new thread
Hi fellows. It's been years since I've been to this board! I've had my hair cut short (it was about shoulder length before) in October 2002 and regretted it right away and started growing it back out since. Now it's well below my shoulders and I'm loving it. I've come back for more help though:
I've recently cut my hand resulting in a bandaged hand which meant that I couldn't wash my own hair so I went to my regular salon to have them to do it. So, they washed my hair, then blew dry it, and the end result was amazing... Why is it that when they do it at the salon, my hair comes out straighter, much cleaner, yet not dry and frizzy and totally manageable? What do they do that I can't do myself at home? Is it the blow drying that makes hair look great?
Love,
Kiat T.
Hi Kiat - Welcome back! Hope the growing out is going well :-)
To answer your question:
No probably just the right type of shampoo & conditioner for your hair. Next time your their ask them what products they used on your hair, they'll probably have plenty in stock to sell you. They'll even give you advice on how and when to use it.
Expect to pay more than your usual supermarket shampoo prices. But as you've seen the results are worth it.
Thanks a lot! It's nice to be back!
I did buy their shampoo and conditioner (Loreal Professionnel, Liss Extreme). I feel like it's more because of the way I'm washing my hair. Am I not supposed to bend over and flip my hair forward but tilt my head back and pull my hair backwards instead?
Or is it that I'm supposed to wash-condition-wash (I usually just wash then condition or skip the conditioning altogether on the believe that more chemical = more hair damage) then blow dry like they do at the salon? Interestingly, I scrolled down and found that other people actually condition-wash-condition... Is that what I'm supposed to be doing?
Thanks a lot!
Love,
Kiat T.
I haven't heard of wash-condition-wash, but you will DEFINITELY want to be using conditioner. I've found that conditioners matched to shampoos (for example, I use Rusk for both conditioner and shampoo) work better than two seperate prodcuts.
What's most important about washing and conditioning is to make sure you really work it into your hair - grab small sections at a time and massage it into your scalp at the base and all the way up and down the strand. Make sure to cover your entire scalp and all the way down to the ends. For good measure, I leave my conditioner in for 3-5 minutes before washing it out. I then let it air-dry, 'though I've been French braiding it recently when its still wet to give it a nice wavy texture and prevent "wings" forming off my shoulders. Once I take it out, it's soft and silky.
Hope that helps!
-Stefan
Hi Stefan.
So from what you're saying, should I be massaging the conditioner into the scalp? I always try to avoid letting the conditioner touch my scalp - I use an anti-dandruff shampoo which I DO work into my scalp, and figured that puting conditioner on afterwards might somehow undo the effects of the shampoo. Would conditiner on the scalp help or hinder the problem?
Many thanks!
Technically conditioner shouldn't be applied to scalp, just along the hair shaft, your scalps natural oils should provide the conditioning for your roots.
Though this is a point that is largely ignored unless the conditioner causes scalp irritation, so in your case you are probably better off not applying conditioner to the first inch of your hair. You can't drop conditioner though as its the only way to restore moisture balance after washing and it helps detangle your hair and reduce breakage.
I'm not happy with the results I get rinsing my hair in the sink because of the bendover forward required to rinse it completely. Even though my hair tends not to be tangly after conditioning, I find that this makes combout difficult, which can cause damage. I much prefer to wash, condition, and rinse in the shower, with my hair hanging down. Do you have a shower?
Definitely don't wash after conditioning. You'll wash away all that expensive conditioner. And conditioning is extremely important. Shampoo=harsh, conditioner=replenishing, restoring moisture and oils to the hair.
The link below will explain how most Americans overwash their hair, which strips the surface and results in damage.
I no longer use shampoos. The oils in conditioners will dissolve your natural skin oils. I use a clarifying conditioner (Suave Daily Clarifying, VO5 Kiwi-Lime, or White Rain Extra Body, but beware! all these companies make a variety of products, some of which are unsuitable) diluted with a little water to penetrate better. Scrub the scalp well. If you wash frequently enough, only the scalp will need to be scrubbed.
Then, a moisturizing (non-silicone) conditioner, rinse, followed by Pantene Pro-V.
It's amazing how your hair will feel after this.
The blow-drying makes your hair look straighter. When I stopped blowdrying my long hair (blow-drying is hard on long hair) it turned out that the ends curled and I had a wave or two.
The "cleaner, yet not dry and frizzy and totally manageable" is a result of the products they used on it, most likely a silicone-based conditioner. I love this type of conditioner because it makes my hair just as you describe. "Pantene Pro-V Smooth and Sleek" is available in large bottles at a very reasonable price in most stores.
I do not blowdry my hair either, but let it dry naturally; I am quite resilient to cold weather, so that I have no problems going out in the winter weather with the hair still wet.
I have noticed that my hair gets straighter in dry weather and is easyer to manage. With the last few weeks' hot and humid weather here in the Northeast my hair got curly and hard to untangle...
I don't use anything except for anti-dandruff shampoo that I get from CVS.
A Linux Longhair
Silicones make my hair really itch.
When your hair gets longer, you will have the option of applying conditioners to the length of your hair, but not your scalp.
I know there are some products that make my scalp itch, but I haven't determined which ingredient bothers me.
Hi Katherine
I normally apply conditioner to the hair, but sometimes I get carried away and just chuck half a bottle over my head, not rreally paying attention. But washing my hair is a sensuous experience, so I try to enjoy it as much as possible.
I know one ingredient that really irritates my scalp which is a plant extract, which I found out by accident, camomile! I used a camomile conditioner, and as soon as that stuff touched me, I think my body went into severe shock or something, as it felt like boiling water on my skin, scalp, and eyes. The pain in my eyes was unbearable.
Yo, nice to hear from a lot more people. Antways the reason why hair stylists make your hair so nice is because it's their job. They've done hundreds of people and have plenty of experience and knowledge of the correct products and techniques to use.
Also, sorry what happened to your hand. But what you could've done was just wash your hair with only your un-cut hand.
But what you could've done was just wash your hair with only your un-cut hand.
I've done a plastic glove with a rubber band around the risk, too.
Its one of those natural fenomonoms lol like why a cup of coffee tastes better at a resturaunt. The girl that does my hair I want to marry or at least take her home with me so she can do my hair everyday. It never feels as soft or as shiny or hold a curl or look at nice when I do it at home. So your not alone there.
They use blowdryers on very hot temps and dry your hair in sections. The heat seals the cuticle and straightens your hair if done with tension. They usually use a round brush for this.
