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I wanted to know on the days you skip washing hair is it safe to wear shower cap when just washing body to avoid hair from getting wet and the steam or can it damage it? Because sometimes hair gets wet and looks greasy. Second question can oversleeping or laying on pillow for long time damage hair? Because during cold weather season I lay head on pillow on the sides of my head and back and relax for long time watching tv. I am asking this since sometimes i notice few strands hair on pillow and not sure if its just the normal hair cycle or if i am damaging it. Third question is there any good conditioner and shampoo or combo thats good that doesn't get rid of the natural oils? Last question if hair gets damaged do you shave it off/cut it/trim it or is there product that can repair it without cutting it? Because i seen on forums some women shave damaged hair and start over and this seems extreme.
Don't fret so, this is all largely nonsense
- there is no reason why you cannot wear a shower cap, sleep normally etc.
- The few breakages you see are quite normal.
- try shampoos/conditioners that work for you. You will find much written here and whilst the individual authors are convinced of what they write, much can still be argued. No one solution is right to the exclusion of others.
No shaving is not normally recommended, if you have abused you hair just let it grow and treat it properly. Those that shave tend to be those who have abused their hair so much with strong chemicals that not only does it look awful, the damaged hair would need to be trimmed as new hair grows in. Therefore they prefer to be bald rather than have damaged hair on view.
First question I can't really answer because I've never tried not washing my hair while washing my body.
Second question, I doubt it's causing any significant damage. A few strands on your pillow is completely normal; everyone I know who has long hair notices that it ends up everywhere. If you're only finding it on your pillow I'd consider you very lucky!
Third question, I use Pantene but I honestly can't tell you how it affects my natural oils. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but if it's a serious concern, just try out various combinations until you find one that works best for you :)
Fourth question, I know it's smart to trim your ends frequently to prevent damage and remove split ends. Your hair will look better and it only take off a quarter inch, so it won't hinder your growth too much. As for shaving, I definitely do not recommend that. I know when I was younger, I got this huge knot in my hair and my dad cut it all off...it was horrible. Not sure if that's what you're referring to, but as someone else mentioned (can't go back to the page and check, unfortunately :/ ), the women you heard about probably just damaged their hair with chemicals to such an extent that shaving was the only cure. I highly suggest using as few chemically-based products as possible (I manage to use none, but my hair is also relatively obedient). Considering you voiced concerns about using a shower cap and sleeping on your hair for too long, I don't think I need to warn you about that, but still good to mention.
Good luck!
Shower cap is OK, so is just keeping the hair up or mostly out of the water...a little dampness is not going to cause a problem or damage.
You can use a smoother pillowcase...like a satin or silk or modal to reduce friction with your pillow.
You can dilute shampoo or use conditioner only to reduce the removal of natural oils...or you can replace them with other oils.
Once the hair is damaged, it can't be fixed, although some products will mask the damage -cones for example. Shaving is the last resort when there is massive damage. In most cases trims or S&D will reduce the amount of damage to a manageable level. Occasional minor trims during the course of growing may help with accumulated damage.
At least, treat it well and carefully and avoid adding more damage.