Store bought shampoo is mostly comprised of water and
sulfates. While different shampoos use different types of sulfates even your
professional shampoos have to use sulfate (instead of being completely sulfate
free) they say it’s to create that suds effect, it is critically important
which sulfate is listed in your ingredients and what that means to you. Did you
know there is a sulfate listed as an ingredient in a lot of generic shampoos
that is known to have traces of 1.4 dioxane, an irritant and probable carcinogen?
In fact, in California, 1.4 dioxane is classified as a known cancer-causing
agent and any product with traces of it needs to be labeled with a warning by
law. California seems to be making good on that promise, having sued several
companies who weren’t properly labeling their products back in 2008. But
California is just one state and still, this ingredient hasn’t been banned but
simply unveiled for consumers to merely see. This sulfate which contains
dioxane- sodium lauryl ether sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate- is an
ingredient in shampoos such as Tresemme, Herbal Essences and Pantene Pro-V. And
it’s in the top three ingredients in most of these generic shampoos. Am I
saying that grocery store brands of shampoo will give you cancer? Definitely
not. And do all shampoos have chemicals or ingredients that could affect you?
Probably. But the point I’m making is that exposing yourself to something that
could hurt your health to any degree is absolutely not worth the few extra
dollars saved for anyone. Somewhere between the generic shampoos which do much more harm than good and
are full of chemicals and the expensive, organic shampoos You will find our shampoo and conditioner. Even though our shampoo and conditioner is 100% natural, organic products we don't expect you to pay that unreal price.
Long
story short, you have hair follicles in your head that your hair strands grow
out of. In those follicles are glands that produce a natural sebum or oil that
naturally cleanses your hair. These oils cleanse your scalp, hydrate your roots,
and travel all the way to your ends through hair-brushing to moisturize and add
shine. When the sebaceous gland is allowed to secrete oils for a couple days at
a time, it can properly do it’s job. But when it is washed out everyday
(whether by store bought shampoo or salon professional), you’ll run into a
couple problems. The first is that you will constantly be washing out these
oils before they can effectively do their job, meaning you are never getting
the natural benefits your body wants to produce. The second is that by
replacing your “natural cleanser” with your shampoo, you are creating the
perfect formula for greasy roots. You should be allowing your sebaceous gland
to build up and only using your shampoo to wash out that particular build up. By
not doing so, you are not allowing your sebaceous gland to secrete anything at
any point and relying on your shampoo to do the deep cleaning, which it isn’t
made to do. So you walk around with greasy roots, dull ends that never see
natural moisture, and a huge bummer of a problem. I recommend to all of my customers
that they wash their hair about every other day. And be sure to note that when
switching your routine in this way, it will take anywhere from 6 weeks to 2
months to fully adjust. And it’s also important to note that different hair
types take to this routine differently. Ladies with curly, coarse hair can go
longer than those of us with finer, wispier strands. But the important thing is
that you are giving your locks enough time in between washing to naturally
cleanse and hydrate, whatever that timing ends up being for you.
Shampoo is meant to remove dirt, sebum (a.k.a. oils), and
product buildup from your hair. But there are dozens of different brands to
choose from, and even more types within those brands.
The same goes for conditioners. Conditioners are meant to
add shine, protect hair from drying out and allow for easier combing. Here, we
run down the best shampoos and conditioners for four different hair types.
Coarse, curly hair Curly hair is almost always dry hair and here's why: Oils
produced in the scalp don't travel as easily down the hair shaft as they do
with straight hair.
You need a shampoo that softens hair while minimizing frizz.
We've found creamy, moisturizing shampoos work best for this hair texture. Look
for wheat germ oil, jojoba oil, nut oils
(almond and coconut, for example), as well as natural vegetable oils in
your shampoos. Natural plant oils also work for deep hydration. These tend to
coat the hair shaft, trapping water inside.
Conditioners: More than any other hair type, women with
coarse, curly hair must condition every time they shampoo. Look for an
ultra-moisturizing conditioner made especially for coarse hair. Once a month
use a hot oil treatment we recommend our
organic coconut oil. Just be careful with those store bought hot oil
treatments. Most of them contain chemicals that are not healthy for your hair..
For extra-dry hair, use an intense moisturizing treatment every 2 weeks.
The key is to pick a product that works great, doesn't damage, and is affordable. Correct? Red Dirt Soap Company Natural Shampoo and Conditioner is just what you need.
Extra tip: Curly hair should not be washed every day. You'll
only dehydrate hair and make it more frizzy and unmanageable. Another
alternative to shampoo washing's is to rinse the hair with water and then follow
with a conditioner. Also, lay off the blow dryer (they tend to dry out hair
even more) and let curls dry naturally. Fine, oily, or limp hair Fine hair is
most susceptible to looking 'oily' and can get this way after only one day. You
want a gentle shampoo marked for daily or frequent washing. The secret fine
hair shampoo lies in a body-building ingredient called panthenol. Hair experts
swear that panthenol penetrates the hair cuticle making each strand thicker.
Conditioners: Not all limp-haired ladies need conditioners.
If you find you can easily comb out hair after washing's without a conditioner
you can skip it. Conditioners are good for combing out fine hair. Massage a
light-weight conditioner from mid-shaft down and no need to leave it on for
long. If you have extremely greasy hair, look for the oil-absorbing tea-tree
oil in your conditioner.
Colored or chemically-treated hair your goal is to reinforce
weak areas in the hair shaft that naturally comes from coloring, straightening,
relaxing or perming hair. Look for protein-based shampoos with ingredients such
as wheat and soy oils unfortunately, overly processed hair can suffer from oily
roots but dry shaft and ends. Therefore, washing processed hair can be tricky
business. You want to cleanse the roots while moisturizing the ends. We suggest
washing hair every other day with a shampoo made for normal hair. Concentrate
on cleaning the scalp. Then use a strong conditioner only on the mid-shaft to
ends of hair. Here are other shampoo tips for the following processed hair
types:
Colored. Hair experts swear color-protection shampoos
contain gentle cleansers and ingredients that preserve color. Other experts
suggest shampoos for color-treated hair are just another way for companies to
make money off you. With our hair care products you will not find any harsh
chemicals to damage your already brittle hair. We say: Whatever works for you.
Permed or relaxed. Any moisturizing shampoo will work for
your hair type but apply it only to roots and rub it in well. Then apply a
quick burst of water. While the water is running down the hair shaft, massage
hair to remove any dirt and grime. Rinse well. You don't want to skip the
conditioner. Make sure to keep conditioner from the roots.
Conditioners: Look for a rich conditioner to be used
primarily on the ends of your hair. Avoid conditioners that contain silicone,
since they tend to strip color.
Extra tip for processed hair: Wash your hair only every few
days to prevent drying out.
Look for natural plant, nut, and vegetable oils with keratin
and collagen to help restore the moisture balance to your hair.
Conditioners: Again, moisturizing is key. You'll want to
look for an ultra-moisturizing conditioner.
Organic Shampoo Ingredients: apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, castor
oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, Phytokeratin (natural
vegetable delivered keratin), Pseudocollagen Naturally Derived Active, palm
oil, palm kernel oil, wheat germ oil, and essential oils.
Organic Conditioner Ingredients: avocado oil, apricot kernel oil,
castor oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, olive oil, Phytokeratin (natural
vegetable delivered keratin), Pseudocollagen Naturally Derived Active, shea
butter, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, distilled water, and essential
oils.
