3c's and 4a's hair regimens

[CurlyBeauty]

Hey curlies! I finally got back in the habit of caring about my natural hair, after I decided to not go back to chemicals. I've been reading and reading, and reading some more on different regimens...BUT..I'd love it if you guys could tell your regimen.

Thanks

[jazzi]

Hi CurlyBeauty!  Here's mine:


Daily:
Co-wash, condition, and style. I co-wash with diluted conditioner (75% water, 25% conditioner) then condition & detangle with a thicker/more moisturizing conditioner. Afterwards, I'll do one of three things: leave it in, style with a leave in conditioner, or rake through my shea cream and style with a gel. *I also use oil on a daily basis...whether it be added to my detangling conditioner, my leave in, or just using my shea cream.

Weekly:
Deep Condition.
My deep conditioner depends on my hair's needs as well. During winter, it's more oil based, spring/summer more protein based (b/c to co-wash and leave in daily means there's lots of moisture and there needs to be a protein balance), and more humectant based in the fall.

DT's I do:
Honey & Oil (damp hair)
Coconut Milk (dry hair)
Yogurt & Honey (damp hair)
Shea Cream (wet hair)
Egg and Olive Oil (dry hair)
Conditioner+ any of the aforementioned treatments (dry hair)

Bi Weekly:
Shampoo.
I alternate between sulfate-free shampoo, sulfate shampoo, and the clay for cleansing. It all depends on the season and what my hair needs. I use sulfate-free poo mostly in the spring/summer/fall when I'm co-washing daily and not using heavy silicone or oil. I use regular sulfate shampoo during the winter when I use more silicone, oil, and butter...or whenever I want to clarify (I don't have anything against sulfates. In fact, my hair looks and feels best after a good sudsing. It's the conditioners that count most anyway) I use the clay anytime I want a refreshed scalp and shiny strands. For my hair, it performs like a super concentrated ACV rinse.

Monthly:
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse after shampoo & conditioning.

Mixtures:
Co-wash (25% conditioner, 75% water)
Leave In Spray (50% liquid (water or Infusium), 30% conditioner, 20% oil or glycerine)
Shea Cream (50% shea butter, 30% oil, 10% aloe, 5% glycerine, 5% honey)

[CurlyBeauty]

Thanks! this is a great help! I was thinking of doing bentonite on sundays and do some protective style for the week or sumthin and then just co-wash and condition when my style is past due lol nd start that over...maybe

but for the deep treatment for protein...i'm guessing i should be doing the egg and olive oil one? or what are your favorite protein treatments because i'm actually co-washing daily now and i'm guesasing i need to get some of that balance back !

[LadyLibra]

dang... well since Jazzi broke hers down so well here's mine:

*DAILY*
I brew tablespoon of shikakai powder with 2 tablespoons of amla powder in a mini coffee maker, using 3 cups of water. After brewing, I add another 3 cups of water. I pour this on my hair before wetting it in the shower to let it absorb as much as possible. After about 10 minutes I wet my hair in the shower and massage my scalp as the shik/amla tea starts foaming a little to "shampoo." I then add my co-wash concoction, which is half a bottle of V05 conditioner, green tea, honey and olive oil. If I had to guess, I'd say it's 50% conditioner, 40% green tea, 5% honey and 5% olive oil. But I don't measure it. I finger-comb (sometimes use my shower comb) and then rinse, after rinsing I go back and add a little more of the co-wash concoction to the length and ends of my hair (not the roots or near my scalp).

At this point I do one of 2 things - let my hair airdry to about 75% or so, then pull it back into a ponypuff for work, or do the curly primer method (You are not allowed to view links.Register or Login

www.tightlycurly.com

). Since I work 7-8 shifts a week, I don't usually take the time on my days off to do CP method. But for certain occasions I do, and it usually lasts me about a week.

On the following day, I either just rinse with water or lightly co-wash, rinse and go.

