Banana Glue revisited

[pixie]

After my last fiasco with a banana treatment I wasn't holding out much hope, but I tried Chelacious' liquify and ice cube method and I saw something I haven't seen in months.  Coils!!!  I had given my hair up for frizzy, but it's actually coily all over.  It's still having a hard time retaining moisture, but I attribute that to the weather. 

I put a whole banana in my blender, added a little honey, about a tablespoon of olive oil and enough water to make it liquidy.  I strained the mixture, and then I froze in in an ice cube tray. 

I defrosted 4 cubes and let it sit on my hair for a couple of hours under a plastic cap, a stocking cap, and a headwrap (lots of nice heat).  I then rinsed.  I waited till this morning to wash with my conditioner (maybe if I had done that last night my hair wouldn't be so dry).  I got coils busting out all over!  I still have shrinkage, but I'm okay with that.

[Amber]

Awesome!  Hmm..... maybe I shoud give it another try...

[pixie]

Awesome!  Hmm..... maybe I shoud give it another try...

Trust me.  It looks a lot better when you aren't picking banana bits out of your hair.  Though my hair is dry it's still pretty soft.

[pixie]

Nice.  gotta try.  I was thinking of doing someting with pureed peach

Ooh!  What does peach do to your hair?

[pixie]

There are several threads on nc.com about conditioners that help with clumping, so I figured I'd mix a pureed peach into my next homemade pre-poo treatment.

Off to the fruit stand 

[StellaBaby]

It's still having a hard time retaining moisture, but I attribute that to the weather. 

castor oil could help with retaining moisutre

[ruqayya33]

castor oil could help with retaining moisutre

Any kind of oil mixed into the banana mix will help.

I also co-rinse with a moisturizing condish mixed with a bit of oil, right after I rinse out the banana mix with cool water.

The starches in the banana can cause that dry stiff feeling, if you don't co-rinse and apply a good leave-in.

[ruqayya33]

There are several threads on nc.com about conditioners with peach fruit extract that help with clumping.  Since I don't really know what that is and peaches are easy to buy canned or fresh, I figured I'd mix a pureed peach into my next homemade pre-poo treatment.

oooh... please keep us updated on your peach DT. It sounds yummy.

[pixie]

Any kind of oil mixed into the banana mix will help.

I also co-rinse with a moisturizing condish mixed with a bit of oil, right after I rinse out the banana mix with cool water.

The starches in the banana can cause that dry stiff feeling, if you don't co-rinse and apply a good leave-in.

I mixed olive oil into the banana mix, but thought a co-rinse would be enough for the starch.  I may do this again late next week, but I think I may have to a break from experimenting.

[ruqayya33]

I mixed olive oil into the banana mix, but thought a co-rinse would be enough for the starch.  I may do this again late next week, but I think I may have to a break from experimenting.

Starches are supposed to be fortifying. The can temporarily mend little "holes" in the hair structure which, if not taken care of, can end up in splits (on the ends or midshaft.) They can also make the hair appear a little thicker. - Read the labels on products that claim to be thickening and you'll see at least one starchy ingredient.

If you don't rinse it off well enough (with cool water) and then co-rinse with something moisturizing, more of the starch will coat the hair than needed. That's what's causing the dry stiff feeling....

You hair may also not like starches.

[pixie]

Starches are supposed to be fortifying. The can temporarily mend little "holes" in the hair structure which, if not taken care of, can end up in splits (on the ends or midshaft.) They can also make the hair appear a little thicker. - Read the labels on products that claim to be thickening and you'll see at least one starchy ingredient.

If you don't rinse it off well enough (with cool water) and then co-rinse with something moisturizing, more of the starch will coat the hair than needed. That's what's causing the dry stiff feeling....

You hair may also not like starches.

Thanks!  I said I was going to take an experimental break, but ended up getting a banana when I was in the grocery store today.
Thanks for keeping my splitting hair in mind.

[ruqayya33]

Thanks!  I said I was going to take an experimental break, but ended up getting a banana when I was in the grocery store today.
Thanks for keeping my splitting hair in mind.

Just make sure the banana is very very ripe. I wait until the peel is brown. Get some coconut milk (regular not light!) and mix into a smooth light cream. Then add 1-2 tbs of LIGHT nut oil.
I prefer to apply it to rinsed or washed, damp hair. Let it sit for 15-20 min. Then rinse with cool water, apply a moisturizing co-rinse.... and finally apply your typical leave-in and stylers.

Good luck. Let me know how it went. BTW.... I would not recommend this more than once a week. If your hair is protein/starch sensitive, you may only want to do this every 2 weeks.

My color-treated hair used to have problems with split ends and splits midshaft, until I did protein/starch treatments. It still happens sometimes, but not as severe as before.

[pixie]

I just got a sample of Ojon's nourishing pre-poo treatment (I love Sephora), and I'm thinking I will use that followed by CON and then a banana treatment.  Won't be till next Friday night though as I'm trying to get back into the protective challenge.  I'll let you ladies know how it goes.

[bubbles76]

Just make sure the banana is very very ripe. I wait until the peel is brown. Get some coconut milk (regular not light!) and mix into a smooth light cream. Then add 1-2 tbs of LIGHT nut oil.
I prefer to apply it to rinsed or washed, damp hair. Let it sit for 15-20 min. Then rinse with cool water, apply a moisturizing co-rinse.... and finally apply your typical leave-in and stylers.

Good luck. Let me know how it went. BTW.... I would not recommend this more than once a week. If your hair is protein/starch sensitive, you may only want to do this every 2 weeks.

My color-treated hair used to have problems with split ends and splits midshaft, until I did protein/starch treatments. It still happens sometimes, but not as severe as before.

Hmmm...see I was going to use a banana to make a DT until you said this.  My hair is pretty sensitive to proteins, but loves the Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Deep Fix.  So I figured I would make something with a banana in it.  Would you recommend an avocado instead?  I need something that will make my hair as soft as the CJ Deep Fix.