oddityofwings - 31 January 2011 03:03 PM

CrystalTips - 30 January 2011 10:15 PM

oddityofwings - 30 January 2011 09:24 PM

That’s odd.  I wonder what’s in it that’s causing it to do that.

I know everyone’s raving about how good Curl Queen is in low dews, but I just don’t see it on my hair.  Too much aloe, methinks. :-(

Have just taken a look back at my diary for last winter. Tried out the CIAB for the first time last January and, for the most part, got good results through Jan/Feb/March?!? The couple of times I’ve used it this winter, not so good?!? Not sure what’s going on with this now?!? Will have to use again this week and re-evaluate.

Oh, I bet it’s that it’s much colder and dryer this winter than it was last year.  I could even use KCCC in the winter last year (!).  I know we had cold last year, but at least around these parts it was pretty mild in comparison to this past December.

Indeed - good point! It has been flippin’ cold! I dream of a sandy beach, sunshine, cocktails and HEAT! lol

Quote from oddityofwings (a fountain of wisdom ):

‘I would say, given the generally okayish dew points here, not to avoid ingredients until you notice problems that you can definitely put down to dew point/ humectant interaction.  Sometimes going fluffy outside is actually due to just not enough hold in general, or the wrong kind of hold.  Hair with a good moisture/protein balance should be more resistant to dew point variation as well (as best I can tell).

Also, glycerin is the classic problematic humectant, so if you’re going to have problems in low dew points, it will probably be with that one rather than aloe, honey, agave, etc.  There is some evidence, however, that glycerin should not actually cause problems because unless it’s formulated incorrectly, it won’t go seeking more water than it already has because it literally cannot take on more (http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2010/03/moisture-issue-glycerin-is-your-friend.html - first two comments in particular).  Pure glycerin is one thing - glycerin in a formula is another entirely.  I suspect aloe, honey, etc., work the same way, but to a lesser extent.

I also suspect, from personal and anecdotal experience, that the dew point - humectant link is actually made out to be too strong.  I think it’s very possible the dew point brings out an underlying sensitivity rather than it being a rule that humectants are problematic in dew points for everyone - most people I know who really can’t use humectants in low dews can’t really use them the rest of the year either.  Aloe in styling products hates me year round - I just only really notice it in drier months.

All that to say - experiment.  You’ll never know until you try.  ’

kat180 - 01 February 2011 11:25 AM

Quote from oddityofwings (a fountain of wisdom ):

‘I would say, given the generally okayish dew points here, not to avoid ingredients until you notice problems that you can definitely put down to dew point/ humectant interaction.  Sometimes going fluffy outside is actually due to just not enough hold in general, or the wrong kind of hold.  Hair with a good moisture/protein balance should be more resistant to dew point variation as well (as best I can tell).

Also, glycerin is the classic problematic humectant, so if you’re going to have problems in low dew points, it will probably be with that one rather than aloe, honey, agave, etc.  There is some evidence, however, that glycerin should not actually cause problems because unless it’s formulated incorrectly, it won’t go seeking more water than it already has because it literally cannot take on more (http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2010/03/moisture-issue-glycerin-is-your-friend.html - first two comments in particular).  Pure glycerin is one thing - glycerin in a formula is another entirely.  I suspect aloe, honey, etc., work the same way, but to a lesser extent.

I also suspect, from personal and anecdotal experience, that the dew point - humectant link is actually made out to be too strong.  I think it’s very possible the dew point brings out an underlying sensitivity rather than it being a rule that humectants are problematic in dew points for everyone - most people I know who really can’t use humectants in low dews can’t really use them the rest of the year either.  Aloe in styling products hates me year round - I just only really notice it in drier months.

All that to say - experiment.  You’ll never know until you try.  ‘

There’s truth there for sure!

For me, I’m thinking it is all about product formulation rather than ingredients per se. For example, aloe is a prob for me is some products (esp juice) as I get that ‘flash drying’ ‘grabby’ effect that my hair hates. However, aloe juice is high on the list in CJCCCC - which my hair loves conversely ‘tis high on list in Darcy’s Peach Kernal Milk - hair HATES it! The ‘creamy’ ingredients and oils in the CJCCCC counter any negative effects - there’s no creamy stuff in the Darcy’s - the Peach Kernal just feels really astringent and nasty for me.

I feel it’s probably wise to quote Marsha here - it’s all in the formulation.  

Aloe is weird for me in winter.  It’s fine in a rinse-out.  It’s fine in CCCC, and it’s okay in CQ so long as my hair is bone dry when I go out.  But God forbid I use it in a leave-in or in anything that’s not going to be completely dry, and I cannot use SS FHG, SS CEJ, or CJ Smoothing Gellie in the winter or even vaguely dry months. 

Glycerin, on the other hand… well, the more in the winter the better.  Go figure!

i have a silly Q. :S
in high humidity/high dew point (above 60)..should i avoid humectants or anti-humectants ! or both.. whenever i think deeply about this, my brain hurts lol
coz i’m going to Jeddah during summer and my hair is frizzy prone and it will be my first time not to straighten it i need nice and touchable curls..
any advice about ingredients should be avoided r welcome..
thanks alot