At night, I tie my hair up in a high loose puff called a "pineapple" if I wore it down that day... basically up on the top of my head, close to the forehead like a Judy Jetson ponytail. If I wore it in a puff that day, I tuck the puff into a loose bun before going to bed. I sleep on a satin pillowcase.

*WEEKLY*
Deep condition with Trader Joe's Nourish Spa mixed with chamomile, honey and olive oil. Again, 50% conditioner, 30% tea, 10% honey and 10% olive oil. Detangle with my shower comb and/or Denman brush, braiding each section as I finish. I end up with anywhere from 4-8 braids, depending on what I feel like doing that day. This takes me around an hour so, I don't do this in the shower. I either sit in the tub and listen to music, or watch TV and drape some towels around (I make a mess with that conditioner!). Afterwards I rinse my hair completely clean. While my hair is still soaking wet, I add warm olive oil to my hair and scalp. (Basically a hot oil treatment.) I brush it through each braid, one at a time, with my boar bristle brush and massage my scalp. I don't mess with my hair until I co-wash the next day, and gently detangle with my shower comb. Follow up with daily hairstyling routine.

*MONTHLY*
Baking soda clarifying treatment. I put about 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda in a cup and mix with V05 conditioner... just enough to get it to a cake batter consistency. I put this on my scalp mainly, but also my hair if it feels it needs it. Obviously I make more if I'm putting it on my hair, more like a cup of baking soda. I leave this on my scalp (or hair) for about 10 minutes and then rinse. I like to follow this up with the next treatment on the list...

Avocado hair mask deep treatment. I first tried this with just avocado and honey. Then I added olive oil the second time I tried it. The last time I tried it with an egg and it was even better. Some have suggested adding baby food banana... as of today I have not done so yet but I might in the future. I leave this in for about 30 minutes and then rinse, and do a final rinse with apple cider vinegar (1 part ACV, 3 parts water). Leave hair alone until the next day, when I co-wash and follow daily hairstyling routine.

Henna. I just re-added this into my reggie. I mix 300 grams of henna with just enough lemon juice to get a thick mashed potato consistency, and 3 ounces of ground cinnamon powder. I let it sit for 24 hours, then add a cup or so of honey (yes, a LOT!) before applying it to my hair. I wrap my hair in a baggie and then cover with a head wrap of some kind. Eight hours later I fill the tub with water and rinse, followed by rinsing under the shower head. I then add the TJ Nourish conditioner mixture and baggy for another hour. I rinse again, rinsing completely clean. I don't mess with my hair again until the next day. Then I will follow my weekly TJ Nourish DC routine.

I plan to alternate between these treatments, so I'm basically doing the baking soda/avocado hair mask and then 2 weeks later doing the henna, then 2 weeks later the baking soda/avocado hair mask... ad naseum. We'll see how this works and if I need to tweak this to better fit my hair's needs.

[jazzi]

LadyLibra I am so geeked to finally see your routine.  I've been wanting to ask you for YEARS lol but didn't wanna be buggin you. It sounds so simple and organic!

CurlyBeauty, my favorites are are egg & olive oil (2 eggs to 1/2 cup olive oil), coconut milk (1 can coconut milk, enough protein rich conditioner to thicken, coconut oil), or yogurt & honey (6-8 oz yogurt, 1 tbsp. honey).

[LadyLibra]

LadyLibra I am so geeked to finally see your routine.  I've been wanting to ask you for YEARS lol but didn't wanna be buggin you. It sounds so simple and organic!

CurlyBeauty, my favorites are are egg & olive oil (2 eggs to 1/2 cup olive oil), coconut milk (1 can coconut milk, enough protein rich conditioner to thicken, coconut oil), or yogurt & honey (6-8 oz yogurt, 1 tbsp. honey).

