Mixology || Simple Detangler Recipe Using Shea Butter and Oils

This recipe is ideal for undoing an old set of twists or braids.

Ingredients: 
4 tbsp coconut oil
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp melted shea butter (optional, but makes the process much easier)

Directions:
All you need for this detangler are coconut oil, olive oil, and melted shea butter. Apply this mixture to dry or damp hair, allow it to set, and then proceed to finger detangle. (Leaving coconut oil on dry hair overnight has been demonstrated to reduce combing damage.)

Hair Diary || From Loose Twists to My Usual Twists + New Detangling Method

Doing a new set of twists.

I wore the loose twists for almost two weeks then undid them, washed, conditioned, and detangled.  After that, I air dried in rollers again and put in another set of loose twists.  I wasn't quite feeling them this go around, so after a couple days, I transitioned to my usual twists.  I'm in week #2 and plan to keep them in for a total of three weeks.

Now for my new detangling method.  As an effort to get to hip-length (HL) sometime late next year, I knew that something(s) in my regimen had to improve ... one being that I be more patient in my detangling method.  As my hair got longer, detangling sessions obviously became more tedious and opened the door to a bit of impatience on my part.  I did not notice the effects until I started monitoring my front hair over a couple of years.  (Check this earlier post for more details.)  Once I became more patient with that section (and gave myself a fresh trim), it flourished!  And here I thought my bangs had reached their terminal length.

For the remainder of this year, I want to try that theory on the rest of my hair.  I'm not going to lie ... for a while, I thought WSL was it ... was my terminal length, but I want to exhaust this option before making that conclusion.  So what is my new detangling method?  Well, I'm currently experimenting with a few different ones before I finalize on one.  Here is option #1 at the moment:

Finger separate on dry, lubricated hair + Finger detangle on damp, conditioner-soaked hair.
In all honesty, doing a full finger detangling on dry hair prior to washing just doesn't work for me and does my hair more harm than good.  However, finger detangling on damp, conditioner-soaked hair has been working really well so far.  The catch?  My hair cannot be too tangled beforehand.  That being said, I've haven't tried this on hair that has been twisted for the long-term, so the story could be different in that case.  Right now, my experiment is to thoroughly finger separate each twist after pre-pooing overnight with coconut oil, put my hair into 8 big braids, wash, then whip out the conditioner and do the full finger detangle.

I will keep you all posted and should have a final updated regimen before the end of the year.  Now for more hair pics:

From loose twists to my usual "traditional" twists.

Twisting.

Done.  Will wear for three weeks.

Mixology || Homemade Banana Conditioner (by Loo)

Another natural deep conditioner.  This one softens and infuses the hair with moisture for detangling.

Homemade Banana Conditioner -

Ingredients:
1 medium/large overripe banana (sliced)
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for lubrication, moisture while detangling)
2 tbsp glycerin (humectant, moisture)
2 tbsp honey (humectant, moisture)

Instructions:
Place sliced bananas, extra virgin olive oil, glycerin, and honey all in a blender. Blend the ingredients thoroughly making sure no lumps or banana bits remain. (Depending on your blender quality, you may or may not have to then sieve the mixture with a fine sieve.  Another option is to use banana baby food.) Apply to hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.  (If not rinsed out thoroughly, your hair may be left hard and with mixture remnants once dry.)

Hair after detangling. If you've been following me for some time, you will be wondering how these "curls" appeared considering that I have no natural curl pattern whatsoever.  Well, it looks to be the conditioner.  The last time I used a similar concoction (transitioning days), my hair did the same thing. 

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Friday's Length Retention Tip!

Do you want to reach your goal? Then ...

adopt a low/no comb routine.  Combing the hair is a form of mechanical manipulation and may encourage breakage (Source).  Thus, keep combing to a minimum (e.g., once a month, every few months, or never).  If possible, opt for finger detangling instead.

