Help me decide on my steamer conundrum!

[Should I buy a hair steamer or hold off till later?]

Should I buy a hair steamer or hold off till later?

Yes buy it immediately!

Hmmm maybe you should wait...

No there are other ways to moisturize your hair for less

Nah...you already hair one large appliance

[*Luscious*Locked*Doc]

Okay clearly I am a newbie on the block, but I need some help making a decision.  Recently I have become obsessed   with getting a steamer for my hair.  And in my head I can hear my hair crying out....yes yes please please get a steamer it's almost winter and I feel dry!  Lol - I have been having some dryness issues lately and had to pick up my washing routine which is annoying.  I'm sorry but I don't have the time right now for multiple days of the week to wash my hair.  And it really fuzzes up my braids!  I was thinking if I get a steamer to do my DC's I could probably maximize my once a week wash.  I found one for under $150 - not too bad.  Here's the dilemma - I also have other things I want/need to buy like a desk for my apartment so I can stop doing work on my bed.  And what if that pair of irresistible boots that I've been wanting should finally surface?  Also there's the fact I already have a large pibbs taking up a lot of space in my teeny studio. What do you think ladies ?

[bubbles76]

I voted yes, buy it immediately, because I think that's a good deal on a steamer.  From what I've read on other boards, steamers are hard to come by, whereas a desk is not.  And if you have a lot of boots, you don't NEED those boots.  Some people have had incredible success with steam treatments, others have not.  Still, others have been able to just hold their head over a steaming pot of water or in the shower and have gotten similar results.  However, I think if you don't get the results you want with a steamer after using it for several months, you could always sell it on ebay.  Check out nappturality.com for more talk about steamers.

Of course, since you are a newbie, you may want to simply use different products/routines on your hair to see if that will make a difference in the moisture level in your hair.  How long have you been natural?  Sometimes it takes awhile for our hair to figure out what it likes.  And sometimes it likes different things from season to season.

Sorry, don't know what a pibbs is, so I can't comment on that.

[spiderlashes5000]

I was going to ask if you'd tried just sitting in a steamy bathroom.    What about a room humidifier, like for kids w/ asthma?  Aren't they priced much less? 

I'm not sure exactly how a steamer works.  But I can't help but think moisturizing conditioners sealed w/ oil would have a more lasting effect.

[jeamaria]

I agree w/Bubbles-Down to not knowing what a pibbs is, lol!

THe most moisturized my hair has ever been was with a steamer. I am planning on getting one as soon as I have the cash- $150 sounds like a great deal. The ones I've been looking at (Sally's) were more than twice that. The only way I would not get the steamer is if you have a gym membership.

A lady at the gym I used to go to also washes her hair once a week and goes into the steam room with a plastic cap on and plenty of deep conditioner underneath. She said her hair is in the greatest condition it has ever been since doing that; more moisture, more glossiness, more elasticity, more softness.

The other thing about the steamer is you're meant to use distilled water with it to help it last longer, preventing hardwater build up and such. But I was speaking w/a stylist about this and she said that the salon where she worked they just used regular water with no problems.

I would definitely recommended steam treatments for hair that is hard to moisturize. It takes a steamer to open up the cuticle (since it is more closed than that of normal hair) and get the moisture from the steam and the emollients from the conditioner in there where they can be most effective.

[*Luscious*Locked*Doc]

Sorry the pibbs I have is a hooded dryer that's on casters.  It's pretty big and takes up a lot of space.  When I was relaxed I was using it constantly for my DC's and I still do.  I can't even say I'm natural yet - since i still haven't chopped off my relaxed ends which should be happening in november.  The I actually have been on hair boards for a bit but this is my time on this forum.  I don't know why my hair is acting up!  It feels great for a few days after my wash and then starts drying out again and it's only been doing that the last two weeks.  Last week I did a ACV rinsse and then co-washed in the middle of the week and it was back to being soft again but I just don't have time to do that right now.  I put my hair in braids for low maintenance...sigh and now I feel like it's more work than ever. Also because everytime my I wash my hair I have to redo braids that have fuzzed up after airdrying.  I do have a gym membership but they have a sauna not a steam room.  Do you think that would be as good as getting a steamer?

[JustKiya]

150!!?!?!?!?! And you have the 'free' money for it (ie, you aren't taking away from bills, etc, it's 'play'money anyhow).
Girl, I'd be ALL over it.

[spiderlashes5000]

well, shoot, maybe there's something to this steamer thing...

[bubbles76]

I didn't know Sallys had steamers.  Can you get the same results with one of those soft bonnet dryers?  That I do have

[jeamaria]

@Bubbles: To me the hard hood dryer like they have in the salon AND the soft bonnet dryer, dried out my hair because of the hot dry hair. It was kinda like a desert wind, lol. The hot wet hair from the steamer in contrast helped the conditioner penetrate my hair AND added moisture. I had an old-fashioned steam cap but it didn't work any better than covering my hair with a plastic bag. Maybe one of those new heat caps would be good, though.

[bubbles76]

What brand of steamer should one get?  Anyone have any experience with that?

[aej4420]

I thought about buying one of those face stemers, the ones that you see people putting thier face into for moisture.  I though if I could just hold my head over it instead of my face and it's cheaper too.  What ya think?

[jeamaria]

What brand of steamer should one get?  Anyone have any experience with that?

I don't know which brand, but when I got to Sally's they weren't actually in the store, but had a catalog and they would order it for you. I don't know if all Sally's do that though.

I thought about buying one of those face stemers, the ones that you see people putting thier face into for moisture.  I though if I could just hold my head over it instead of my face and it's cheaper too.  What ya think?

Might as well try it. It'll be a lot cheaper, for sure. Those are kinda small though. Maybe you would need to drape some kind of plastic around it & your head to maximize the amount of steam you'd get.

[bubbles76]

I ordered the one that a girl on nappturality recommended.  I contacted her, and she says that it is still working wonderfully and that her hair is thriving.  She has had it, I believe, almost a year now.  I should be receiving it today or tomorrow.  I will definitely see how it works this weekend. 

[jeamaria]

I ordered the one that a girl on nappturality recommended.  I contacted her, and she says that it is still working wonderfully and that her hair is thriving.  She has had it, I believe, almost a year now.  I should be receiving it today or tomorrow.  I will definitely see how it works this weekend. 

ooooh Can't wait to hear your results!

[bubbles76]

Okay, I really wanted to try my steamer this weekend.  Only, it hasn't arrived.  I was told it would arrive last Wednesday.  I'm giving it until this Wednesday, because that will be one week.  I'm this close to contacting my credit card company.