Awww don't be silly! I don't mind sharing, it's just I change it every season it seems... when the weather changes and/or as my hair gets longer. Bit by bit I have switched over to the organic stuff, but I still like trying out commercial products too for certain styling options.

[CurlyBeauty]

WOW lol LadyLibra that regimen seems quite extensive but i'm sure after a few go rounds it will seem natural..but i'm lovin the routine tho!i think i'm gonna have a little fun with my hair between trying some of your suggestions and Jazzi's suggestions! thanks ladies!

[jazzi]

Bump!

I'd like to see more regimens! 

[gmw]

Damn! Jazzi and LadyLibra, you two make me wanna get a regimen

I do to my hair what is asks me to do, but looking at these regimens I feel I could do a lot more.

I have been wanting to try the teas @LadyLibra! Need to do some research on them.

Of course I love Jazzi's Bohemian method, but I do that in the summer time.

But if someone were to ask me what I do to my hair it would be I take my cues from my hair and scalp.

Daily co-wash in the summer months unless I can get more days from my hair. I will either use just plain conditioner like suave and as it gets to the half way point I will add water, honey, olive oil, and coconut milk. I detangle with my Aveda brush (very new one here) or denman. Add some leave-in (currently Whipped Cream from hairveda.com) and a gel (currently EcoStyler). ** I did this last night before I went out around 7pm or so, tied my hair up for bed later on, and got up finger fluffed and left. No extra washing this morning.**

Deep Treatments about once a month or more depending on how my hair feels. I love the SitarNilah... from Hairveda with Aubrey Organics HoneysuckleRose and honey mixed in. I leave that on for about an hour or more depending on if I am watching movies or cleaning.

From time to time I will do an ACV and Honey Rinse in the shower after washing with an either diluted shampoo (with water) and olive oil added to it, like Suave or an SLS free shampoo. I only shampoo my hair when I feel it needs a good scrubbing. So this is rare, like once every 8 weeks or even longer, unless I am using products that build up on my hair.

I just recently added Bentonite Clay to my regimen, but I won't be doing it that often, just as I feel I need to cleanse my hair and scalp.

I also do a honey treatment, just putting pure honey on my hair for moisture, and leaving it on before I co-wash it out. Just when I feel I need it.

I wear puffs a lot, twa's, and twists a lot.

That is about it!
 

[jazzi]

Only 3 3c/4a's on Happycurls!  Wow! 

[Ghost]

Lol, I'm such a boy with my hair that I can't really say that I have a regimen but I will try.

Every 2-3 days:
Co-wash with Aussie Moist, apply moisturizer, condition with Knot Today or Yes To Carrots Condish (usually Yes To Carrots), and style. I detangle my hair after I cowash and rinse. I usually style with whatever leave- in I'm using or rake through KCCC.

Weekly:
Deep Condition with Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle or the Pantene Mask, I'll doctor it up with honey or oil.  (or just do a plain hot oil treatment with Coconut Oil).

I don't have a set schedule for shampooing- just depends on how much build- up I have- just finished using Trader Joes Poo but I feel like it strips my hair so that's a no- no now. I use bentonite once in a blue moon- when I really have free time. I trim my hair whenever my ends feel rough- probably like every 3 months. Moisturize with Green Tea Hair Butter, I also use this to twist my hair.

That's it. Oh, I detangle with my aveda paddle brush twice a week.

[pixie]

I don't really have a regimen, but that will probably change soon as my hair is getting too long to go with the flow.

Usually I co-wash with Suave Coconut (me and Citrus Smoothie had a falling out) and rinse pretty well so that I can put my Paul Mitchell on my hair. 

If I have nothing to do that day, I plop and then shake out my hair and let it fly free.
If I have to put some effort in, I layer the PM with either pink Ecostyler or curl activator if it's humid out.  If I do this then I re-wet or restyle as necessary till I can't stand the build up and then I cleanse.  I like putting baking soda in my conditioner, but I love bentonite clay (second only to rhassoul).

