new thread
After a long leave of complaining about how crappy my hair looks, I am compelled to inquire about an ingredient that I found in Charles Worthington's results moisture-seal superconditioner. I have been using it for about a week with zero improvement(big surprise). I did, however, take a glance at the list of ingredients on the back and noticed that one of the last ingredients was sodium hydroxide. Now I have taken enough chemistry courses to know that sodium hydroxide is a highly basic substance and is the primary component in most drain cleaners. So I have to ask why a substance with a pH of 14 is in this conditioner?
In other news, as I mentioned before the condition of my hair has not improved since I posted about it the last time. I am finally caving and buying some jojoba oil as a final effort to attempt to find a remedy to my hair troubles. I currently have around 12 inches of growth, but recently I have grown increasingly more discouraged about if decent looking long hair is in my future. The urge to cut has become unbearable as of late. One factor that contributes to this is the fact that I have maybe one or two good hair days per month and nearly every other day it just looks terrible. Probably the one factor that has prevented cutting it shorter is the two week rule. Well, I think that's enough for my rant. I am impressed with everyone's progress as of late, and I hope that no one else decides to go down the dark path of cutting it all off.
It's near the end of the list of ingredients, mirite? With a lot of personal care products, sodium hydroxide (in very small amounts) is used for pH balance, to keep a product from being too acidic. Granted, NaOH in sufficient concentrations DOES "eat up" the proteins in hair; that's one of the main reasons why its used as a drain cleaner, since what stops up a drain better than hair (I shaved my 3-month old beard a few days ago, and I still need to do something about the basin of my bathroom sink...)?
Sodium hydroxide (which is the same thing as lye) is also often used in the manufacture of soap. A lot of soaps are mixtures of sodium salts of fatty acids that are derived from lipids (like olive oil in castile soap, or tallow in some others) by combining them with a basic substance like lye at a temperature of around 200 degrees F.
Even though it can be harmful to hair in high concentrations, the small amount (at least I'd hope it was a small amount!) in your conditioner shouldn't do any significant damage. As with anything though, your mileage may vary. If the conditioner just isn't working for you, making a switch is a good idea.
I think if your hair's seriously damaged/"bad", getting a trim could be a good idea. You don't have to cut off ALL of it or anything; that's totally unneccessary. You could find a hairdresser who you know will listen to what you tell him/her to do, and have one inch cut off. This will make your hair look "neater", and will take off some damage. At least, that's what the result of my two salon trims were. The condition of my hair felt a lot better, and the hairdressers took off no more than I asked.
You might want to have a look at Jason brand products. They're pretty good IMO, and not harsh or drying. Their conditioners are very mild too, and should keep your hair soft and healthy.
I do appreciate your advice, however, I actually get around half an inch taken off every three months and have been doing this since I started growing my hair. Everytime I have gone in for the trim, they either take off exactly how much I instructed or occassionally slightly less.
Unfortunately, I have tried using Jason products for dry and damaged hair, and I received no benefits from them. I actually found that the conditioner tended to maintain my hair's level of dryness which caused me to stop using it. Just some additional info: I use shampoo maybe once a week or once every two weeks. I use conditioner everyday. I use a leave-in conditioner. I don't straighten or blow dry, and I have used nearly every store product brand as well as Redken and American Crew with no such luck.
Hm, I'm sorry to hear that. I've had somewhat dry hair in the past, but never so much.
You could try not getting your hair wet once in a while (say two days a week or so), and gently comb your hair, starting at the bottom and working up. This should disperse your natural scalp oils across the hair shaft.
As for jojoba, from what I've heard, it usually works well. Trying that out might be a good idea.
Your #1 problem could simply be because you use so many conditioners and other stuff on your hair...too much conditioner can have a reverse effect on your hair and make it extra dry and frizzy. And you stated that you used many other stuff to make your hair in better condition, i'd say try to cut back on the stuff you put on your hair and condition no more than 2 times a week, forget about the other stuff, the less chemicals you use the better your hair's future will be. Also... try hair oils, i have heard they work wonders for dry hair.
