Why is my hair dry knotty and tangled?

[glitterbug]

HI all!

Here is some things on what I do, I use SLS free shampoo, and cone free conditioner and products, I wash once a week. I clarified last week and deep conditioned, but my hair has been feeling very rough dry and tangled and just looks awful like a nest.

What am I doing wrong here?

[Panth]

Have you chelated recently, particularly if you live in a hard water area or swim regularly?

If not, try that. Some people recommend strong vinegar rinses or club soda rinses, but IMO the best is to simply get a chelating shampoo (often marketed as swimmer's shampoo) and use that occasionally. Weaker vinegar rinses (e.g. 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1 medium glass of water) after each wash work well for reducing mineral build-up, particularly of limescale.

[Anje]

My standard list of things to eliminate in order looks like this:
1) Generic product buildup. Clarify with sulfates and/or baking soda.
2) Dryness. Try a deep moisture treatment like SMT or the caramel treatment. This also helps protein buildup if you repeat it a few times. (ETA: it's worth checking your products for protein and switching to protein-free stuff at least part of the time if you suspect protein might be the trouble.)
3) Protein deficit. Protein treat it, then moisturize again.
4) Mineral buildup. Chelating shampoo time.
5) Irreparable damage. Cut it off... You need not cut all of it if the idea is upsetting; even a small trim can make hair feel a lot more manageable.

[Barnet Girl]

I found that this happened to me when I was using SLS free shampoo. I guess not all sulfate free shampoos are equal (I never found one that worked for me) and that (for me anyway) they do not remove product build-up effectively. I agree with all of Anje's suggestions and also found that when I bought a shower filter, my hair felt alot softer. If you live in a hard water area I would consider this.

[spidermom]

My hair usually needs to be clarified when that happens. I follow that with a deep treatment (for both protein and moisture). That usually does the trick, although sometimes I have to repeat the sequence.

[jacqueline101]

I agree sounds like build up needs clarifying then protein and moisture treatment.

[cranberrymoonz]

I'd like to add the possibility of protein build-up. If your hair has low porosity, your conditioner contains protein and you use a sulfate free shampoo, the protein may build-up on your hair and make it typically crunchy, tangly and unmanageble. The way to deal with it is to clarify and replace your products with protein-free ones.

[lapushka]

Another vote for removing possible build-up ie clarifying. Maybe you need to do it more than once, especially if it's been a long time since you last clarified.

[glitterbug]

My standard list of things to eliminate in order looks like this:
1) Generic product buildup. Clarify with sulfates and/or baking soda.
2) Dryness. Try a deep moisture treatment like SMT or the caramel treatment. This also helps protein buildup if you repeat it a few times. (ETA: it's worth checking your products for protein and switching to protein-free stuff at least part of the time if you suspect protein might be the trouble.)
3) Protein deficit. Protein treat it, then moisturize again.
4) Mineral buildup. Chelating shampoo time.
5) Irreparable damage. Cut it off... You need not cut all of it if the idea is upsetting; even a small trim can make hair feel a lot more manageable.

Wow, thanks for that! I live in a hard water are and didnt know I had to chelate.

I have seen a shampoo that says it removes calcium build up. Although it doesnt mention limescale/impurities or environment. Will it get rid of the limescale as well, but it says calcium? :S

What do I need to do to the hair after chelating? I have heard some peopl talk about acidic rinses/vinegar?

Thanks!

[Panth]

Wow, thanks for that! I live in a hard water are and didnt know I had to chelate.

I have seen a shampoo that says it removes calcium build up. Although it doesnt mention limescale/impurities or environment. Will it get rid of the limescale as well, but it says calcium? :S

What do I need to do to the hair after chelating? I have heard some peopl talk about acidic rinses/vinegar?

Thanks!

Limescale is calcium carbonate (mostly), so a shampoo that advertises that it removed calcium build-up should tackle limescale. As for the other impurities/salts, it probably will do those too but you're best just trying it.

After chelation you can do a moisturising treatment (particularly if the chelation was somewhat harsh). Acidic rinses will help to reduce the rate of limescale build-up, as limescale dissolves in acid. Personally, I'm not convinced that you can do a post-wash acid rinse that will prevent limescale build-up without being so strong that it is harmful to the hair and scalp. However, at the normal concentration (i.e. about 1 teaspoon vinegar per medium/large glass of water) it will slow the build-up so you have to chelate less often.

As for what acid to use. Lots of people use apple cider vinegar (ACV) but this can redden/darken blonde hair. White wine vinegar or just plain white vinegar will work just as well and won't stain. Some people use lemon juice but that can have a bleaching effect.