New at no hair dryers, straighteners, or styling products.

[MonicaV2544]

I just recently went to a long hair specialist for the first to see if I was treating me hair properly for longer growth. She gave me ALOT of new information. I started using the madora line used by George Michael's salon. I would wash with suave, then cream rinse, comb through with a marble pick, then brush through the next morning, then go two three days without washing. At first my thin, wavy, bra length hair absoultely loved it. It was silkier, the wavys were showing nicely. After about two weeks of doing it that way its starting to become frizzy at first, then dry and brittle. I have absolutely no idea how to style it this way. What am I doing wrong?

[spidermom]

It sounds like buildup. Sometimes conditioning agents build up on your hair and then dry out. You need to remove them in order to have a clean start. Try a clarifying shampoo or a baking soda and warm water rinse (about 1 tsp baking soda to a quart of warm water). Then return to what you were doing. Or not, as you wish.

[MonicaV2544]

Ok thanks I'll try it.

[MonicaV2544]

How often should I use the clarifying shampoo?

[GlassEyes]

Only when you notice build-up.

Also, though the George Michael routine is used by some on here, it's not tailor made for everyone. I know my hair would hate it (though more because it's curly). You might find that you may need to condition more often or something.

But clarifying is a good first step.

[MonicaV2544]

Ok. Thank you. It has felt like it needs a conditioning treatment. My specailist said conditonor was suppose to be used once a month and cream rinse once or twice a week. I suppose your right about the system not working for everyone.

[DigsInDirt]

Thanks for posting this question as I had the same issue.

Could you explain the difference between conditioner/cream rinse? I use a conditioner each time I wash (condition/wash/condition) but now I'm wondering if that's correct based on what your stylist said.

[MonicaV2544]

Here is a site with the products on the madora line.

http://madoralonghairheaven.com/madoraprod1.html

I only use the

Creamrinse - "A lubricating, creamy lotion used after every shampoo which allows the comb to glide through wet hair. It brings the hair back to its natural acidity state and makes hair softer. This product is so effective and concentrated that a little goes a long way. If used on dry hair from the roots to the ends before swimming in a pool, it is an effective way to protect the hair from the effects of chlorinated water." (1-2 times a week usually after shampooing with suave naturals)

Blue Shampoo - "A special formula for oily, limp and very fine hair. This shampoo removes residue from conditioners and hair styling aids. It is best used alternately with the cream shampoo." (1-2 times a month)

60 Second Conditioner - "An easy to use, creamy formula that protects hair during winter months from dryness and the effects of harsh weather conditions." (1-2 times a month usually after i use the blue shampoo)

Here is a site with some tips on how to use the george michael system.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4507211_care-long-hair-using-dr.html

Heres another helpful site on hair tips for long hair used by my specailist.

www.*************

I encourage you to go see a specailist in the upcomming spring. They can recommend great things for specific hair types. There is a thread recommending good places to go.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=11326&highlight=hair+specialist+virginia

[violeteyes]

well, if you have fine hair or even medium hair, I could see how the over load of conditioner might overwhelm your hair; mine does this as well.

[MonicaV2544]

Thanks for posting this question as I had the same issue.

Could you explain the difference between conditioner/cream rinse? I use a conditioner each time I wash (condition/wash/condition) but now I'm wondering if that's correct based on what your stylist said.

Also to answer your post DigsInDirt my specailist advised against using conditioner everytime I shampoo because I had been over conditioning it. She said that the creamrinse was a lighter less harsh replacement for the conditioner that would help with tangles and replace moisture on the ends. And that conditioner was meant to be used only once a month.

I hadnt realised though that if I took the conditioner away from doing it every day to once a month immediately it would dry out my hair. I also should have used the clarifying shampoo before starting the new product.

[MonicaV2544]

I tried the clarifying blue shampoo, 60 sec conditioner, cream rinse, then added a tiny tadd of olive oil and let air dry. It is soo soft and silky, no dryness or frizzies.:cheese:

[Katze]

Personally (and we have similar hair, but I had color and heat damage) I would recommend going more natural - less 'cones etc (not sure what is in that stuff...). The buildup issue makes me think there is a lot of gunk that isn't getting off your hair, although I find I do get buildup very, very easily.

Here is what works for me. My hair is medium thickness (where it is growing back in anyway...), fine, frizzy, and wavy.

I wash 2x a week, once after swimming (with work and a baby I manage to swim only 1x a week) with a sulfate shampoo to get the chlorine out. Sometimes I do a deep treatment beforehand (SMT), leaving it on for an hour or more.

For my other wash I wash with water only. Let warm water run over the scalp and massage the scalp under the water, moving the sebum down.

At the moment this works really well for me. Sometimes I wash a bit more often (one more non-sulfate shampoo wash in between washes) depending on my schedule. I NEVER (apart from the SMTs) put conditioner on my scalp - could this be one of your issues too?

Clarifying (I use sulfate shampoo for this) really helps. I also put leave-in into my hair most days - from the ears down. Towards the end of the wash cycle , i.e. 'dirty days', I oil my hair when it gets damp in the shower (the nape, mostly, as my coarser hairs need more oil) and use that to help me get better and smoother updos and braids.

It is a constant battle with fine, wavy hair but you have to find what works for you.

Good luck! :)

[GlassEyes]

Uhhh, you're using suave naturals to shampoo?

You might want to look into something else. Most of the condtioners rock, but the shampoos have REALLY strong sulfates--in fact, they should've taken care of your buildup problem. If you're having problems, I'd look into something with SLS (sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate) over the suave Naturals (which have Ammonium Laureth Sulfate--stronger).

That said, I wash with Suave Naturals--but only because it's cheap, I spend most of my money on conditioners, and clarify and/or wash as little as possible, usually once every 2.5 weeks to a month.

[MonicaV2544]

Yea. My stylist said to try to stretch inbetween washes slowly because of what suave can do to my hair if I use it too often. But she recommended it because of the conditioner buildup I had when I first went to see her. Eventually I should get to washing 1 -2 times a month and have to use the blue shampoo even less. Its suppose to be a good transition into WO.

I believe the problem I was having about the frizzies and the dryness was because my hair was so use to being conditioned everyday. After I started the new products I wasnt using anything to protect my hair before washing and I wasnt using anything to hold in the moisture after washing. A small bit of oil on my ends before and after seemed to do the trick.

I cant wait to do WO. I hear the best thing one can do for their hair is "nothing."

[DigsInDirt]

Monica, thank you for sharing your information. I appreciate it. Good luck with your WO goal!

[xoxophelia]

Ok. Thank you. It has felt like it needs a conditioning treatment. My specailist said conditonor was suppose to be used once a month and cream rinse once or twice a week. I suppose your right about the system not working for everyone.

I would consider doing a clarifying treatment followed by an oil treatment left in and wrapped up overnight. I tried 1:1 olive oil and canola oil and it was AMAZING. I am going to do it again pretty soon. Probably tomorrow night :).