Good Luck
-Oleg-
Hi Leviathan,
I'm sorry to hear that you hair is looking pretty bad and crappy. If you upload a photo(of the back of your head is good) we will be able to see for ourselves and assess your hair.
What is your hair type/texture?
Why does your hair look 'crappy'? dry, frizzy, dull, damaged?
I get really shocking hair days aswell. Sometimes my hair looks dimished in length,dry, ultra frizzy and keeps falling in my face. I usually just tie it up, throw it under a hat and bite the bullet.
12 inches is too much growth to cut off, i can't bear to hear that. That's 2 years of growing dude. You said you have tried experimenting with different salon products and stuff and you don't abuse your hair with heat sources.
I don't know much to say.
Just bear with it and keep experimenting to see what works best for you. I'm at 17 months and still finding new ways/techniques/methods that provide best results for my hair.
Variables from washing,drying, rinsing, conditioning, brushing etc. I have my own subtle ways of looking after my hair that work best for me that i have devised by trial and error over time. I have tried so many different products to find which ones are best for my hair type. I had problems with frizz, dry/split ends but i tried to overcome them.
I hope you find peace with yourself and your hair. Your hapiness is paramount.
Hi Leviathan,
a lot of two-year growers experience a time where - even after the "awkward stage" - there seem to be no good hair days. If you feel comfortable posting a picture, some of us can put your feeling a bit into perspective - usually, our hair looks a LOT better than we think ourselves. Is it just the nature of your hair to have a certain texture? In that situation, I have found a good dose of self-acceptance for me and my hair my hair very helpful.
By the way, Jojoba oil is probably a good idea. You could also try any product containing dimethicone and cyclomethicone and not much else (eg frizz-ease), or a little dose of a strong pommade-type hair grease.
12 inches is already serious length, and you are probably much better off sticking with it, psychologically. 2 to 2 1/2 years of patience growing it out tell me that you are NOT an intrinsic short-hair.
Hope that helps.
Peace & Growth,
Hans-Uwe
I have provided a picture of my hair. I apologize for the horrid quality, but then again it was a $20 digital camera with no flash (college student's budget). I have recently switched to Vive nutri-force conditioner and am impressed with the results thus far. However, as with most products the great results usually never last.
Hi Leviathan,
Thanks for sharing the picture! You look super already, and that's pretty good growth for two years! Whatever you're doing, your hair is just fine with it.
I think, to keep growing is the right thing to do - and you don't need trims, either.
There is no need to worry about too many hair details - just let your hair do its thing (with some conditioner, of course), and here's another cool-looking long-haired guy - the longer the better (imho). I'm sure a lot of people (especially the girls) will agree.
Should questions about hair details arise along your journey, I'm sure some board member has a good solution for you.
I wish you Peace and Growth, and have fun!
Hans-Uwe
Thank you for all the encouraging comments. They have really helped me to begin to learn to accept my hair as it is. They have also helped me to get out of this mood of wanting to cut. I am grateful to everyone who has helped me come to the realization that my hair is not nearly as awful as I had believed it to be. hans-Uwe, you definitely have a way with words, and I appreciate your support. Hopefully, now I can proceed with growing until I reach a point that has currently not been determined.
Thank you for all the encouraging comments. They have really helped me to begin to learn to accept my hair as it is. They have also helped me to get out of this mood of wanting to cut. I am grateful to everyone who has helped me come to the realization that my hair is not nearly as awful as I had believed it to be. hans-Uwe, you definitely have a way with words, and I appreciate your support. Hopefully, now I can proceed with growing until I reach a point that has currently not been determined.
Hair has a natural pH of 4-5. Anything over this will not be absorbed into the hair properly. Stick with products in this area (such as Joico) Most drugstore shampoos have a pH of around 20, so they simply sit on the hair and are not absorbed.
So I have to ask why a substance with a pH of 14 is in this conditioner?
