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Thread: Humectants

  1. #1
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    Hi Everyone,

    I just started my locs three weeks ago and everything seems to be going great except one thing...dryness.

    Now I've been doing prolonged rinses for about a week and half which work great, but I don't do them everyday maybe about twice a week and then once a week I was my hair with diluted 100% olive oil castille soap. I am currently using a peppermint and water spritz and before then an olive oil, peppermint, and water spritz...but now it seems as if the olive oil just sits on top of my head.

    I love my locs and I don't mind fuzziness or the look of unkept locs...but I can't stand dryness!!! I have search other posts for info when I can (because the server goes up and down)..but Im not finding anything too helpful.

    I'm really terrified of buildup as well so I don't want to use a lot of products, but the dryness is driving me crazy.

    Would it be okay if I used something like Elasta QP's H-Two...i really don't want to use it....but I need something to keep the water in...because olive oil etc are not helping.

    I'm tempted to use aloe very gel/juice...but I don't like the idea of putting mostly protein in my hair......

    I also drink a fair amount of water daily.

    Thanks for the advice!!!
    http://public.fotki.com/illuminate83/


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    I find for moisture retention caster oil is great… I only use olive oil for my pre shampoo treatment… but when using caster oil make sure you use a good quality and remember a little goes a long way. ~W
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    Illuminate,you say that you do some prolonged rinsing, is this just with water? Do you rinse with anything in particular?? :dunno:
    One must love oneself first...



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    Originally posted by illuminate83@Jul 27 2005, 08:10 PM
    Hi Everyone,

    I just started my locs three weeks ago and everything seems to be going great except one thing...dryness.

    Now I've been doing prolonged rinses for about a week and half which work great, but I don't do them everyday maybe about twice a week and then once a week I was my hair with diluted 100% olive oil castille soap. I am currently using a peppermint and water spritz and before then an olive oil, peppermint, and water spritz...but now it seems as if the olive oil just sits on top of my head.

    I love my locs and I don't mind fuzziness or the look of unkept locs...but I can't stand dryness!!! I have search other posts for info when I can (because the server goes up and down)..but Im not finding anything too helpful.

    I'm really terrified of buildup as well so I don't want to use a lot of products, but the dryness is driving me crazy.

    Would it be okay if I used something like Elasta QP's H-Two...i really don't want to use it....but I need something to keep the water in...because olive oil etc are not helping.

    I'm tempted to use aloe very gel/juice...but I don't like the idea of putting mostly protein in my hair......

    I also drink a fair amount of water daily.

    Thanks for the advice!!!
    [snapback]940198[/snapback]
    One must love oneself first...



    flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21133293@N08/

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    You're rinsing after 3 weeks? I was still unravelling around 3 weeks. When you say prolonged, how long is that? Is that 5 minutes or more like 15 minutes? I'm only asking because I rinsed once for about 5 minutes and my hair was dry. When I started rinsing for 12 and 15 minutes, my hair reacted better. It also took some time for my hair to get used to rinsing. Maybe it's a timing thing.

    Castor oil has worked well for me. You may also want to try a weekly hot oil treatment. I've been using Olive Oil with no issues.
    It may be the castile soap. Maybe you should experiment with a different type of shampoo. Try an ACV rinse when you can. I would start with that.

    Good luck.
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    Beautiful_Vision

    I have no problem with unraveling...I actually washed my hair during the first week! I rinse my hair anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes, so maybe I should increase my time! Or rinse twice a day?

    Curle E Locs

    I also don't rinse with anything in particular....just water..and I don't live in an area that has hard water.

    Also to Watercolorz and Beautiful_Vision...

    Caster Oil doesn't cause build up? It seems like it would because isn't it solid, how would that be any different from using shea butter etc?

    Thanks for your help!
    http://public.fotki.com/illuminate83/


    Love God, Love People........Nothing Else Matters!
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    castor oil is not a solid. it is heavy so use sparingly unless prior to shampoo. coconut oil is a solid under 76 degrees, but liquifies in your hands if it's hot where you are it will stay in liquid form. i have had zero buildup using either--though i typically reserve castor to pre-shampoo.

    to lock in moisture i use coconut oil or walnut/avocado oil mixture. it could be the castile soap drying you out (or very possibly the peppermint). have you considered a moisturizing (not conditioning) shampoo?

    moisturizing shampoo:
    http://www.nappturality.com/forum/index.ph...urizing+shampoo

    if you haven't already, check out this one too:
    http://www.nappturality.com/forum/index.ph...urizing+shampoo

    a search could also help you find solutions to dryness as it is a very common problem with locks. eta: i just saw that you did try to search. try using different search terms--(e.g. dryness, moisture, moisturizer[s])

    you might also try a clarifier if the oil isn't working anymore. you may already have a minute amount of buildup.

