View Full Version : Help with hair "diagnosis"
ErinM
July 5th, 2010, 09:09 AM
I need help from all you great LHCers! I went "everything-free" about 2-3 weeks ago. While I've liked the overall results, my hair feels a little dry, especially in the last few days. Is there a homemade mix or something I can use as a mask or deep conditioner that is still everything-free. I searched the articles and the board, but couldn't find anything exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks for your help!
ETA: I'm assuming it's a dryness problem. My very thick hair feels wiry instead of smooth and (because I'm a brusher!) there has been a lot of static lately. I usually NEVER have static when brushing. I'm assuming that points to dryness? If not, please feel free to help me identify the REAL problem!
Loreley
July 5th, 2010, 10:59 AM
My hair felt the same two or three weeks ago, my ends were dry and wiry. I had started using sulfate-free shampoo about a month earlier. I wondered what the problem was and decided to clarify with SLES shampoo just to make sure there's no build-up. After washing I oiled it as usual and it was smooth and soft again.
Maybe you should clarify too and see what happens. :)
triumphator!
July 5th, 2010, 11:14 AM
Try Snowy's Moisture Treatment! If you search that or SMT it's all over this website, it's a great deep moisturizing treatment using kitchen/natural ingredients.
May
July 5th, 2010, 11:20 AM
Perhaps going "everything" free is not working for your hair? I'm asuming you mean sls's and cones? Why don't you try something like adding honey to your conditioner? It's very moisturizing. If that doesn't work try a different conditioner/shampoo? What are you using atm?
HintOfMint
July 5th, 2010, 11:56 AM
I'm a bit lost as to what "everything-free" means. There's sls and 'cones, but for many there are parabens, drying alcohols, and proteins to contend with.
If you could clarify (heh!) what your routine is and what you have been avoiding, we could give you a better idea of what to do.
Carolyn
July 5th, 2010, 12:04 PM
I would suggest clarifying to get anything that's there off your hair. Then a SMT. I add a few drops of oil to my SMT mix. You can also add a bit of oil to your conditioner or use a couple drops as a leave in conditioner.
ErinM
July 5th, 2010, 12:11 PM
Thanks for the help, guys! Sorry I didn't add more details earlier, I was posting from my phone while my computer was being occupied by my children. :)
Right now, my routine consists of Hugo Naturals 'poo and condish, in the Lemon Verbena kind.
The ingredients in the 'poo:
Aqueous Infusion of Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Comfrey Root Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Paraguayan Tea Leaf Extract, Arnica Extract, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Cocoa Butter, Surfactant Derived from Vegetable Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Babassu Seed Oil, Carbohydrates Derived from Plant Starch, Cornstarch, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Organic Acai Pulp Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Coconut Ester, Unsaponified Olive Oil, Beta Glucan, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Passion Flower Extract, Rice Bran, Salt, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Natural Vitamin E, Japanese Honeysuckle Extract, Lemon Verbena Flower Extract, Lemon Fruit Oil
And the condish:
Aqueous Infusion of Comfrey Root Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, and Rooibos Leaf Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Surfactant Derived from Vegetable Oil, Wheat Protein, Palm Oil, Thickening Agent Derived from Guar Plant, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil, Emulsifiers Derived from Olive Oil, Vitamin C Ester, Vitamin A, Shea Butter, Coconut Derived Emulsifier, Vegetable Derived Emulsifier, Organic Acai Oil, Ester from Babassu Seed, Passionfruit Seed Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Babassu Seed Oil, Natural Vitamin E, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Japanese Honeysuckle Extract, Lemon Verbena Flower Extract, Lemon Fruit Oil
I only wash and condition every 3-4 days. I have straight, thick hair and moderately-oily scalp. The brushing helps keep the oil issue down. I'm at about waist-length now, and I occasionally oil my ends with jojoba when they're feeling frizzed. I'm growing out some color damage, but it usually behaves just fine. I do clarify occasionally, using this clarifying shampoo (http://www.lanza.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=29&catid=9&loc=show&headTitle=%20-%20Daily%20Clarifying). My hair has a tendency to get really heavy and flat and limp, as best as I can describe it, and that's been a lifelong thing!
Like I said, I have enjoyed the "free" products, but if this is a result of that, I may have to go back to cones. I don't want to just jump back into that, though, if this is just part of the adjustment period still or there's something else I can do to keep it and get my hair to "behave" properly! :)
bumblebums
July 5th, 2010, 12:19 PM
Yeah, the clarification helped. I thought you meant water-only or sebum-only.
You could try oiling the ends for dryness.
HintOfMint
July 5th, 2010, 01:41 PM
I noticed that both the shampoo and conditioner have proteins fairly high up on the ingredients, so maybe you have a sensitivity? My hair became really dry and crunchy after using mane 'n tail, so I had to clarify (with a protein free shampoo) and switch to a protein-free routine. I can still use a protein shampoo, but that is because I only use it on my scalp.
I also noticed that a "natural" shampoo can be just as drying as the sls ones.
ErinM
July 5th, 2010, 02:28 PM
I haven't had a protein issue previously, but it may be worth checking out. Ill do a SMT today and see how the next week or so goes, to give everything a fair shake. Thanks for the feedback, all!
my2cats1
July 5th, 2010, 02:36 PM
A little olive oil on the ends at night works wonders for my hair. That might be all you need.
ErinM
July 6th, 2010, 09:13 AM
Thanks so much for all the help, everyone! I did the SMT last night and it definitely helped. I just had to show a post-treatment picture I took this morning (which was actually a length progress pic, but I realized how smooth and shiny my hair looks!) Too bad hubby was in such a hurry that it came out all blurry, but you get the idea.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5819&pictureid=76079
I think this treatment should give me enough time to give the "everything-free" poo and condish a fair chance while my hair adjusts, before officially declaring myself a cone head. ;)
Sammich
July 6th, 2010, 10:02 AM
Woah, those results are godly! :o :D Beautiful, your hair looks so silky! Glad your problem was solved, now I'm inspired to take the advice in this thread, because my hair's been feeling really funky lately. :p
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