topic Re: New!!! in WEN

New!!!

GymBunny — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:46:16 GMT

Hi all!

I'm new to Wen and someone mentioned this forum. I've watched his presentations for years and finally bought a gallon of the crisp apple. I love the scent. I've only used it 3 times and am still tweaking.... I have 2 questions:

1. Is it best to NOt do the leave-in at the end? I have fine hair. It' seems ok, but maybe a bit too heavy. Was wondering if other ladies have had better luck, skipping that step. Chaz seems to think it's important.

2. Does anyone use his volumizing product? I think it's a mousse. I tried usig my Redken volumizing gel, but it seemed too heavy with the Wen. It's normally myme go-to. Has anyone else had issues with using other styling products besides Wen?? I would order the mousee if I knew it gave you volume and didn't weigh your hair down.

I'm still on the fence about keeping the gallon. I did the auto-ship.

This seems like such a great, informative group!

Thanks so much!

Re: New!!!

beach-mom — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 03:01:47 GMT

@GymBunny - Welcome to WEN! There are ladies on this forum A LOT more knowledgeable than I am, and I'm sure you'll be hearing from them! Until then ---

Always, always do a leave in. My hair is shoulder length and thick, and I use one pump from a 32 oz. bottle.

I also use the mousse - 10 pumps. It doesn't make my hair heavier, just helps hold the style better. My hair is wavy/curly. Most of the time I let it air dry; sometimes I style it.

The only products I use on my hair are WEN. It may work for some, but everyone I know IRL who uses WEN once in a while, or mixes it with something else, is not happy. We WEN girls are!

My hair has never been in better shape, and it's longer since it's been in about 30 years!

Enjoy your WEN - and learn from the experts on this forum. They will answer any questions you have before and after you start becoming a WEN girl!

Re: New!!!

x Hedge — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:08:53 GMT

Hello @GymBunny

I always use generous amounts of leave in, but my hair isn't anything like yours.

I have too much volume. I'm always tryna knock it down to a manageable size.

Chaz does say it may seem counterintuitive to those with fine hair, and I suppose it does. But I vote better with leave in than without.

Make sure hair's not half dried when adding leave-in, or it will coat the outer hair shaft instead of being absorbed into the hair and swelling it up.

I don't use WENs volumizing spray, I do use WEN mousse. Don't think I get volume from it, just more control.

The only product I use from outside the WEN line is gel to cast my curls.

Re: New!!!

gtx — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:25:48 GMT

I have very fine hair too. I use some leave in but not nearly as much as Chaz reccommends. It makes my hair a little heavy like you said. I have experimented to find the right amount of leave in. My hair is medium length and very fine.

I use Kenra root lifting spray and Kenra Voluminizig Mouse with some Wen Volumiizing Mouse mixed together. My hair is bouncy and shines.

Re: New!!!

GymBunny — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:36:24 GMT

Thanks so much! I will continue to experiment....maybe try no leave-in and then less of it. I think I need more of a mouse for volume instead of gel. Seems to be too heavy. I am only putting the Wen on the bottom half of my hair. It was too much all over. I appreciate the advice. I still have more time to experiment before deciding to send it back.

Re: New!!!

CamilleP — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 06:15:14 GMT

Gym Bunny, I also have very fine hair, and I use different products as leave-ins depending on what I plan to do with my hair the next day. If I know I am going to heat-style, I will mix some of my cleansing conditioner and some styling creme and apply it to my wet hair in the shower, let it air dry overnight, and then use either a Beachwaver, flat iron, or Bed Head deep waver, depending on what look I'm going for. If I am not going to heat style, I'll use just mousse if I want my hair to be relatively "fluffy", or just cleansing conditioner if I want to go a bit smoother. I probably don't use as much cleansing conditioner as leave-in as Chaz might recommend, because my fine hair won't hold it, but I always use something. I think my best look, even if I don't heat-style, is when using styling creme, honestly, because it makes my perm-created waves more defined. It's on my "must have" list, along with cleansing conditioner, treatment oil, re-moist, and lip balm.

Re: New!!!

ANewHue — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 16:29:44 GMT

@gymbunny. Welcome to our Wenderful WEN forum and the world of WEN. I have fine hair. As other have said always always do your leave in. I eye two pumps from a 32 oz bottle sometimes even more. Your wet hair absorbs the product. Start at ends twisting and pushing with your thumbs , then rake the remainder of the product on your hands to the back of your hair (head turned) then the front.

