Melisande
September 1st, 2012, 08:35 AM
I don't open many threads because there are so many... but over the years, I have optimized my washing method, and I want to share it. Maybe it helps others to optimize theirs.
I have a dry scalp and dry hair, very smooth, and a tendency to have either flat, moisturized hair - or puffy, voluminous, scratchy hair. Great. It took me years to find a balance between the need for moisture and the wish for volume.
What I do:
1. pre-wash
I put nearly always a pre-wash treatment on my hair. I wash in the morning, c. every fourth or fifth day, and the night before I put either straight coconut oil in my hair, or conditioner mixed with oil. Conditioners are an emulsion, and they make the oil easier to wash out. However, my hair releases oil quite easily so I can put straight oil and know that it will wash out without a problem. I always advise oil newbies to mix it with conditioner first - to make sure it comes out easily. Over time, decrease the conditioner and see how you get along.
2. Wash
I use lukewarm water throughout, never hot. I really soak my hair with water. While my hair fills up with water, I fill a pitcher with water. I add a little baby shampoo and a little conditioner and mix both very well. Even in very strong dilutions, modern detergents are still strong enough to clean very well. But diluted, they are much less harmless. The conditioner makes the washing out of the oil much easier. Besides, it makes the shampoo even gentler.
I pour this mixture over my head slowly. When I have the feeling my head is soaked, I stop. Now I do other shower duties and just let the mixture sit on my head. (I'm a water saver so usually I switch off the water now). I don't massage, I don't scratch my scalp, I don't build hair towers like the ladies in the commercials do. I just, after a couple of minutes, move my hands over my scalp and hair very gently.
I wash this first portion out, and then I check whether I need a second portion or not. If I do, then I simply take the rest of the mixture, or make a new one, and pour it over my head. I let it sit again, give a very very gentle massage, and wash it out.
This part is a bit like CWC - I condition and wash at the same time. I don't use shampoo undiluted, and I don't use it without conditioner.
3. condition
I wash out my loyal old pitcher and fill it again with water. I add a little conditioner, honey and either citric acid or vinegar. Not too much! I pour this mixture again over my head. I can feel how the hair feels softer immediately. This is really a magic mixture. On the German boards, they call it "Mata's shine rinse", that's because I'm Mata on the German boards :) For me, it gives just the right finish. I wash it out with cool water. If something is left in the pitcher, I fill it until it's so diluted that a homeopath would consent to its use, and give a last rinse. Well the very last rinse is cold - but I'm no Spartan so I rinse only the parts of my hair that don't touch my body with cool to cold water.
I let my hair air dry. I do a kind of logroll and put it inside a towel. Later, I bun the damp hair and only towards the end of the drying process, I open the bun. I know people have mixed results with damp bunning, my personal experience with it is great.
This method gives me the best results over time. I have no idea whether others may have the same results, but for me, this is the best way to wash my hair. It's clean, has volume and great shine afterwards. It doesn't tangle and is not lanky. It stays in good shape over four or five days, and if I wanted, I'm certain I could stretch washes further. I have no split ends at all.
I have a dry scalp and dry hair, very smooth, and a tendency to have either flat, moisturized hair - or puffy, voluminous, scratchy hair. Great. It took me years to find a balance between the need for moisture and the wish for volume.
What I do:
1. pre-wash
I put nearly always a pre-wash treatment on my hair. I wash in the morning, c. every fourth or fifth day, and the night before I put either straight coconut oil in my hair, or conditioner mixed with oil. Conditioners are an emulsion, and they make the oil easier to wash out. However, my hair releases oil quite easily so I can put straight oil and know that it will wash out without a problem. I always advise oil newbies to mix it with conditioner first - to make sure it comes out easily. Over time, decrease the conditioner and see how you get along.
2. Wash
I use lukewarm water throughout, never hot. I really soak my hair with water. While my hair fills up with water, I fill a pitcher with water. I add a little baby shampoo and a little conditioner and mix both very well. Even in very strong dilutions, modern detergents are still strong enough to clean very well. But diluted, they are much less harmless. The conditioner makes the washing out of the oil much easier. Besides, it makes the shampoo even gentler.
I pour this mixture over my head slowly. When I have the feeling my head is soaked, I stop. Now I do other shower duties and just let the mixture sit on my head. (I'm a water saver so usually I switch off the water now). I don't massage, I don't scratch my scalp, I don't build hair towers like the ladies in the commercials do. I just, after a couple of minutes, move my hands over my scalp and hair very gently.
I wash this first portion out, and then I check whether I need a second portion or not. If I do, then I simply take the rest of the mixture, or make a new one, and pour it over my head. I let it sit again, give a very very gentle massage, and wash it out.
This part is a bit like CWC - I condition and wash at the same time. I don't use shampoo undiluted, and I don't use it without conditioner.
3. condition
I wash out my loyal old pitcher and fill it again with water. I add a little conditioner, honey and either citric acid or vinegar. Not too much! I pour this mixture again over my head. I can feel how the hair feels softer immediately. This is really a magic mixture. On the German boards, they call it "Mata's shine rinse", that's because I'm Mata on the German boards :) For me, it gives just the right finish. I wash it out with cool water. If something is left in the pitcher, I fill it until it's so diluted that a homeopath would consent to its use, and give a last rinse. Well the very last rinse is cold - but I'm no Spartan so I rinse only the parts of my hair that don't touch my body with cool to cold water.
I let my hair air dry. I do a kind of logroll and put it inside a towel. Later, I bun the damp hair and only towards the end of the drying process, I open the bun. I know people have mixed results with damp bunning, my personal experience with it is great.
This method gives me the best results over time. I have no idea whether others may have the same results, but for me, this is the best way to wash my hair. It's clean, has volume and great shine afterwards. It doesn't tangle and is not lanky. It stays in good shape over four or five days, and if I wanted, I'm certain I could stretch washes further. I have no split ends at all.