I'm sure many of you would agree that your appearance is very important. Great hair is a sure-fire way to boost your attractiveness and self confidence. We feel great when we look good & your hair contributes to your overall great look. Let's talk about cleansing your hair...Some people wash there hair everyday, others wash 1-2X a week and if you're not washing your hair at least once a week, then you may have some other issues.
We place great emphasis on keeping our hair clean, some condition & deep condition well. Question is, what are you putting in your hair and on your scalp. Remember the scalp is one of the most absorbent parts of our body. If you're using toxic products, guess what - it's being absorbed into your body. Choosing green/organic/natural products should become a priority of yours. If you use any great natural products, feel free to share them with others reading this blog.
Typically it's the detergent and/or the preservative in your shampoo that is of concern. In most cases sodium lauryl sulfate or, the milder version, sodium laureth sulfate. Some other culprits are cocoamide diethanolamine (DEA), ammonium laureth sulfate or any ethoxylated compounds. Most shampoos also have propylene glycol, which we learned is a no-no. Look for a safer ingredient like lauryl glucoside, which is a soapy blend of coconut oil, cornstarch ad sugar & will gently cleanse without the toxins.
Some shampoos boasts having some really great ingredient (e.g. Aloe Vera), unknown to most of us, there's a fraction of a fraction of "Aloe Vera" in the mixture. So minuscule we may as well say it just had AV. because there isn't enough of the ingredient to give it full credit.
There is special information for taking care of your hair if you went swimming in a pool or at the beach. I'll have a special article on my blog to help you maintain healthy hair after you've swam. Look out for it.
How often should you shampoo?
This would depend on your hair type and the state of your hair:
- If you have fine hair, too much shampooing can cause dryness. So, do not wash daily.
- If you spend a lot of time in the sun or wear a lot of styling products, shampoo more frequently. Remember to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. Note that daily shampooing is not recommended for any hair type.
- For Hair type 3 or 4, shampoo at least once a week. You could use a clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing shampoo. I will say that I do not use a clarifying shampoo weekly. Understand your hair and know what it responds well to.
Some important tips to remember when shampooing:
- Comb through your hair with a wide teeth comb prior to shampooing.
- Shampoo your hair in the shower. Do not lean over your tub or sink to wash; this would cause more tangles.
- You should not comb your hair while shampooing. First, when your hair is wet it is in its weakest state; combing it will make it break easily. Second, it's much harder to get the tangles out during your shampoo.
- If your scalp is itchy or dry use a milder organic shampoo, like a chelating shampoo.
- If you are hair type 3 or 4, you should not rub the scalp too hard or too vigorously while cleansing; it could cause bruising, irritation or cause the hair to stretch.
- Repeat your shampoo only of you think your hair really needs it.
- Use my pre-shampoo recipe below for hair that's dry or dries out quickly. If your hair is not very dry, you may consider using ever other 1 or 2 shampoos.
- Follow your shampoo with a conditioner and detangle with a wide teeth comb.
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