Re: New!!!

x Hedge — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:50:59 GMT

Hi @gtx

Wondering what CC you're using for your leave-in.

I usually go with 613 because it's so rich and heavy with emollients, exactly what I need.

But since your hair is more easily weighed down, I thought I'd mention the cucumber aloe.

Per Chaz's website, CA is:

"Our lightest formula, it won't weigh down even the finest hair types. "

Re: New!!!

lynne6was7 — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:33:43 GMT

Welcome @GymBunny. I have very fine hair too, chin length. I too find a leave-in too heavy for my hair. After cleansing, I prefer to spritz my hair with one of the replenishing treatment mists. Then I use styling creme (Tea Tree) and mousse (319). After drying and styling my hair, I VERY LIGHTLY spray the crown with volumizing treatment spray (sweet almond mint) for hold. If you use too much VTS, your hair will be sticky. I then use the tail of a comb to lift and separate the crown.

Something else to mention. I assume from your forum name that you like to work out. Many Wen users cleanse only a few times a week. I have to cleanse daily, and always after I work out as my head sweats and my scalp will react if I don't shower and cleanse. On days when I have to shower twice, if I'm not planning to be out and about again, I will just cleanse once after the gym and not use any styling products. Then, the next morning, I only have to cleanse once - it's like I cleansed twice per Chaz's recommendations, just with a multi-hour gap beween. Hope this makes sense.

Re: New!!!

posterchild — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:43:51 GMT

Welcome!

Another Wenner with fine, flyaway hair here, atlhough mine is relatively thick and wavy...not sure if we have that in common, too.

First, you're smart to NOT put the leave in near your scalp...just put it on the length of your hair. You don't have to use leave-in...try it different ways. I usually find that I end up doing what Chaz recommends and for my hair, I like it better with leave in.

Are you using the styling creme? That's another good one. Again, seems counterintuitive that adding things to fine hair won't weigh it down, but really, the SC is great. It's certainly not something you have to have, though, but if you stick with Wen you might want to give it a try.

As for volume and fine hair, I've used the voluminzing treatment spray and the mousse and like both. Volume means different things to different people, though. Do you mean volume as in height in the crown? As in looking like you have more hair overall? As in having big hair? For me, the VTS, when sprayed on wet hair before blow drying (toward the roots, but not too much!) gives good volume and is the best for the crown of the head. I also use the mousse, which gives me volume, but less at the crown specifically. I'm not sure it's possible to use too much mousse, so no worries about weighing hair down or getting crunchy). Oh, and his hair spray is great for adding crown volume after hair is dry.

But really, if you're talking the crown of the head, from my experience the right products can do a lot (and for me, Wen is that product), but the biggest help for fine haired gals is a great cut.

Finally, I haven't had any problem using other brand products or having them perform differently when I've cleansed with Wen.

Good luck!

Re: New!!!

Drythe — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:52:48 GMT

@GymBunny

I’m a bit confused with your mention of a leave in gel.

I use a pea size amount of the cc on my hair as a leave in - but not close to my scalp.

This is done in shower while hair is still very wet. Comb through.

Then about the same amount of the Styling Cream, (this is really a gel), again just 3/4 of the way up hair shaft. It protects hair from heat damage.

If using mousse, I use it only on the hair at the crown for lift.

My hair is very fine, but thick.

Yes, certainly I know many use other brands along with WEN, I don’t, but no reason you can’t. Go right on using your new Apple CC and add other products if you wish. I would never cleanse my hair with anything but WEN.

Is it possible you might not be using the CC the best way for you? Let us know if that is the case.

Best Wishes!

Re: New!!!

GymBunny — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 04:45:29 GMT

@Drythe thank you! I was using the CC just on the bottom half of my hair. All over was too much. This last time, I used a smaller amount and think that is perfect. Maybe just my Redken volumizing gel on my scalp. I bought some DryBar volumizing mousse and am going to see if that works better than gel with the CC.

I appreciate your tips!

Re: New!!!

GymBunny — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 04:48:06 GMT

@posterchildHi! And thank you for the warm welcome....by volume, I DO mean beight at the crown. I have a decent amount of hair, but it is fine. I'm going to try the DryBar voluminzing mousse. I read great reviews. I will focus on my scalp area. Love all the tips and appreciate it!!!

