(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best shampoo & conditioner

You collect lip balms too?? :D What are your favorite ones? Right now I'm really liking the Etude House Honey Cera lip balm, and I use Pure Smile lip treatment (also in honey) as a lip mask at night. I can't handle EOS anymore - I like the shape but the fragrances are way too strong for me and they don't really do much for me in terms of lasting moisture.

LOL I had no idea about feminine washes being good for body soap! That's hilarious and amazing, and potentially embarrassing when you have house guests over maybe ;)

I've tried the Nivea in-shower wash with CoQ10 (blue bottle) and then I switched to using cold pressed sunflower oil in the same way, because it was cheaper and more moisturizing while I was braving a German winter. But since then I've been reading that oil is bad for your drain/pipes, so I've stopped doing that and have been looking for a better alternative to getting an extra moisture boost.

The most moisturizing body wash I've ever used is Dove Pro-Age Body Wash, which I believe is only available in Europe now. I can't find it in stores now that I'm back in the states and it's pretty overpriced online (I used to get it for €1.50 sometimes!), but I might just bite the bullet and order some from the UK for $6/bottle. -.- I'm not that concerned about anti-aging for my body yet, but it's was the most moisturizing thing I could find and that works for me!

I've also been trying a variety of different sls-free soaps and body washes as an alternative (Happy Bath is a good AB option), and what I find is that initially they don't feel as moisturizing as the Dove body wash, but my skin retains moisture for much longer. My theory is that the detergents in the Dove soap are very drying, which they cover up with a lot of "lotiony" ingredients, but those fade and at the end of the day, my skin feels a lot drier. I think in the long term, sls-free body washes are the way to go, and if only I could find one as rich and moisturizing as the Dove one, then I'd be sold! I've been open to trying non-foaming shower oils, but the problem is that I have been using salux cloths and italy towels pretty much since birth so I feel really grimy if I don't get to exfoliate in the shower, and in order for those to work, you need a little bit of foaming action.

I've also done the layering or mixing in oils with lotion to get an extra moisture boost! Argan oil is amazing but pricey, so I use sunflower oil and it works for me. It has a ton of vitamin e in it so that's a plus! (Cosrx also uses a lot of sunflower oil in their products btw!) I want to try sweet almond oil but I haven't figured out which one to buy yet. I feel like cold-pressed organic food-grade oils come at a pretty good price and are good quality so I usually get them from a health food store. Another option would be to get a lotion with a "cream oil" formula - Aveeno has one that I really like with a pink label. I really want to try the illi's Total Aging Care Body Oil & Lotion!! It sounds really amazing but I haven't found an excuse to splurge yet :P Let me know how you like it!! The Innisfree one sounds like a cheaper alternative that could be really nice - I'll have to give it a try! Camelia in a body lotion sounds dreamy :)

Kikumasamune (did i spell that right) is definitely on my list! It's actually in my cart because the price just dropped on Amazon ($12.98 rn!). I'm just waiting to get one more $5 gift card from Bing rewards so I can get it basically for free :) I've also been looking at [Naturie Skin Conditioner] (http://www.amazon.com/Imyu-naturie-Skin-Conditioner-500ml/dp/B000FQP2YS) as another option, maybe as a hydrating body mist for the summer. But there was a [recall] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/42tafu/psa_imju_naturie_skin_conditioner_recall/) recently for this product for some reason, which has me a little concerned...

Omg the struggle with shaving is so real! I've had pretty good luck getting rid of ingrowns by splashing on Thayer's toner on my legs, after shaving and before lotion. I've also repurposed an AHA toner for the same reason and it made my legs super smooth, but I would only do it on days that I don't shave, to minimize irritation. My favorite shave cream is this [Shave Cream from Trader Joes] (http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Moisturizing-Cream-Shave/dp/B002URZUZG). This stuff changed my life! I can't really shave with anything else and I even brought a bunch of tubes with me when I was living abroad. It doesn't foam - it has the consistency of a thick conditioner or hair pack and it's the best! I kind of want to try shaving with an oil cleanser or with a face wash like Shiseido Perfect Whip, but I feel like that could lead to a really expensive habit. lol I feel like which razor you use is really important - I recently got a pack of the Venus Embrace Sensitive with Aloe and I feel like it's not as nice, a little bit more scratchy, than the original.

Sorry for the wall of text! Thanks for all your recommendations!! :D :::Snail Hugs:::

Hi! Don't feel bad about all those years of shampooing and not conditioning. I was raised female, and still made that mistake. I'm 29 and didn't start conditioning until April of this year. I thought I was too greasy for conditioner!

On to your questions!

1. Nizoral is the bomb! I have scalp issues too-- my scalp gets super greasy, and I have eczema. Grease + sweat and dirt and debris = major issues with scalp eczema. If you want to pick it up at a store local to you, I find it's usually in the Beauty section. It's the only shampoo that's helped with my scalp issues, and the one sulfate in it is low on the list. Before I went mod CG, I loved the way my hair felt after washing with Nizoral, and hadn't had that kind of luck with a shampoo in a long time, despite trying all the usual dandruff shampoos (and some odd ones).
   
   If you want to totally ditch sulfates but still take care of your dandruff, you can experiment with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle, Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat, or Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo. I'm pretty sure there are more CG options I'm forgetting, but those are the ones that I remember off the top of my head. I've been experimenting with the Giovanni TTTT, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It seems fine with my hair, but my scalp seems to have issues in general with every tea tree product I try. It's often paired with mint/mentholatum, which is a skin irritant.
   
   
2. You can dry your hair with an old t-shirt (the softer it is, the more absorbent it seems, to me). You can scrunch your hair with the towel, and Curly Penny gives a pretty decent demo of this. You can also use a hair dryer, and the general consensus seems to be: use a finger diffuser (also called a bowl diffuser), use low speed/air, and low-medium heat and don't dry all the way with a blow dryer. You can also use a microfiber towel (the ones in the automotive section are cheaper, although they're smaller). Experiment to figure out which method works best not just for your hair, but for keeping your routine manageable.
   
   I get the best results with using a t-shirt to get my hair just dry enough not to drip, and then air-drying. But if I need my hair to be dry for some reason, I do break out the diffuser.
   
   
3. A lot of people swear by using a wide-tooth comb, with their head upside down, in the shower, with their hair full of conditioner. The conditioner does help, by providing slip so tangles come out easily and gently instead of causing hair to break or rip when you detangle. A wide-tooth comb reduces the likelihood of breakage as well.
   
   A Denman brush is this. As near as I can tell, it just means the bristles are spaced further apart, again to help prevent breakage and further tangling when you detangle-- but bear in mind that I don't really understand the Denman brush thing, either. It just looks like a brush to me. A wide-tooth comb has the bristles or tines spaced further apart as opposed to a fine tooth comb. I like a comb that has the tines almost chopstick-width apart. You can also just comb your hair in the shower with your fingers and your conditioner-- I like using a comb better because it feels more effective, to me.
   
   The other reason we don't comb after showering is because it breaks up clumps-- you want clumps if you want strong curls and good definition. Otherwise it can look stringy. I recently read someone talking about curly haircuts saying "ends need friends"-- and so they do, for curls to look right.
   
   I think this stuff is hard, and a lot of us just don't get good info on hair or skincare. Good luck to you.

Okay, I'm a guy but I have the best curly hair in the entire world.

Here's what I do:

Step 1:

You need to find a leave in conditioner. The best one I've used so far is Acanthe, by Rene Furterer.

Expensive, but worth it.

How I use it:

I take a shower, (or whenever,really) and I put it in while my hair is a bit damp.

After an hour or two, I play with my hair again and my hair is dry, but it's no longer frizzy and the curls are defined, can be styled, and the hair is super soft.

Step 2:

You need to find a good shampoo that won't dry your hair out, I use Molton Brown.

Shampoo every other day, condition every day.

The conditioner can be whatever, but try to find one that is dedicated to curly hair.

Step 3:

When shampooing, comb your hair, and leave the shampoo in your hair for 2-3 minutes. Make sure it's there from the root to the tip.


Step 4:

When drying your hair, just dry it enough so that it isn't soaking wet. That is the best time to apply the leave-in conditioner.

The most important part of this step, wait for at least an hour, don't touch your hair. Style it with the conditioner, then wait for that hour and play around with it. It's amazing

A good leave in conditioner is the BEST and most important tool.

Links to good products I use:


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018KAH8M4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNTJHQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBFN8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Hope this helps.

It is way post-Christmas but I'd revisited your other post because I remembered your hair. My hair used to look like that.

Gurl, your hair looks seriously dry and damaged, and I think that is 99% of the reason why it looks so frizzy in these photos. I dunno if you've spent much time over at /r/curlyhair but it is worth getting there for an in-depth look. But basically, right now I would bet you shampoo your hair every day and if you use a conditioner it has silicones in it. The silicones build up in your hair, necessitating a harsh shampoo to get rid of them. This means you're constantly stripping the oils from your hair, day after day, and it's seriously messing them up. You gotta remove the silicones from your routine, stop shampooing as often, and moisturize the crap out of it.


That said, as a fellow poor person here is what I would do if I were you:

Buy

1. VO5 Shampoo. You want the cheap kind that comes in these types of bottles, ~$0.50-1.50/bottle at a drugstore or grocery. I have no idea why these cost so much on Amazon, that's crazy. Doesn't matter the scent, just pick one without silicones. Look on the back, there shouldn't be anything in the ingredient list that ends in "-one". Most don't, but there are a couple that do, I think the "strengthening" types.
   
2. VO5 Conditioner. Again, SILICONE-FREE. Again, you should not be paying more than $0.50-$1.50 for this.
   
3. Nature's Gate Conditioner in Jojoba or Aloe. I like Jojoba better. This is a nice base conditioner that's also silicone-free. It's probably going to run you $5-$7 a bottle and may be harder to find in a grocery or drugstore--this you may have to order online.
   
4. Jojoba Oil. You do not want "hair oil" that you find in most drug and grocery stores. Look at the ingredient list--it will be basically industrial-grade silicones that won't do shit for repairing your hair. So you gotta find the real stuff. Crunchy-granola stores, Trader Joe's, Wegman's, Whole Foods will probably sell small bottles of it, usually by a company called Desert Essence (I literally have never seen any other brand of Jojoba Oil sold in any physical stores). This is the most expensive item on this whole list. If you buy it in physical stores you'll pay about $10 for this 4 oz bottle. If you buy online, you can find much better deals--this brand is cheaper per ounce and it's working for me. But you may want to get the smaller bottle at first just to see if you like it.
   
5. A normal-type comb for distributing hair-care products though your hair.
   
6. A wide-tooth comb for detangling.
   
7. Shower cap (optional)
   
   Next, it's time to
   
   
   FIX DAT HAIR
   
   
8. Wash with the VO5 Shampoo. We're getting all the residual silicones out. Use the wide-tooth comb followed by the small comb to gently distribute it through then rise. Now put it away. You will not need this again for at least a week.
   
9. Take your Nature's Gate Conditioner, and draw the outline of a circle about quarter to half-dollar size on your palm.
   
10. Fill that circle in with jojoba oil. Yes this is a lot of oil. Your hair needs it, trust me.
    
11. Mix the oil and conditioner together.
    
12. Massage it into your hair. Concentrate on the ends. Comb with the wide and small-toothed comb to really distribute it evenly. Be gentle because technically you're not supposed to comb wet hair but darnit, I've found it turns out better that way.
    
