Setting Lotion

[Marla]

Is your mixture just lotion and water? What ratio do you use when mixing?

Yes, just lotion and water. I tend to dilute it quite a bit (until the mixture is a pale lavender color) because otherwise it makes the curls very stiff and frizzy when brushed out--on my hair, at least. I'm sure it depends on hair type, but generally speaking it isn't necessary to use a lot of Lottabody. Water is very effective as a setting agent, as simplistic as that sounds.

 

[JazzyDame]

Lustrasilk Set & Style Lotion and a little tip...

Hi gals! I just wanted to check in with a little update. I recently purchased Lustrasilk Set & Style Lotion at Sally's Beauty Supply after having not much luck with Lottabody (it left my hair extremely dry). Set & Style is simply AMAZING!! It adds a beautiful shine to hair and holds a curl exceptionally well--it seems like it conditions hair, as well, but without leaving it limp. I diluted it (it's concentrated, just like Lottabody), and accidentally made too much, so I put in a spray bottle and the remainder in a jar. I sprayed it lightly through my damp hair, and then decided to dip a comb into the amount I'd saved in the jar to comb through and saturate each section before rolling it and...WOW!! The curls look incredible! And they last and last! This is definitely a must-try!!

 

[Mugwump]

I have a couple questions I bought some lotabody today. Can I use it with a curling iron, or hot rollers? If so how do you do it? Put it on your wet hair, or dampen your hair with it, then let it dry, then curl?

Actually, I have the same question...I'm not very good with a curling iron (not enough practice I guess, as my ends always seem a little fried), but I've been reading the book "Vintage Styles with Modern Techniques", and I'd love to try a curling iron again, but what to do with the setting lotion? I use Lottabody at a 5-1, or even 6-1 sometimes, as I've streaked parts of my hair back to it's original summertime white/blonde childhood colour...

I guess I was concentrating on electronics in high school more than "curling iron 101"! lol

 

[Tatum]

Actually, I have the same question...I'm not very good with a curling iron (not enough practice I guess, as my ends always seem a little fried), but I've been reading the book "Vintage Styles with Modern Techniques", and I'd love to try a curling iron again, but what to do with the setting lotion? I use Lottabody at a 5-1, or even 6-1 sometimes, as I've streaked parts of my hair back to it's original summertime white/blonde childhood colour...

I guess I was concentrating on electronics in high school more than "curling iron 101"! lol

I don't know if Lottabody would work with a heat set, but I notice that no one has answered this, so I will share my experiences...

I only use Lottabody with a wet or cold set (usually cold). For hot sets, I have used, with success, the Tresemme Heat Tamer spray and Curl Activator spray, and also Got 2b Curl-vacious Curled-up Spray, which works well for a wet set too, I found by accident!

I would recommend trying a heat-activating curling product. As for the curling iron, I am a dunce there as well. I can put together a great cold set with little effort, but make me plug stuff in, and eh... But her advice about letting the curls fully cool while pinned is crucial for me, so I suggest you follow that step!

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I've never used a curling iron with Lottabody or any setting lotion. I would think that you would burn the hair if you tried to add Lottabody and then tried to curl it. Lottabody is for sets. You can either sit under the dryer, which is what I do, or let it air-dry.

 

[Mugwump]

@ Tatum & CaramelSmoothie - Thank you so much for your help! I'll definately try the Thermal spray, and pinning the curls is a great way to keep them - but only if I can make curls with the curling iron lol
Lottabody is the BEST for wet or damp sets for me, having fine hair (but lots of it), it seems to hold forever! I use olive oil as a conditioner (complete with shower cap and warm towel) if my hair starts to complain too much, as Lottabody can be a little drying (I'm not the only one to have that happen, I see). I also use a great "ethnic" leave-in product (can't remember the name!) to condition my ends, it has many different oils in it, but is petrolatum-based, so I use the baking soda wash once in a while to get rid of buildup.
Big "Thank you!" to everyone here for all your questions, answers, tips & tricks! (*group hug!*)

 

[dmoran227]

Sorry if I repeat but unflavored gelatin vegan if you wish mixed into hot water is a great setting lotion. One teaspoon powder to one cup hot water is standard but of course play around. You could add a bit of conditioner in if you need too.

My opinion on heat styling is you could use any non water based product that you like. The danger is in boiling the water.

