View Full Version : Clarifying
kdaniels8811
August 3rd, 2009, 06:48 PM
So here I am singing the praises of herb - shikaki, amla, henna, catnip, etc. My hair has never looked better, is growing, not splitting, feels soft. Until lately. Dry, flat hair, crunchy ends, dull color. So I try a couple things which did not make much difference so I go back to searching the boards for some help. And found ... clarifying. >smacks forehead< I knew that! Somehow I forgot so I need to clarify every four to six weeks. I just did, using a $.99 Suave shampoo I would of NEVER used in the pre-LHC days and my hair is soft, shiny, full of body just like it usually is. Anyone else have "duh" moments like these? Or is it just me? Smile!
cocolover
August 3rd, 2009, 07:01 PM
I think I am right there with you, right down to the use of herbs. I have been researching and researching I think I just need to clarify and do a moisture treatment.....now off to research a good moisture treatment :o
Fairlight63
August 3rd, 2009, 08:48 PM
I guess that is what I need to do. My hair is getting so tanglily that I can hardly get my fingers through my hair.
I just don't know what is the matter with it. I just started using Nioxin shampoo & cond. a week ago then putting jojoba oil on the ends. It has always been somewhat tangily but it seems to be getting worse. I seem to be losing a lot of hair also, I was hoping that the Nioxin would help with that, but so far, it isn't.
I will try the Suave clarifing shampoo, hopefully it will help.
klcqtee
August 4th, 2009, 12:34 AM
Oh! Maybe this is what I need to do! My hair has been dull, a bit crunchy, and very limp. Gah, I've never clarified before, but I'm sure I'm do to try it...
Flynn
August 4th, 2009, 01:28 AM
Clarifying is necessary now, with a product-free, cone-free routine?
kdaniels8811
August 4th, 2009, 03:43 AM
Apparently it is necessary. My hair has been awful, after months of lovely, silky hair. Clarifying did the trick. I know, I read it all the time, just never registered that I need to clarify my hair! It is just what my hair needed, this morning it is thick and soft, just like it used to be! Note to self - do it again in six weeks!
Madame J
August 4th, 2009, 07:08 AM
'Cones aren't the only thing that can build up, so unless you're WO or SO, there's always the chance that clarification can help you figure out what's up with hair that's gone suddenly wacko. Only necessary if things start going strangely when they were working for a while.
LutraLutra
August 4th, 2009, 07:14 AM
I had to clarify my hair after spending a week staying somewhere that has super hard water - when I got home my hair was all dry/greasy/crispy feeling. So even something as innocent sounding as a different kind water can make my hair need to be deep cleaned.
Deborah
August 4th, 2009, 11:14 AM
MotoGirl,
I have added baking soda in with my conditioner when CO washing in order to clarify. I wonder if one could do the same with the Indian herbs? I don't see why not. When mixing up your herbal preparation, whether using it as a thick paste (the traditional way) or using it as a muddy liquid (as I do) it seems that adding in some baking soda should clarify the hair. This would allow you to continue avoiding shampoo. Afterwards I'd finish with an acidic rinse to restore the ph balance. Just an idea for you. :)
julya
August 4th, 2009, 01:37 PM
I tend to vary my routine somewhat randomly between WO, CO and herb washes, but when my hair starts to misbehave I do pull out the shampoo and that seems to get it back into line.
AnneAdeline
August 4th, 2009, 04:33 PM
I got some clarifying shampoo (Suave) about a month ago for the first time. My hair went from terribly tangley to smooth again. Now I'm trying to switch from cones to cone-free and I'll see if that means I need to clarify less.
bigdreamer
August 4th, 2009, 04:48 PM
Does using a sulfate shampoo (like Suave Coconut) do the same job as, say, Neutrogena clarifying shampoo or anything specifically labeled "clarifying"?
spidermom
August 4th, 2009, 05:31 PM
Yes, and on the same subject, too. I thought that my canopy was destroyed - it was so dry and brittle. I kept putting treatments on it, but nothing helped. Then one day I was trying to put my python back into his enclosure, but he didn't want to go in there, so all 8 feet of him began struggling and releasing snake musk like crazy. The stink got into my hair, and I had to wash it with full-strength shampoo (I usually dilute it) three times before I got the smell out. Then my canopy was soft and supple again. So either snake musk is really good for hair, or the canopy needed to be clarified from all the treatments.
kdaniels8811
August 4th, 2009, 07:13 PM
SpiderMom - you have a python, how cool is that??? In addition to an awesome tattoo and beautiful, enviable hair.