    **last time--also what you're currently using is not a humectant. you're trying to accomplish moisture from water and sealing it in with oils. glycerin(e) and honey are humectants meaning that they dry moisture from the air. it doesn't sound like you're specifically looking for a humectant, but a moisturizer.
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    Actually Sonshinecoils,

    I'm looking for both! I'm in Tacoma/Seattle right now so the air is pretty dry (although it rains a lot) and I want something to draw moisture in. On the other hand, I am also looking for a moisturizer cause I know that the oils just seal the moisture in! However, I'm moving to Atlanta in a few months...so maybe just a moisturizer will be fine.

    I use the 100% pure olive oil castille soap because I thought that it would be gentle and rinse clean...and a lot more gentle than dr. bronner's..cause all it has is olive oil! I also dilute it so I don't use very much of it...and I've only used it twice so far. I'm too scared to use any other kind of shampoo, out of fear of build up or dryness.

    I actually thought the peppermint may have been drying my hair out...but I like the way it feels on my scalp. So I'm assuming EO's are not essential to moisture, they're just used for smell? Becasue they don't seem to do a great job of locking moisture in.

    So I'm thinking about trying a mixture of rosemary and sweet almond oil or your avocado/walnut mixture (but I'm allergic to walnuts and I don't know if I'm allergic to avocados because I've never had one).

    What kind of castor oil should I use? Maybe I'll do a search for it...

    I also thought you weren't supposed to put honey on locs?

    I think I'll also do a search on glycerine as well

    I really fear buildup

    Sorry for all the questions/indecisiveness...
    http://public.fotki.com/illuminate83/


    Love God, Love People........Nothing Else Matters!
    (Matthew 22:36-40 & Mark 12:28-34)

    Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
    Charles Wesley

  9. #9
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    It has been proven that peppermint and eucalyptist may cause dryness on the hair and scalp and can dandruff with some folks. Tea Tree can sometimes can be drying too. Especially if you use these products more than twice a week...depending of your skin's tolerance.

    The Castile soap can be a factor too. That is the most drying soap on my skin. It would probably be too much on my hair too.

    I say use a regular non-sulfate shampoo. Take a travel bottle and put a little of the peppermint oil in the bottle and add some shampoo. Alternate between regular shampoo and the "peppermint" one. By doing this, the oil and refresh the scalp while washing, then you will prolong wash afterwards and then you add the natural oils.

    Adding a little honey and glycerin to your spritz will be great humectant. Honey is a humectant, but just add a bit of this and the glycering because you don't want use more of this than the water itself or your hair might feel a little sticky. Just add a table spoon of both for each cup of water. heat mixture in the microwave, stir, let cool and pour in spritzing bottle.

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    honey can be used in something. like a tidbit in water or with aloe gel. do a search for alma and honey spritz.

    also, essential oils aren't used to for moisture but for their aromatherapy and their particular healing properties like stimulation, relaxation, soothing inflamation, increasing blood flow. do a google search or a search of the homemade forum and you'll get a nice long list of what eo's do and how they can be used.

    i used the castor oil from the health food store. whatever you pick up, as long as it is 100% castor, should be okay. stay away from products that list castor in a long list of other "stuff." two or three ingredients is usually fine (something for freshness and anti-bacterial something or other).

    don't be scared. check out that first link i posted. in it, i voice the same concerns. generally, if the shampoo is clear/see through and is not used for conditioning it should be okay. there are lots of great poos out there, but you won't know until you try. also, check out my first album. in it i have the recipe for my spritz listed. it really helps to ward off dryness. i also use a bit of aloe vera gelly (lily of the valley) to seal in moisture when i don't want to use too much oil--especially now that it's hot as hades in louisville.

    there's a solution for buildup, but don't deprive your hair and scalp the moisture they need out of fear.

    and we're here if you need us
    http://public.fotki.com/londylocks --updated August 2010
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