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My question seems pretty simple, but since I don't have the answer, I'm asking it, anyway. I wash my hair everyday. That's probably too much. Comments?
My question is this: My hair is mid-back length. To use enough shampoo to get it all covered, a guy ends up using quite a bit. How does a person know when it's all rinsed out?
I just ended up getting in the shower and scrubbing my scalp with quality conditioner just so the itching would stop. I have pretty dry skin (all over) anyway, so it's no surprise that it's even worse when I accidentally fail to wash all the shampoo out of my hair.
Mid-back length is a lot of hair. Is there a trick to rinsing it thoroughly?
Steve
Use less shampoo?
Seriously, unless you hair is getting really dirty every day, you don't need much shampoo to get it squeaky clean. This is from the perspective of someone whose hair care routine is based mostly on minimizing resultant scalp anger.
First, I dilute my shampoo 1:8 to 1:10 with water in a squirt bottle. Squirt some on my wet hair (generally just the scalp area), massage briefly, rinse off so the shampoo runs down my length (that amount is enough to clean hair that pretty much stays up in a bun all the time). Use a strong spray to rinse hair and massage the scalp. At the end of the shower, I wet my hair down with diluted white vinegar (1:4 to 1:5) and then rinse that out with cool water. All this helps (especially the vinegar rinse) with preventing manky cranky scalp before the next wash.
Once I figured out that any product residue on my scalp means anger/itchiness/buildup sooner, I stopped worrying about what works for my hair (anything, thank all the small gods for coarse sturdy Asian hair) and focused on keeping my scalp happy.
Apple cider vinegar, interesting... ANOTHER fascinating hair care tip from Trolleypup :-) Going to have to see if they sell it in my supermarket. It seems it's also good for oily skin.
Actually he said "White Vinegar" not "Apple Cider Vinegar".Just don't want you to pick up the wrong type:)Maybe it doesn't make a difference but why take chances.Cheers
Mârk
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar? Both are acids. They both are natural in that they are almost the same PH as your hair. There are many sites that talk about the scientific benefits of vinegar rinses. While there are a lot of people who cannot handle the smell, most don't realize that the smell goes away once the hair dries. I personally like how it smoothens the cuticles of my hair after a nice cold rinse.
Oh and vinegar rinse has so many benefits to a hennaed hair like myself...So taking a chance is worth it.
Cheers,
rowie
I use white vinegar because it has less lingering smell than ACV, I don't think the exact vinegar makes a whole lot of difference except for the smell.
Hi Trolleypup,
As long as you don't use Balsamic, or Raspberry Red Wine Vinegar, I guess you're OK (LOL)....
My one and only time I had a free "aroma therapy" session, the guy applying different oils onto my back accidentally spilled a horrific amount of Oregano oil onto my skin and into my hairline at the nape of the neck -- which actually burned, so that's when I immediately ended the session... I smelled like a pizza for days, even after repeatedly washing and shampooing and conditioning with any flavor I could think of to get rid of that Oregano. Thank goodness for Aloe Vera, as well as a drop or 2 of Lavender oil into my olive oil that I apply into my hair ends, or I'd be still smelling and feeling like a pizza today!!
What does this have to do with Vinegar rinses?
Answer: nothing whatsoever! (LOL) But, just thought it was fun to narrate the above story, if for no other reason than vinegar & oil always go so well together!
- Ken
haha, well at least there are much worse things than smelling like pizza... kind of manly, actually :-)
You're right! I think Trolleypup's tip got me reading up online about vinegar and that's how I got things mixed up...
WOW, that's a heck of a lot of shampooing, I can't believe I just read that!
Everyone's hair & scalp is different, of course; but "everyday??"... How about considering just a water-wash only once in awhile -- or just applying a small amount of conditioner and then rinsing that out?
Sounds like your scalp DEFINITELY needs a break from your shampooing routine!
By the way, for myself, what has been working well for me over the past several years is usually to shampoo every 3-4 days, sometimes going even as long as almost a full week between thorough shampooings (by "thorough", I mean: to apply the shampoo bottle's suggested directions of 2 applications with rinsing out thoroughly) -- and even then, as Trolleypup said, I only apply the shampoo to the scalp area, diluted with plenty of water. The ends don't need anything other than the run-off -- preferably cooler water as the final rinse.
