MHM Hangout

Good points. I didn't realize she was adding BS to the clay. That is very extra.

I didn't even realise until you restated it! I wonder if she said why she chose to use the clay with baking soda?

ETA: I've only just watched the vid and the way she puts it, it could also be interpreted as she used a clay rinse, and then a BS mix after her clay. I still can't see why steps in that order would've been necessary.
 
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I am with you a few weeks ago I had the straw hair and it took white vinegar at a 50/50 mix to get it back

As for protein do you like the aubrey organics GPB?
I have GPB and used to use it when I was relaxed. I'm only trying to use MHM approved products but this might be easier than a CLT. I only do the CLT every 4-5 weeks. I'm paranoid about the BS now but I haven't had any problems but it could be because I only use about 1teaspoon and DC with heat or steam 2x per week.
 
No, I NEVER comb my hair, lol. I have not combed my hair in years, but I do meticulous finger detangling every wash. I have kind of trained my hair for braid outs. When it's dry, before I get in the shower, I put it in 10 or so sections and bantu knot them. (I was plaiting them but realized that was adding more time). I rinse out my hair in the sections- adding the clay to each section and finger detangling. I leave clay on, knot it back up and go to next section. Then I take down each section, rinse it out under the water so it's still detangled, add the gel and immediately plait that section in the shower.

Thanks for your explanation:). I think when I try one again, I will do so on wet, not damp hair. This may have to wait until I get a dryer lol. Also, the gel left my hair looking flat and stringy once I undid the braids, so I need to work that out.

Its just that wash and gos are so easy, once its done its done. I am too used to this at the mo, to try anything.
 
Thanks for your explanation:). I think when I try one again, I will do so on wet, not damp hair. This may have to wait until I get a dryer lol. Also, the gel left my hair looking flat and stringy once I undid the braids, so I need to work that out.

Its just that wash and gos are so easy, once its done its done. I am too used to this at the mo, to try anything.
Your results sound like the results my friend with normal/ low density hair gets. She can do wash and gos, however, when she does a braid out with gel, it's not enough volume and is limp. Mine is overly full because I have so many hairs per inch, but that makes wash and gos hard for met to achieve. If I had wash and gos that look like yours, I probably wouldn't fool with a set style, but if you want a diferrent style one day, consider a flat twist out. She does hers across, not down if that makes sense (like across the back and side of her head instead of straight down) and she gets good volume like that. A braid out is probably going to give you too much stretch/ too little volume.
 
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I love the tea I use Irish Moss or Slippery Elm and/or Marshmallow as a final rinse sometimes I skip the leave in and just use curls in a bottle.
Let us know what you come up with.
I really wanted Irish Moss! That was the one thing I haven't been able to find on the ground. When you use the herbal leave in, do you follow up with gel? I'm wondering if it would be any different then just having it in my gel.
 
I have used BS treatments in my hair off and on for the past 7+ yrs. I use it for many things from cooking to hair to cleaning to skincare. Listening to DanaB she was using BS 2X per week PLUS claying with Bentonite + BS. Who's cuticle needs raising up 2 x per week?? Plus we've all decided that Bentonite is the most drying of the clays. I'm surprised it took 8-9 months to notice the damage. My hair would have been acting a fool after the 2nd use of the week!

I use BS as a treatment. I either mix conditioner with BS for a clarifying treatment or it's in my CLT. Either or and never both at the same time. Folks be overdoing :)

DanaB never added baking soda to her benonite clay. Where did you get that info from?
 
Your results sound like the results my friend with normal/ low density hair gets. She can do wash and gos, however, when she does a braid out with gel, it's not enough volume and is limp. Mine is overly full because I have so many hairs per inch, but that makes wash and gos hard for met to achieve. If I had wash and gos that look like yours, I probably wouldn't fool with a set style, but if you want a diferrent style one day, consider a flat twist out. She does hers across, not down if that makes sense (like across the back and side of her head instead of straight down) and she gets good volume like that. A braid out is probably going to give you too much stretch/ too little volume.

