CO hair washing help

iammumtoone

I found out about this thanks to this forum.

I have found a conditioner to use for the washing part (asda essentials). I want something a bit more indulgent for the conditioning afterwards, however I looked at loads of bottles and all had 'cones' in them. Can anyone recommend one to use or does everyone use the same as they used to wash their hair?

Also do I need to do a clarify wash before I start? and do people still shampoo every so often? if so can you recommend a suitable shampoo to use for this.

Many thanks

lostinrates

iammumtoone wrote: »

I found out about this thanks to this forum.

I have found a conditioner to use for the washing part (asda essentials). I want something a bit more indulgent for the conditioning afterwards, however I looked at loads of bottles and all had 'cones' in them. Can anyone recommend one to use or does everyone use the same as they used to wash their hair?

Also do I need to do a clarify wash before I start? and do people still shampoo every so often? if so can you recommend a suitable shampoo to use for this.

Many thanks

I spent a long time looking for cone free, but personally I have found some cones actually quite suit my hair. .

I am using Wen ATM for ease but when I was co washing without buying 'a system' (and doing it yourself works out much cheaper) I would condition according to the needs of my hair at that time.....so I would do a 'stretch test' and use a moisture heavy conditioner, or a protein conditioner as best suited. I also used the lighter conditioner I had cleaned with as a leave in sometimes, being careful to avoid the scalp and roots of my hair.


I do shampoo occasionally. But rarely. I am trying to remember if I have this year, I think I have. I will be shampooing tomorrow, or rather the hairdresser will be. That will be it for as long as possible.

I definitely found doing it myself, using the right 'second' conditioner, was better than Wen, but wen is more convenient which is a big plus for me ATM.

Fire_Fox

:j:j:j

I am using Garnier Fructis Repair & Shine to condition at present, it is fairly rich and generally liked by long hairs and curly girls because it has similar 'slip' and detangling properties as silicones (known as Triple Nutrition in the US if you want to hunt down reviews). I believe several of the Fructis conditioners are silicone free and they are inexpensive if you don't get on with them. :money: Another option is to buy a conditioner base and add as much or as little oil as you want.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garnier-Fructis-Conditioner-Repair-Shine/dp/B001RYNLVI
http://www.naturallythinking.com/products/Hair-Conditioner.html

I posted links to lists of other products here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=60845985&postcount=66

Lostinrates makes an excellent point about proteins, I do that treatment separately because my hair was so damaged and I tended to focus on moisturising rather than strengthening conditioners. Have got a couple of other products in the bathroom cupboard, really must try them!!

You will need to clarify before starting, you can use any shampoo you already have in the house that is not moisturising/ conditioning. So something transparent rather than creamy looking, even a kids or mens product. Just do a double shampoo if you use silicone-y styling products. If your hair feels straw like after clarifying that is fairly normal, you can do a dilute white vinegar rinse to close the cuticle again which should help and then obviously conditioner.

Everyone's hair and scalp are different: some people shampoo with a sulphate free product weekly, others never shampoo at all. I have a handful of times in a couple of years because I dye my hair but hated the feeling each time! Many of us find it's a time of getting to know your real hair all over again, mine is actually curly not simply a poofy and fluffy nightmare plenty of people are shocked to discover how damaged their hair is without silicones faking it.

Fire_Fox

Scrap recommending Fructis Repair & Shine, they have changed the formula, taken out the palm oil and added in amodimothicone. My hair has been funny for a couple of weeks, now I know why. :mad:

cabbage

Holland and Barrett have some cone free conditioners as do Body Shop in their rainforest range.

I also use the Naked Leave in conditioner (available in boots or if you are lucky poundland).

I also use Boots pink curl cream and Superdrug Coconut oil in solid form.

If some sulphate or cones have snuck in or if starting the co washing routine I use Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo to strip the hair

iammumtoone

thank you

I actually found one in my stash which is cone free (frizz-ease curl around) so have been trying this along with the asda essentials for the washing part.

I must be doing something wrong. I did clarify before hand (used boots build up remover). However my hair feels sticky, heavy and like the conditioner is still left on it I have not given up and tonight I will start again with the clarify and try to make more of an effort to rinse all the conditioners out.

Fire_Fox

Are you sure the Frizz Ease is silicone free? I thought that range was packed with them. Silicones are any ingredient with the suffix -xane, -cone, -conol.

Your hair should feel sort of squeaky clean (a 'softer' squeaky than shampoo) when you are done washing and rinsing the CO-wash out. You use a fair bit of product, get up a lather, rinse loads. I rinsed badly and missed bits initially.

lostinrates

iammumtoone wrote: »

thank you

I actually found one in my stash which is cone free (frizz-ease curl around) so have been trying this along with the asda essentials for the washing part.

I must be doing something wrong. I did clarify before hand (used boots build up remover). However my hair feels sticky, heavy and like the conditioner is still left on it I have not given up and tonight I will start again with the clarify and try to make more of an effort to rinse all the conditioners out.

Did you leave the first conditioning long enough and really scrub? Did you rinse enough? Rinsing properly after c/o washing takes much longer I have found.


Fwiw I hate frizz ease shampoo but love the actual frizz ease. I have no problem using this sticky stuff along with co washing. It takes experiementation to find what suits your own hair and regime. Just as the C/o advocated tell us not to be fearful about not playing by I the rules of shampoo I have found I need to break some of their rules sometimes too. :)

iammumtoone

whoops I thought silicone's were just ones that ended in 'cone'

(wanders off to double check bottle and hangs head in shame that she can't have read the advise / threads properly)

EDIT: yes I have found an xane in the frizz-ease

Thanks again for all your advise. Back to the drawing board find a suitable conditioner and try again.

lostinrates

iammumtoone wrote: »

whoops I thought silicone's were just ones that ended in 'cone'

(wanders off to double check bottle and hangs head in shame that she can't have read the advise / threads properly)

Don't worry...it takes a while to get it right., I don't still.

Fire_Fox

iammumtoone wrote: »

whoops I thought silicone's were just ones that ended in 'cone'

(wanders off to double check bottle and hangs head in shame that she can't have read the advise / threads properly)

EDIT: yes I have found an xane in the frizz-ease

Thanks again for all your advise. Back to the drawing board find a suitable conditioner and try again.

Don't be ashamed, see post four! I clearly can't manage to check things I purchase properly .... I had to put -cone, -conol, -xane, polyquat in my phone at the start, I couldn't hold it all in my head. :rotfl:

Plus I think it's better if you have a problem and can easily identify the potential culprit/ possible solution. A lot less frustrating than having no idea why it's not working.