What curly/natural hair routine have you NOT bought into?

I am curious about which "natural hair rules" you have broken during your natural hair journey and why.

Two come to mind for me: Deep conditioning and protective styling.

I may be totally wrong, but I don't think everyone needs a deep conditioner. I do wash 'n go's daily (with the exception of 5 or 6 days during the past year), so I'm cowashing or shampooing every day or every other day. I felt guilty exactly 3 times during the past year when I read someone post about "deep conditioning", but when I did it my hair felt almost over-conditioned, way too soft, almost to the point of being mushy when wet. So I chalk it up to my hair not needing it. Maybe I need more protein? Anyway, I don't like the feeling I got when I did it using Jessicurl's WDCT and Jane Carter and Hugo Naturals.

The other thing I haven't gotten into is protective styling. Most importantly, I can't braid to save my life and my twisting skills are almost just as bad. My hair was basically shaved to a Beetle Bailey buzz-cut at the end of September 2009 and it's grown to what you see in my avatar, which measures approx. 4 inches all over (and that's the normal rate of growth, I think). No breakage, no split ends, no abnormal hair loss, wash and go nearly every day. So again, for my hair, protective styling didn't seem to be something I needed to do. That may change when my hair is longer, but for now, I don't see the point.

So are there any unwritten rules you've broken with your hair regimen?

I am not into anything having to do with baking soda, bentonite clay (except for facials) or apple cider vinegar. It's just too much for me.

One thing that I do thatis a no no is ..after I do my wash and go as its drying I take my hair and pull it back and squeeze my curls (like I am going to put it in a poneytail ) I do this twice as its dying. It plumps my curls up otherwise they are tiny spirals. So in other words I touch my hair while its drying big no no but this works for me lol. I also cant deep condition often either =mushy hair.

I don't buy into the curly girl method. Cones, mineral oil, and sulfates are my friends [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

ACV rinses. Although the salon I use to go to did with it felt great, they did them warmed up.

raina wrote:One thing that I do thatis a no no is ..after I do my wash and go as its drying I take my hair and pull it back and squeeze my curls (like I am going to put it in a poneytail ) I do this twice as its dying. It plumps my curls up otherwise they are tiny spirals. So in other words I touch my hair while its drying big no no but this works for me lol. I also cant deep condition often either =mushy hair.

That means your hair needs protein...


I use cones. That's it really. haha

Henna treatments something about it scares me, or maybe I am just a coward!

Karyn wrote:

raina wrote:One thing that I do thatis a no no is ..after I do my wash and go as its drying I take my hair and pull it back and squeeze my curls (like I am going to put it in a poneytail ) I do this twice as its dying. It plumps my curls up otherwise they are tiny spirals. So in other words I touch my hair while its drying big no no but this works for me lol. I also cant deep condition often either =mushy hair.

That means your hair needs protein...


I use cones. That's it really. haha

I use cones too! and skala condishs (thanks Karyn ) I know it has petroleum in it but my hair lovvvvvvves it!

I dont like the acv rinses, CG method, baking soda, cowashes or trimming while hair is twisted. Somethings work for other, but not for me.

I'm new to all of this so can someone explain what the CG method is, I have read that cones and sulfates are not good for your hair but nothing specifically about the CG method...

Curly_Aquarius wrote:Henna treatments something about it scares me, or maybe I am just a coward!

I was like that too, but they are really not scary at all.

LaToya28 wrote:I don't buy into the curly girl method. Cones, mineral oil, and sulfates are my friends [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I agree wih you toya, I use whatever makes my hair feels good. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I use cones and don't really think twice about it. The only reason why I steer clear of mineral oil and sulfates is because it really doesn't work for my hair. If it did, I would use away [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Henna scares me also...when i opt for color, i'll wear a clip on or phony pony.

ACV rinses...don't want vinegar on my body (from the shower)

like cones...

I purchase hair care products from the bss, Walmart, drug store, etc. Can't get into ordering online because I don't want to waste my dollars on shipping!!

Products over $7 - overrated! I have achieved long, healthy natural hair without breaking the bank!!
That goes for my daughter also! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

that's about it!

Curly Aquarius henna treatments scare me too! haha I've never done them. For now and hopefully the whole summer I'll be wearing my hair in protective styles. My hair doesn't feel too badly damaged anymore. Only the ends and it's not breaking at all I think it's the coconut oil because I don't use much on my hair!