13. Now, ideally you put your hair up in the shower cap and wait at least 30 minutes. Maybe take a long bath, or primp, or watch Netflix, or whatever. The idea is you let the oil really soak in. At the very least take your sweet time taking the rest of your shower.
    
14. Rinse. Your hair should not feel squeaky when you pull on it in the shower. You don't want it to. That would mean it's not moisturized.
    
15. Gently detangle with fingers and wide-tooth comb (NOT THE SMALL ONE!) and let air dry.
    
    
    Ideally your hair will look a lot smoother and more manageable at this point. Hopefully it is not limp. If it feels limp and heavy, then I apologize, I told you to use too much jojoba. Use less next time. If it is not smoother and more manageable and still looks frizzy then you need to use MORE jojoba. Whatever the case, move to the next step:
    
    ALL DAY ERRY DAY
    
    This is what you'll be doing to your hair on a daily basis. Notice no shampoo is used. That is fine! The VO5 conditioner is cleaning enough, promise me!
    
    
16. Wash your hair with the VO5 conditioner. Pretend it's shampoo. That is, rub it in your hair, focus near the roots (not those delicate, delicate ends), rinse out. Use more if your hair is feeling limp or you think you used too much jojoba. Use less if it's not or if you haven't done that much that day. DO NOT USE THE SHAMPOO SRSLY YOU DON'T NEED IT
    
17. Repeat steps 2-5 from "Fix Dat Hair". You probably want to use more conditioner and less jojoba, but that will depend on whether your hair is feeling frizzy or limp. If it came out of the the FDH routine still frizzy, then by all means, load up on the jojoba. If it feels limp, then dial the jojoba back and make more of your circle conditioner. As always, when you're conditioning focus your attention on the ends and middle of your hair.
    
18. DO NOT RINSE YET. Now you do the rest of your shower-related routine. This gives the conditioner and oils a bit of time to sink in, just not as much as for the big ol' oil treatment above.
    
19. Rinse. Gently dry to dampness with towel, finger and wide-tooth comb detangle, let air dry.
    
    
    On a weekly basis--at most--you are allowed to replace the VO5 conditioner with the VO5 shampoo. But to compensate you must use extra jojoba because of all the oils you're stripping, and ideally you give it extra time to soak in. Shampoo day is usually the day when I stop being lazy and actually shave my legs and shit. I mean, ideally you shampoo less than weekly but you do what you can tolerate.
    
    
    When you first start this up you might feel like your hair is extra-greasy at the roots. This is normal. Your hair is used to you using the equivalent of dish soap on it every day and has been overproducing oils to try to compensate. The oil production will back down as it gets used to your new, gentler routine. Give it time! If you are really self-conscious about it then use a soft boar-bristle-type brush to distribute the oils from root to tip.
    
    Do NOT flat-iron or use a hair-dryer during this time period. The heat is damaging your hair further. It will make things worse. Anyway, once you see how lovely your curls are in their natural, healthy state you won't feel the need to. :)
    
    If your hair is very thick and coarse then as you get used to the routine you may even want to finger-comb a few drops or more of jojoba oil through it while it's still damp to help moisturize, after the towel-dry. You may want to do this anyway if it's very damaged (especially at the middle and ends).
    
    
    Anyway, I promise this will help. The routine took my hair from being a mess of split ends and nastiness to shiny and healthy, and it's turned my boyfriend's curly beard from a Brillo pad to a soft, bouncy cloud. It is a hell of a lot cheaper than keratin treatments and all that, too. If you go to the /r/curlyhair sub they have all sorts of product and routine suggestions, but I like using the above because they've worked for me and are comparatively cost-conscious.

I have this same patch. I put in Havana Twists to keep the ends protected and it's helped a lot. Between that and my regimen, I've been seeing that section match up to the rest of my hair length. It's still a little shorter but it's a lot stronger and there's way less breakage there than there used to be.

I don't shampoo my hair ever. I just co-wash using This Trader Joe's conditioner. Though I do plan on switching to This conditioner by them because I've heard great reviews about it and my hair stops being really responsive to conditioners after a while. My hair still responds to the first one relatively well but I've noticed it's seeming a little more lack luster than when I first started using it.

I spray my hair/scalp with a mix of Aloe Juice and Water every day and use either just straight up coconut oil or this hair moisturizer (I know you're not all for a bunch of homemade stuff but I essentially swear by her products. They make my hair so soft and they seal in the moisture perfectly, helping bring out more natural shine). With that product, a little goes a long way. so though it's 16 bucks you're putting down, it will last you a while. I bought my first bottle of it about 4-5 months ago and I still haven't made much of a dent in it.

The biggest thing is probably making sure that part of your head is getting the amount of moisture it needs and locking it in.

I've also started doing deep conditioning protein treatments once a month or so. It's gross but I use a small thing of Greek Yogurt, one egg, a bunch of honey and vitamin E. My hair responds so well to it, and I make sure to slather that part with it a ton because it helps strengthen it a shit load. My hair has also been incredibly responsive to it, leading to way less breakage then what I used to get.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

creme does not hold up as well as gel does, but i think it looks nicer, on my hair at least.

Maybe you could find a picture of what you want your hair to look like to give me an idea? Like what is your goal, what would you want your hair to look like.

It sounds like you might want more...volume? Your hair seems more on the fine side and like a 3B/3C. I follow the curly girl method, you can learn more about that on the sidebar. I use Yes to Carrots Conditioner, but I'll be stopping that when the new formula makes it to the local grocery stores (they just started adding silicones, but old formula, which is still available near me, doesn't have that in it). And I use Curls Goddess Curls for gel. For creme, I use whatever I find on sale that fits curly girl friendly.

Gel is great for humidity, it also is lighter and helps curls curl better. Cream is heavier, better for dryer conditions because it adds moisture, but it's heavier and will loosen curls.

And you have to find the right balance of conditioner so your hair isn't too weighed down, but also isn't frizzy. For your hair, I'd think a poker chip size amount of conditioner would do and then half of that for the styling product.

Nice, she's usually pretty booked out, but her balayage grow-out always manages to be a beautiful color. It never looks ashy/copper, I don't know how she mixes but I always love the grow out color so I only have to see her 2-3x a year. She understands asian hair too, which is sometimes harder to find. Also, as long as we're talking hair which I loooove, she recommended the Oribe hair mask which I splurged on since I'm a diehard Oribe fan. Due to being broke, I've had to switch over to bumble&bumble invisible oil shampoo/conditioner which I bought on sale during black friday and it's a pretty good dupe. The oribe hair mask extended the color/quality of my balayage by a significant amount of time, like at least a few months. I recommend getting it if you can, it's worth the investment, because when I got lazy and stopped doing weekly hair masks using that stuff, the difference is very noticeable. I used it weekly after one balayage and never used it after my second, to run an experiment (and also life got in the way) and it's a very noticeable difference. Leave it in overnight if you can. It lasts forever too because you only need a tiny bit, I still have it, I wish I had learned about it years ago but oh well. It's a splurge but it's now on my holy grail list and I've tried a ton of products. They also have this dry shampoo paste which I like a lot better than the sprayable kind.

Also as long as I'm here if anyone can recommend a good dermatologist....

Yes! This was something I put a lot of thought into when I was really sick.

• /u/mnicoleb1773 already mentioned body wipes, which is an essential for the spoonie life. We're living in the golden age of body wipes and I love it. There are the medical grade ones (like these) and the fancier ones they sell in stores now for, like, "active people on the go", and the deodorant ones just for underarms, or whatever. For vulva-owners, I definitely recommend a wipe designed for that area.
  
  
• After the wipes, a good body powder is sometimes helpful (I love Lush's "silky underwear" to use under arms and the underboob area).
  
  
• For hair, if yours is short enough you can use rinse-free shampoo (some even come in a shower cap form where you just put it on and smoosh it around and throw it out). I usually fared better with dry shampoo and a re-hydrating spray for curly/wavy hair since my ends tend to dry out.
  
  
• And then there's shaving. Get an electric shaver that works dry. I got this basic one for $18, and it's absolutely good enough. I even use it on underarms after getting the area clean and thoroughly dry (a tiny bit of powder rubbed in before is helpful to reduce friction).
  
  
• Another option for shaving is the shave cream by EOS. It can be used dry! And it works as long as your razor is good and sharp and you go a tiny bit slower. (I wiped a damp washcloth on my legs first and that seemed to help) And then follow it with a damp cloth to get the residue. And you can just be sitting on the floor to do this anywhere.
  
  
• When I was feeling ambitious enough to shower, a stool was essential. My shower is tiny, and this one still fit. If you've got a bigger shower stall (or even a tub!) you can find some cuter shower chairs, even.
  
  
• And I would sit to floss. And really just, any time that it was logistically possible.

• Usually I have a hair oil blend massaged into my scalp and left there for 2-3 hours before I shower. It's a mix of castor oil, grapeseed oil, rosemary, lavender, cedarwood, and thyme essential oils. Once a week I skip that and instead do an all-over hair mask with coconut oil, neem oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil.
  
  
• First I gently use a dry brush, all over, before getting into the shower.
  
  
• I use Pura d'Or shampoo or Regenepure shampoo every other day. Otherwise I just massage my scalp gently with warm water. I have short hair and use hair oils, so I don't use conditioner.
  
  
• I use Acure Organics Coconut Pumpkin Body Wash (I like all their body washes) if I'm feeling dirty, otherwise mainly just a konjac sponge and water, or I scrub my shins, feet, etc with a Salux cloth. I use zinc soap on my upper arms, shoulder blades, and upper chest. I used to use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser as a body wash but now I just use it as a hand soap.
  
  
• Out of the shower I use Acure Organics Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Ultra-hydrating Unscented Body Lotion and Andalou Naturals Lavender Shea Hand Cream though I'm not particularly loyal when it comes to body moisturizers.
  
  
• Once a week I use Japanese bath salts for relaxing in the tub. Once every three months or so I use Tony Moly Shiny Foot Peel.
  
  As you can see, there's an absence of Asian beauty products simply because I'm on a "naturally-derived" kick again and when it comes to body stuff I like it to be inexpensive and easily accessible. All the Acure Organics and Andalou Naturals stuff I get I can buy at a local grocery store. Special stuff like bath salts or treatments I like to order since Japanese bath salts are always the best.

This is their leave in that I use and works well for my hair and I'm mixed. For figuring out better hair care practices I'd suggest you first pay attention to how much oil your scalp produces. A mixed friend of mine with almost identical curl pattern and texture had a lot more oil production on her scalp than me which led to very different hair care needs since her scalp would get lots of oil build up after 2 days without washing and I barely have any after week.

I use a shea moisture brand shampoo currently but have had success with other brands even not afro hair focused brands so long as the shampoo isn't too moisture stripping and most sulfate free products will work for that.

For me the best hair routine is shampoo then put in conditioner comb through and detangle hair with a wide toothed comb I leave the conditioner in for a while before rinsing it out then pat dry my hair just dry enough that it isn't dripping wet. Then I add the leave in conditioner by scrunching my hair rubbing it in to sections of hair and a bit on my scalp if the air is dry.

