas.

[carebear]

I recommend TCB. I use all of their products --their shampoo/conditioner relaxer and all three hair grease products!

They are good in my opinion

[ZChi4Life]

You're welcome Maria!

Carebear, I love that TCB product that you put on your hair before blowdrying...the name totally escapes me right now. But it's in that blue bottle. That's a damn fine product! I can't live w/ out that stuff.

[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited August 12, 2000).]

[bdown4U]

I have used the the daily moisturizing lotion by Optimum. They say that it will help your hair grow longer and stop breaking with continued use. Unfortunately, I try so many different things on my hair that I have not been using the lotion on a continued basis.

[SweetestDiva]

Bringing this back up to recommend 2 products I just discovered.

1. Bone Strait makes a leave-in conditioner designed to help your hair be straighter when you blow dry it. I tried it for the first time last night, and I couldn't believe how straight and soft my hair got. It's like $10 for a bottle I think, but there are little packets for like $.99, and you only use a nickle-sized amount, so you probably get 4 or 5 uses from 1 packet.

2. Luster's Pink came out with this new Glosser. It's like oil sheen, but only natural oils. It's actually completely clear, and supposedly natural enough to use once a day. My hair is about 4 or 5 inches below my shoulders and looks straight raggedy and dry when I wash it myself. But this stuff works too. Better than oil sheen, not as heavy, and you can breathe while you spray it too.

BTW - anyone know a type of flat iron that gets more salon-like results? I've tried ConAir and Solid Gold, but neither one of them works that well for me.



[This message has been edited by SweetestDiva (edited April 26, 2001).]

[AKA2D '91]

What about gold'n hot? Those products if you put them on too high will burn your hair before your very eyes.

I know with the curling iron, I put that thing on 9 and in my hair, it LITERALLY burned my hair off, as THICK as it was.

[SweetestDiva]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91:
What about gold'n hot? Those products if you put them on too high will burn your hair before your very eyes.

I know with the curling iron, I put that thing on 9 and in my hair, it LITERALLY burned my hair off, as THICK as it was.

See... it's extremes like this that frustrate me. Some don't really straighten that well. But then my roommate left my curling iron on a little too long and the thing literally scorched our countertop. I hadn't heard of Gold'n Hot though.

[kitten03]

My favorite hair care tip/habit is to buy vitamin E capsules from any pharmacy, break them and pour the contents into hair grease. It doesn't matter what kind of grease. I use the cheap kind. My hair is very thick and the Vitamin E does wonders for stimulating growth and nourishing the scalp. It's a miracle.

[Poplife]

Don't believe all the “product hype”.

I use olive oil as a deep conditioner. It's cheap, easy to find, and works well. I'm assuming you use chemicals (which dry your hair out) but I hear that even with chem. treated hair it'll work.

While I'm in the shower I just wash my hair with a cleansing shampoo (never deep condition with dirty hair!), slop on some olive oil, comb it in with my fingers, wrap my hair into a bun, and continue with my shower. Before I dry off I wash the olive oil out. Sometimes I use a conditioning shampoo to do that because cleansing shampoo's strip black hair of needed moisture.

Just towel off the excess water and blow-dry/wrap. :-)

Note: If you’re not using “homemade” treatments, make sure the PH balance is right for your hair! For some reason people like to use shampoo for “normal hair” when they have a perm, and some natural people use stuff for permed hair thinking it conditions better. It ends up doing more harm than good.

[shida25]

I like the product, yes, it costs a lot, but it works. I use the everyday strengh lotion, and it works wonders. Also, chlesterol is also a good conditioner.

[ZChi4Life]

I have a question for people w/ natural (chem free) hair. Ok, here's my deal: I have a perm but I really want to go natural. I'm really sick of perming and all that stuff. My hair is getting really thin and I think it's time for me to stop w/ the chemicals and just go natural. Right now, my hair is neck length. I haven't gotten a perm in about 2 1/2-3 months. I think I've got a good 2-2 1/2 inches of new growth on top. I haven't really been doing much w/ it b/c it's half and half. So I guess I need to cut the permed hair out but I don't really know what to do w/ it afterwards. Does anyone w/ natural hair have any suggestions? And what tips can anyone suggest for taking care of it? I haven't had perm-free hair since I was about 13, so this is going to be a new experience for me
Thanks in advance for your help!

[jali0004]

Hi ZChi4Life!!

I have been natural for 1 year and 1 week. My mother does hair, so she gave me my first grown up hair cut in December '99. But as many women here know, short hair needs regular upkeep to stay looking fierce.

I decided to go natural when I was too broke to afford to go to the shop, and too tired of trying to find "the right" beautician. I had about 2 months of new growth. I went down the hall to my friends' room, and asked her to cut off all the straight hair with the clippers I gave her. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made!!

As for style options, you will look good, period. Many women don't know what their hair type is like, till they go natural. My hair is very curly. That's a style in itself. Everyone with natural hair takes care of their hair differently. What I can suggest, is that when you decide to go natural, begin a relationship with your hair; start to know what it like and what it doesn't and respond accordingly. Do not try to care for your hair as if it was still chemically processed. You will find natural products work best.

Another resource is www.yourhaircareplus.com This site has helped many women with their hair concerns (specifically going natural). As for products, a staple in my hair care regimine is shea butter mixed with jojoba oil, and Aveda Pure-Fume shampoo and conditioner and Aveda Humectant Pomade. Sorry for the long post, but I am very passionate about being NATURAL!!!

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"I am not yet the author of my life; I am still it's unenlightened protagonist"
---Unknown

[Poplife]

Originally posted by ZChi4Life:
I have a perm but I really want to go natural. I'm really sick of perming and all that stuff. My hair is getting really thin and I think it's time for me to stop w/ the chemicals and just go natural. Right now, my hair is neck length. I haven't gotten a perm in about 2 1/2-3 months. I think I've got a good 2-2 1/2 inches of new growth on top. I haven't really been doing much w/ it b/c it's half and half. So I guess I need to cut the permed hair out but I don't really know what to do w/ it afterwards. Does anyone w/ natural hair have any suggestions? And what tips can anyone suggest for taking care of it? I haven't had perm-free hair since I was about 13, so this is going to be a new experience for me
Thanks in advance for your help!

If you think it will traumatize you to cut of your hair then don’t. I pressed the new growth until I had a desirable length. However if you are willing to cut your hair then by all means do it. It’s much easier and you will be glad you did! The natural part is A LOT stronger then the broken down compounds in the permed hair. As a result permed hair cannot "stand up" to natural hair and falls off. This is why many women just cut the perm off.

I suggest buying the natural hair bibles a.k.a. “No Lye” by Tulani Kinard and “Let’s Talk Hair” by Pamela Ferrell. NL is my favorite, but both are very good. You can get them on Amazon.com. I still refer to mine and I have been natural for 2 years and counting.

NappyHair.com is a great place to read ask questions about making the transition from chemically treated to natural not to mention ways of maintaining it once you have completed the change. It has a message board similar to this one where you can ask question and find plenty of answers. I’m sure everything you want to know has already been asked so just run a search with keywords and you’ll be up to your ears in information. They can also help you find a natural hair stylist in your area.

You will have to change your shampoo and conditioner as well as your combs. Don’t treat your new growth as if it was permed. The texture is totally different thus requiring a totally different regimen. I will admit that at first it’s a hassle to get to know how to take care of your new hair, but after you get going you will wonder why you didn’t do it before. Your hair texture WILL CHANGE over time. My hair texture changed 4 times in two years. This common for natural haired people.

If you want to talk about hair hit me up anytime. Peace and good luck!