Snowy's Deep Moisture Treatment

[Snowymoon]

I have used my own moisture treatment twice with GREAT results. Hair is still wet, but very happy!!!

Snowy's Fave Moisture Treatment
1 part Fave conditioner (must be moisture), mine is VO5-Sun Kissed Raspberry.
1/4 part honey
1/4 part clear aloe vera gel (I use Fruit of the Earth).

Place in a cup and warm in microwave for 10 to 15 seconds--just until warm. Wash hair and squeeze out excess, blot dry, leave in under heat cap, warm towels or shower cap, what have you, for an hour or so. Rinse well. Finish (add leave-in if you do so) and style as usual Wah-la!!! Extreme Moistness. This is great after protein treatments!!! WOOT!!!

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~ My own Method ~

I thought I would share with you the method I use most often when using SMT.

When I make it, I do the following:

~ Mix all ingredients in a cup and stir with a spoon.
~ Pop in in the microwave for a very short time, just enough to warm it.
~ Stir it again with a spoon.
~ Thoroughly rinse hair.
~ Clean hair with method of choice if not using SMT as the cleanser (CO wash) and rinse well. If using SMT as the cleanser, rinse hair well and go to the next step.
~ Squeeze out excess water.
~ Blot dry with a towel gently.
~ Apply the SMT all over, massage it into the scalp and comb it through for a bit.
~ wrap hair in a bun on the top of my head and put a plastic bag or shower cap over this.
~ Can use a heat cap here, and sometimes I do, but usually I just put a towel over that.
~ Leave on for an hour, if you can, or even longer.
~ Rinse well.
~ Finish, dry and style as usual.
~ Shiney hair! :biggrin:

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SMT...it's not just for deep treatments anymore!!

For an added treat, if your hair likes oils, you may want to try Ursula's Mega-Moisturizing Oil/SMT/Aloe wash (MMW). It is a great way to use SMT as a cleaning method.

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A NOTE OF THANKS

I would like to thank all the people who posted replies in this thread, and all who will post in the future. With your help, the following lists were created, which in turn will help all those coming across this thread for the first time. You all make this place great!

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LIST OF CONDITIONERS; THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Some conditioners appear to work in this recipe better than others. In an SMT gone wrong, many report lumps, clumping and difficulty rinsing. So, if you try a conditioner you are unsure of and you see lumps, chances are it may not be a conditioner that will work well with SMT. You can post here or PM me if you would like to add a conditioner to the following lists.

Conditioners and other ingredients reported to work well
Africa shea oil
Aubrey Organics GPB
Aussie 3MM
Aussie Mega conditioner
bananas from babyfood jars
bear-jar honey
Biolage Conditioning Balm
Body Shop Brazil Nut Conditioner
Burt's Bees Avacado pre-shampoo treatment
castor oil
Devacurl One conditioner
Down Under Naturals papaya moisture care conditioner
Elucence conditionerExtra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Fekkai shea butter
Flaxseed oil
Fresh f21c Meadowfoam Conditioner
Fudge Dynamite
Giannini's Curl & Twirl conditioner
Giovanni 50/50
Kenra
KMS Curlup Curl Hydrator
J/A/S/O/N Jojoba conditioner
Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment (best results reported when using Lily of the Valley aloe gel)
jojoba oil
Les Karités
L'Oreal Vive Smooth-Intense Masque
Lush Henna (1 square used as a henna glossing treatment)
Origins Happy Endings
ORS carrot oil
ORS Hair Mayonaise
Mane N' Tail conditioner
Melrose Spray-in conditioner
molassas
Nature's Gate Herbal
Nature's Gate Jojoba conditioner
Nexxus Ensure
Nexxus Humectress
Nexxus KeraPhix
Pantene conditioner
Terax Crema
Trader Joe's Aloe Vera Gel
Trader Joe's Honey
Trader Joe's NourishSpa
Redken Smooth Down
shea butter
Suave Aloe Vera
Suave Milk and Honey (contains protein--see problem list)*
Suave Naturals Chamomile
TRESemme Vitamin E Moisturizing conditioner (see the problem list)
various essential oils
VO5 Blueberries and Cream
VO5 Extra Body
VO5 Tangerine Tickle
VO5 Tea Therapy Calming Chamomile
VO5 Sunkissed Raspberry
VO5 Free Me Fresia

Conditioners and other ingredients reported to be problematic
AO Honeysuckle Rose (too thin?)
Beauty Formulas Avocado Oil Treatment Wax (no cones or proteins, but white buildup reported)
Burt's Bees Avacado (some stickiness reported)
Conditioners containing cones
Clover honey (flakes reported)
De~Luxe conditioner (specks reported and not good results)
Finesse Moisturizing
Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment when used with FOTE gel (curding reported)
Joico Moisturizer (white chunks, hard to rinse)
honey (frizz reported)
honey with beeswax
Inecto Moisture Miracle (flakes reported)
mango
Nature's Gate Herbal (rubbery feeling reported)
Nature's Gate Jojoba conditioner (flakes reported)
Redkin Heavy Cream (stringy, snotty white stuff reported)
Regis Olive Oil conditioner (white stuff reported)
Satinique Hair Repair Masque
Suave Aloe (chukiness reported)
Suave Mango Peach (some white chunks reported, but rinsed easily)
Suave Milk and Honey (curds reported)
Suave Strawberry (waxiness reported)
Toni and Guy Shine Addiction
Trader Joe's Clover Honey (rubbery feeling reported)
TRESemme Vitamin E Moisturizing conditioner (flecks reported--contains cones)
VO5 Blueberries and Cream (chunkiness reported)

