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pressedflowers
December 6th, 2011, 01:19 PM
I've done so many site-specific searches of LHC for information about clarifying but I couldn't find sort of a basic thread about clarifying and how/when to do it. I hope, hope, hope I'm not starting an unnecessary thread but if I am, please point me to the correct one. :) :eye:

I'm new to LHC and to hair care in general, I've always kept long hair (with the exception of a chop to chin-length when I was 15) but never did anything with it. Nothing. Ever. Shampoo & condition with whatever was in the shower every 2 days before bed, brush, sleep on my wet hair, and nothing else.

I am starting slow, I don't want to shock my hair with a bunch of new treatments and such and all, but I did recently color my hair for the first time so what I'm mostly interested in is moisture. I have dry hair to start with and that coupled with the chemical dye and the winter conditions is making my hair pretty dry. I started co-washing about a month ago but I'm interested in SMT, deep conditioners, moisturizing treatments, etc.

So, my questions are basically: What is clarifying and what is its purpose? Who needs to clarify their hair? When? And how/with what should they do it?

Thank you so much!!!!

Soltimus
December 6th, 2011, 01:23 PM
Could this be what you're looking for?

When to clarify and what to clarify hair with (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=224)

I didn't anything about clarifying until I found this one in the article section. Am completely new to this world of hair :D

Chamy
December 6th, 2011, 01:27 PM
Clarifying is necessary when one has build up on the hair. The build up is caused by one ore more ingredients in the products you use. Often silicones, waxes, oils and mineral oils are cause for the build up. Build up is often recognized by hair tangling, feeling sticky/icky and feeling/looking dull.
The clarifying process is one of washing the hair, more often with clarifying shampoo containing sulfates, but can also be done with baking soda. This is a personal choice.
If done right, and of course done at the right time(when the hair has build-up) the result can be both seen and felt on the hair, it looks shinier, feels fluffier and silkier. Once you have gone through the process you recognize the signs, and hopefully know what worked for your hair.

Hope this helped! :)

ktani
December 6th, 2011, 01:39 PM
I just added some information to the article about dissolving the baking soda in water.

Baking soda recipes can be found here, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=83192

dwell_in_safety
December 6th, 2011, 02:08 PM
I never knew BS can be used to clarify hair. I used it a bit when I stopped using shampoo, and though obviously it strips oils (which is why I stopped using it altogether), I never knew about its clarifying potential. Good to know! I do use oil regularly so it's nice to know that even if clarification becomes necessary in the future (I didn't know oils could cause a need for it, either) I'll still never have to use shampoo again.

ktani
December 6th, 2011, 02:12 PM
I never knew BS can be used to clarify hair. I used it a bit when I stopped using shampoo, and though obviously it strips oils (which is why I stopped using it altogether), I never knew about its clarifying potential. Good to know! I do use oil regularly so it's nice to know that even if clarification becomes necessary in the future (I didn't know oils could cause a need for it, either) I'll still never have to use shampoo again.

Most oils can simply be washed out, with either shampoo or conditioner only washes and do not need clarifying. Drying oils, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=190 can need repeated clarifying to remove them.

ETA: See also, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=1895057&postcount=18

Delila
December 6th, 2011, 02:22 PM
Here's a link (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=15746) to a good discussion started by Gladtobemom on clarifying and chelating.

Hollyfire3
December 6th, 2011, 03:38 PM
Does clarifying affect colored hair? If so, what is a color safe alternative? I think my hair needs clarifying but i do not by any means wish to sacrifice my new hair color.

pressedflowers
December 6th, 2011, 11:46 PM
Thanks for the replies!!!! I don't know why the article by ktani did not come up in my google site searches... I searched clarify, clarifying, how to clarify, clarifying shampoo, and some more combinations I can't remember lol!!

I think I'm going to try using a clarifying shampoo followed by SMT and see what happens. I won't know until I try!

ktani
December 7th, 2011, 10:26 AM
Good luck and happy growing!