Synth Steaming Report

This is interesting because it seems like we're having a range of results with the PlastikHaar. Mine and Kalika's seemed to straighten almost immediately; Mer's retained a little wave; AMM's tests have shown that the wave loosens and goes straight; and Fina's is still going strong. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out.

I think it's safe to say that to lengthen the life of the curl, it's best to:
1. Avoid blowing the hair out with a dryer or steamer.
2. Get a shorter cut (not butt-length anyway), preferably with layers.
3. Get the 28mm, as opposed to the 50mm.
4. Avoid hot water or frequent washing (although Fina has done this with success).
5. Try to finger-tousle the hair as much as possible, rather than brushing.

The rest remains a mystery....

:)

Ahhhhhh. Thought you were just talking synth in general.

Just from my own testing of the PH's curl, it relaxes after each wash until the curl turns to wave and then it's eventually gone. This is without blowdrying or styling.

In the meantime, I installed the WaWa after wrapping it around the tiniest iron. The curl was like a ringlet. I haven't had to mess with it since and it keeps a strong wave through washing. If only this stuff came in the colors and length PH did.

HH in the front/sides and synth in the back with WaWa is what I'm doing. It's working beautifully. Very little upkeep. http://talk.hairboutique.com/forum/viewthread.asp?forum=AMB_AP934431446&id=9267

Here's GH's french in 18/22. It's what I wear as well. Curls big as well as smooths beautifully.

Rae, yeah your prob. right. Maybe something that wouldn't be clogging??

Fina, that's a good idea! Just put the hh in the areas that need style control!

Bridget wrote: What do you think about adding some fab. softener in the water part of the steamer?

It's bad for your steamer, actually- it will gunk up eventually and die. :(

-Rae

This is getting scary! Bunchy? That's no good! Steaming will fix bunchiness, but take out the curl? Oh NO!!
To be honest, I think the PH doesn't feel all that smooth and silky...one color particularly (pfefferschwarz, it's like #2), but the beautiful Mahagani does feel silky. Most interesting, the PH feels just like the Trimco I ordered, although Trimco only comes straight.
Hmmm.
The good news is I did many curl tests last night and Trimco, when treated right, will curl and the curl will last, just like WaWa. And the PH curl will rejuvenate with my curling iron when curled wet. But but...isn't it a huge pain to recurl a whole head?!
Bunchiness in only a week. Hmmm.

Whew! I spoke too soon.

I'm starting to think the bunching is more of a problem with longer lengths.

Anyway, if it's only the ends, I would think your rolling-steaming technique would work well.

Can't wait to see pics. You're an inspiration, Fina!

:)

FinaFina wrote: my hair seems to have reached "critical mass" -- it's kinda yucky right now. . .maybe I've overdone the fabric softener, and the curling iron. Can I steam it WITH ROLLERS IN IT so it doesn't go stick straight??? Fina

OK, I assume you're having the same thing as Mer and I experienced--the hair gets bunchy, stiff, it's hard to get a brush through it.... Frankly, I'm surprised yours has lasted this long without bunching; mine was like that after less than a week, I think.

I actually don't think the hair's like that because you overdid it with the iron (I hadn't even used one at that point, and I don't think Mer had either) or the fabric softener (ditto the first point). I just think synth--no matter how well you take care of it--gets like that after awhile (simply because of daily wear--exposure to water, heat, wind, brushing, etc.). My feeling is that it's unavoidable, frankly.

If you can get a brush or comb through the bunches (and keep in mind that they're not really tangles so much as big bunches, so if you go section by section, the hair will separate), you may be able to curl those sections in rollers and then steam. I don't know if this will be enough to revert the hair to a smooth state, but it's worth a try.

Otherwise, you'll need to blow it out or steam it out with a brush, both of which will make the hair pin-straight. At that point, you'll need to reset the curl. If you decide to blow it straight, it can be helpful to mount the dryer on something so you have a hand free to hold the hair, while your other will be holding the brush. If you keep the blow-dryer moving, you shouldn't singe it.

It's possible that the PH 28mm can withstand this process without straightening out, but I highly doubt it. And this is also why I'm doubtful that never steaming or heat-styling synth hair is a possibility; I just don't see how you can get rid of the bunchiness without doing that, and the bunchiness happens pretty quickly--for you about 10 days, for me and Mer less than a week, I think. I believe Kalika was blowing the ends almost immediately. I just can't imagine that you can only fingercomb this stuff for 2 or 3 months with success, although I may be missing something.

Perhaps someone else should chime in here, since these are only my best guesses based on 3 1/2 weeks of wear.... Perhaps some of the synth vets know of another solution. :)

I vote that we all take a picture of our bathroom counters on a "typical" day (i.e getting ready, hmmm. looks like I could use *just a bit here*, whoa, didn't notice how *bad* that looked over there, hmm, didn't I have some of those old hot rollers somewhere? etc etc.)

OK I'm adding a steamer to the mix. . .my hair seems to have reached "critical mass" -- it's kinda yucky right now. . .maybe I've overdone the fabric softener, and the curling iron. Can I steam it WITH ROLLERS IN IT so it doesn't go stick straight???

Fina

Well, mine...but that's obvious. The steamer's super-handy, though; I can do my own dry-cleaning. :)

-Rae