Thoughts on this moisturizing technique? “the drench method”

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
Hey y’all,

i came across this stylist in my area that has an interesting technique for moisturizing the hair. I say interesting because I have never seen a stylist that requests this of her clients. And all of her clients hair is flawless too :drool:

Here’s some videos of her explaining the method, but I’ll also summarize it below if you don’t want to watch



Basically her method is: after conditioning /deep conditioning do not rinse the product out of your hair. Just twist up/braid up/bun your hair with the product in. After it has completely dried, in a few days, take your hair down and drench it in a cheapie regular old, conditioner (dilute with water if it’s too thick). She says to repeat this process 1-2x a week, for a 2-3 week period. After the 2-3week period is when you would do a full wash day and shampoo again. She will water rinse in between if she feels her hair start to build up excess conditioner before wash day.
on her booking site she actually asks all clients to come in with their hair drenched in conditioner as well. I’ve never heard of a stylist making such a request. But her clients have amazing hair. She also posts a lot of before and afters and her clients hair has really grown out under her care



what do you yall think of this method?
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
Personally, I don’t think I could do this method as is. I don’t like having my hair wet for long, especially now that it is colder... and the thought of reapplying that much product without washing my hair just seems wrong to me lol. But the principles behind the method are sound imo. And it seems like a lot less work than the max hydration method, for example. I may tweak it a little bit and give it a try. But I do plan to get my hair pressed in December, so I’ll probably book an appointment with her.
 

B_Phlyy

Pineapple Eating Unicorn
I agree that most people need to moisturize more than once a week, especially natural type 4s. However, I think leaving that much conditioner on your hair and scalp can lead to build up problems and itchy scalp as time goes on.

I also agree on the you probably don't need to seal with oil part too.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I don't have any problem with what she is saying. This is a restoration method for people who have chronically dry hair and need some way to restore the moisture. This isn't something you do regularly. After you have done it and gotten moisture back into your hair you wouldn't have to do this. Her point is just to skip shampoo for a minute because it can be even more drying for dry hair. Then condition it not let it dry out before quenching it again. When I started doing wng's I had to do my hair every day for 2 months before my hair would hold moisture for more than 1 day. But I think this is an alternative to get your hair to reset.
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
I agree that most people need to moisturize more than once a week, especially natural type 4s. However, I think leaving that much conditioner on your hair and scalp can lead to build up problems and itchy scalp as time goes on.

I also agree on the you probably don't need to seal with oil part too.
Yeah I don’t see how you can apply that much product and not have a hot itchy scalp by the end of the week, much less 2-3 weeks :look: :pullhair:
 

Lylddlebit

Well-Known Member
I believe it. I have left my hair saturated in conditioner for a full week at a time under a wig, in twists or in a protective style and it stayed damp all week(naturally air drying just holding moisture until damp over a week's time). It is very moisturizing and has benefits if your scalp doesn't get irritated. It's not a regular method I would use though. I like to enjoy my hair styled. I don't do it exactly like her. My hair is "drenched with a deep conditioner" for the first two days and I let it air dry to prevent milewy hair or the need to reapply product while maintaining low manipulation. . I have used keeping my hair damp or "drench" with product most when growing my hair out out, hiding my hair or being pregnant(and not having the energy for hair) with success. Keeping your hair damp/super moisturized or drenched will have your hair feeling like fresh weave after a few sessions of that when you finally do style it.
 

toaster

Well-Known Member
I definitely subscribe to the idea of drenching your hair with water, not using oil, and liberally applying products.

I have left rinse out conditioner in my hair before and my scalp didn’t itch, but I was wetting my hair daily in the shower so there wasn’t time for anything to really sit on my head.

I saw this woman say she washes her hair once a month and drenches in between. That’s where I couldn’t do it. I don’t wash my body once a month and then wet and apply lotion periodically in between. The scalp is still skin. I like to use shampoo.

But if it works for her and her clients I have nothing negative to say.
 

Rocky91

NYE side boob.
I am glad it works for her and her clients, can’t argue with the hair that’s been posted. I really like that so many stylists seem to be much more invested in healthy hair care than in the past :yep: I would definitely go to her for a silk press because it seems like she really cares about the integrity of the hair. Seems like just about anybody can do a decent silk press now but I still think not everybody cares about your hair after the style has run its course.