Aloe gels reported to work well
Aloe fresh from live plant
Fruit of the Earth aloe gel clear (available at Wal-Mart)
Fruit of the Earth aloe gel green (see problem list)*
J/A/S/O/N Aloe Gel
Lilly of the Desert (available in health-food stores)
Nature's Life Aloe Vera Herbal Blend
Nature's Healer Aloe Vera
Mystify Your Senses
President's Choice Pure Aloe Gel

Aloe gels reported to be problematic
Aloe gels with pain relievers added (usually green in color)
Lilly of the Valley aloe gel (flakes reported)
Fruit of the Earth aloe gel (one report of this being problematic) clear gel
Real Aloe Vera Gel (rubbery feeling reported)
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Trouble shooting:

If it went wrong it could be...

* It was overheated; try not heating the mix or just warming it.
* Wrong conditioner (see the above lists); cones seem to cause adverse effects, curdling and hard rinsing.
* Wrong aloe gel (see the above list)
* Wrong ratios; usually too much aloe gel will result in possible coating/harder rinsing.
* Not covering with a plastic bag or shower cap--if this mix dries on your hair, it can be hard to rinse out. If that does happen, soaking your hair in a tub of plain warm water for about 20 minutes and then doing a CO wash may loosen it and help remove it.

Hints:

* Some report using SMT as a CO wash with great results.
* If honey leaves you frizzy, try just using aloe gel mixed with conditioner.
* You may have to try different conditioners until you find the one that gives you the results you are looking for.
* You don't have to use a microwave to heat the mix, you can set a cup of it into a bowl of warm water. That may be a good option and an even more gentle way of warming it up.

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From the lists above, I think it is safe to say that dimethicone should be avoided when looking for a good SMT conditioner.

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Some common abbreviations you may find in this thread:

CO - Conditioner or condition-only washing method.
C-COW-C - Condition-wash with shampoo/conditioner dilution-condition washing method.
CWC - Condition-wash-condition washing method.
SKR - VO5 Sun kissed Raspberry conditioner.
WO - Water only washing method

[Meg_Evenstar]

This sounds great. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for posting

Meg

[Meg_Evenstar]

I just bought the ingredients to try this. I will post the results in the next few days. Today I am trying Cassia Obovata made with a strong herbal tea. I'll be reviewing that as well on the products review page. Thanks again Snowy

Meg

[Snowymoon]

Your very welcome. I have added jojoba to it too, but I seem to like it best without the extra oil in the mix, as SKR has corn oil in there already.

Let me know how it worked for you. .

[Koala Kim]

Oh, a new recipe to try! WooHoo!

I just love experimenting...

[Meg_Evenstar]

I finally got around to trying this recipe and it is great . My hair is so soft and the comb just slid through it when it was wet -- no tangles. This one is a keeper. I just have one thing to add to it. Use a mild honey. I used wildflower because it was what I had on hand, but the honey scent was too strong. However, when rinsed out it did not linger. Thanks Snowy.

Meg

ETA: Now my hair is dry and it feels wonderful. It is somewhat fuller and thicker, which is what I need.

[Snowymoon]

I am so glad you liked it!!!

I used it again today--

Now I have something to fall back on in case the dryness attacks or if an experiment goes .

Gotta love that!

[Prettypolly]

It sounds like my hair would really like something like this! I'm just wondering where I can get aloe vera gel from?? In England?

[Snowymoon]

I got mine from Wal-Mart here in the states. I am sure any pure aloe gel would be even better.

[monica sanders]

i only have aloe vera gel with lidocaine. wouldn't that be drying?

[Snowymoon]

Originally Posted by monica sanders

i only have aloe vera gel with lidocaine. wouldn't that be drying?

Personally, I would not put that one in my hair. I don't know what effects lidocaine would have on it, so I would just not do it.

[monica sanders]

thank you. that's what i thought. walmart was out of just aloe vera. i had the another one at home.

[Silverlady]

I shopped at our Super Wal-Mart and found the type of Aloe Vera Gel for this recipe in the Cometics/Beauty Aids dept. in the hand/body lotions aisle. This is made by "Fruit of the Earth", 24 OZ.'s, a clear bottle, 9 inches tall w/ a blue cap. The label states:"100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel - Fragrance Free - No Color Added." I hope this helps you. At first I shopped in the Band aid aisle and there is an Aloe Vera Gel there that contains a pain killer for sun burns/and stove type burns. I knew this was NOT what I wanted. Then I tried the Cosmetics Dept. and Volia! There is was. Good Luck. Snowy, thank you for a wonderful recipe. Krisi

[Earth Mother]

What does the aloe vera gel do?

[Snowymoon]

Earth, I found it to be quite healing for the scalp, and very moisturizing to the hair. Aloe gel is a moisturizer, and a very good one. Combined with the honey (humectant that draws the moisture in) and the other conditioner, it makes a great combo, IMO.

And I got mine near the lotions at Wal-Mart as well as well. The clear bottle with the blue cap is it. Fruit of the Earth. Love that stuff.