If you have questions or want any more advice feel free to ask, it took me a while to figure out how to best take care of my hair since it's neither white nor black but a unique combination of both hair types.

I'm not sure how much you know between you and your gf so I'm gonna give you a lot of info here just in case.

I highly recommend this detangling brush. My sister has 4C hair similar to this and with the right conditioner, it detangles her curls in a flash without too much pulling. Also, start from the ends, work your way up, and work in sections.

What products are you using to detangle? I would suggest getting a good regular conditioner as well as a leave-in so the curls and knots come apart with less effort. Aussie Moist is my fave in-shower conditioner and Shea Moisture Black Castor and Shea Butter is my fav leave in cause it detangles my hair in a instant and leave it soft and moisturized all week. It's not for everyone though so definitely do some shopping around.

Also, try wetting and detangling the hair a bit before washing because (in my experience) the movement and shrinkage of the hair during the makes the tangles a bit worse.

Technique is also important with curly hair. When you wash, try using slightly diluted shampoo in a squeezy bottle so you can apply it directly to the scalp and to the hair. Of course you want to shampoo the hair as well but it's better to work the shampoo from the root to the tip to avoid tangles.

You'll want to massage the scalp with your fingertips through the hair. Do not do this or yall will have a bad time lol. This creates so many tangles and damages the hair. I would recommend checking out a few poc curly hair wash day youtube videos for good technique.

Also, pat her hair dry. Please for the love of all that is good do not rub her hair on the towel.

I would recommend styling her hair while its damp with a leave in conditioner if thats easier for yall. There's nothing wrong with styling the hair while wet, in fact, a lot of curly girls prefer this because managing the hair when its dry has the potential to cause frizz or breakage. Also, I noticed you mentioned you oil her scalp. Try using the oil after the leave in so it seals in the moisture.

I'm not sure if you guys are already doing this but definitely give night scarves and bonnets a try. They'll be a huge help in the long run because they help combat frizz, tangles, lint, and breakage that occurs from sleeping on cotton.

1. Try an all natural pomade. Badger Balm is nice. It smells amazing and works well. Had a bearded friend back home who used it on his head and in his beard (lightly in the beard) and it smelled fantastic. Mmmm... bergamot.
   
   
   
2. You do have to be somewhat serious about it. It takes time for your hair and scalp to reset. The first few weeks you will be a little oily. Frequent brushing with a good brush helps. So does just rinsing with warm water in the shower (and brushing with the water running on your head). Don't overdo it though. After a few weeks you should balance out.
   
   
3. Yes you can use conditioner. BUT... nothing with silicone or sulfates in it. Try to stay as natural as possible. There's a short list about half way down this page. Suave naturals is cheap and has neither in it. Personally I use Dr Bronners. The lavender smell will put you to sleep.
   
   edit: wrong link
   
   
   
   It is just something you have to stick with for a little while. People get discouraged in the beginning because it "feels gross". That goes away. If you MUST clean it, Dr. Bronners Castile Soap can take the edge off. It's best to rinse with it though, if that makes sense. It actually is great for your skin, so draw a nice warm bath, add a couple tablespoons to the water, then lay down and swish your hair around, then rinse. Adding any kind of clenser (or conditioner for that matter) directly to your head can overpower your own natural oils. Always dilute it in something and rinse your hair with it. Like with conditioners, keep a cup in the shower, add a bit to the cup and mix it, then pour it over your hair. This is why it used to be called a cream rinse.

I think everyone loves a good toner on this sub so I'd be surprised if this post doesn't have every possible (well known at least) one recommended!

I'm combo with mild acne prone skin and have used and enjoyed:

Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion - No breakouts or irritation from this one. Gives a good dose of hydration with a slight tacky/stickyness on the side.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner OG - This is a bit thicker than Kiku and some other ones and had a strong fragrance to it, for me. Hydrated very well and was one of the products I used during a time one of my acne flairs subsided very well. Don't use it anymore due to the overpowering fragrance but would recommend.

Secret Key Aloe - as watery and thin as Kiku, I used this in conjunction with the Klairs. I would layer one then the other x 2 and found this to be soothing and just 'nice'.

Hada Labo Premium - same viscosity as the Klairs and hydrates very well. Really good to slap on under a sheet mask or when your face is sopping wet. I don't personally enjoy how thick it is and prefer the thinner options but I am also interested/scared to see what my skin will do when I take a break from this

Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner - very new but am enjoying it already. Light as water, gentle and gives a real smoothing feel to my skin. I almost want to describe it like a ball of jelly. I spray it on my face after a shower and every couple of days use it to "wash" my face in the morning instead of water.

***

I'm hoping my Cezanne will be with me in the next week or two as I'm on my last drops of Kiku.

Looking for some advice on when to use The Ordinary's Niacinamide + Zinc given my current routine. My skin is very oily and fairly acne-prone. At this point, I have less acne than I used to but still have a lot of PIH, which is why I'm planning to add the Niacinamide.

Current routine (strongly influenced by /r/AsianBeauty):

AM:

• Wash with Shiseido Perfect Whip
  
• Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
  
• Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Daily Leave-on Mask (2.5% benzoyl peroxide) — if anyone has a recommendation on a better drugstore benzoyl peroxide product, I would love that!
  
• Moisturize with Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel
  
• Sunscreen: Biore Watery Essence
  
  PM:
  
  
• Remove makeup with Simple Micellar Water
  
• If not feeling too lazy, wash with Perfect Whip
  
• If I used Perfect Whip, use the Skin Conditioner. If just used Micellar Water, my skin generally doesn't need the moisture.
  
• TO Glycolic Acid
  
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel
  
  I know TO's website recommends using the Niacinamide twice a day but I'm not sure if it will interact poorly with the BP or the Glycolic Acid. When should I use it?
  
  Edit: forgot to write my sunscreen

Non-Fluffed Album
Fluffed Version Album

Anyway next month I will have exactly 1 year of hair length I have never grown it out at all and this subreddit has been very helpful in taming my mane. It's been a very pleasant experience but as any guy growing out long hair... I really am alone in my endeavors and critique/advice is seldom. I just worry if im starting to look silly, so far I've gotten a lot of praise but at the same time I have gotten a lot of quiet stares. As usual my own folks hate it and rather prefer me clean cut. I figure I might as well get it over with now rather than regret it later. /worse im a guy and the potential to go bald can happen...

I like my hair a lot, I feel it makes me unique I however am mixed with the size of my forehead (more like a fivehead... sixhead maybe!) and the empty corners of my forehead have always been huge!! It makes it hard to emulate a male celebrity being that they don't have a huge forehead like mine. So far I try to emulate David Bisbal If you have any ideas what I should do please let me know.

My method. Basically I do my routine in about 15-20 minutes. I wake up rinse my hair in the sink do a fast version of squish to condition using Yes to carrots. Once I feel it is seaweed like during rinse... I then pat down with a t-shirt to remove excess water. Afterwards I apply Eco Style Gel olive oil in a squish-to-condition manner. My hair is flipped in curls to the front of my face covering my entire forehead and I then leave to work. I don't use a hair dryer... Im a guy and "ain't nobody got time for dat" the best thing I have is using my A/C on full blast in my truck. My commute is about 20-25 minutes and at about the 15 minute mark when im driving, once I feel that the gel has semi-hardened, I flip it back. it has to be a little hardened in order for my hair to have a bit of volume otherwise its just flat and lifeless hanging from my scalp. Sometimes I part it to the side or tuck one side behind the ear. It takes about 3 hours to fully dry at work I occasionaly scrunch it once or twice breaking the gel masque in order to achieve a softer look/feel. After the 3 hours have passed and its fully dry I decide if I want to fluff or not. Essentially I just pass my hand at the base of my scalp and gently tussle until I get the needed volume. And there you have it!

I know, the number of Shea Moisture products is overwhelming. I did a bunch of research before I bought their products. I'd say that the internet's favorite styling products are these:

• The Curl Enhancing Smoothie. This is more like a leave-in than a gel. It's a nice and heavy product, which I really like. It has some protein in it. My hair is protein sensitive and it's too much for regular use.
  
• Moisture retention conditioner. This is super moisturizing and protein free. It's a bit lighter than the smoothie. The advantage of this product is that you can use it as a leave-in or rinse out or deep conditioner. I've gotten great results from using it as a leave-in. I'm using it less lately because I think it made my hair over-moisturized. Like it feels too soft now.
  
• Jamaican Black Castor Oil Reparative Leave-In Conditioner. I've never tried this but it's well loved. It has a lot of protein which some people like.
  
• If you want something lighter, the new Fruit Fusion Mousse is well liked. (Not to be confused with the 10 in 1 super fruit line.) I've never used this product either but I want to try it.

Dry Shampoo does wonders when you're at the 1 or 2 day getting oily stage - it usually gets me another 12 hours out of a wash. I have really fine hair that gets frizzy when I wash too often. Also, when you're in a pinch, just spraying some normal hairspray on your roots & brushing it through can get rid of some oil.

Also, finding a good stylist & maybe spending a little extra money every 6 weeks or so on a haircut helps too - a good stylist can help you choose a style good for your face shape and cut some great layers in your hair that makes it easy to care for and give it lots of cute movement. Also, they can work with your callicks :)

This is great advice! I want to second the sulfate- and alcohol-free routine (which will hopefully help in both the long- and short-term) and to share some other things that may help treat your current flare up.


In the short-term, if the ketaconazole isn't clearing up your scalp quickly enough, I suggest spot treating the seb derm bumps/lesions with an OTC anti-fungal cream and/or BHA (like PC 2% BHA liquid). I find this really helps speed up the healing process.


Long-term, I've seen major improvement from switching to Free & Clear shampoo and conditioner. I stopped using sulfates but still experienced stubborn flare-ups. I ultimately identified cocamidopropyl betaine (which is in practically all shampoos!) as another ingredient that aggravated my scalp.


I also make sure to rinse my hair really well to ensure no residue is left behind in the shower and try not to sleep with my hair/scalp wet (especially that serb derm-prone back area).


If you don't wash your hair daily, I'd suggest doing so until the condition clears up. Once cleared, you may be able to go back to washing less frequently.


If you use an aerosol dry shampoo on the days you don't wash, I'd suggest switching to a non-aerosol option like Mineral Fusion dry shampoo. I rarely use hairspray, but I got one from Giovanni at Whole Foods that's alcohol-free. It works just as well as anything else, imo.


Seb derm is a chronic condition and often flares more in the winter, so you'll generally want to wash with medicated shampoo at least once a week after the flare's ended to help prevent its recurrence. However, I've been able to stay flare-free for months using the gentle, un-medicated shampoo/dry shampoo options listed above. My scalp is less oily than its ever been and much much calmer. I think that the ingredients in most hair products can be kinda harsh and make it easier for seb derm to thrive on damaged scalp skin (similar to how a damaged moisture barrier can facilitate breakouts on the face). Hope that helps!

Ooooh I luv this topic!!!!

I take multiple 12+ hour flights a year :/ Here's my little routine!

Before the flight: Get plenty of rest, pack the night before so I don't freak out in the morning. Take some zinc.

