I have a unique situation because nearly half my head has already transitioned. If I wear a twist out or rod set it’s important that my hair looks consistent all over.
I don’t want frizz in the back of my head and straight, shiny hair in the top and front where I still have quite a bit of relaxed ends left.
So I finally tried the popular Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel. I love it much better than the Lily of the Valley brand. I see why so many naturals embrace it.
First of all, it’s more like a gel so it’s not runny like Lily of the Valley. But don’t let the word “gel” fool you. It doesn’t make your hair flake, crunch or leave residue like traditional gels. Also, aloe vera gel is the first ingredient.
It provides a slight hold, sheen and keeps my natural hair from frizzing up so much. It’s perfect for any kind of wet set (twists, rod and straw sets, etc.)
The biggest difference in the two brands is that Fruit of the Earth provides more hold and prevents frizz better since the product is thicker. However, if you prefer more natural products, you should buy the Lily of the Valley brand.
My current rod set is 4 days old and my roots are nearly straight in some areas. (I have very cottony hair that frizzes easily.) The day I took the rollers out, parts of my roots felt like they had been relaxed! LOL Of course that didn’t last long. 😉
I won’t be as concerned about “straightness” when I’m 100% natural, but when you’re a long-term transitioner (in my 7th month), it’s important to make sure your hair texture looks consistent throughout. The aloe vera gel seems to provide that benefit.
P.S. Buy it from Walmart instead of online. You’ll save big. Amazon is selling it for $8 and I think I paid $2 or $3 for it at Walmart.
I am about 2months transitioning now what are some tips for being so new at this?
hI I AM A TRANSITIONER MYSELF. i HAVE BEEN PERM FREE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. m Y HAIR IS VERY DRY WHICH I HAVE NOTICED AFTER READING INFO ON YOUR PAGE. i RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CURLS BRAND WHICH IS ORGANIC …SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER. i ALSO BOUGHT ECO STYLING GEL WHICH I HAVE HEARD IS GOOD FOR NATURALS WHEN DOING TWIST OUTS AND BRAID OUTS ETC. I WILL BE DEFINITELY BE USING UR SITE FROM NOW ON. aND DO HOT OIL TREATMENTS! DO YOU THINK I AM A LL THE WAY NATURAL NOW SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 12- 13 MONTHS?
You can tell if you are fully natural if your ends curl or are they straight?
um explain this to me lol i am about to pre poo my hair first and then wash it.
Yep! Pre-pooing strengthens your hair so it doesn’t get so stripped during the shampoo process.
Hi Lisa,
My big chop was nov 2010. I did the YouTube thing for about a year for product and style education. Finding the right products and doing my own hair was just to much for me so I started the strawset journey with a new hairstylist, who I simply love. My hair is full of shine and luster for about four days. My problem is I have very dry, brittle and dull hair. I belive my Hair type is 4c. I’m sure the gel adds to my problem. I apply coconut oil to my scalp and a shine on top between appointments. I can not add moisture or manipulate my hair much between appointments in order that my curls stay in tack. What can I do to have soft, shiny hair with my strawset?
Thanks,
Chandra
P.S. Today is the first day on your site and I love it already.
Hi Ms. Lisa,
Loving all the info, you just keep on improving day after day.
Question, read the post and of course flew out and bought an Aloe Vera Gel, now, did not get the one you use, we do not have it here, so I purchased this one: http://www.shopping.com/NO-AD-NO-AD-Aloe-Vera-Gel-16-Ounces/info.
Please let me know what you think about it, the ingredients are the following: Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, EDTA, Propylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 42090.
Thanks a mil cause I love the way it left my hair, very soft, bouncy and springy.
What I did was, washed hair, applied my mix of moisturizing conditioner, soybean oil, applied my Okra (makes hair grow so fast), and then the Aloe Gel.
Did small twists so took me about 3 hours, did a roller set and in the morning, gorgeous curly twists, loved it!!! My hair is now 4 inches long, yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! Love it love it love it love it!!!!!!