Other tips:

*Use a wide tooth bone/resin comb instead of a regular comb
*Finger detangle on dry, lubricated, stretched hair
*Comb on damp, conditioner-soaked hair
*Toss out your brushes (denman, tangle teezer, paddle, etc.)

Twist Series: Long Lasting Twists

Here are some tips for increasing the wear of your twists:

1) Twist on dry, stretched hair.  
Twists done on wet hair tend to frizz faster than those done on dry, stretched hair.

2) Use a twist pudding.
Use a twist pudding to twist your hair.  This step will help to add hold to your twists.  The pudding can be made from a simple mix of gel, a butter (e.g., shea), and a little oil (optional).  Be sure not to use too much pudding.

3) Refrain from using moisturizers with humectants.
Prior to twisting, do not use a humectant-based moisturizer.  Humectants draw moisture from the air and can cause your twists to frizz faster.  Glycerin, propylene glycol, and honey are just a few examples of humectants.  (If you absolutely cannot do without humectants, then neglect this step because health comes before beauty.)

4) Use the rope/Senegalese twist method.
Take two strands, coil each one upon itself, and then twist.  The coiling makes for smoother, longer-lasting twists.  For a further description and tutorial of the rope/Senegalese twist method, check this post.

5) Wear a silk/satin scarf to bed.
Bonnets are fine, but scarves will lay down any frizzies and keep the style looking fresher longer.  Be sure not to tie the scarf too tight.

6) Wear a silk/satin scarf under your shower cap.
The scarf will reinforce protection of your style from the water and steam.

7) Keep moisturizing to a minimum.
If you are spritzing your twists daily, then your style will not last long.  Find a moisturizer or sealant that can allow you to go days, or even a week, without reapplication.

8) Keep washes to a minimum.
A good twist style can usually survive 1-2 washes before it is time for a redo.  If you are washing more times than that during the week, your twists will not last long.

9) Braid your twists before washing.
Doing this will help to keep your twists intact and minimize frizzing.

10) Airdry in braids.
Not only will this minimize frizzies, but it has the added benefit of minimizing shrinkage.

11) Redo the perimeter only.
Re-twisting the twists on the perimeter (particularly after a wash) will give your overall twist look a fresher appearance.

12) Wear smaller twists.
The smaller the twists, the longer lasting the style.  Bigger twists tend to unravel and frizz faster.

For other posts in the Twist Series, check this label.
If you have questions you would like to be answered in the Twist Series, comment below.

Reader's Question: Low Comb Routine

• Hello! I am currently experimenting with detangling my hair less often. I read that you do a low comb routine. Can you do a post on your detangling routine? How often you detangle? What you use to detangle (conditioners, combs, brushes, etc) What you do between combing sessions (finger comb, etc)?

Great question!  I have a two-part answer that depends on hair length:


FROM TWA to BSL:
(I actually started this routine at APL, but it works for shorter lengths as well.)  When my hair was this length, I comb detangled every 1-3 months.  I would soak my hair in LustraSilk Cholesterol mixed with olive oil for about an hour.  Then I would comb through each section of hair with a wide-tooth comb followed up by a medium-tooth comb.  After I completed each section, I would twist/braid it up, rinse out the conditioner, and proceed to style my hair as usual. Every 1-2 weeks (between comb detangling sessions), I redid my twists and used that opportunity to finger detangle on dry hair.  


FROM BSL to BEYOND:
I currently detangle about once every 3-4 weeks.  I soak my hair in LeKair Cholesterol mixed with olive oil for about 20-30 minutes.  (As my hair has gotten longer, the ends require just a little bit of protein to remain strong, hence my switch to LeKair.)  Then I run through the ends with a wide-tooth comb followed by a paddle brush from from roots to the ends.  (I use a paddle brush instead of a medium-tooth comb for ease and speed.)  At this length, I no longer finger detangle since my twist styles last from one comb detangling session to the next.


EDITED - MBL and BEYOND: I no longer use a paddle brush.  I only use a wide tooth comb.