Re: New!!!

GymBunny — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 04:51:41 GMT

@lynne6was7thanks! Yes, I love to workout. I only wash my hair on the days I workout during the week as I sweat so much and like to wear bball caps. I typically wash my hair 3 times a week and in the evening. I think this system will be great once I get the formula right for me. There is definitely a learning curve. It gets better each time, I've used it maybe 5 times now and my hair keeps getting better...way less frizz/static after blow driying. I do try to air dry it for awhile first. Thanks again!

Re: New!!!

GymBunny — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 04:53:27 GMT

@x HedgeHi!

I'm using the Crisp Fall Apple CC. Do you all find that the gallon DOES last 6 months?

Re: New!!!

posterchild — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 13:38:32 GMT

@GymBunny - there will be a Wen TSV in in late September and a GREAT TSV in December. Both of those will be good opptys to try other formulas, unless money is no object. :-)

The September TSV is usually a core formula of your choice and some ancillary products, although Q is changing things up so much, I don’t think that’s a guarantee, the December TSV has traditionally been bottles of CC only, but at a great price. The good thing is that one of the offerings is usually a mix of 5 16oz bottles (one set has seasonal, one set has the rice formulas, one set has the core formulas). Getting one of those sets is a great way to get to try a lot relatively inexpensively, some suggest you purchase the mix of travel packs to try formulas that way, but personally I’ve found I need to try a formula quite a few times before knowing for sure whether my hair does well with it. I’m a longtime Wenner now and can use any formula with really good results, but in the beginning I found fig gave me my best results. Imagine my surprise, because fig was marketed for coarse hair and my is very fine. Fig is super moisturizing, though, and my hair really needed that. Sadly, it was my least favorite scent, although it grew on me. But my point is that it’s a formula I never would have tried if it hadn’t come in the December TSV. It was, quite literally the last formula I tried. But back then there was only the 6 cores (classics) and Pomegrante has just been introduced, so trying everything was a bit easier back then.

Have fun as you try different formulas and remember that if you get one that doesn’t seem to work well for you that you can try it again a few months later to see how it works or perhaps mix it with a formula that does work well.

Re: New!!!

x Hedge — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:12:49 GMT

@GymBunny wrote:
@x HedgeHi!
I'm using the Crisp Fall Apple CC. Do you all find that the gallon DOES last 6 months?

Sorry, I don't buy gallons. Never have.

I prefer the smallest WEN bottles, and only just gave in to using quarts.

But hair length, texture, and washing frequency x number of people using from the gallon would determine how long it lasts.

N'est-ce Pas?

Re: New!!!

x Hedge — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 21:43:53 GMT

@posterchild

Nodding in agreement throughout your post. I started with the December 5pak of 16oz bottles.

Generally, I use very little from the Classics. They're inadequate for my hair, but I may use two of them applied thru a squirt bottle only at the scalp level.

I abandoned the Classics fast, in favor of formulas with greater treatment. It took me years to go back and give Cucumber Aloe a try. So of course it's "the Classic for me".

@GymBunny if you don't like a scent or performance of a formula, I find putting it in the closet for a season or two can make a real difference.

Hair's needs can change between cold dry winter air and hot steamy summer air, and that formula you don't like can turn into your best friend.

Re: New!!!s

GymBunny — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 05:01:23 GMT

Thanks so much everyone! I think finally, after 5 tries, I have my "recipe." I bought DryBar Southern Belle volumiing mousse and love it!!!! I have a couple of their other products that I got as trial sizes from Sephora. I read up on the reviews for the mousse and they were excellent. I just tried it tonight. Wow! It works fabulous with the Wen. I used my Dyson dryer after my hair had air-dried a bit. The I dried it about 95% and switched to the diffuser and lifted up sections of my hair. It's soft, shiny and has great volume without feeling heavy like when I used the Redken gel.

I am anxious to try other scents. I can't recall which one Chaz said was good for dry/damaged hair or for volume. I'm thinking lavender or tea tree. I have hair a bit beyod shoulder length. The gallon seems like a good way to go. I would think the smaller bottles wouldn't last me very long and end up being more expensive. I like that I know how many pumps of using the gallong for my hair now. It seems like you have to use tons of pumps of the smaller bottles.

Anyway...wanted to share the great volumizing mousse if anyone was looking for a good combo with Wen!