This is exactly what happens:hair:, which is why I tend to steer clear :lol:. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely use that pattern when I do try.
 
Ok so I co-washed with diluted tresemme undone just because I've been having conditioner withdrawal and I found so many shed hairs, I'm surpirsed my hair didn't dread up. My finger detangling is not good enough to go without conditioner so im adding it back into my regimen. If I dilute it with hot water my hair seems to like it a lot. I've been having so many SSK's since doing the modified MHM the past 3 months.
 
What's your regimen since you removed the BS? I don't use a lot of BS, but I am using it about 2x per week which is how often I try to do the MHM. I guess I've been doing it for about 4 months. Are you doing any DC at all? If so, at what point? I feel like my hair needs DC with heat or steam. I'm going to try the Dubaidee's method for my mid-week either tonight or tomorrow to see how it works.

I'm doing the modified method. I haven't done the CLCT since that day six weeks ago but I plan to do it soon without the baking soda. I really have not felt the need to dc honestly. My hair is doing really well on this method. I'm finally understanding what it means to listen to your hair so I will dc as needed. I also think it's because the weather is warming up. I did feel the need to steam and dc in the winter.
 
It was my 20th Line anniversary (pledged Delta) and the humidity was 98%! But of course, I wanted to wear my hair out because I've been babying it for this event. I made some Thick flaxseed gel and put in my plaits, sat under the dryer and set out. My hair was not defined like normal in that crazy humidity/ drizzling, and my hair was HUGE. I actually got lots of compliments though and it really made me rethink the notion that I can only wear my hair out when it is in a perfectly defined braid out. I plait it up in just three big plaits and yesterday I took them down and wore a stretched "undefined" braid out and again I got a lot of compliments, especially from my Caucasian co-workers and friends so definitely rethinking the need for every hair to be in it's place for me to feel comfortable with it! This is a change for my 4c hair but now it still "looks like something" even when it's free form:afro::)

I bet your hair looked nice, I love that look.
 
Good points. I didn't realize she was adding BS to the clay. That is very extra.

She doesn't put bs in her clay mix, atleast not in her video where she does her regimen. She only put it in her conditioner on the video.

ETA, just saw that this was addressed up thread. Wondering if she meant to say that considering she didn't do it in her regi vid??
 
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Thanks for your explanation:). I think when I try one again, I will do so on wet, not damp hair. This may have to wait until I get a dryer lol. Also, the gel left my hair looking flat and stringy once I undid the braids, so I need to work that out.

Its just that wash and gos are so easy, once its done its done. I am too used to this at the mo, to try anything.

Same here. Every weekend I say I'm going to try a flexi rod set on my new cut but at this point I'm hopping in the shower, detangling what little hair I have under the shower stream, adding my clay and letting it sit while I wash up then applying my gel. The whole process is not even 15 minutes. All that to say, it's hard for me to conceive of getting out the shower and putting rods in my hair :eek:
 
@tashboog , what's your simplified conditioner mix? I might also modify AbsyBlvd oil rinse and make it an oil/herbal rinse before I put the gel on.
@Holla4mom the conditioner mix I use is a banana deep treatment. I've even used it overnight and got some pretty good hydration with it. I usually use it after I use a protein reconstructor. So the DIY banana treatment that I use is:
2 bananas
1 tsp raw honey
1 tbs evoo
1 tbs coconut oil
1 tbs avocado oil
I mix everything in my blender then apply to my hair on damp hair and I leave it on for at least 30 min, but I've left it on overnight with good results too. You could try a hand mixer or food processor to mash the bananas but I prefer a blender to smooth out the banana chunks. I'm sure you could also replace the oils with whatever oils your hair likes. I'm a hi po gal so I don't have any issues with coconut oil or any oils in this recipe. HTH :supergrin:.
 
Ok so I co-washed with diluted tresemme undone just because I've been having conditioner withdrawal and I found so many shed hairs, I'm surpirsed my hair didn't dread up. My finger detangling is not good enough to go without conditioner so im adding it back into my regimen. If I dilute it with hot water my hair seems to like it a lot. I've been having so many SSK's since doing the modified MHM the past 3 months.