Hope that helps!
- Ken
Of course you should shampoo daily. I have done so for 60 years. We shower/bathe each day, yes? Our hair is part of our bodies, yes? It absorbs dirt, oils, environmental crap, yes? Shampoo daily!
The trick is to use something mild with minimal detergent, and condition lightly every other day.
Hmmm, interesting... I disagree (at least for my own hair & scalp); but hey, everybody has to find what works best for themselves -- ultimately it's an issue of whatever makes your own hair and scalp feel and look its best.
Even when my hair was considerably shorter, I never shampooed "everyday": I shampooed every OTHER day back then, using dry hair brushing in-between shampoo days. Then as my hair got gradually longer & longer, I started going 2 or even 3 days between shampooing (again, resorting to my morning brushing ritual in-between). I also learned about Conditioner-only Washing as another way to clean, yet not strip the hair & scalp so much of its natural oils.
Yes, I shower everyday; but my hair & scalp can't take the same ordeal as that. Only during extremely hot, humid weather and/or if I was doing a lot of gardening chores and got very dirty and sweaty would I consider shampooing everyday for a time.
- Ken
Indeed. As you know, there is a debate as to whether people should use shampoo AT ALL (link below). Not just SLS-free shampoo but ANY shampoo.
I have used shampoo no more than once a week for the last year or so - and I am currently going to see if I can go even longer. My last shampoo was over 10 days ago. I wash it thoroughly with warm water and a little conditioner, and I thoroughly brush it.
So far, my hair is NOT dirty or greasy. It is very slightly more oily than usual but not unpleasantly so, it has FAR more body than usual, it feels nice and there is no smell. We'll see. I may cave in and shampoo - or use the BS and ACV method. I'm just experimenting at present ... ;)
Everyone has different hair and the reactions vary. It also takes a while for your scalp to recognise that you are not stripping your hair of oil constantly. At first, if you normally shampoo daily, the scalp tends to overcompensate by secreting more natual oil (sebum). But - in theory at least - after a while of not shampooing, the scalp adjusts and produces less oil.
At any rate, I do think there is a case for comparing shampoo to paint-stripper. It leaves your hair clean but naked, stripped of any natural protective coating. Yes, we restore some of that coating by using conditioner afterwards - but is it wise to strip off every vestige of its natural coating in the first place?
Damon
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Wikipedia article (further links at bottom)
And ... there is also a theory that shampoo contributes to hair loss. I remember a quote: "How many homeless people do you see that are bald?"
Not sure if that quote is valid - homeless people also tend to be young or youngish since their lifespan is shorter than average - but there may be an iota of truth in it! :)
Damon
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While my hair isn't as long as yours, I've found that shampooing every day isn't necessary or desirable. There's a certain madness in shampooing every day and then having to treat your hair to combat the dryness induced by the shampoo. As has been mentioned before, what works best for most people is gradually extending the period between shampooing until you find what works best for you. I say gradually because it takes some time before your scalp realizes it doesn't need to produce so much oil to replace what's been lost. On the days between shampooing you can still rinse your hair with water and use conditioner. In fact conditioner alone can do a passable job of cleansing without removing all the oil. I only shampoo when it's necessary to remove the build up of sebum (natural scalp oil) or if I should end up with something in my hair that won't just rinse out.
--Dale
Dale's Facebook Page
I only Shampoo about ever 3 days unless iv been out in hot weather doing strenuous work....no way would i consider shampooing everyday my Hair looks and feels best on the 2nd day after washing once the oils have been replaced....
No wonder it's itching! The principle of shampoo is not far removed from that of paint-stripper. You're stripping your hair of its natural oil (sebum) so often, the scalp is hardly getting a chance to replace it before you strip it off again.
It starts a vicious cycle. If you keep stripping the oil, the scalp overcompensates by secreting even more oil than usual. Your hair gets greasy fast so you strip it again. And so on ...
Use less shampoo and use it less frequently - and your scalp will eventually get a chance to settle down, stop overcompensating and produce less oil, and stop itching so much.
It will also give your hair a chance to build up "body". Stripped hair is naked hair. It's the natural oil that gives it body and volume. Conditioner is good but should not be regarded as a substitute.
Damon
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