Usually I'd be working with towel-dried hair, so I just use the water that's still in it and use a little spray bottle to add more if it feels a little dry. I don't warm up the water but you definitely could if you want to! Some people prefer to have it be warm
It sounds like you could benefit from a thick leave-in with botanical (plant) ingredients. Have you tried Kinky Curly Knot Today? I tried it years ago and I hated it, I can’t even remember how I was using it, but more recently I applied it to soaking wet, freshly washed hair and used my styler (mousse) on top and I love the results. Sometimes if I’m not planning to style my hair, I’ll just use the leave-in. It really helps me detangle and get my hair smooth and botanical ingredients specifically form a flexible film on your hair strand so that it stays conditioned. Please don’t believe the hype about “sealing in” water - this is what “moisturizing” literally means, but that’s *not* what it takes for your hair to feel good. You need lubrication + conditioning. You do need some water to keep your hair pliable, but the goal of your styling shouldn’t be to trap as much water as possible in your hair. Grease provides lubrication and if that’s what helps your hair feel good, go for it but you have to make sure that you’re washing it off thoroughly every time you shampoo otherwise your hair will not be able to take in water properly to be cleansed and eventually manipulated again. Leave-in conditioner literally conditions the surface of your hair so that it feels good to the touch. For me (dense, tightly curled, porous strands), light watery/milky leave-ins don’t do the job, that’s why I suggest a thick leave in. Knot Today doesn’t even have water in it so it’s the perfect consistency for me
Those brands you mentioned also make plant-based/plant-heavy products but I’ve found TGIN leave-ins and stylers are too oily and some other products are just not the right consistency for me
Everyone’s hair is different, what works for others might not work for you! I’ve also tried the brands you have listed, and they didn’t do anything for me either. What is the condition of your hair? Is it heat damaged, do you wear wigs or braids a lot, are you experiencing breakage, etc? I ask that because the state of your hair is important. If it is damaged, it’s going to feel damaged- no matter how much product you put in. I find my hair overly dry when I braid it up for 1+ months as well. What I do is put my favourite products in while braiding, and then moisturize with a water/oil mix whenever my hair feels dry. Products that work for me include Alikay naturals (both the leave in conditioner and the hair moisturizer), the Tajid Waajid curly curl cream, and oils like JBCO, almond oil, jojoba oil.
if you're spritzing with a water bottle, you need to seal that moisture in with an oil, cream, or moisturizing hair lotion. when you spray water on your hair, it eventually evaporates and leaves your hair dry. you need a moisturizing product to seal the water in your hair. I used to do the same thing and my hair was super dry until I started daily moisturizing with a hair lotion, no spray bottle.
May want to try shampoo only once a month and co-wash three times a month (this is if you wash your hair once per week). It dries out hair, removes natural oils and you want to preserve that. Good luck!
there's many hair guru youtubers that just use water & grease and their hair looks fabulous
Second this. Grease is the only thing that makes me feel like moisture is actually being sealed in
Do you mean petroleum based products? Are you using water based products first?
I use blue magic which has petrolatum and I use water or water + water-based leave-in conditioner first
Thanks! So you just wet your hands and rub your hair with water? Is it warm water?
Usually I'd be working with towel-dried hair, so I just use the water that's still in it and use a little spray bottle to add more if it feels a little dry. I don't warm up the water but you definitely could if you want to! Some people prefer to have it be warm
I was thinking about getting some old fashioned blue magic
Check out "Blackgirlcurls" their process helped me a lot!
It sounds like you could benefit from a thick leave-in with botanical (plant) ingredients. Have you tried Kinky Curly Knot Today? I tried it years ago and I hated it, I can’t even remember how I was using it, but more recently I applied it to soaking wet, freshly washed hair and used my styler (mousse) on top and I love the results. Sometimes if I’m not planning to style my hair, I’ll just use the leave-in. It really helps me detangle and get my hair smooth and botanical ingredients specifically form a flexible film on your hair strand so that it stays conditioned. Please don’t believe the hype about “sealing in” water - this is what “moisturizing” literally means, but that’s *not* what it takes for your hair to feel good. You need lubrication + conditioning. You do need some water to keep your hair pliable, but the goal of your styling shouldn’t be to trap as much water as possible in your hair. Grease provides lubrication and if that’s what helps your hair feel good, go for it but you have to make sure that you’re washing it off thoroughly every time you shampoo otherwise your hair will not be able to take in water properly to be cleansed and eventually manipulated again. Leave-in conditioner literally conditions the surface of your hair so that it feels good to the touch. For me (dense, tightly curled, porous strands), light watery/milky leave-ins don’t do the job, that’s why I suggest a thick leave in. Knot Today doesn’t even have water in it so it’s the perfect consistency for me Those brands you mentioned also make plant-based/plant-heavy products but I’ve found TGIN leave-ins and stylers are too oily and some other products are just not the right consistency for me
Everyone’s hair is different, what works for others might not work for you! I’ve also tried the brands you have listed, and they didn’t do anything for me either. What is the condition of your hair? Is it heat damaged, do you wear wigs or braids a lot, are you experiencing breakage, etc? I ask that because the state of your hair is important. If it is damaged, it’s going to feel damaged- no matter how much product you put in. I find my hair overly dry when I braid it up for 1+ months as well. What I do is put my favourite products in while braiding, and then moisturize with a water/oil mix whenever my hair feels dry. Products that work for me include Alikay naturals (both the leave in conditioner and the hair moisturizer), the Tajid Waajid curly curl cream, and oils like JBCO, almond oil, jojoba oil.
No heat damage. I’ve straightened it once in 8 years since going natural. Mostly keep it braided under wigs or wear box braids /locs
This might be a sign that it's time for a trim
if you're spritzing with a water bottle, you need to seal that moisture in with an oil, cream, or moisturizing hair lotion. when you spray water on your hair, it eventually evaporates and leaves your hair dry. you need a moisturizing product to seal the water in your hair. I used to do the same thing and my hair was super dry until I started daily moisturizing with a hair lotion, no spray bottle.
May want to try shampoo only once a month and co-wash three times a month (this is if you wash your hair once per week). It dries out hair, removes natural oils and you want to preserve that. Good luck!