Mature Loc Maintenance - effective product list

It has been a snowy few days around here, and yes it does look wonderful, and it is quite wonderful, just so long as I don't have to set not one foot in it! ... If I do then its PANTS and I will NOT be pleased!

So lets talk about ...

My Mature Sisterlock Routine.

REMINDER. 

I have fine hair and my locks are thin (very thin in places and a few have been joined) are not as full as some, but they are far more voluminous than my natural hair was. 

PRODUCTS RECOMMENDATIONS. 

Below - HAVE RATED PRODUCTS ON EFFECTIVENESS 5* - 3.5*

This post is factually base on my own personal opinion and experience. 

My Locs say NO! To creamy conditioners (I don't rinse well :)) YES to moisturising, hydrating shampoos. I have also incorporated a great deal of products which volumize, as I found some products left the appearance of my locks flat and lifeless. a lot of clarifying products also volumize and are great for controlling the dreaded build up.

I clarify regularly and my routine will start with a clarifier and end with a Moisture Hydrating Shampoo

Also - some shampoos are colour friendly, for me, this means that they leave the natural hair colour looking stronger 'darker', some poo's do strip and leave hair looking dull and ashy (washed out) if hair is black or similar. 

Most of last year I researched a lot of products, with a purpose. TKMaxx is the greatest for high quality discounted hair products. Listed below are the ones I found very effective, they do exactly as they say.

BRUSHING. - A major help in contolling/reducing build up.  I brush as and when needed.

Awapuhi Moisture Mist 5*

Jane Carter Nourishing Cream. Moisturising.

Revitalizing Leave in.

Hair nourishing serum
(smells lush)

Fair Trade Honey Shampoo.4*
first ingredient is actually honey!!

Godiva. 5* Condish and Moist
Jasmine scent lush.

NEW.
Softening, moisturising,
encourages new growth.

Karma Shampoo Bar

Gentle Lentil. Conditioning Shampoo Bar
Vanilla. Moisturising 5*

Kiehls Amino Acid Shampoo. 5*

Crinkles and Curls for setting braid outs. 5*

Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Shampoo. Moisture/Hydrating 5*

Suave Clarifying Shampoo. 5*

Dax Vegetable Shampoo. 5*Clarifier
(Cheap!)

YES to carrots (no SLS) 4*
Suave and Awapuhi.

Arosci Leave in Conditioner.  4*
(possible build up)

Awapuhi Shampoo.
Moisture 5*,Colour 5*, Voloume 4*.

Clarifying Banana Shampoo. 4*
Body Shop.

Hair Fix Release.3.5*
build up remover

ReTi, 2 years and 7 months

Original Post written Wednesday 29 December 2011.

Consultant Reti Day was yesterday, my head still sore, nobodies fault, just my issue.  Loving this stage, even though it took 3 hours to reti me, I knew there was a LOT of regrowth, especially as I do not reti  'tight' when I DIY.

A drastic mistake ...

.... had to wash my locs on Tuesday in time for reti first thing Wednesday, BUT I had a few friends around and we stayed up until 3am, hair washed ok, but I still had conditioner in it, and could not face washing it out! (slaps head) so I went to bed, with a view to washing it out in the morning.
WELL, my locks were DRY, I had to shampoo the conditioner out, no time to check the head,  I rushed off for my 10am appointment.

Reti style looked lovely, but underneath I had horrid evidence of left in conditioner, where I had not over rinsed, SIGH! I was not gonna wash my whole head again. so gathered the top clear portion in a bun, and mixed my concoction of shampoo and bicarbonate, THEN added vinegar. It frothed up and I applied it direct. I rinsed it out over the bath section by section, not a smple task but do-able. It worked!

 




















Today 4/1/12.

I washed my locs last night, using I Love Juicy. As Antiphilitron is no longer available from LUSH, I am in need of a clarifier that I notice deep cleans AND leaves the locs fluffy and full. As these products are drying I have decided to first wash with clarifiers and second n third wash with a

hydrating/moisturising shampoo. I am rubbish at rinsing, so have decided to avoid conditioners for a while, or at least take Ofo's advise and water them down before applying!
I will try to add Bicarb soda to I Love Juicy to see if it is as effective as the Anti Phil on removing build up. I have posted previously recommending ILJ as a great loc shampoo because it leaves them looking lovely! So lovely that I have not been able to keep my hands out of my head!
I want to alternate Deep Cleanse Clarifying to every other wash, but I do it more consistently if I choose to use a conditioner.
Also, I need another type of head wrap to sleep in, my locs are getting long, I have had to put them up in a bun for baths and shower, and even a couple of times to go to sleep.