A while back — probably late last year — I was fretting about finding a new leave-in conditioner. I found Giovanni Direct Leave-in and I loved it. LOVED IT! I had no trouble with it at all. A couple of months of ago, I saw a recipe for a leave-in mix from YouTuber Kimmaytube.
I decided to try it out because Kimmaytube is about the science of hair. I enjoy playing around with my hair and reviewing products, but this chick? She’s got pH strips and is testing ingredients and combinations to ensure she gets the right mix for her hair type and texture. I like mixing ingredients — some shea butter whipped up with cocoa butter and some oils — I am certainly not on the same level as the folks online who come correct with their scientific knowledge. I found her YouTube site was very informative and Kimmaytube’s hair is beautiful, no word of a lie, so the proof is in the pudding.
Anyhow, here are the ingredients:
- 1 oz Knot Today Leave-In (or 2 tablespoons of YOUR preferred leave-in)
- 2 tablespoons of (Whole leaf version) Aloe Vera Juice with a pH 4.0 or 4.5
- 2 teaspoons of Castor Oil
- 2 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil
You can find the video about how much product to use and how to mix it here.
In the video, Kimmay uses Kinky Curly Knot Today conditioner. Now, I don’t need to spend $26 CDN on conditioner (see last week’s post about my disgust with hair care product prices), so I used my trusty Giovanni leave-in ($10 a pop). As directed, I mixed all the ingredients together and applied it to my fresh washed hair.
Results? It was OK. My hair felt good, but no better than when I just used the Giovanni Direct Leave-in. So, I mixed it up a couple more times and I got the same results: good, but no more spectacular than just my GDLI. I thought it could be because I didn’t use the Knot Today — maybe, but the directions did say I could use any creamy leave-in.
I don’t know — I guess it’s the natural hair mantra: what works for one person may not work for someone else. I wouldn’t say this didn’t work, but for the work and expense of buying extra ingredients, I don’t know if it’s fully worth it.
So, I will continue with my Giovanni and continue looking for new online mixtures to test. Has anyone else tried it out? What do you think?
The Accidental Natural 
Yes, in fact it’s the only leave in I use on my hair and my daughters hair. Our hair loves it. But, you are 100% correct we must use whats works best for our/your hair, and what works for one may not work for the other. So, true indeed. Take care:)
zainab1
AuNaturale007.blogspot.com
So glad you tried the Giovanni and liked it. I have yet to try it, I’m so stuck on the Aubrey’s. However, since you gave a good review, if I ever can’t find any of my staples, I’ll give it a try.
I’m a subscriber of KimmayTube’s channel and she has GREAT info on there about a lot of topics.
I guess it’s the natural hair mantra
I have been using Kimmaytube’s leave-in conditioner for about four months now, and while it didn’t seem to be doing anything special for my hair, as far as shine or softness, I have seen a lot of growth since I started using it. So I would say give it a chance.
I have revisited it and I like it better. I think my problem wasn’t so much the conditioner, but my technique. If I’m roughing up my hair no leave-in is going to help the situation. Now I’m trying to be kinder to my hair and the leave-in making a difference. Do I think it’s the end all? No, but I do think it’s a pretty dang good leave-in. Thanks for commenting and check back in for an update.
I tried the Kimmytube leave in with the GIV Leave In, and with Kinky Curly Knot, I have to honestly say it had a thicker consistency with the Kinky Knot. It might be worth the purchase, it was to me.
Regards
I must admit, I am liking the Kimmaytube leave-in a lot better these days. I wrote another post about it. I think my issue was that my technique – not the leave-in – that was the problem. Now that my technique is better, I’m seeing the benefits of the leave-in.
What do you mean by technique? As in how you apply it?
I’ve tried the conditioner with the exact products KT used and, unfortunately, it didn’t seem to do anything for my hair =-(. In fact, the next morning my hair was insanely dry and under moisturized. Very disappointing results. I’ll try it a few times, but I may need to mix it up with other products.
