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View Full Version : Gentle shampoo recommendations for a newbie?



Miss Maisie
July 19th, 2011, 11:33 AM
I have just about always needed to shampoo my hair daily. For reference, my hair is 1b/1c, f, ii, and just (and I mean *just*) below my shoulders. This is honestly the longest my hair has been since I was about 10. Before that my hair was almost knee length.

Right now my goal is APL, but I guess having had short hair that needed to be shampooed frequently for a variety of reasons has left me conditioned (no pun intended!) to think that I need shampoo daily. Right now my hair is really oily at my hairline and on the crown on day two. I would really like to use a gentle shampoo and eventually cut back my use of it to every other day/every 2 days.

Right now I've got a Suave shampoo and conditioner and Mane and Tail in the shower, but I was wondering what shampoos/conditioners you recommend. Any tips or tricks for someone who wants to cut back on their shampooing?

Thanks!!

Idjit
July 19th, 2011, 12:02 PM
Shes moisture's shampoos are pretty nice. I use the moisture retention one sometimes.

Have you considered cowashing? You just use a cheap conditioner, like suave, instead of shampoo. You just have to make sure to scrub your scalp well. It may take a bit of time for your scalp to regulate and in the meantime you may be greasy but after that many people can go much longer between washes.

Idjit
July 19th, 2011, 12:02 PM
Sorry. I meant Shea Moisture.

SnowGhost
July 19th, 2011, 12:17 PM
I found Aveda Scalp Benefits shampoo to be good for regulating oil while being gentle on ends. It seems pricey but if you get the big bottle it will last you forever (works out at not much more than drugstore stuff for much better quality). I always find salon brand shampoos to be less harsh than cheap ones so I will splash out on shampoo and buy cheap conditioner. Nowadays I only wash about once a month and CO daily in between so even the regular size shampoo lasts me forever!

chahuahuas
July 19th, 2011, 01:04 PM
I think you can't get more gentle than a baby shampoo & body wash combo, because they have to be able to get in an infant's eyes and sensitive areas and NOT irritate.

I picked baby shampoo because I wanted to follow the curly girl method, but I really don't like washing my scalp & roots with conditioner, since my roots get so oily. I searched for the most most gentle thing I could find, so I could be sure it wouldn't dry out my hair and cause frizz. I looked for completely, utterly sulfate-free shampoos, it turned out to be difficult to find shampoos that didn't have some sort of sulfate derivative ingredient. I gave up on finding traditional adult shampoos free of detergents (even sulfate-free shampoos have derivatives of sulfates), because baby shampoos are pretty much guaranteed to do the trick.

I've tried 3 different shampoo & body wash combos, and I really like California Baby's Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash (http://www.californiababy.com/super-sensitive-shampoo-bodywash-8-5-oz.html). It has a neutral smell (Burt's Bees smells funky), it's cheap, you can get it in a huge pump bottle, and you can use it everwhere!
http://di1-3.shoppingshadow.com/images/pi/f6/40/90/94119639-260x260-0-0_California+Baby+California+Baby+Super+Sensitive+ Sh.jpg (http://www.californiababy.com/super-sensitive-shampoo-bodywash-8-5-oz.html)

You could also try their "calming" shampoo, I think it might smell nicer. I just go with "super sensitive" because it's basic and I like having a non-irritating catchall soap in my shower. It's great for a facewash & not worrying about getting it in your eyes, and it's also helpful for sensitive TMI areas :laugh:

SpinDance
July 19th, 2011, 01:10 PM
I'll second the suggestion to try CO if you need to wet your hair on the in-between days. I've gotten to where I only need to use an actual shampoo every week or so. Also, dilute your shampoo. It's amazing how little you really need to help reduce the oil/sebum. If you are using shampoos and conditioners with 'cones that may affect your choices. I was unsuccessful with CO washing until after I went 'cone-free.

Miss Maisie
July 19th, 2011, 03:47 PM
Wow! Thanks so much for your input!

I tried CO before, but I think the conditioner I used was too heavy, because my hair just looked, well, awful.

I think I'm going to pick up some of the California Baby shampoo and a lighter conditioner and try CO every other day. I'll let you know how it goes!!

faithsdaisy421
July 19th, 2011, 05:01 PM
I use this shampoo:
http://www.giovannicosmetics.net/item.asp?prodtype=HAIR%20CARE&category=ECO%20CHIC&model=SHAMPOO&item=GWS-8
with this conditioner:
http://www.giovannicosmetics.net/item.asp?prodtype=HAIR%20CARE&category=ECO%20CHIC&model=CONDITIONER&item=RT66C-8

I love their products so much!

Copasetic
July 19th, 2011, 05:25 PM
I just started using Johnson's Naturals Baby shampoo. You can check out the ingredients here: http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/introducing-johnsons-natural

It's very low-foaming, which makes it good for frequent use.

chahuahuas
July 19th, 2011, 06:48 PM
I just started using Johnson's Naturals Baby shampoo. You can check out the ingredients here: http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/introducing-johnsons-natural

It's very low-foaming, which makes it good for frequent use.

I got Johnson's foaming head-to-toe (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QWSV3M/) (because the foaming one was the only one that was a shampoo & body wash combo), and I HATE it. It has one of those spouts that creates foam,
(kind of like:http://thenaturalidea.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/foaming-soap-150x150.jpg),
and I feel that it's just not effective at cleaning my scalp. Maybe that's because the foam is very thin, not rich like regular foaming products. Of course it's going to be thin, they aren't using alot of detergents in the soap since it's for baby's skin. I just don't understand why they bother trying to make it foam.

This is the one I have:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31p1eJ4POuL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-3,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QWSV3M/)

Maybe If I got the Johnson's JUST shampoo I would change my mind, but I don't know... I think the ingredients of that are similar to the one I have that I HATE. And maybe it's simply the fact that they use that stupid foaming spout? :undecided Whatever it is, California Baby is my favorite of the 3 baby shampoos I tried. I got Burt's Bees, California Baby and Johnson's all in one shopping last year. CB is the only one I thought was good enough to buy more of. (And Johnson's is the only one I have that has some of it left over, since I think it's crappy!)

1953Diygal
July 19th, 2011, 07:04 PM
Shes moisture's shampoos are pretty nice. I use the moisture retention one sometimes.


I agree....Shea Moisture makes fabulously gentle, moisturizing shampoo!

starlamelissa
July 20th, 2011, 04:20 PM
I am a newbie with almost waistlegnth hair. I hate scent, it gives me migraines. So I use baby aquaphor hair and baby wash. It's super duper gentle and tearless. Smells like...light shampoo chemicals. Rinses out and smells like nothing.

archel
July 20th, 2011, 05:36 PM
When I have to wash between CO days (once a week or so), I use Giovanni Smooth As Silk shampoo. It has no cones (so does the matching conditioner which is awesome, but I'm out). Their Smooth As Silk protein reconstructor is great to use like once or twice a month (good thing, it's pricey). I love Giovanni - finally an organic product that is affordable. They have it in bulk at the health food stores so you can refill your old bottle thus creating less waste for the landfills. Good stuff.