I must say, I feel really silly writing a post about my hair, and thinking you will care. But, you keep asking, so I guess some of you do care. And, since you care…I’m all over it.
I’m all yours, baby. Read on:
I was first enlightened about the ‘No-poo method‘ by an “Or so she say…” guest blogger/super cute gal, Kate. I must admit, I was really skeptical about it at first. I’m like that way with everything, it can drive people crazy, that know me. Anyhoo, it wasn’t until several months later that I was thinking, “Ya know? My dry hair is really starting to chap my hide. What was that thing that that one girl said??” No offense by ‘one girl,’ Kate. Your name is now engraven on my list of people that I am forever indebted to. So, I read the post, bought the Deva stuff, and was literally freaking out about how soft my hair felt, the first time!! Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?? If you don’t, read Kate’s explanation of the No-Poo Method.
Several of you have asked me if I’m still doing it, what I think, and what products I like. So, now that I’ve been doing it for quite a while now, I feel like I can finally give you my opinion…
Like I said above, I first went out and bought the Deva products, DevaCare No-Poo Cleanser and DevaCare One Condition. The first time I bought the DevaCurl, since I have curly hair. But, realized I liked the DevaCare better because it is for color treated hair…and, it smelled better.
Literally, the first time I used it…I freaked. My hair REALLY felt significantly softer! I shared with you in a previous post about this experience, Dry Skin, Dry Hair…My Favorite Products. But, at that point I hadn’t tried the “Care” version, only the “Curl.”
I used those products for a while, loved the softness and shininess of my hair, but there were two things that I couldn’t hack anymore, after a few months of hardcore diligence. First, right at the start of my hair line, I would get dry, flaky skin. Ick. Second, I don’t wash my hair every day, so before, when I used sulfate shampoos, I could go almost a week (if I wanted) without washing, with no signs of greasiness. I was that dry. But, with the Deva, I could only make it really one day before it started to look limp at the roots. There never really seemed to be the oil-balancing adjustment that I hoped for and heard about. My mom, who did this ‘no-poo method’ right along with me, said the same thing. I couldn’t bring myself to go back to sulfate shampoos, I loved the soft hair too much. So, I started washing just my roots with a sulfate shampoo (to give the roots a little oil-strip), then washing the rest of my hair with the Deva. Tedious.
There had to be something easier.
Enter, Redken’s Natures Rescue. Redken recently came out with their line of sulfate/silicone/paraben free hair products. I figured I would give them a try and see if my hair was any perkier, but just as soft. And, it was! Yaaaaaaaaay!!
Also free of the naughty ingredients, Natures Rescue performs more like a shampoo than a conditioner (Deva products). It actually suds just a bit, so you can spread it easier. AND afterwards, my hair feels just as soft as it did with Deva, but cleaner. My roots are perkier and my scalp is less dry. I also can use my normal hair routine, with my cheapo gel, and it washed out perfectly. This Redken line might possibly go against some of the die-hard ‘no poo’ rules, but overall it has the basics in place…sulfate and silicone free. And, most importantly, to ME, is the result. Soft, shiny, and healthy hair.
Oh, but wait..it gets more complex. I’ve actually decided that my favorite combination is the Natures Rescue Shampoo WITH the DevaCare OneCondition Conditioner. It’s taboo to mix scents, I suppose. But, I prefer the Deva Conditioner because it does a better job of eliminating knots and you can leave some in your hair, if you want some extra conditioning.
So, that’s what I have been using in my hair. My mom, on the other hand, wanted to save a little money and find a sulfate-free product, that wasn’t a salon brand. She also used the Deva products for months and loved the softness she experienced on her thin, brittle hair. But, her complaints were the same as mine. She wanted a little more volume and a cleaner feeling. She has been loving the L’Oreal brand, . She claims her hair is also just as soft and healthy feeling as when she used the Deva. They’re quite cheap and you can find them at Wal-Mart, Target, and similar stores.
The only trouble with the L’Oreal brand is that it is not paraben or silicone free, just sulfate-free. Maybe it matters to you, maybe it doesn’t. Let’s go over a few things, and you can decide:
Sulfates – Also known as Ammonium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. These are cleansing agents that allow the water to adhere to the grime and oil so that it can be rinsed away. The shampoos lather is typically created by sulfates. Sulfates can dry the hair and cause colored hair to fade.
Silicone -Silicone is used in hair products to make the feel smoother. It coats the hair to prevent the absorption of humidity and also to prevent moisture loss. The strength of the silicone can vary from product to product. Stronger silicones can be more likely to cause build-up on the hair. It can’t be said that silicones are always bad, some of the effects are actually good things (less frizz, shine, etc.). But, if you are experiencing build up, it may be a good idea to avoid ‘cones’ in your hair products…or try a different product. And, you will likely need a sulfate to remove the build-up. Typically, if you are using a sulfate-free shampoo in conjunction with a silicone free conditioner, there will naturally be more shine, less dry hair, and less build up. Hence, all the fuss about ‘no-poo’.
Parabens – Parabens are a preservative used in many products to prevent the growth of bacteria. They have proven to be highly effective since the 50’s. However, in 2004, a researcher found parabens in a breast cancer tumor and concluded that there was link between the two. Critics have said that it isn’t a valid claim because healthy breast tissue was not tested for parabens, as well. From everything I’ve read, so far there is no definitive link between cancer and parabens. Paraben doses in cosmetics are also quite small. So, my synopsis: its good to be educated, but no need to freak out.
And, I’m done! I hope that answers a lot of your questions. No matter how ‘no poo’ involved you decide to be, go “sulfate-free”…you will be so glad you did!
with all due respect to your research, it is kind of irresponsible of you to be touting parabens, even in small doses. the truth of the matter is that perhaps the amount of parabens contained in your shampoo is OK, but when it’s in your shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, every cosmetics product, lotion, etc., you are far exceeding the “proper” dose of parabens. there are fantastic cosmetics companies out there making products that are safe and with no “what ifs” attached, and those companies should be celebrated and advertised. also, parabens, cones sulfates and are not the only chemicals to be avoided. there is almost no ingredient in the everpure product that is easily pronounced and/or that is natural. and it is made with “fragrance” which may contain phthalates – companies do not have to disclose the ingredients that make up their “fragrance” because that is proprietary. but more often than not, if there is nothing to indicate that the fragrance is made from essential oils, it is made from a cocktail of chemicals and known carcinogens such as 1,4 dioxane. i dont mean to be so critical, but do think that if you’re going to educate, you should “fully” educate and not just focus on three possibly harmful chemicals. FYI, loreal everpure has an 8 rating on the EWG website (cosmeticsdatabase.com)
What if you develop dandruff? What are some products or remedies to get rid of it?
Dandruff is actually a different condition than what most people get, which is a dry scalp. For a dry scalp, I like using plain brown sugar to scrub it. It’s nice and gritty, yet dissolves quickly.