I'm on a roll this morning with replying :drunk:

I'm the opposite, I was noticing more ssks and breakage with the original. Now that I think about it though, it could've been the use of baking soda 2x a week. Hmmm...
 
Your results sound like the results my friend with normal/ low density hair gets. She can do wash and gos, however, when she does a braid out with gel, it's not enough volume and is limp. Mine is overly full because I have so many hairs per inch, but that makes wash and gos hard for met to achieve. If I had wash and gos that look like yours, I probably wouldn't fool with a set style, but if you want a diferrent style one day, consider a flat twist out. She does hers across, not down if that makes sense (like across the back and side of her head instead of straight down) and she gets good volume like that. A braid out is probably going to give you too much stretch/ too little volume.
When you say your friend does her flat twist "across" do you mean ear to ear opposed to forehead to nape which is what I consider front to back/vertically? I have the same kind of results you describe with my low density hair and I've always done them vertically so any method to add volume is good for me.
 
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Yes, FaithVA that's what you always say. It's hard for me. I'm one of those, "If it's worth doing. . . it's worth overdoing" people but I'm learning that doesn't make sense for the long haul.

I try not to say it too much so folk can be free but when someone else says it I'm going to get my nod in. But I'm working on letting folk be free and not trying to guide the "want to be lost" folk. :yep: That's not directed at you at all. I'm just thinking about conversations and debates in other threads that I am refusing to participate in.
 
How are you going to add it back? I mean at what point (i.e., pre-clay or post-clay)? I need to stop asking all these questions and just try this modified method out, but I am trying to avoid a set-back because I have come too far to turn back now.

What clay are you using?
 
How are you going to add it back? I mean at what point (i.e., pre-clay or post-clay)? I need to stop asking all these questions and just try this modified method out, but I am trying to avoid a set-back because I have come too far to turn back now.

I know you weren't asking me, but I've also been doing the modified method for about a month or so. I think my hair does better without it on a regular basis, however I still think it may be necessary to really DC or use a proper protein conditioner.

I incorporated conditioner before the clay step. I feel that conditioner builds up easily on my hair so the clay helps keep things in check- just how I'm thinking at the moment, although nothing is set in stone.
 
When you say your friend does her flat twist "across" do you mean ear to ear opposed to forehead to nape which is what I consider front to back/vertically? I have the same kind of results you describe with my low density hair and I've always done them vertically so any method to add volume is good for me.
Let's see. In the back, she goes across, like ear to ear, instead of down- crown to nape. I imagine on the sides maybe she goes front to back? I think the point is to make it perpendicular to how you want it to lay, instead of parallel (lol- sounding like a Math teacher). For me, I would make my flat twists (if I did them) lay exactly like I want my hair to be to reduce volume but she goes against the grain.

How does front to nape work for you? Do you get good volume that way?
 
I know you weren't asking me, but I've also been doing the modified method for about a month or so. I think my hair does better without it on a regular basis, however I still think it may be necessary to really DC or use a proper protein conditioner.

I incorporated conditioner before the clay step. I feel that conditioner builds up easily on my hair so the clay helps keep things in check- just how I'm thinking at the moment, although nothing is set in stone.
In this past month, how often do you think you have conditioned, DC'ed? I have to find the balance too, because when I tried it last, my hair just declumped and was too soft, but I'm not at your level of definition. I will keep listening to my hair.
 
I'm re-adding conditioner into my regimen, not baking soda though.
Aharri, how long do you spend in the detangling stage? I think your regimen is pretty quick, but you need to do a slow, meticulous detangling with the clay at least once a week I would think if you didn't want shed hairs to build up. Are you getting enough slip with your clay to feel like you can detangle well? I keep playing around with my clay mix (adding slippery elm powder, experimenting with honey, EOs) etc so that it can give me slip and I can stick to the two step process if possible.
 
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