Outfit:

• Black joggers
  
• Black tank top
  
• Black cardigan
  
• Some kind of outer jacket/shell with pockets and a hood (so I can keep my head off the headrest)
  
• Sneakers that are easy to slip on and off
  
• Scarf to cover my face in case someone is coughing!! Added bonus: prevents people from seeing me sleep with my mouth gaping open and drool trickling out. Also keeps face warm.
  
  The all black keeps me looking kind of serious and savvy. I used to wear skinny jeans on the plane, but my knees would start throbbing (and probably treading into DVT territory, don't forget to read /u/Rogue_Fibre's PSA below about her experience with DVT...
  
  Makeup: Moisturizer, waterproof eyeliner, and a lip stain. Otherwise I look really tired. (side note: It's so dispiriting to go to the bathroom and look at my pores which seem to open up on the plane!! Does anyone else look at themselves in the mirror and feel that way?)
  
  In my small bag that I keep with me in my seat: Hand sanitizer, eye drops, glasses, iphone & charger, headphones, pills (ibuprofen, benadryl if I need to sleep).
  
  I swear by this Muji inflatable neck cushion which fulfills, in my mind, two purposes: 1) Keeps my head off the icky headrest with those nasty flimsy excuses for headrest covers, and 2) is SUPER comfortable! I used to always make fun of people who use those neck cushions, but they give a lot of support if you're sleeping - they prevent your head from rolling over to the side and giving you a neck cramp.
  
  I always request aisle seats! This makes it easy to run to the loo and just walk around if I'm bored. I pretty much have to pee all the time.
  
  My hair tends to lose volume on the plane, so sometimes a little bit of R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste gives my hair a bit of lift!

Thank you for all of the hair love!! :) my natural color is a dark chocolate brown (you can see it at the roots), so I get bayalage to make it easier to grow out. It’s a mix of warm blonde near the roots to match my natural tone, transitioning to cool blonde with platinum and silver. My hair girl swears by the product Olaplex for the blonde, though I’m not sure what exactly it does? And then I maintain the cool tone with Pravana the perfect blonde conditioner and mask.

My best and cheapest solution is to use things I already have on hand. Once a month or so, I'll gently massage around my scalp with pumps of Hada Labo Cleansing Oil and comb it through my roots. That helps remove any product or build up of oil or dead skin, isn't at all stripping, and it rinses easily with water. Then, after rinsing, I'll apply generous amounts of Naturie or Kiku and gently massage on damp hair/scalp. I'm fine to just let that all air dry. The smell of Kiku is pretty strongly sake, so maybe Naturie (or any Donki/Valor/Welcia hatomugi knockoff) is a bit better. You can rinse after a few minutes, if you prefer. Or, stagger the oil and masking into two different days, so you just apply and wait before the shower.

Pshhh, as long as you put the old shower head back on when you move out, there's nothing they can do to penalize you. They're fairly easy to attach/detach without many tools. I just had to do this for my disabled mother, and I love that I can wash all the pink hair dye off the shower walls now!

I have scalp dryness/dandruff and have been using Sage shampoo about 1-2 times per week. While its nice that it's sulfate free, be warned it smells like a Whole Foods beauty aisle. It does seem to dry my hair out a little bit (feels squeaky when rinsing) so I combat that by running conditioner through the length of my hair before shampooing and sometimes follow up afterward with a deep conditioning treatment (I use DevaCurl's Heaven in Hair) to restore more moisture.

You don't need a special "dreadlock" shampoo. I've never bought a single dreadlock-oriented product and I just hit the two year mark a month ago.

Look for "residue-free" shampoos. I mostly use Dr. Bronner's (I dilute 2-4 drops in a water bottle before I apply it). Neutrogena makes a residue-free shampoo, but it smells like Egyptian perfume so it's not everyone's cup of tea.

I also really like african black soap but it isn't technically residue free. It makes my hair feel amazing though so I use it every week or two. It also comes in a bar form like Dr. Bronners but I feel like the bars are difficult to manage how much soap you're using and I will always end up using way more than I need to.

I also did the twist and rip method and my locs are now a few inches past my shoulders. I wash with shampoo every other wash. The washes in between I use just straight water to scrub my scalp and rinse my dreads really well. I try to be very cautious of what I put in my locs and I pay most attention to rinsing well and drying completely.

Ninja edit: Forgot to add, I have been using argan oil to help hydrate my hair after washes. I usually spray some in while I'm drying my hair. There are a few different brands and mixes you can get, but this is the one I have been using. I looked for the one that didn't mention anything about detangling when I bought it (some of the others mentioned they help detangle, so I just avoided those but I'm not really sure how good/bad they are for dreads).

Haha, I should have just added that into my original comment; a couple others just pm'd me asking, so I'll copy-paste my response:

Right now I'm using this Redken leave-in stuff which has done an amazing job getting rid of the frizz. It's the most expensive thing I use on my hair, but lasts about 3 months per bottle if I'm careful not to go overboard.

Otherwise I use fairly cheap products. This is my winter shampoo, it doesn't remove much oil, but leaves my hair super soft and helps with the straw-like feeling. This is the shampoo I use in the summer, it strips a little more oil than the Herbal Essences (which it needs when I sweat), but leave my hair less soft and a little more straw-like. For conditioner, I use this Tresemmé product, it does an amazing job of de-tangling my hair, it feels like the knots just wash out of it.

I'm not as picky for cleansing shampoos, I typically just use any of the ones my boyfriend rejects. Some of the ones that have worked well for me are Garnier Fructis, VO5 and Suave. I tend to cheap out on these, as I will use them to strip my hair on a late Saturday night, let it rest for a day and don't need to be presentable again until Monday morning.

hi! :D

life has been kicking my tush too. I'm rarely on here anymore and it makes me sad. Working non-stop is annoying but the paycheck is nice :)

Redditing at work is AWESOME except that I can't, because I work in a pool haha. I wouldn't have a phone if I took it in the water :P

Speaking of work I could really use this chlorine Removal Shampoo, because I have blonde hair and the chlorine is playing havoc with my hair :)

Thanks for the contest!

I appreciate the suggestion, but I think I had looked at pretty much all of their products available in stores near me and I think they had coco betaine. Some examples from Amazon:

• OGX Shampoo, Hydrating Macadamia Oil, 13oz
  
  
• OGX Shampoo, Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen, 13oz
  
  
• OGX Shampoo, Hydrating TeaTree Mint, 13oz
  
  I reacted a few months ago to coco betaine in Ecos laundry detergent and TreSemme Naturals, and then again in Selsun Blue Naturals. I seem to be able to use coco betaine in some hand soaps (Wegmans seems ok!), but I'm going to an allergist soon to get tested. In the meantime, I've been keeping a super close eye out for coconut-derived ingredients in products I try, which is how I've figured out there are a few I do okay with.
  
  I didn't mention this other stuff in my initial post because they don't cause allergic reactions:
  
  Clogs my pores or breaks me out - Fatty alcohols, mineral oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, and then something in several shampoos I've tried over the last few months
  
  edit: fixing formatting
  edit: fixing formatting again (sheesh)

I have super fine hair and my hairdresser introduced me to Tigi Root Boost. This stuff is awesome! This is the only product that consistently gives me a bit of extra lift at my roots. Other than that, you can boost volume by changing up your hairstyle, blow drying upside-down or with a round brush, or go old school and use mousse. =). FWIW, I also find my hair has more volume when I've had it dyed.

Edit: yes, like the other poster said volumizing shampoo/conditioner can work too! I love this OGX shampoo and the conditioner that goes with it. My hair feels so much thicker when I use this stuff.

I've started working out before going to the office, and am in a similar situation without a shower. Here's what's helped me.

• Body wipes. I currently use these. One for the pits & ladybits, and one for everywhere else (arms, chest, neck, etc).
  
• A good spray of gold bond, and fresh deodorant.
  
• Dry shampoo - either in a spray or powder. Just make sure you give your hair a good ruffle afterward so you don't get powdery spots.
  
• Headbands are a godsend! Especially with a ponytail.
  
  Good luck!

You may want to consider this in your discovery process, but I actually have 95% foregone shampoo and mostly co-wash (conditioner-only wash). Basically, I wash out my hair with conditioner instead of shampoo, completely rinse my hair, then apply conditioner again and let it sit for at least 2 minutes before continuing with the rest of my routine. With the right conditioner, it will soften your hair, help it be shinier, and will absolutely avoid alcohols, silicones, sulfates, and parabens, obviously depending on the brand you buy. I recently bought this stuff, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. If you want a smaller bottle, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Conditioner will do the trick, too (nevermind the listed price in the link I gave you. In-store it's like $4 for a bottle).

I only mention this because you said your scalp is dry and flaky, and it may be that your hair is on the drier side, too, as a consequence of the product you're using. It could also be that your scalp needs a little more love and isn't the product at all. These are things you'll find out in the process.

I personally think you should start slow and easy with the hair styling products you're looking into. Try just a blow drier and a barrel/round hair brush to begin with. Here's a beginner video for how to blow dry with a round brush. If you really, really need one, a ceramic straightener would be the next tool you'd want. If you want your hair to never move, then tons of gel is the answer, but it's up to you if you want your hair to be more dynamic and flowy or stay in place more.

/u/Lunakill mentioned some things to seriously consider, because it will change how your hair reacts to certain products.
(For example, my hair is low porosity, meaning it takes longer to get wet and retain product. As a result, my hair needs to be completely sopping wet and I have to apply a megaton of gel before I let it dry.)

To reiterate, I would also agree that you should avoid putting product in your hair since you're just starting out. I absolutely believe that a blow dry with a round brush will do the trick.

You might also consider a no-rinse shampoo cap, found here No Rinse Shampoo Cap (5-Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009I12STI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KQ.TBbVSAGTCM

A shower chair (or just a cheap plastic stool) is a must.

Long term, if you can gradually increase your activity, it will help almost every aspect of POTS. Just start wherever you are, and do a bit more of it. Can you just barely walk to the kitchen and back to bed? Try to do that twice today. Maybe in a week do it four times, etc. I started barely being able to walk around the house, and just did a tiny bit more each day. I can now walk a couple miles every day, and my POTS symptoms are substantially better, including my ability to be in the shower.

Good luck to you! I hope you find something that helps.

Had a similar issue man. In all honesty, it sucks big time. I feel ya! What I found that changed drastically was to steer away from H&S, and other dandruff shampoos all together. They all never seemed to work for me, plus they made my hair drier than a powder house.

Once that was settled with I did a lot of research, and a lot of testing of different products to see what my hair took liking to. I found that using shampoo considerably less helped keep flakes away (About once a week), and I use a natural conditioner every day and it slowly made my scalp healthier and my hair all around more lively!

Here's what I use (I buy mines from target and it should ring you up around $10, plus they have a lot of different varieties that I still want to try myself)
Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

Best of luck to you man!

Reposting most of a comment I made on a similar post.

Don't use a blowdryer--instead, pat your hair with a towel, and then let it air dry.

Always style with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb (preferably your fingers). Wavy/curly hair gets frizzy from normal combs and brushes.

Try a leave-in conditioner. I like this one by Shea Moisture. I put it in at night, then shower in the morning and wash my hair with just water.