 

[Tatum]

@ Tatum & CaramelSmoothie - Thank you so much for your help! I'll definately try the Thermal spray, and pinning the curls is a great way to keep them - but only if I can make curls with the curling iron lol
Lottabody is the BEST for wet or damp sets for me, having fine hair (but lots of it), it seems to hold forever! I use olive oil as a conditioner (complete with shower cap and warm towel) if my hair starts to complain too much, as Lottabody can be a little drying (I'm not the only one to have that happen, I see). I also use a great "ethnic" leave-in product (can't remember the name!) to condition my ends, it has many different oils in it, but is petrolatum-based, so I use the baking soda wash once in a while to get rid of buildup.
Big "Thank you!" to everyone here for all your questions, answers, tips & tricks! (*group hug!*)

Mugwump, Katarina pulled off a hot set with Lottabody and I asked her how for you. Link to her response

 

[dmoran227]

Kind Greetings,
New here and certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone. But to those ladies who have or are considering using lottabody for heat styling I strongly urge you to reconsider. There are many variables of course such as how hot your tools are, how much you saturate the hair etc but it is dangerous to the health of your hair. Water when heated boils. Hair thats boiled is damaged or worse. Lottabody's mostly water with no chemicals to suspend them in oil.Just because any damage is not visible to the naked eye doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are so many products made especially protecting hair while heat styling in addition to helping the hold that would certainly work as well, probably better. Sally's has options under $2(silk elements line). I say this with all due respect. You may be doing a vintage style but you're using modern tools.

PS. I am about to graduate from cosmetology school (started in 1988 took a long break) and have worked in salons.

Denise

 

[Tatum]

Kind Greetings,
New here and certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone. But to those ladies who have or are considering using lottabody for heat styling I strongly urge you to reconsider. There are many variables of course such as how hot your tools are, how much you saturate the hair etc but it is dangerous to the health of your hair. Water when heated boils. Hair thats boiled is damaged or worse. Lottabody's mostly water with no chemicals to suspend them in oil.Just because any damage is not visible to the naked eye doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are so many products made especially protecting hair while heat styling in addition to helping the hold that would certainly work as well, probably better. Sally's has options under $2(silk elements line). I say this with all due respect. You may be doing a vintage style but you're using modern tools.

PS. I am about to graduate from cosmetology school (started in 1988 took a long break) and have worked in salons.

Denise

Denise, I never considered the boiling factor. Good point. I have always used thermal products for heat and setting lotion for wet/cold sets, but this question has come up a lot over the last week or so with some of the new ladies, and I hated to see no one answering (I wish you had jumped in with your knowledge!). What if you used setting lotion that had dried? Just curious if it would even work.

 

[Mugwump]

Thanks for the link, Tatum! And thank you very much dmoran227 for the advice - amazing the things we never really think about!
All in all, I agree with both dmoran227 and CaramelSmoothie (love your avvy, BTW) about probably not using Lottabody for a "heat set" (my term) - thermal spray, like Tatum suggested is probably best. Ooooh, and yes, gelatin is great for hairsetting!

Hmmm, now I'm wondering too about letting the Lottabody dry first before heating (with a curling iron or whatever)... [huh]

 

[dmoran227]

Lottabody

Hello Ladies,
While I am certainly not an expert(yet)there is no danger in heat styling dry hair with setting lotion or water based gel etc. The water is the danger. It would help give hair a bit more guts to hold a style.

 

[Frenchy56]

I'm so excited, I just bought my first ever bottle of Lottabody! It's not easy to get hold of here, but I found a website selling it pretty cheap. I'm always reading about how great it is, so I'm very excited to try it! Just bought a small bottle - I do still have a huge bottle of another product which is great, but I couldn't not buy the Lottabody when I saw it!

About to do my first ever set with it tonight, I bet I'll hardly sleep for the excitement

 

[Frenchy56]

Just took out my first ever Lottabody set, and I don't want to say I'm completely disappointed, but I'm sure I've made a mistake somewhere. Based on advice from this thread I used it basically undiluted (with a tiny bit of water), and whilst I don't have the sticky or crunchy texture some of you described, my set is kind of dull, dryish and frizzy. Do I just need to dilute it?

Before I set my hair I hadn't washed it for 6 days, so perhpas I had just got used to my hair having a different texture, and forgot how fluffy my hair can be when it's just been washed.

For today, I decided to re-roll my hair into big pincurls and cover with a scarf, so maybe by tomorrow it'll have calmed down a bit. Next time I set properly I'll dilute the Lottabody to almost half and half.

 

[MissLaurieMarie]

Do any of my fellow Canadian ladies have advice on where to find setting lotion up here? I've checked the local Superstore and Shoppers with no luck!

 

[Heather]

What do you ladies keep your setting lotions in after diluting them? I've been keeping mine in a regular spray bottle but I'm thinking about switching to something with more of a fine mist.