Please let me know and thanks for everything Doll!!!!
This pretty much has many of the same ingredients as the one I use, I think, and if your hair likes it, I love it! 🙂 I’m so happy you are loving your hair!!
Hi Lisa,
I first have to tell you how much I’m enjoying your site. I decided to start transitioning last October. I’m only 3 and a half months in and it’s a struggle. My hair is long; half-way down my back. I’m not ready to cut my hair but I’m sure I’ll have to cut off a few inches to make the process a bit easier. I already feel like a fish out of water but I’m going to try some of your techniques like pre-poo and deep conditioning.
I wanted to know about your rod setting routine. Do you always use a setting lotion or have you done it with just a leave in conditioner?
Hi Gessica
Trust me girl. I was NO HAIR STYLIST. LOL I’m still not. The only thing I did prior to my transition was wrap my hair. YouTube is the best thing ever!! That’s how I learned so much.
I always use setting lotion. The B&B just seems to give me nice moisture.
Hey Lisa,
It was nice to find your site. I was actully about to go into tears about my hair before locating it. I have been transitioning from a relaxer to natural hair for two years. I did it immediately after having my son, b/c my beautician told me with all the hormonal changes in my body..relaxers were causing so much of my hair to fall out, so I started the journey. O what a journey it has been and I need help. Instead of relaxing my hair, I wash it with Deval Curl Shampoo and Conditioner, I blow dry my hair with a brush, and flat iron it with a Chi Iron. I noticed that my hair has not grown an inch and it seem s brittle. I try to do rod sets, but they don’t last but a day. I try to do twist outs…no luck. My hair looks like I put my finger in a socket. It is very upsetting, b/c I really want to stay committed to this, but I don’t know what I am doing wrong. Can you please help me.
Hi Candace
First of all, I would eliminate the heat — especially while transitioning. I haven’t used heat at all during my transition (except sitting under the dryer for 20 minutes at a time.) I think if you start dong twsits, flat twists, rod sets, buns, etc you’ll find that your hair will start thriving. Also deep conditioning every week will help too.
Wow…thank you for responding so quickly. I went and got the B&B Foam. I couldn’t find the jajoba oil, so I go the cocoa butter oil. Is this okay. I also just got regulay Aloe Vera Gel from Walgreens. The brand you talked about, I couldn’t find. Do you have any tutorials on how to properly do a twist out. I know how to do rod sets, but twist out and braid outs never seem to come out okay. Also, my hair is still straight at the ends, even after two years with no perm, do you recommend I get the ends cut off?
It’s really up to you. If you are tired of the straight ends then cut them, but if you want to keep the length use small perm rods on the end for twist outs. It’s really a personal choice. I don’t think there’s really a right or wrong answer.
I don’t have an official twist out vid, but my technique is very simple. On wet hair, I use Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme and twist my hair in medium-sized twists and take them down the next day. This post shows the results.
https://napturallycurly.com/2011/04/before-after-twist-out-13-months/
Thanks so much for your website! I went and bought the Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel. I am looking at doing either a rod set or 2 strand twist this weekend on my transitioning hair. Between the leave in conditioner, the B and B setting lotion, and the gel, what order should I apply them? Do these counter or diminish the effects of the other or cause flaking to occur when used together or in the wrong order?
Hi Bridget
Thanks for visiting! I usually apply the leave-in conditioner, B&B, and then the aloe vera last. I haven’t had any problems with flaking and I don’t think it really matters what order between the aloe vera and B&B. But I always do the conditioner first just because it helps with detangling. Good luck!
Thanks a lot for the info. I took my Geni Braids down on Saturday and watched your tutorial on twist outs. My hair turnef out cute but very frizzy. With the change of weather in the South, my hair is acting out. I am heading to Wal-Mart now to buy this gel and I will try it tonight.
Cool! Let me know how it works!