I also recommend Bumble and Bumble's products, specifically their Tonic spray and Grooming Creme. You could also try their Surf spray and Grooming Creme. If you want more hold, I recommend Sumotech after the Grooming Creme. Another great product is Layrite's Natural Matte creme.

I'd recommend checking out /r/curlyhair as well.

Ok, I've tried a few dry shampoos and here's what I came up with.

• Got2b Rockin' It - This stuff works the best, though one can of it does not seem to last very long.
  
• Suave - This dry shampoo works very well. It's almost as good as Got2b's. One weird thing is that the directions say to spray the powder in, then press it with your hand so your heat can help it work. I haven't seen ones like this before, but it does work better if you do it like that. It's definitely great for the price.
  
• Tresemme - I don't know why I've tried this multiple times, because each time it was just terrible. I think I had two cans that just stopped spraying, and simply oozed after using it once. It's a crappy product, and it doesn't last long before it starts sputtering.
  
  You say you have fine hair and are afraid of weighing it down. My hair also weighs down easily with product, and I love how dry shampoo seems to give it more body and oomph. I usually use it when I straighten my hair so I don't have to wash it and re-straighten it the next day. I don't use it multiple times in a row without washing my hair though since it will start to build up at that point and make your hair gross.
  
  EDIT: Also, although I haven't tried it, I've heard a lot of good things about Batiste. Unfortunately it's just not sold in stores in my area and I don't really feel like buying it online.
  
  EDIT 2: Something else I just thought of -- dry shampoo can sometimes make my scalp a bit itchy, so I don't know if it will affect your eczema at all.

What sulfate free shampoo did you use? Seriously, I went through everything that you are describing. I gave up being no-poo and settled for being low-poo. I use Shea Moisture products, I think they're awesome. My curls have really come back to life and my dandruff/itchiness has really settled down. I wouldn't say it's completely gone, but it is definitely way better. Shea Moisture has a line specifically for dandruffy/itchy scalp but I only use the shampoo and the purifying hair masque. For conditioner, I use the restorative condtioner and just make sure to keep it off of my scalp. It can be kind of pricey, so at the very least I would suggest trying the masque, it feels so good when you rub it into your scalp and it rinses out fine with just water.

I use a Shea moisture one, which I buy online as it isn't available here. That one is sulphate free. I'm sure there are sulphate free ones in the UK, but i can't use them due to my scalp stuff.
You want to find a sulphate free shampoo (if you decide to shampoo at all) because sulphates are super drying, and unnecessary if you aren't using silicones in your conditioner/styling products

Edit: I use this one, but probably only once or twice a month at most (I actually can't remember the last time I used shampoo). I mainly wash my hair using conditioner.

Ugh, yes - it can be so tough! But I finally got a few budget-friendly products. In case you're interested, here it is:

• Shampoo: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038U4TQU/ref=oh_aui_frsh_dp?ie=UTF8&fpw=fresh
  
  
• Conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWFS2KM/ref=oh_aui_frsh_dp?ie=UTF8&fpw=fresh
  
  
• Leave In: Same as conditioner plus olive oil (or oil of choice)
  
  
• Products:
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008Y9Y7UI/ref=oh_aui_frsh_dp?ie=UTF8&fpw=fresh
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EVQ39X8/ref=oh_aui_frsh_dp?ie=UTF8&fpw=fresh
  
  Everything is CG approved! This link has been probably the most helpful thing in helping me choose my products: http://isitcg.herokuapp.com/
  
  As for that haircut, I have an appointment on Saturday! Woo!

I've had similar problems. A main factor is due to the weather changing but also my hairdresser told me a lack of drinking water can cause it too. A great shampoo I found on Amazon called Maple Holistics Sage Shampoo. I've added the link below: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNTJHQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I've found this to really help maintain a clean scalp with less irritation, flaking and itching. I would also recommend as a home remedy using Olive Oil and Tea Tree Oil as a hot oil treatment for like 20 minutes.

Hello! As a girl that has very oily hair/scalp I recommend using dry shampoo! I just started using it and it has made such a dramatic difference, I was so pleased. The one I'm currently using is batiste, it gets rid of the oil and grease in my roots and makes my hair look fresh, adds a bit of volume and it smells really nice. Batiste comes in lots of different scents, too.

I've also heard really good things about suave's dry shampoo link but haven't used it myself yet. Suave's might be a good starting point since it's so cost effective (affective?) and might be easier to find than the Batiste.

I used to use head and shoulder's every day too. I never really gave my shampoo any thought and I wish I had.

The problem that curly girl tries to address, is that there's this vicious cycle of sulfates and silicones. You use shampoo with harsh detergents (sulfates) to strip all the build up out of your hair. Then, you follow it up with conditioner full of silicones to replenish your hair's moisture, but the silicones cause build up and then you NEED to shampoo.

It takes time, but you follow the curly girl(/guy) method, your hair will find it's natural balance and not be so greasy. No-poo and co-washing are still too unnerving for me. So, I use a low-poo "Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo Sulfate Free" and use a shampoo brush every 3 days. That shampoo and the shampoo brush help deal with dandruff.

I pin my bangs back the first day because my skin is oily and it greases up my bangs very quickly. Day 3 isn't my favourite (in terms of hair oil), but it's manageable and slowly becoming better.


Shampoo: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0038U4TQU

Shampoo Brush: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00XUUKDXG

Video (CurlyPenny on Causes + Fixes to a Flaky Scalp):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4427Ojt1w

Nizoral doesn’t work for my seborrheic dermatitis either. When I have flare ups I use coal tar shampoo. It’s cheap and available almost everywhere. I usually just buy it on amazon. I sometimes buy the extra strength version if I’m having a really bad flare up.
Rub it into your scalp and let it sit on there for a few minutes before you wash it out. It has a strong smell that’s not the greatest so I usually follow by shampooing my hair with my regular shampoo to help tone it down.
This is what has worked for me. I’m sure others here have more suggestions as well. Good luck!

It worked for me too. This morning I had to wake up extra early but had a migraine just starting so I hopped in the shower and used my peppermint scented conditioner from Trader Joe's, after a few minutes I felt fine. If you have TJ near you I highly recommend getting this shampoo and conditioner set (I think they're less than $5/each). Not only are they nice for your hair and scalp they're also great for when you feel a migraine coming on.

Edit: The name is Tea Tree Tingle, it has peppermint and eucalyptus in it. I might be wrong about the price because in Amazon they're nearly $12 per bottle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LMBLTY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2UQUzb878K4SS

Edit 2: There's also a body wash version! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LMCFFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rUQUzbM6GFRF0

Know I missed the hair/fragrance thread yesterday, but I recently discovered I have a minor allergy to fragrance and need to find fragrance free shampoo and conditioner. I've tried Free and Clear but I don't particular like it. I know of other fragrance free shampoo, like this one, but I don't really want to spend $25+ only to not like it. Anyone recommend a brand or specific product that won't also break the bank?

It was literally called free and clear. amazon link here. I'm pretty sure it's not sulfate free but it was recommended by my derm and was on my allowed product list (i also had eczema on my eyelids so I had to completely remove all fragrance from my routine and wanted to be safe).

I've also used jessicurl's no fragrance added products and they were fine for me but they do have some added oils and watnot that may irritate. If you're looking to go fragrance free make sure the product says fragrance free and not just scent free or unscented because those products can still have masking fragrances which can also cause reactions.

Ultra Swim is one of the best. I just buy the shampoo, but they have other products too. I haven't tried them so I can't tell you if they are good or not, but the shampoo is for sure.

There is also a brand called Malibu that I've used that I also really like.

I suggest you see a dermatologist. You said you saw your GP about this issue, but she never identified the issue. I think a dermatologist would be able to help you more. It's difficult to give any helpful product recommendations without knowing what exactly your skin is reacting to (i.e., which product ingredients).

In the mean time, you can try the free and clear shampoo and conditioner. They're specifically designed for people with reactive skin.

For controlling the frizz, try using a gel. Apply it to your hair when it's wet, but not dripping wet. You said you're using a cream, but creams help moisture and define your curls; they don't provide the best hold or frizz protection. A gel would be better suited to minimizing frizz.

Try this Pravana hair mask! I got my hair highlighted (ended up way too gold) and this not only removed the brassiness but is an amazing deep conditioner.

You won’t have to shave your head!

Pravana The Perfect Blonde Purple Toning Masque 5 Oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DFKEVBA?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

They're both on amazon.co.uk! Organix shampoo here (apparently there's a root boost spray available as well) and Shea Moisture Conditioner here. edit: Organix also has a shea butter shampoo/conditioner if you find you like that brand.

Mine is itchy just like my dry skin all the time, so that's part of how I figured it out. Especially since I've treated my seborrheic dermatitis and the itch remained.

I'll let you know how they work for me (also type 3, edit: fairly mild case, I think) but if you don't want to wait the while for me to get to it and then adjust for my first time switching to sulfate free, they are available on amazonUK and probably elsewhere near you :)

Yeah, of course!

The right picture I used Macadamia Hair Mask and then Neutrogena Triple Moisture Leave-In. I put it up in a hair wrap for a while (do HW, clean, etc) then applied Cantu Curl Activator Cream.

The left pictures were about 1 year ago so I'm not exactly sure but I probably I used either Trader Joe's TTO Conditioner or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo. Leave-In, up in hair wrap, Curl Enhancing Smoothie or KCCC.

This is my favorite method for definition.

)

I have been using Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo (there is a conditioner as well) and I love it. My hair is also long and a little wavy and this shampoo does not dry it out or leave it oily. Plus, it smells wonderful.

Amazon is selling it for about $11, but I am pretty sure I spent a lot less in the store.

No problem.

Since he has a chest access, he probably won't be able to take showers. I recommend getting these disposable wipes and shower caps for him. I used those when I had my catheter in my chest when I first started dialysis and it helped me stay clean.

Good luck to you and your brother and stay strong. He needs a lot of support.

The same friend I got the other advice from has recommended this conditioner and the shampoo that comes with it.

I haven't tried it personally yet, but her hair always looks great, so I'm assuming it works well.

As others have said, wear a swim cap. I swim for three hours six days a week and wearing a swim cap made a huge difference to how my hair felt. Wetting your hair prior to getting into the pool can make things better as well. Also, you could look into buying a dechlorinating shampoo like this one: (http://www.amazon.com/UltraSwim-Chlorine-Removal-Shampoo-7-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76OO). Hope this helps.

Nails:For your cuticles you can try a cuticle remover like this one: http://media.uxcell.com/uxcell/images/item/catalog/ux_a08071400ux0047_ux_c.jpg
I have one to remove my wild cuticles. It can be used with cuticle oil to soften them up and lessen any damage to the cuticle bed.

