Nerdy Girl Curly Method: ‘Aloe Vera Sealing Prime Method’

I wanted to make my first post of 2018 be my aloe juice spray for my cuticles! I’ve even had some NCG friends test it out for me. Good news: every one had a stellar review! This is a light-weight effective primer spray for your cuticle — regardless of your porosity. Aloe also has an array of benefits as well. I know aloe is one of thode ingredients that people love, hate, or it seems to just cause them a confusion; just like Shea butter. I plan on doing an aloe post on its properties. 

One of the major struggles that I see are from coarse high porosity who are having a hard time managing their porosity and sensitivity. Scientifically — we’re aware that porosity and protein are not synonymous. The excess keratin that you’re born with leads to a wider shaft hence coarseness. The coarser the strand: the higher the natural porosity.

The same way that a 4C coil will have a higher natural porousness. If you’re coarse and process (i.e. dye): it takes stronger chemical processes as well to dye. High porosity coarseness is extremely unique by nature. When you’re a coarse curly with high porosity there is zero point in feeding your curls protein treatments. The great thing about this aloe spray is that it does work well for what it does. I’ll be continuing my writings on high porosity and coarseness as well. 

Aloe juice also has an ability to close the cuticle which is wonderful for higher porosity girls. Aloe vera juice has a similar pH structure to our own hair unlike apple cider vingear. Aloe vera juice’s pH properties are really what makes it so wonderful. You may be wondering, “But why would this work for a sealed cuticle than like a low porosity girl?” With low porosity hair: we’re continually trying to fight onto the moisture that we have. If you lock that moisture in and ‘seal’ your cuticles than you’re helping your hair to retain that moisture.

ALOE JUICE PRIMER METHOD DIRECTIONS:

1. This is the only Aloe Vera juice that I use. If you’re local to a Whole Foods: you can find this on the ground too. Otherwise — I buy from this link only. Please also feel free to buy the Inner Fillet as well too. I personally buy my aloe juice from Vitacost online, but I know the Thrive Market has great prices too. The link is here.

2. Buy a water bottle that’s easy to clean out. I recommend a clear one. The aloe has no preservatives. What does that mean? It  means it will spoil. Please keep an eye on your water bottle too since it grow mold if you don’t handle it correctly.

3. The aloe bottle needs to be refrigerated once open.

4. I clean out my spray bottle regularly to void off mold or bacteria. Pay attention.

5. Dilute 50/50 to distilled water. I fill a 8oz water bottle — so it’s about 4 oz of distilled water to 4oz of aloe.

6. I saturate my hair with the aloe. I make sure to focus on my root, anywhere that’s prone to frizz and dryness, and anywhere that needs extra love. If your hair is coarse: it will have a rigid feeling that varies upon strand width. If your hair is lacking that excess keratin: it’s not going to have a stiffening. However — aloe is a really complex ingredient. Everyone is going to feel its astringent properties. I promise that it’s also bringing good things to the table too! A good part of that astringent that you really know when your leave-in is worked into your hair.

7. After the aloe is applied: apply stylers as directed. You’ll know your moisture is at correct level when your slip level is back. When you apply your leave-in: it may feel as if your hair is dry. This will be more prominent if your hair is coarse and or your porosity is high. Don’t be alarmed! Just keep applying leave-in until it “squishes.” This is a primer remember.

Why do I buy this brand? Majority of the aloe vera juices that you find have a preservative that is either toxic and or another preservative called carrageen. You may be familiar at a base level or unfamiliar with the preservative “Carrageenan.” Carrageenan you may recognize most often is found in food substances. You may have said, “Aha!” But what is ‘carrageenan’? Is it dangerous, toxic, or a reason why I don’t use it? No to all of the above.

I don’t use any dilution of the organic aloe. If you want to reap the pure aloe effects than it needs to be pure. If you use aloe with ‘carrageenan’ (derived from the algae family) than coarse hair can’t accept the aloe’s protein properties. Carrageenan (Irish Moss as you may know it) is so intensive and also a powerful gelling ingredient. Aloe by itself is a powerful ingredient with so many properties that can have effects.