I hope this helps!

Label of the Day: Detangling!

Here are some posts on "Detangling" in case you've missed them:

1.  What's in Your Detangling Medley?
2.  REVIEW #5: Avocado Detangling DC
3.  Micro Twist Takedown on CNapp Hair
4.  Hair Knots ... Be Gone!
5.  Retaining the Hair You Grow: Chapter 5

What's in Your Detangling Medley?

Current stash? An assortment of almost-empty conditioners. Future staple? Avocado detangling deep conditioner. (Read about it here.) In order to make the future the present, the current stash has to go. Time to get creative:

DETANGLING MEDLEY #1:
• avocado oil
• Hollywood Olive Cholesterol
• vegetable glycerin
• Jane Carter nutrient replenishing conditioner
• V05 Silky Experience champagne kiss with silk protein








DETANGLING MEDLEY #2:
• extra virgin olive oil
• YES to cucumbers daily makeover conditioner
• vegetable glycerin









So, what's in your medley?

REVIEW #5: Avocado Detangling Conditioner

Purpose: Natural alternative to a detangling conditioner. (Loo's recipe.)

Number of trials: 1

Ingredients & Materials:
Blender,
overripe avocado,
extra virgin olive oil,
unrefined shea butter,
apple cider vinegar (optional),
bowl,
mixing spoon

Instructions Cut up one avocado, mash with a mixing spoon, and put in blender. Add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of unrefined shea butter to blender. (No need to melt the shea butter ahead of time.) Finally add approximately 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to blender. If you wish, add 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (ACV) to blender. (The ACV will aid in the blending process and in flattening the cuticles.) Blend all the ingredients thoroughly and continue to add EVOO until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. When done, pour mixture into a bowl and apply to hair as a detangling deep conditioner. NOTE: It is important to blend the ingredients well to eliminate avocado bits that stick to the hair. If desired, sieve the mixture before applying.

How I used it: I applied this detangling conditioner after a pre-poo and wash in twists. Then I tied a plastic bag around my hair and allowed the mix to soften my hair for 40 minutes. Afterwards, I undid each twist and detangled with a wide tooth comb followed by a medium tooth comb. Then I placed my hair in several big twists, rinsed out the conditioner thoroughly, and styled as usual.

The review:
The avocado detangling deep conditioner did the job well. After 4 weeks in twists - which means 4 weeks worth of shed hair - I was really impressed with how smooth the detangling process went. The conditioner was lubricating, thick, and heavy, all of which are needed to give my kinks slip, moisture, and loosening for detangling. It was also relatively easy to rinse out compared to the thicker store-bought cholesterol conditioners I use. (The latter leave a residue and fragrance in my hair that I can't stand.) I love this homemade detangler and plan to use it again once I finish my unused tubs of LustraSilk and LeKair Cholesterols. (Actually, maybe I'll give away these tubs ... giveaway, hint hint.)

PROS: all natural, thick, provides slip for easy detangling, moisturizing, penetrating, inexpensive

CONS: slip disappears after rinsing (I can see it being a con for those who desire post-rinse slip); avocado bits in the hair (IF not blended well)

RATING:
Overall, I rate the Avocado Detangling Conditioner a 5 out of 5 stars. I have no complaints whatsoever and was impressed by the slip considering that it's an all natural conditioner.

IDEAL FOR THOSE:
*wanting an all natural detangling option
*with thick tresses

FOR THE MIXOLOGISTS OUT THERE: You can experiment with using an overripe banana or banana baby food in place of the avocado for finer hair. (Blend well.) For a protein boost, add an egg or use yogurt + egg or mayonnaise + egg in place of the avocado. For scalp stimulation, add a few drops of peppermint oil to the mixture. Instead of olive oil, use coconut oil for added strength.

FOR THE NON-MIXOLOGISTS OUT THERE: You may want to check out these avocado conditioners:

Avocado Conditioner