Body:As far as lotions go, I've found that Dr. Bronner's magic-all-one lotion(not the tattoo balm) is good for me head to toe. It's a bit oily at first but soaks in quickly. http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronner-Lavender-Conditioner-Styling/dp/B0017QK7A4/ref=sr_1_4?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1323654995&sr=1-4

Face: Aztec Healing Clay aka bentonite clay is a good facial mask! It draws out the impurities in the skin and gives a good glow. It does tingle a bit(I have sensitive skin) but isn't bad at all. Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Aztec-Secret-Indian-Healing-Clay/dp/B0014P8L9W

Me too, that will make it easier for me to help :)

I like VO5 Moisture Milks as a co-wash. It's CG-friendly, inexpensive, and runny/thin, so it spreads easily and rinses out easily. No residue at all. If you find yourself running into the greasy-scalp issue, alternate between co-washing and non-sulfate shampoo for 3-4 weeks. The sulfate-free shampoo will still lather and down out the grease while your scalp is adjusting. Shea Moisture tends to be the favorite, I like their 10-in-1 Superfruit.

Conditioners are totally hit-or-miss depending on the person and hair type. I'm fine, thin, and low-porosity, so what works for me may not work for you. I have yet to find a rinse-out conditioner in a store that I like, so I buy mine online - Darcy Botanicals Vanilla Delight is my favorite, but I think the company may be going out of business :( , so my regular is Yes To Carrots Nourishing Conditioner.

I'm not 100% CG, and I use a leave-in that has a non-water-soluble silicone. It gives me the best shine and moisture and clumping, no matter what extra gels (etc) I use. Its available online or in drugstores, Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream.

As for styling products beyond that - what's your goal? Do you want curl clumping, volume, loose curls, tight-and-smooth, etc?

This Pravana Purple Hair Mask was recommended to me by a stylist and is the bomb at toning down the brassiness without completely stripping your hair because it also has healthy oils in it! Whoot!

I naturally have light brown/dark blonde hair with a reddish underlying tint and have rocked a blonde balayage where the ends are very blonde for about a year now and my old roommate has naturally black hair and rocked a dusky blonde for the summer because of this stuff. It says once a week but to start we both used it about 2-3 times a week.

Edit: the first couple of times you use it you should get your hair thoroughly wet and work it in (in the bathtub because it gets everywhere lol) and leave it in for like 20-30 minutes. I find it way more convenient to throw a shower cap over top and do whatever I need to do around the house while I wait. After you rise it out, blow dry it immediately (it almost seems to activate something in the formula but idk if that’s just me noticing how well it takes out the brassiness as my hair dries lol). I use a Breogeo heat protectant before I blow dry.

Don't really have a routine. I currently use (shampoo only) https://www.amazon.com/Avalon-Organics-Clarifying-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B00YT6VWC6?ref_=ast_bbp_dp which is drying out my hair.

Before I used (conditioner only) https://www.amazon.com/Avalon-Organics-Rosemary-Volumizing-Conditioner/dp/B00D2YC10S?ref_=ast_bbp_dp which worked decently well, but I think I can do a lot better.

I need recommendations for my type of hair, thanks!


EDIT: Got https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0097OXE4O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Routine!

I wash my hair with Burt's Bees shampoo and use a super rich conditioner that I totally forgot to grab the name of but will update later!

After the shower I put in Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner while it's still wet and then let it sit while I do my makeup. I diffuse my hair on low heat until 80% dry and then scrunch in Marrakesh Oil to tame the frizz/give her a little extra moisture.

My routine isn't perfect yet but it is so much nicer than trying to fight my hair. I love it!

Well...I don't really know. My hair just does that on its own most of the time. I have to put an effort in to get it to stop doing that.

>Herbal Essences Totally Twisted gel

Use products for curly hair. Herbal Essences, Dove and other mainstream beauty products that market to "curly" hair are actually made for very wavy or loosely coiled hair.

Your hair loss may be from using horrible products on your hair. I know if you're using Herbal Essences, you are probably also sleeping with a cotton pillowcase, so that could be a reason also.

After you wash it, you should put in a leave in conditioner, followed by an oil and then a gel or a cream.

This my favorite detangler/conditoner if you need a product recommendation. To grow you hair back you could try a shampoo and conditioner with argan oil or black castor oil. Mane and Tail also makes a hair growth line.

Alopecia Free With Jass is a youtube channel that also might help you deal with alopecia. You could also try taking biotin.

Defienetly check out the r/curlyhair subreddit. Tons of great info. I have similar hair and it's been a long process of figuring out what it likes. I also like the less is more approach.

For me, I don't wash or condition it. I scrub my scalp every 2-3 weeks. I get it wet and comb it out in the shower every 2-3 days depending on activity. Run some coconut oil through it, heavy on the tips moving lighter towards the roots and then top it off with Dr. Bonner's Creme (This stuff is pure magic). Flip it over, throw it in a towel bun thing, let it be for a few hours, release it, and let it dry naturally. Results are magic.

Of course everyone is different and this took me a year and half to figure out, still working on it.

I like Pssst!. It makes my hair super soft and clean smelling/feeling.

I've always been able to hear the beeping from my trusty timex iron man watch. That may work for you. I use Ultraswim Shampoo and it works like gang-busters. Just be sure to give it a good shake before you use it.
http://www.amazon.com/UltraSwim-Chlorine-Removal-Shampoo-7-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76OO

The problem with dry shampoos is that their effect seems to change depending on your hair. I tried a couple that seemed to make my hair worse despite having overall good reviews.

For me, personally (short, relatively straight hair, a little greasy, med-brown), the two that have worked best for me are:

• Pssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo. It's a little perfumey, but if I avoid spraying it on the front part of my hair, it doesn't bother me much. You can get it for $5-$8 a lot of places. Probably the cheapest you'll find and one of the few that I've tried that didn't give me a headache.
  
• Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract. It's a pretty gentle formula and despite a fairly strong smell, it doesn't agitate my sensitive sense of smell. Some people that prefer more floral smells seem to find it weird smelling but once it's brushed out, I don't even smell it. Warning, the aerosol spray comes out at a million miles an hour.
  
  Another option is baby powder, which smells nice... but if you have darker hair, it can be hard to brush it all out so it doesn't have a greying effect. I've also found it creates static in my hair. I've heard of others suggesting unsweetened cocoa powder if you have darker hair, loose face powder for medium brown hair, and cornstarch or finely ground oats (I'd imagine you'd want to avoid instant) for medium to lighter hair. I haven't personally tried any of those last three so proceed with caution. If any of them work for you, though, it'd be cheap and natural!

I just ordered this shampoo and conditioner after seeing it recommended on /r/haircarescience. Reviews are fantastic, so I'm holding out hope. I'm growing my hair out again, but it's fine and thin, and I shed A LOT, so I'm hoping it works as well as people say it does.

i use a sheamoisture shampoo as well. i like the yes to carrots conditioner. i find it extremely lightweight. my hair also gets easily weighed down.

I've used Batiste and Psssssst extensively, and I tried Not Your Mother's a few times. Of the three I'd say Psssssst works the best for me, and the other two seem about the same.

Batiste is definitely the most powdery, so that may be a problem depending on your hair color. I also agree with the other poster about Batiste making my hair look less greasy versus others making it look freshly washed.

Before getting a shorter haircut I'd work on the texture of your hair. No offense, but it looks sickly thin and dry. Look into conditioners (I've grown to love this product ) and/or washing your hair with shampoo less frequently. If you wash away all the oils your hair needs, it tends to get dry, thin and worn out. Think of it as taking a hot shower often without moisturizing afterwards.


I think you can make quite a few haircuts work, as long as you put some basic care into your beard. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just comb it or sth.

T Gel shampoo girl! Dermatologist originally recommended it
for scalp psoriaosis when I was a child. Remembered it worked then and have recently been using it to treat my dry/flakey scalp. Should be available at most drugstores. There's also an extra strength version.*link

https://www.amazon.com/No-Rinse-Shampoo-Cap-5-Pack/dp/B009I12STI

A bit pricey but they are the only thing I found that truly gets hair clean without water. The no-rinse shampoo foam just doesn't work as well.

my favorite dinosaur is triceratops because my name is Sarah and the little triceratops chick from land before time, Cera, was my favorite growing up.

My favorite products so far for maintaining very light hair are Pravana's purple conditioning mask and Keracolor's clear shampoo.

https://www.amazon.com/Keracolor-Color-Clenditioner-Platinum-Fluid/dp/B07CBB9MB4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?hvadid=77721794730283&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&keywords=keracolor%2Bplatinum&qid=1555971998&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Pravana-Perfect-Blonde-Purple-Toning/dp/B01DFKEVBA/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pravana+perfect+blonde+mask&qid=1555972139&s=gateway&sr=8-2

>Let me know if you have more questions!

Lets say I have these 5 items here:

• Microfiber hair towel
  
  
• Wide tooth comb
  
  
• La Looks Gel #10
  
  
• TRESemmé conditioner
  
  
• V05 Clarifying shampoo
  
  Do I need any more items?
  
  If no, for the first wash using these items, what do I do?
  
  
  I know you don't use the V05 shampoo for anything except the first wash, but what do I do for the first wash? After I get the first wash down, the only thing I need to do is remove the use of V05 clarifying shampoo right?
  
  
  Let's say I get into the shower. Turn the water on and wash my hair and make it wet. Do I need a specific temperature of water? Let's say I add the TRESemmé conditioner. How much do I add for my amount of hair? What do I do with it? I add a certain amount to my hair, do I just let it sit there, do I massage it in, do I "scrunch it"? How long do I keep the conditioner in? Do I use the comb while in the shower working with the conditioner or during a different time? How do I use it?
  
  
  In the styling portion of the beginner-routine it states that you take a large amount of gel and scrunch it into your hair. For my volume of hair, would a handful of gel be too much? What does it mean to "scrunch it in"?
  
  
  In the drying portion it says to scrunch your hair with a microfiber towel, is this a different type of scrunching than the one in the styling portion? What's "plopping"? What does "scrunching out the crunch" mean?
  
  Thanks. Sorry for so many questions.
  
  
  
  

Shimmer lights always dries mine out! I would try Pravana instead. Another reddit user recommended it to me and I like it better. https://www.amazon.com/Pravana-Perfect-Blonde-Purple-Toning/dp/B01DFKEVBA/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?adgrpid=55088870614&hvadid=274731641756&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9011254&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=5338890303330014032&hvtargid=kwd-301336264763&keywords=pravana+purple+conditioner&qid=1554559074&s=gateway&sr=8-5

My hair is pretty long and has tighter curls that i throw in a bun once its dry so YMMV

I use this for cowashing and this leave-in conditioner for "styling" with right after getting out of the shower. Both are sulfate free and "CG approved"

wet/after shower
fully dry
top bun

No idea, don't live there. Although I hope you can, as I'm gonna be visiting the UK in the next couple weeks. If you find out that it is available there, please let me know, as I'm not expecting the travel-sized bottles I'm bringing with me to last too long.

EDIT: Looks like you can get it on Amazon, at least.

Tea tree oil is a potential. I'm using this shampoo currently, it has helped my scalp. I have very sensitive skin and am prone to dandruff. It's not cheap, but I have been happy with it.