Not so much how I applied it, but I was doing some not so healthy things to my hair, like raking my Denman through my hair without any conditioner. If I’m constantly doing things to harm my hair, it doesn’t matter what type of leave-in use, it’s not going to make my hair look or feel like anything. Have you used Knot Today before? How did you like it before mixing it? Maybe you need to try another leave-in? Or, do like me – I don’t stick to Kimmy’s measurements, I just toss in things until it looks like I want it to.
i know you already said that you’re liking it better, but…are you using ph strips to test your kimmaytube mixture with the GDLI? the final ph of the mixture should be around 4-5 (best for closing your cuticle). the knot today is ph 7, and with the added recipe ingredients, the final ph is 4. however, the GDLI is already ph 5 (so, it’s already ideal for cuticle closure). therefore, adding more aloe vera juice to it only makes it more acidic. just try adding two of your favorite oils to the GDLI and you will have the correct ph (or you can add a little aloe vera juice if you want the ph to be 4). i know all this because i have the ph strips and i’ve tried it at home!
I’ve been curious about pH strips — I saw that at my health food store, but I didn’t end up purchasing them. I used the GDLI a couple of nights ago without the aloe vera juice and I didn’t like how my hair reacted compared to when a mix the Kimmaytube leave-in (I was much too lazy to go downstairs to the kitchen). I think, at the next trip to the health food store, I’m going to pick up some of the strips and test my products — especially my favorite spritz, aloe vera juice and rosewater. Thanks for the info!
Atribitt thanks for the additional info.
Thanks atribitt for your additional research. I love the kimmaytube mixture, but was curious about the ph bal of the GDLI as a replacement for the knot today . Your suggestion of adding two of my favorite oils sounds great. Will be trying it soon.
Actually if you look at Kimmay’s older videos. she started off using GDL before she discovered the Knot Today
Bunni
This helps me a a lot. I was wondering why the leave was not doing anything for my hair. I was using the knot today, but not sure which aloe vera to use. I may have mixed it wrong. My keracare leave in has a ph of 5.0, so I will just add the oil to it. I appreciate this. I will let you know what happens.
If you’re in Toronto Qi health food store (I go torah one at Bathurst/Bloor) has Giovanni for $6.99 🙂
Thanks for the info!
and by “torah” i meant “to the”… oh autocorrect!
I like using the Kimmaytube leave in but I would have to agree with Urbansista regarding the technique in which you apply it to your hair. I recently had breakage and I blamed it on the natural hair style itself. I was using the Kimmaytube leave in but I was not wetting my hair prior to applying the Kimmaytube leave in.
Anytime you apply a leave in conditioner such as the Knot Today or Giovani (alone) or mixed with other things (Kimmaytube leave in) you should wet your hair before applying.
For some odd reason I was applying the Kimmaytube on dry hair. Sure I would apply it after shampooing and deep conditioning while my hair was wet. But on those 3rd and 4th day hair I would apply the Kimmaytube Leave In directly to dry hair.
My results were not good.
Yesterday I finally caught on to what I was doing wrong, So I made sure my hair was wet and I applied the Kimmaytube leave in and my curls were well defined, the hold was really good and my hair was really moist.
I love the Kimmaytube leave in. This is one of my staple products,.
I have to wet my hair everynight int eh shower, ( wet or co wash) and then I top it off with a leave in and sealant. I just KKNT but i wanted to try it as a leave in. I make my own sprits with Aloe vera juice, silk aminos, glycerin, jojoba, and shae moisture curl definer leave in. I just use a leave in i like glycering alove vera and any things else I wanna add. Depends on hair..:)
I’ve tried Kimmay leave-in with KKKT ($11.99) and with GDLI ($4.79 at Swanson’s Vitamins). Liked it with both, but I’m thrifty, so GDLI is my go-to. I also add unrefined shea butter. I don’t know what the final pH is because I don’t have the strips, but I can tell you it works! My hair was thinner in the top (I’m past 50, so I thought it was due to age), but it’s now filled in and my hair is thicker and stronger than it was in my 20s, which was a pretty big shock to me. I just wanted something to make my hair manageable…wasn’t looking for growth, but my hair is now over 6-7 inches, most of the growth since I’ve been using the leave-in and trying to follow her advice about handling my hair. (I’ve been tender-headed all my life and really could go months without combing it…literally!!! but when I started using her leave-in, I couldn’t keep my hands out of my head!
