Alright!  So at one time or another, I have read almost all the "recipes" on this site for hair, and I have tried a lot of them in my quest for finding something to make my hair silky and smooth, so far to no avail.  I am REALLY getting at my whit's end about it.  It is too the point now that I can not wear my hair down even for a few minutes, because it is SO knot prone.  I can't even wear my hair in a pony tail because any movement makes it sway back and forth against my back or shoulder and it knots us horribly.  I'm losing my mind!!  It's been about 4 years since I started looking for something to solve my knotting dilemma but I STILL haven't found anything.  Hair products are not an option, they destroy my hair, and I can't use fancy shampoos and conditioners because my hair will not tolerate cones (it makes my hair like dry spaghetti).  Yesterday I was really tempted to hack half of it off, just in the hopes of it was only to the middle of my back (instead of to my tail bone) than maybe it wouldn't knot up as much?  But I know that's not true, it would still knot up.

The other thing is that my hair is not unhealthy.  I take pretty good care of it, I's just course and frizzy, instead of smooth and silky, which makes it IMPOSSIBLE to wear down!  And what's the point of having long hair if I can't show it off??  I'm just really exasperated.

What I need is something to put in my hair to make it smooth, so my hair will just glide along instead of getting hung up on EVERYTHING it touches (including itself).  

Does anyone know of any treatments that help? Anything that I can put in my hair that will make it smooth?  I already oil my ends, and that does help with moisture issues, but not with tangling or smoothness.  There has to be SOMETHING!!  ;(

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I wish I could help.. :'(  Have you tryed coconut milk heat cap treatments?  I do them once a month and they keep the corseness down in my hair as it has lot of grey in it. HTH

How about doing an ACV rinse?  I usually do an ACV rinse  2x a month and I notice that my hair is less knotty.  Granted it's curly,but long and humidity makes it feel like 20 lbs,but it knots!!  Try the ACV rinse and see if it helps.

I'm thinking henna or cassia treatment.  I use cassia regularly and it makes my hair much more manageable-silky smooth.  Also, since I got a comb from Ric the comb maker and a brush from Mason Pearson I've had a lot less tangles.  Since curly hair is very knot prone, this is what works for me.

Good luck!!!

I can understand why you feel exasperated.  I would too.  I do the vinegar rinses once a week or more often if I've goofed up my hair care regime like I did yesterday.  I've heard that coconut is good for coarse hair types but it's not clear to me whether they mean coconut oil or milk.  There are some more or less organic hair care lines that have something coconut in their ingredients list.  I know Oriflame does but I haven't tried their rice milk and coconut products yet.  Sorry I don't know any recipes.  I'm too lazy to make anything. :-[

Thanks guys!  I do ACV rinses, although not that often, becuase it tends to dry my hair out if I do it too much.  I just recently henna & indigo'd my hair, which helped but only for the first few days.  I haven't tried cassia but I have read all about it, so I might try that, also I haven't used coconut milk, but I have heard good things about the oils and such in coconut being good for your hair (and I think it helps to protect against drying out and protects against the elements too?)  I will give those a try!  Also I remember reading something a while back about Aloe Vera Juice he;ing to DEtangle hair, has anyone ever used aloe juice in their hair?  I wonder if it can be used a knot Preventative?

You might also try Ouidad's Deep Treatment conditoner.  I know it is pricey, but I think you can get a free sample.  It gives my hair a lot of slip.

any idea if it has cones in it?  My hair simply will not tolerate cones anymore, not even for a few days.

I'll have to get back to you on that-I'm out of the country at the moment.

From the website:  http://www.ouidad.com/Deep-Treatment#


Contains: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Lactamide MEA, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cystine Bis-pg-propyl Silantriol, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lycine, Glutamic Acid, Myristamine Oxide, Polyquaternium-11, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-59, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.

Thanks, MichelleR!  Why didn't I think of doing that?

thanks!  I'm a little scared by the Cetyl Alcohol for the second ingredient though O.O   I'm currently shopping for a filtering shower head, in hopes that it will help, bc maybe the city water is what's wrecking my locks :(  Our city water here is very volatile and chlorinated.  I've tried everything else, so it's gatta be that!!  I hope O.O  Also still battling the dandruff issue :(  Maybe the filtering shower head will help with that as well.

Since I put in a shower filter my hair and scalp definitely improved!!  I think that's a smart move.

Have you ever tried neem oil for your dandruff?  I was having a terribly flaky and itchy scalp before I started doing acv rinses, installing the shower filter and using neem.  When it was really bad I applied neem oil directly to my scalp.  From the health food store I got Neem Therapy shampoo and conditioner.  I used them maybe 4 times before my condition improved so much that I only use it on occasion.

This is the shampoo/condish I'm talking about:

http://www.directlyfromnature.com/Neem.htm

The first product and the 5th are the ones I've used.  

Good luck!!!

Oh, another thought...are you getting your hair thoroughly wet before shampooing and then rinsing really, really well to be sure all the shampoo in off your scalp?

Silly Tara. Cetyl alcohol is a conditioner and will not harm your hair. ::)

I thought all "alcohols" were bad for your hair inasmuch as they dry it out?  hmm.  Also, I haven't tried neem oil yet but I sure will now!  And yeah I don't have an itchy scalp but it flakes like crazy, and I have very oily skin and hair and I don't have eczema or anything like that so I'm thinking the horrible city water here HAS to be what's making my scalp flake.  I can't wait to get a new shower filter!  Where did you get yours Sakina?  

Oh and as far as the conditioner question:  I always thoroughly wet my hair before washing it, and I haven't used a conditioner for a while now (I am using a shampoo bar from hennaforhair.com)  So I know it's not buildup.  I also do not put any products whatsoever in my hair.  It really is my skin flaking up, but I have no idea what's causing it.  It's only been about the last 2 years which is how long I have lived in the apt I am in right now, I'm thinking it's the city water, it;s the LAST thing I haven't eliminated from my hair routine, and it's caustic.  Makes me sneeze and what not every time I shower.  

Quote:

I thought all "alcohols" were bad for your hair inasmuch as they dry it out?

Many people make that assumption. But no. Cetyl and stearyl alcohols are fatty alcohols, or emollients which coat the hair, much like fatty acids do in the body. You'll find them in most every conditioner you pick up.

Tap water is nasty and a few of the ladies here use water filtration systems in their shower. I'm sure someone will be along to provide links...