Completely normal... Coconut oil is very thick and super hard to get off. In my past comment I forgot to mention that there are few ways to remove coconut oil. OP did so with egg yolks and it worked for her, I never tried this method so I cannot recommend it - but it's worth a try next time you do this. Usually, when I do the coconut oil treatment in my hair I follow by using a vegan, sulfate/parabens/silicone/residue free shampoo... (I use this one) and even when using a real shampoo, I have to wash 2 sometimes 3 times to get ALL the oil off of my hair! Sorry I completely forgot to mention this stinky bit :/

This stuff smells terrible (I think that means it's working), but in my experience, works pretty well. You don't necissarily have to use it everyday...Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo

I tried Dr. Bronners for the first time this afternoon, I have a pretty coarse, curly beard (~2 mos growth) and it seemed to help soften things up quite a bit and catch some flyaways. LINK

I've been using this as my offday/prewash shampoo for awhile http://amazon.com/PURA-DOR-Prevention-Premium-Organic/dp/B0079R6BD2/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1463682484&sr=8-2&keywords=pura+d%27or It says it contains natural DHT blockers like argan oil and no SLS which can cause excessive drying. Works well, nice and foamy and not too dry.

They also have a 1% keto version (Gold label) which I don't use since I have a 2% prescription and 1% Regenpure.

Fortunately keto doesn't dry out my scalp/hair too much so I usually do something like

• Every other day use 2% prescription. If my hair is excessively dirty I'll prewash with pura d'or so the keto shampoo can be lathered and applied thoroughly
  
• If my hair isn't excessively dirty I won't wash it on the off days, just water and conditioner
  
• If it is dirty I'll just use pura d'or or regenepure 1% keto depending on my mood
  
• Every time I shower I use a volumizing conditioner with argan oil, the added volume helps hide the hairloss a little bit.

I had a feeling because its always been this way. I am sure my genetics may have a factor too (I'm part Scandinavian-mostly Swedish and part European Jewish), and I know Scandinavians tend to have high up foreheads.

Anyway alright! Do you think baby shampoo is good enough? I've never switched to an adult shampoo since I was younger because I hate the burn I get from other shampoos. Also I use this as a conditioner once a week: https://www.amazon.com/Carrots-Nourishing-Conditioner-16-9-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001EWET96

Do you think these are two ok products I should use?

I really like Pssssst. It is inexpensive and gets the job done. It also seems to brush out easier than other ones I have tried.

You need a clarifying shampoo, and shampoo twice while in the shower. The brand V05 makes a great shampoo that gets out all product: https://www.amazon.com/Alberto-VO5-Escapes-Squeeze-Clarifying/dp/B000V9M8B4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1QM9R8U6ZAVY9&keywords=v05+clarifying+shampoo&qid=1572809431&sprefix=v05%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-4. In the future, give a pomade a try if hairspray sticks to your hair too much (or just use less spray if that works).

My bf has a similar problem with flakes and the neutrogena t/gel shampoo works pretty well. If it's severe he'll wash his hair every other day and use the shampoo for three-four washes. Then on his "break" from the shampoo, I give him a thorough concout oil massage. Then he uses normal shampoo. If flakes are still there, he goes through another cycle.

The shampoo can be a little drying even though it clears out the flakes. The coconut oil makes it less dry and he loves it when he gets a massage!

Shampoo: purador argan oil premium organic shampoo


Conditioner: Tresemme perfectly (un)done


I don't comb my hair other than a big thick one, and I normally let air dry or use a diffuser. I only shampoo once a week.

The V05 super cheap clarifying shampoo in the starter routine has it!

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-7, Fragrance, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Polysorbate-20, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Biotin (Vitamin H), Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Blue 1 (CI 42090).

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Alberto-VO5-Escapes-Squeeze-Clarifying/dp/B000V9M8B4

Shampoo your hair if it gets dirty - no point in having long hair if it always smells like funk. I have to use a medicated shampoo because of my seborrheic dermatitis, and it's definitely drying, but it's better than having a gross scalp. During the summer i co-wash every 3 days or so (my scalp gets sweaty) and then use shampoo once a week. During the winter I co-wash once a week and shampoo every couple of weeks. If you work out a lot or you do lots of things that leave smells in your hair (you work in a restaurant or you smoke cigarettes, things of that nature) I'd recommend washing more often.

I used this shampoo before I went to the dermatologist and got prescription shampoo. I don't know why it's so expensive on Amazon. If there's a Trader Joe's near you, it'll cost you $3.99.

I do Nizoral 1% every other day because my head can be particularly itchy/dry, but some people do every few days. Before I put in my hair, I use OGX Biotin & Collagen shampoo. Don't get it from Amazon, you can get a 50% bigger bottle from Target for $6. After rinsing the Nizoral out, I use OGX Fight Fallout conditioner because Nizoral can definitely dry your hair out too much. Again, get it at Target for cheaper. Same routine applies except without the Nizoral on the other days. Make sure you let everything sit in your hair (especially Nizoral) for a few minutes before rinsing out.

I'm almost out of Nizoral and I'm thinking of replacing it with Regenepure since it's sulfate-free, so I might change up the routine then.

Look for anti-dandruff shampoo, like Head and Shoulders, or something like T-Gel.

Also, look into one of the many beard oils. Check out /r/beardoil

I've had some luck with this product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNTJHQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think it is CG friendly but either way, I am normally no-poo and using this every week or so hasn't been a problem.

I have a dry itchy scalp and use Yes to Carrots. It really helps with the flaking and as far as I can tell it's curly friendly.

It's a a minty body wash that my GF gets from Trader Joe's. It smells excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Peppermint-Eucalyptus-Botanicals/dp/B002LMBLTY

I tried a toner with fermented ingredients and ended up giving myself fungal acne. Yeast naturally lives on your face, you don't want to feed it so it takes over, which I essentially did.

This was the toner.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FQP2YS?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title


Scaj warned me about it, but I didn't listen. Oops :(
At least it's easy to treat with anti dandruff shampoo and athlete's foot cream. It took me a month to stop itching and seeing the little red spots and white heads.

Pull your hair up in a tight bun, wear a headband, towel it dry and maybe bust out the hair dryer post workout if it's soaked. But I live on Batiste. I wash my hair once a week despite the fact that I go to the gym 6 days a week haha. No complaints from my husband or co workers. Recently I tried using this recommended Badlands clay but it really doesn't do much for me as far as taking out oil and is more like a texturizing clay.

I also use the R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste in between washings (sulfate free) and will also vouch for it. :) It's been my experience that a dry shampoo paste is easier to use because I can actually apply it to the roots, where it belongs. I do think the R+Co one involves coconut oil though, so maybe not the best option for you if your skin doesn't like coconut.

I've been using R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste
https://www.amazon.com/Co-Badlands-Dry-Shampoo-Paste/dp/B01AS41BD2/

but am excited to try some of the other suggestions on this post!

>And so it seems unnatural to force her to celebrate a country her maternal grandmother was born into just because of her skin colour, whether or not that country is part of her life.


The thing is, if she stands out and that makes her feel alien (and other people play into that actively or passively), then having something positive associated with her skin color can help her feel more balanced.

I'd say buy her books. Children's stories, and then later young adult novels written by Caribbean writers or set somewhere where there are many different colors of people. That will give her the knowledge necessary to develop the bonds with her ethnicity as she grows and needs them, and feel more average despite looking different. Read the books too, so you understand how her ideas develop, and can be more wise yourself.

Her hair:


African hair, being super curly, is more prone to dryness and breakage because oil from the scalp works its way down the shaft, conditioning it, much slower because of the curl.

That means that you don't shampoo it as often as European hair, perhaps only once a week depending on just how curly it is. You do use more conditioner, and specially formulated oils. You don't brush it necessarily, but comb it only with conditioner in it with a wide tooth brush.

The other thing is, you MUST learn to braid. For real. Take a trip into the closest large city, find an 'ethnic' salon
and beg for help. Pay someone to teach you to braid. And to give you better advice on her texture than people that can't see it on the internet can give you. You can also search you tube for tutorials. Her self-esteem is going to be crap if she can't learn to handle her own hair, and she only has you to learn from. Take trips into the city as often as you can until you have it down.

I would also go by http://www.reddit.com/r/blackladies/ and ask them for advice. Many more qualified people over there than here, most likely.

>she came across a lot of arguments and articles about 'natural' hair, and how/if it should be worn, and a few websites were basically saying it was racist to do stuff to it, and then my girlfriend freaked out.

Yes. But I have a piece of information that can simplify the matter for you. The chemicals used to straighten hair are unhealthy and can be a detriment to a child's health. Keeping her hair natural until she is 16-18 is arguably healthier, and then she can choose to style or perm or not in a way that honors herself and without you accidentally giving her any bad messages about being born the way she is.


Know that like red-heads in your corner of the world, people with curly hair (African or other) can be treated badly for it, socially and even professionally. (http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/untangling-curl-bias-in-corporate-america/) Chris Rock made this movie that can be a good introduction, though it is very US-centric. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213585/


Don't be afraid of knowledge! Being a parent is always scary!


Edit to add: order products from amazon until you can find cheaper local alternatives. Ex:
http://www.amazon.com/Moisture-African-Black-Cleansing-Shampoo/dp/B0038U4TQU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419110446&sr=8-1&keywords=african+hair+shampoo

http://www.amazon.com/Jamaican-Black-Castor-Protein-Conditioner/dp/B003CTVSKC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419110469&sr=8-2&keywords=african+hair+conditioner

http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Intensely-Leave-In-Conditioning/dp/B005GQ6HUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419110498&sr=8-1&keywords=african+spray+in+conditioner

The spray-in stuff should help with styling in-between washes.

The hydrating shampoo contains SLS and the conditioner contains parabens. You need something that doesn't contain SLS or silicones. Here is a shampoo you can get from Amazon. I suggest you check your hair's porosity before buying a conditioner. Here is how to test porosity. If you're high porosity, this is a good option, if you're low, I'd go for this. If you need a leave-in conditioner, go for this.

Ultra swim. When I was younger, I had blonde hair that would turn green in the chlorine. This washed it out and made it feel nice.
Ultra swim

My hairdresser friend gave me some tips for helping my hair to grow out and I will just pass them on to you: take your vitamins and consider adding biotin into the mix. Minimize your hair washing to 2-3 times a week, she suggested this dry shampoo between washings. Try to let your hair down as often as you can, trying it up can stress your hair and cause breaks. Deep condition your hair a couple times a month with coconut oil, you can wrap your hair up under a shower cap amd let it soak in.

I was using this if you were looking for something natural.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CNTJHQO/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If not, I was also using a ketoconozal shampoo. These were before I found out I have sensitive skin and a fragrance allergy though.

This stuff is amazing. It’s shampoo.. it smells a bit weird but it was the only thing that ever worked for me. Give it a shot! You can find it at Walmart, CVS, etc.

6 months, washed, oiled, waxed, brushed. Mustache styled with 81 T comb, fingers, and Fisticuffs.

Edit: for the lazyyyyy

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

Kent The Handmade Comb

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Retention Shampoo

[Honest Amish Original Beard Wax] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NNA3IY/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_P7y2tb1YE73EZHNQ)

Honest Amish Beard Balm

Fisticuffs Mustache Wax

I'm a big fan of this shampoo and this conditioner.

A bit late to the party, but do you have a Trader Joe's nearby? If so, I highly recommend their Tea Tree Tingle conditioner (it's not that expensive in-store). It's really lightweight and highly moisturizing for my curly hair.

Edit: also, if that is too light, I also use the TJ Nourish Spa conditioner. This is thicker, and I use it to clump my curls, but it is very very moisturizing. I've been using these conditioners for about three years, and my hair is never heavy.