Deborah - I certainly will try the baking soda in the herbal wash, I make a liquid like you do and slosh it over my roots (the length is bagged and soaking in catnip tea). How much baking soda do you use? A teaspoon? I use a couple teaspoons of herbs and a third cup or so of water. I will let you know how that works, it will take several weeks before I know results.
All the rest of you - thanks for the comments and encouragement. I felt like such a doofus when I read about clarifying, I KNOW to do that and somehow forgot. I was trying SMT's, shea butter treatments, oiling, and racking my brain to figure out what was wrong with my hair that until a few weeks ago had been perfect. Cleaning all the gunk off did the trick beautifully. Note to self - clarify when hair gets yucky! I think part of the problem was I started using Africa's best oil and my hair hates it along with shea butter mixes. Plain old coconut oil is the only thing it seems to tolerate.
Heavenly Locks
August 4th, 2009, 09:04 PM
I am interested in trying a clarifying wash...but whenever I use shampoo (even diluted) it makes my scalp go bonkers. It gets dry, flaky and even scabs in some places. :o
I wonder what else I can try?
bigdreamer
August 4th, 2009, 09:08 PM
Thanks spidermom, makes sense that a sulfate 'poo should be the same as clarifying for a thorough cleanse ...I've been trying it all over here and still tryin to figure out whats what (sulfate, non-sulfate, clarifying, protein-ish ,etc)
Ha ha, I don't have a python to test the snake stink removal procedure but I get your drift! :)
Deborah
August 4th, 2009, 11:34 PM
Deborah - I certainly will try the baking soda in the herbal wash, I make a liquid like you do and slosh it over my roots (the length is bagged and soaking in catnip tea). How much baking soda do you use? A teaspoon? I use a couple teaspoons of herbs and a third cup or so of water. I will let you know how that works, it will take several weeks before I know results.
I have not done this since washing with herbs. I have only clarified with baking soda and CO a couple of times in numerous years, so I am no expert. When I did it I used about a tablespoon of the baking soda.
I only clarified because I read that most people need it, so I gave it a couple of tries. It cleaned very thoroughly mixed with the conditioner I used to wash. I have never used hairspray or gels or any 'styling products'. I don't at the moment remember ever using anything besides shampoo, conditioner and vinegar or citric acid, and now sometimes Indian herbs and teeny amounts of a couple different oils. Wait, I did try the catnip tea, but it was the only thing I ever tried that increased shedding, so I stopped that pretty quickly. Maybe I just didn't have anything to clarify out. I don't really know.
All that to say that I don't know for sure whether it works or not. I had read that it worked, so just tried it based on that. It did not cause me any problem. If it dries your hair, just add a very little bit of jojoba or shea nut butter on your damp hair once you are finished washing.
I'll be excited to hear your results if you try it with the Indian herbs!
Fethenwen
August 5th, 2009, 12:05 AM
I am interested in trying a clarifying wash...but whenever I use shampoo (even diluted) it makes my scalp go bonkers. It gets dry, flaky and even scabs in some places. :o
I wonder what else I can try?
I've had success with herbal shampoo as a clarifying wash. Mine has sage in it for the health of the scalp. It is really soothing. I would suggest something similar. I think there is a difference in SLS also, this one has something called cocosulfate or something, seems less harsh.
Kristina921
August 5th, 2009, 06:10 AM
Hey guys, I have a question about clarifying...I want to clarify before I start CO again...I think my hair needs it. My question - Do I do the scalp and length or just the scalp? I need to get all the build up out right? So I'm thinking it builds up on the length too. We're talking years and years of not clarifying here lol...
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