The "rule" I break and always feel guilty about is stretching out my hair a bit with the blowdryer (on cool!). I don't have time to wait for it to air dry in braids or twists and if I don't stretch it I get fairy knots and tangles. I suppose I'm trading one damaging thing for another, but what else can I do?

popsbaby wrote:I am not into anything having to do with baking soda, bentonite clay (except for facials) or apple cider vinegar. It's just too much for me.

^^ agreeed

I can't get into the "all natural", "organic" or over priced products. That just doesn't work for my college budget. I need something I can find in Wal-Mart or my local BSS. Some products, including my dc and oil, I can find in the tiny "black hair" section of Family Dollar/Dollar General

And ordering products online just isn't convienent for me.

Peachtree wrote:I purchase hair care products from the bss, Walmart, drug store, etc. Can't get into ordering online because I don't want to waste my dollars on shipping!! Products over $7 - overrated! I have achieved long, healthy natural hair without breaking the bank!!

DITTO!!! I probably spend less than $75 a year on hair products. I can't see myself spending $$$ on a product that does the same thing my $3-5 products do.

Oh....I comb my hair - every time I wash. My tangles are no joke, I do what my hair needs.

tiashauntee wrote:

Peachtree wrote:I purchase hair care products from the bss, Walmart, drug store, etc. Can't get into ordering online because I don't want to waste my dollars on shipping!! Products over $7 - overrated! I have achieved long, healthy natural hair without breaking the bank!!

DITTO!!! I probably spend less than $75 a year on hair products. I can't see myself spending $$$ on a product that does the same thing my $3-5 products do.

$3-5 is my favorite price range. I start to get stingy with my money after that.

Curly_Aquarius wrote:

Karyn wrote:

raina wrote:One thing that I do thatis a no no is ..after I do my wash and go as its drying I take my hair and pull it back and squeeze my curls (like I am going to put it in a poneytail ) I do this twice as its dying. It plumps my curls up otherwise they are tiny spirals. So in other words I touch my hair while its drying big no no but this works for me lol. I also cant deep condition often either =mushy hair.

That means your hair needs protein...


I use cones. That's it really. haha

I use cones too! and skala condishs (thanks Karyn ) I know it has petroleum in it but my hair lovvvvvvves it!

I'm happy that it's working for you! Sad that I still can't use it [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

raina wrote:@ karyn yes I know I finally figured that out ! I uesed to think I was protein sensitive!

Many naturals just automatically assume that they are "protein sensitive" just because other naturals claim to be. A little protein never hurt anyone, especially since protein helps your hair grow and makes it stronger.

Peachtree wrote:Henna scares me also...when i opt for color, i'll wear a clip on or phony pony.

Don't be scurrred. You could always use amla (i think?) which is the same thing as henna, it just doesn't deposit any color.

moonchild wrote:The "rule" I break and always feel guilty about is stretching out my hair a bit with the blowdryer (on cool!). I don't have time to wait for it to air dry in braids or twists and if I don't stretch it I get fairy knots and tangles. I suppose I'm trading one damaging thing for another, but what else can I do?

You could always try banding overnight or even braiding. I never wash my hair the day I need it to look a certain way (i.e: a big, stretched out braid out)

I don't buy into the whole constant "protective styling" thing either. Our hair is meant to grow free and wild. It is our cranium's first line of defense. We weren't born with a bun, pony, braids, wigs or updos, so why do we feel the need to wear them in order to grow our hair? Don't get me wrong, I totally understand why someone who is relaxed or transitioning would constantly keep their ends up and tucked (when I was relaxed if I sneezed too hard my hair would break off), but once you're fully natural and healthy, I really don't see the need. I wear my hair out 80-85% of the time, I work in a white, cotton lab coat all day and carry a huge shoulder bag yet I have no problems with breakage. I use protective styles for one reason; protection. If I'm at the gym, working around the house, fiddling with a bunsen burner, in the bed, etc., my hair is protected other than that, my hair is out and free. Updos, braids, wigs, and high manipulation styles are special treats.

I also don't do the ACV rinses (Yikes), the Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) washes, co-washing exclusively (my scalp can't handle it, terrible itchies), MegaTek, Ovation Cell Therapy, popping large quantities of vitamins and growth pills, bentonite clay, denman brushes, coconut oil (really want to love it, but my hair ain't feelin' it), and experimentation (if it ain't broke...).

LaToya28 wrote:I don't buy into the curly girl method. Cones, mineral oil, and sulfates are my friends [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

This would be me too..
Quite frankly..after much trial and error, I have found that the same thing that worked for me when I was relaxed is the SAME thing that works as I am natural..

Who woulda thunk it? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]