I would personally hate this for myself. Too much for my fine strands, I think.
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
Reminds me of wet conditioner bunning. I did that for a long while with water only washing and my hair thrived. It wasn't until we started talking about hair loss with conditioner only methods that I reincorporated shampoo.
Has reincorporating shampoo had a negative affect on your hair, compared to when you were water rinsing?
 

snoop

Well-Known Member
I booked an appointment with her for mid December, so I’ll probably do (a variation of) her method at the beginning of December leading up to my appointment


I'm too lazy to check, but is she in Brampton or Toronto. I'm curious to hear your review.
 

Theresamonet

Well-Known Member
If I drenched my hair in conditioner and water every 2 days, I’d have a perpetually wet head.

The way she’s preparing the conditioner and water, drenching her hair, and raking it through, reminds me of the max hydration process. This isn’t a new concept, and it works well to boost hydration really quickly. But long term, it will become a problem for some the same way daily co-washing, wet bunning, and baggying started to cause issues. I don’t think keeping your hair in a wet, limp, vulnerable state practically 24/7 is beneficial long term.

Also, from experience, I’ve learned to use products the way they were formulated to be used. If the conditioner says it’s to be rinsed out, I’m not going to use it as a leave-in. It’s not only protein left in that can cause issues.
 
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TamaraShaniece

Ayurvedic Life
This reminds me of the infamous Maximum Hydration Method.
On the days I need to plait my hair down for a protective style and run out the door.... I’ll apply 2 oz of my Kinky Curly KT into an applicator bottle w/ 4 oz of water.... shake and apply to my soaking wet hair in the shower. The froth and moisture in my hair is amazing. I’ll plait with a dime size amount of oil in my hand per section (dipping my head in the water real quick like Naptural85 does) and after a week... my plait//braid-out is so soft, light, airy... just overall retains its moisture.

I’ll remoisturize using African Chebe & Fenugreek Spritz and seal lightly w/ the Curl Smiler.
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
This reminds me of the infamous Maximum Hydration Method.
On the days I need to plait my hair down for a protective style and run out the door.... I’ll apply 2 oz of my Kinky Curly KT into an applicator bottle w/ 4 oz of water.... shake and apply to my soaking wet hair in the shower. The froth and moisture in my hair is amazing. I’ll plait with a dime size amount of oil in my hand per section (dipping my head in the water real quick like Naptural85 does) and after a week... my plait//braid-out is so soft, light, airy... just overall retains its moisture.

I’ll remoisturize using African Chebe & Fenugreek Spritz and seal lightly w/ the Curl Smiler.
How frequently do you remoisturize?
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone who has chimed in so far! Basically what I’m hearing is yes, this method will definitely help moisturize and soften the hair. However, it’s probably not something that should be done excessively but if it works for you then it can be very effective.
Somethings to watch out for
- over manipulation of the hair
- potential scalp irritation
- product buildup
- leaving the hair wet too long, causing limp hair and potential for breakage
 

Neomorph

Well-Known Member
I agree that most people need to moisturize more than once a week, especially natural type 4s. However, I think leaving that much conditioner on your hair and scalp can lead to build up problems and itchy scalp as time goes on.

I also agree on the you probably don't need to seal with oil part too.

My thoughts exactly! My scalp started itching just thinking about it. I mean based on her clients' results, this method definitely works but it's not for everyone. As someone with scalp issues I would avoid this method because I feel like it would do more harm than good.
 

Aicer

Well-Known Member
Hmm... I think I’ll try it til January to see if it’ll help my habitually dry hair.

I’m going to tweak it a little and do a bun instead and wash my hair once a week because my scalp gets itchy.
 

keranikki

Natural, 3abc/4a, Fine, medium density
I like the concept, but I think someone with lo/po hair may benefit more than a hi-po haired person.
I agree with other posters who stated that this technique is reminiscent of the MHM.

For me, this technique is overkill. I think the LOC, LCO, LOCB, LCOB methods done 2-3x per week should be enough to keep your hair drenched.
 
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