Sometimes I will add an egg or mayonnaise to my conditioner to boost protein, or honey for moisture.
I tend to stay away from most oils except castor, and I use that sparingly.

After looking at LL's routine I think I'm going back to my avocado/banana mix.  It's been a while.

[morenae]

Wash Day: (Once a week or every too weeks depending on the buildup and if I've gone swimming.)
1. Shampooo with clarifying shampoo. Current Products: Kinky Curly Come Clean, Giovanni, VO5
2. Deep Condition. Current Products: Lustrasilk Cholesterol Shea & Mango (mixed with aloe, oil, and sometimes an egg) or Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery (when I'm craving evil cones). Sometimes I just cover it with a shower cap and let it steam then rinse. Other times I use the microwave heat cap and leave it in overnight.
3. Conditioner Rinse. Rinse out deep conditioner and apply another layer of conditioner with lighter weight - especially to ends. Current Products: Giovanni 50:50, Inecto, Trader Joe's Nourish, or Allagio Crazy Curls (has cone). Wash most out, but leave a bit in on rough, dry or problem areas.
4. Oil Rinse Run a light amount of oil through my hair while water is running - mostly on ends and rough areas on my temples and crown. This helps my hair resist knots and tangles and somewhat seals in some moisture. I swear by coconut oil, but sometimes use amla, bringraj, almond, jojoba or a mix of all.
5. Style. Current Products: Kinky Curly Knot Today plus one of the following: Kinky Curly Curling Custard, Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding (my last stash of the ORIGNIAL FORMULA), or Blended Beauty Happy Nappy. I apply my products from root to tip in small sections then let air dry. For me there is no such thing as a "Wash and Go". It's more like Wash and sit around for 3 hours on Sunday waiting for your hair to dry and look like something.

The most I wash/fully wet my hair is once a week.

MAINTENANCE:

1. MOISTURIZE DAY & NIGHT: Before going to bed, and when refreshing in the morning, I spray my hair lightly with a mix of water, aloe vera, and glycerin. When wet, I then smooth on a light styling lotion or cream like SheaMoisture, or BB Light Styling Lotion.

2. NIGHT TIME: After moisturizing, braid in 4 braids and smush on my white satin durag/stocking cap. If I'm lazy, I'll just smush the cap on with a big bulge of hair underneath making me look like a rasta papa smurf.

3. BUN/PONY: With KCCC I get 3 day hair (wearing it out), and 6 day hair (wearing it in a bun or pony). I almost ALWAYS wear my hair up in a bun or lose pony with the ends tucked under. Sometimes I do the half-up/half down, but rarely all out. I don't really want to rock this hairstyle as much as I do, but this is all I have time for throughout the week.

4. CO-WASH: I co-wash once a week in between clarifying washes and maintenance. While co-washing, I add more oil to ends and rough areas then rinse.

[afrodominicana]

Daily : Usually my hair is braided or twisted so I just rinse them with diluted conditioner and then add vatika oil to seal in the moisture. If my hair is out I detangle with a beach/shower comb of my fake denman, rinse and then add a leave in and then a little gel.

Weekly : I do an amla treatment using 100grams. I just mix the amla and some warm water to make the paste. Then after rinsing I do a deep treatment with Luster's shea butter and mango cholesterol. After 1 hour I rinse and then add shea butter, vatika oil, and a little avocado oil to my hair in sections and then braid or twist if I dont want to wear it out.

Monthly : I Henna my hair by mixing 150- 200 grams of Reshma henna with warm green tea to make a paste. Then I apply the henna in sections like I would a relaxer and let it sit uner a plastic cap for 3-5 hours. Then I rinse and cowash the henna out. Then I would do a deep treatment of avocados and tomato blended in a blender. Let that sit for 30 min to and hour. Then rinse and style.

Bi-monthly : After I twist or braid my hair I would do search and destroys to trim away splits and knots.

[jazzi]

bump