I also love BIG hair..but anyways I have a question…my hair is dry and I’m looking forward to doing my Henna. But, I see in your last review about the bentonite clay that henna made your hair dry..so now I’m scared to death to do this now…I was going to henna my hair and then put lots of shea buttter on and go under the dryer for 30-60 mins or so to do a moisturizing conditioning after the henna treatment...but I keep seeing about sealing your ends with shea butter...I thought shea butter was a moisturizer and not a sealent. Can you help me and let me know what’s a moisturizers and what is a sealant. I need a heavy cream moisturizer for my after henna treatments if I decide to go ahead with it….
Thank You.
Mud/clay treatments are generally a taxing process on your strands. The application and rinsing process can lead to excessive shedding if you are not gentle. Upon initially rinsing the henna, my hair is very dry…not fragile or breaking, but it feels stripped. Bentonite clay, on the other hand, rinses clean to reveal ridiculously soft and defined hair. CRAZY! It will not replace my henna treatments, as they serve two different purposes, but lets just say I was more than surprised at my touchable results.
Henna– Strengthens, smoothes, defines, colors, and temporarily loosens curls.
Bentonite– Natural, deep clarifying treatment that swells and removes impurities from the hair and scalp, revealing soft, clean (not stripped) hair. It also slightly loosened my curls. In fact my next day hair was similar to my next day henna’ed hair.
The initial dryness experienced after a henna treatment is why it is essential to do a moisturizing deep treatment immediately following. After your hair is DT’ed, the moisture is restored and your hair is left stronger and much healthier. The dryness is fleeting and is easily remedied by the moisturizing DT. Also, I wouldn’t use Shea butter as my sole DT, I’d use one of the ones I mentioned yesterday:
1. Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose (Vitamin Shoppe)
2. Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Mask (Walmart, Target, Krogers)
3. Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment (www.curlmart.com)
If you want, you can add some Shea into the mix, but I wouldn’t rely on the Shea to moisturize alone. And you’re right, shea is riding the sealant/moisture fence. It does both. Its a moisturizer and emollient, which is why you find it in so many hair products. It moisturizes, softens, holds, slightly loosens curls, and seals. It’s a magical butter 🙂
This goes back to yesterday’s response…to seal, apply a water based moisturizer first, such as:
1.SheaMoisture Shea Butter Leave-in (technically NOT water based)
2. DevaCare One Condition
3. Jessicual Weekly Deep Treatment (yes you can use this as a leave-in as well…if your hair is dry like mine)
And subsequently seal (and further moisturize!) with Shea Butter. Your results will be amazing!
Later Gators,
Nik
I’m really going to get some Shea butter. I’m still not sure about the henna. I think I’ll wait until I cut off all my relaxed ends.