Am i the only one this magical mixture doesnt work on? i used it for 6 months like it was a magic potion and nothing. i have been natural for the last 12 years and i have the same shoulder length hair as always. i just wanna cry!! i feel like everybodys hair is growing but mine. what gives?? i guess my hair is from venus and i am from mars. if i didnt have a whole bunch of shampoos,esential oils, oils, conditioners and a gallon of whole leaf aloe vera juice, i would probably fake dementia and shave it all off! what can i do? i am desperate??
Sorry to hear you’re traumatized, Traumatized! The key is finding out what works for you or tweaking things to work for you. Products alone won’t do it – it’s also taking care of your hair – as you probably know. Are you doing protective styles? Making sure that your scalp is healthy? Drinking lots of water? Unfortunately, there’s no magic potion 😦 Good luck!
i always used it on wet hair once a week,after a wash! any ideas while i wish all you long haired sisters all the luck in the world and revel in my jealousy?
Hi Tramatized,
I just read your comment and thought I should reply. First, what you say, think and believe will manifest. Trust! So please don’t be Tramatized, be beautiful be hopeful be the true child of the Most High God. Why? Bc that is who you are and secondly will release positive energy and will aid in the blood flow to your scalp and throughout your body. Now, to address your hair confusion, pls check the ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner. For shampoos, make sure they are acidic (5-6) and contains a natural detergent. And for conditioners, you want to avoid too much protein in the conditioner (whey protein) Bc they dry hair out. Best to use products that have olive oil, Shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba oil Bc they moisturize the hair. If you cannot find a natural conditioner with these products, make your own. Research the web and find a receipt. Finally, aloe Vera juice does grow hair Bc it’s ph balance and have healing properties. But your diet and spirtual energy must too be in balance for your hair to grow. Thus, once you applied the above technique, I recommend you continue to use Aloe Vera juice (yes, whole leaf by Lily of the Desert) and work on changing your thoughts about your hair and to think more positive in general.
Be bless and have healthy abundant and prosperous New Year.
I love your response…..
I read your response to Kimmaytube leave-in conditioner and one reason I am trying it is that I have been on some many meds for health reasons. The pharmacist told me many medications have an effect on your hair. I am trying to find natural replacements and herbs so I can go natural with my body as well as with my hair. So maybe that could be your problem if you are on medication. So I wish you well and hope things will work out for you.
WOW!!! so many vastly different results. I’ve been transitioning from permed hair to natural for the last 2 years, and still I have perm on the tips. while my hair grows, it grows very, very, slowly I’ve never had long hair it always seems to brake before I can retain any real length. Tonight I clipped my ends they were so brittle, dry and ragged. I immediately wet my hair and applied “Cantu” leave in conditioner. That being said I am becoming very discouraged with the progress of my hair. Now completely chemical free I am going to try Kimmay tube, leave in conditioner. However, I did notice that Kimmay seems to have a different texture of hair. My hair is very short, course, thick and dry but healthy. I take vitamins to encourage healthy growth as I am just over 50 years old. Question: Does anyone know if when a persons body chemistry changes with age how it affects ones hair growth?
You can always go to the luv naturals site. She has awesome products.
When you use the kimmay mixture, does anyone put there hair in protective styles? How often do you use the mixture?
My understanding is that kimmaytube leave in has to be on wet/damp hair.???