My girlfriend starting buying sulfate-free shampoos and "natural" conditioners so that she could avoid using harsh shampoos to get them out later. I started using her stuff when mine ran out (I've had the beard itch/druff problem for a while) and surprisingly my beard itch and beardruff problems when away. I'm pretty sure the shampoo's were the cause of the beardruff (they were too effective and removed the oils from the skin as well as the hair) which led to the itching as well.

I always thought the "all-natural" marketing stuff was bs but it makes sense in a way. I would definitely recommend avoiding the shampoo though, especially if you are prone to dry skin.

https://www.amazon.com/Am-Coconut-Cowash-Cleansing-Conditioner/dp/B00641UCY8

https://www.amazon.com/Shea-Moisture-Strengthen-Restore-Conditioner/dp/B00MXD6GBY/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1537597381&sr=1-7&keywords=shea%2Bmoisture%2Bconditioner&th=1

^ These are the two that we use now. The cowash is a shampoo replacement, but you have to avoid traditional conditioners if you start using it because it's not strong enough to remove them and it will start to build up in your hair, which is why we use the second product as a conditioner since it doesn't contain any heavy duty surfactants.

I was in the same situation, but i was also battling excessive dandruff too. I used Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic to treat the dandruff, but it also made my face and lips moist and not peel either unintentionally.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009KN8UA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't think you really need to spring for it. I got the cheapest one available at Ulta on recommendation from one of the girls who worked there and it works just fine. You said somewhere that you have poofy hair naturally - I do, too. The brand of dry shampoo that I get doesn't poof up my hair at all. It just gets rid of grease at the roots and makes it not smelly. And it was only $3 at Ulta.

V05 can be found in just about any drug sore for less than 5 bucks.

I like this one: Alberto VO5 Herbal Escapes Kiwi Lime Squeeze Clarifying Shampoo, 15 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V9M8B4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Frw1DbAZG506V

I would like to ask what is this product meant for? It's called a skin conditioner, but I'm not entirely sure what this refer to. The ingredients listed are: water, butylene glycol, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, coix lacryma-jobi seed extract, styrene/acrylates copolymer, dipropylene glycol, alcohol, citric acid, sodium citrate, methylparaben, propylparaben

Hatomugi Skin Conditioner

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, I found this conditioner to be decent for co-washing: http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Conditioner-Peppermint-Eucalyptus/dp/B002LMNJDA

(It's much cheaper, $3.99 at the store).

Someone in this sub recommended this one (Free & Clear) for me. But As far as lists go, I'm not aware of one.

I'm gonna try these 3 :

https://www.amazon.com/Rene-Furterer-Purifying-Shampoo-Curbicia/dp/B0017SQHW4/ref=sr_1_59_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931295&sr=1-59&keywords=rene+shampoo

https://www.amazon.com/Rene-Furterer-Melaleuca-Anti-Dandruff-Shampoo/dp/B004LT0BZK/ref=sr_1_29_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931195&sr=1-29&keywords=rene+shampoo

https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Therapeutic-Shampoo-Original-Formula/dp/B0009KN8UA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Ultraswim chlorine removal shampoo. That's all I have to say.

think about your shampoo/conditioner and also the detergent you wash sheets with. i started making my own detergent and switched to this shampoo and conditioner to nail down my skin triggers a few years ago. https://www.amazon.com/Free-Clear-Set-Shampoo-12-Conditioner-12/dp/B00164E8TI

Have you tried Free & Clear?

This will fix you right up.

I use [This] (http://www.amazon.com/Shea-Moisture-Butter-Restorative-Conditioner/dp/B0097OXE4O) in lieu of hairspray and an Aussie product I can't remember the name of atm

This did wonders for my dry scalp when tea tree oil wouldn't touch it.

Dude, epic tingle with the tea tree. https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Peppermint-Eucalyptus-Botanicals/dp/B002LMBLTY

Have you considered trying a leave-in conditioner?

Currently experimenting with this one by Shea Moisture (assuming you're in the US).

I just use Trader Joes. Works the same and is a lot cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Peppermint-Eucalyptus-Botanicals/dp/B002LMBLTY

https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Conditioner-Peppermint-Eucalyptus/dp/B002LMNJDA/ref=pd_bxgy_194_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002LMNJDA&pd_rd_r=GMZVBCNK17PZNZY7FBKW&pd_rd_w=9iAjh&pd_rd_wg=eGMON&psc=1&refRID=GMZVBCNK17PZNZY7FBKW

Oh I am so relieved to read your reply!

I am currently (just as of two nights ago) using Neutrogena as kind of a medicine (just for my scalp)
https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Therapeutic-Shampoo-Original-Formula/dp/B0009KN8UA/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1480540611&sr=1-2&keywords=neutrogena+shampoo

and then biolage scalp sync for the rest of my hair https://www.amazon.com/Matrix-Biolage-Scalpsync-Antidandruff-Shampoo/dp/B006WREWJK/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1480540694&sr=1-5&keywords=biolage+dandruff

I am trying to only wash my hair every other day.

When I am washing my hair, I do scratch my head (bad?) to rub it all in.

This shampoo. I used it every day initially, now I use it about once every other week.

Trader Joe's has this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002LMBLTY/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/188-5122492-9229531

This one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MXD6GBY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&smid=A25FM7YXF1FRPZ

Shower every morning and let hair air dry, I use this conditioner every 3 or 4 showers

Before NoPoo my hair used to be crazy frizzy and very hard to manage

Bonus pic from front of bed hair before my morning shower around 3 weeks in, before I used to look like I'd been electrocuted but nowadays it's so much more controlled!

axe shampoo actually doesn't have that strong a smell. but if you don't want axe i recommend [trader joes tea tree tingle] (http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Peppermint-Eucalyptus-Botanicals/dp/B002LMBLTY) it makes your hair feel damn good.

Why is no one suggesting residue-free shampoo? Don't use regular shampoo, even with thorough rinsing it can be damaging to your hair. This is the kind I use, it rinses out very easily and cleans well.

Had to go look and apparently I don't know what I'm talking about because what I actually bought was Hatomugi Skin Conditioner (unless they're the same and I'm just too drunk to tell??) Anyway, here's the link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FQP2YS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I wash my hair after OTF all the time. I also have bleached hair so its fairly damaged. So I always use leave in conditioner

Hairstyle: Cut the sides and get a taper fade from the barber

Products: apply shea moisture leave in conditioner after you wash your hair: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shea-Moisture-Jamaican-Strengthen-Conditioner/dp/B00MXD6GBY/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=shea+moisture+conditioner&qid=1558201417&s=gateway&sr=8-6

Hairstyle alone: https://youtu.be/NRNyf8RClNs

Also wear a durag when you go to sleep

I usually bathe in the bathtub as my skin is very sensitive and gets dry/itchy in the shower (even with lukewarm water)

I soak my hair in the water and pull out any stray hairs that have fallen out and are tangled.

I then use DevaCurl Buildup Buster if my hair is feeling clumpy, otherwise I just use water or Devacurl No-poo Shampoo

Next, I use the faucet to rinse the shampoo out, use a microfiber towel to dry my hair a bit, and then use Agadir Argan Oil Conditioner I let it soak for about 3 minutes while using a wide-tooth comb to comb through my hair and then use the faucet to rinse it out.

I will use Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner about once every 3 weeks and leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse it out.

After my hair is drying from using another microfiber towel, I put some DevaCurl Light Defining Gel in my palm and scrunch it in my hair.


I have no idea why my hair is so bad, I'm wondering if maybe hard water could be a culprit. The only reason I still keep my hair is because I hate having short hair..But at this point seeing it makes me want to chop it all off.


Here is another picture of my hair: https://imgur.com/a/8TO7BCK

Cowash: Yes to Carrots Nourishing Conditioner

Conditioner: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner (Also my leave-in if needed)

Deep Conditioner: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Mask (Once a week)

Shampoo: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo (Once a week)

I don't really style my hair because I'm scared of picking the wrong styler. :/

I recently bought [Hatomugi's Skin Conditioner] (https://www.amazon.ca/Naturie-Condtioner-Adlay-Lotion-500ml/dp/B000FQP2YS). However, the label says
>this product contains chemicals known by to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

Should I be worried?

I believe the parts of my hair that are colored are damaged have high porosity while the parts that are brown have low porosity. I thought maybe I needed moisture, so I did a hot grapeseed oil treatment followed by another reset wash. It didn’t help. I am now thinking maybe I need to try a protein treatment? I am considering Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner.

Here is my current routine:

I do cardio every day and sweat a lot, so I shower daily. Every three days I use the low poo Maple Holistics Sage Shampoo for Anti Dandruff (it is CG approved) and condition with Alberto VO5 Pomegranate Bliss. Other days I just condition with Alberto VO5. These both have humectants, but I live in Seattle so not a hot or dry climate. In the shower I use a wide tooth comb when conditioner is in. For gel I use Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. I tried squish to condish with leaving some conditioner in. I tried the super soaker method. Both looked worse than this picture - more stringy and oily. My method: I apply gel with prayer hands and scrunch while head is flipped over. Once right side up again, I put a little more gel in hands and scrunch areas that need more gel. I plop with microfiber towel for ~5-10 min. Then I diffuse on low heat and low power for just a few minutes. I tried not diffusing, and again it looked much worse. I let the remainder air dry and then break the gel cast. I put just a little jojoba oil on my hands while breaking the cast to minimize frizz. I O-clip for volume while the remainder air dries. At night I pineapple and I have a satin pillowcase.

There is one product that I use that is not CG approved. Every 7-10 days I use Overtone Deep Treatment. Unfortunately I just bought two tubs before starting CG. I am careful not to get it on my scalp. The same day I use overtone, I also reset wash with Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula (clarifying shampoo) to avoid build up. Going forward I will use Arctic Fox for color.

Any thoughts on what my problem could be? Could the Overtone be my main problem or is it likely something else? If my issue is that I need protein, is Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner a good one? Any advice on routine tweak is appreciated.

My hair goal: defined waves that look fuller and are not stringy

Edit: added more detail on how I use gel, goal, and humectants

Newbie here! I need some advice on repairing Damaged hair.

My hair type is naturally a 3A, but I've damaged it due to bad dye jobs and not properly taking car of it, so now parts of it look like 2A, others like 2C. Just overall horrible damage, but it looks okay if I use a diffuser and blow dry it.

I found this sub a couple days ago and got the following products after watching a lot of tutorials here and reading the product list to begin my curl repair/curl maintenance journey:

A Satin Pillowcase

Evo Liquid Rollers Curl Balm

Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Hold & Shine Mist

Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner Set W/silk Protein and Neem Oil

*SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Reparative Leave-In Conditioner

I also have this heat protectant spray I use when diffusing my hair by CHI.

I wash my hair with sulfate-free shampoo about once or twice a week, but I condition my hair every morning so that it's wet and I can style it. I currently do a lazy-girl version of what I've seen people describe here: I flip my hair over my head, put product in my wet hair, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch/dry a little bit, then I diffuse.

So, my question is, do you guys have any other suggestions for repairing hair? Anything I could add/change about this routine?

Thank you!!!