Back to sulfates? Advice? Personal experiences?

virginblue · 12-24-2012, 08:02 PM

I've been using the Shea moisture Shea butter shampoo for awhile and I liked it a lot better than straight co washing. Recently, I needed to clarify my hair and picked up VO5's passion fruit smoothie shampoo. It didn't make my hair feel rough at all like other SLS shampoos so I just used my RO and skipped the DT. Totally surprised by the results! My hair wasn't dry at all. So I've been using the shampoo for my past three washings (I wash 2-3 times per week) and my hair really seems to like it, even with the cold weather. My scalp feels less itchy and cleaner. I have a naturally oily scalp and skin in general (yuck, I know lol) and I think I may need sulfates. No desire to return to silicones, just sulfates. Any personal experiences, etc? Also, I've recently cut out my AIF and stuck to just okra gel and my hair is less frizzy. Maybe it doesn't like polyquats? Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated!

My hair properties, etc. are at the bottom for those using tapatalk.
2b, fine texture, high porosity, medium density.//loves protein

letta510 · 12-24-2012, 10:41 PM

People make sulfates seem so bad but people have been using them for years. If your hair likes it then keep using them. And just because a shampoo has sulfates doesn't mean it's drying, there are way more ingredients in there that keep your hair from being dry. Good luck girl

ShubhoR · 12-24-2012, 11:52 PM

Your hair didn't feel dry because your hair is healthy from the inside I think. I use sulfates, but I do DTs regularly.
Also you should know I use cones as little as possible in conditioners and my shampoos are absolutely cone free. I dilute a bit of shampoo in a mug of water and I pour it over my hair and then lather it in. it's sufficient to get rid of the buildup I get from co washing .

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virginblue · 12-26-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letta510

People make sulfates seem so bad but people have been using them for years. If your hair likes it then keep using them. And just because a shampoo has sulfates doesn't mean it's drying, there are way more ingredients in there that keep your hair from being dry. Good luck girl

Good point. I guess I never thought of it like that though I should have lol. ShubhoR, I think you're right about my hair being fairly healthy. I try to take good care of it. Thanks for sharing your personal experience btw. I also use a cone free shampoo. I may have spoken too soon on the sulfates. I think I need more sulfate washes, but not every time I wash, maybe every other. I washed today and my roots are greasy and my ends are dry

I'm going to try diluting it since that works so well for you. Back to experimentation!

ShubhoR · 12-26-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virginblue

Quote:

Originally Posted by letta510

People make sulfates seem so bad but people have been using them for years. If your hair likes it then keep using them. And just because a shampoo has sulfates doesn't mean it's drying, there are way more ingredients in there that keep your hair from being dry. Good luck girl

Good point. I guess I never thought of it like that though I should have lol. ShubhoR, I think you're right about my hair being fairly healthy. I try to take good care of it. Thanks for sharing your personal experience btw. I also use a cone free shampoo. I may have spoken too soon on the sulfates. I think I need more sulfate washes, but not every time I wash, maybe every other. I washed today and my roots are greasy and my ends are dry

I'm going to try diluting it since that works so well for you. Back to experimentation!

I usually use shampoo once a week and I do a DT right after. Rest of the days I co wash. Whenever I shampoo I either prepoo with EVCO or EVOO. Or I add oils and honey and stuff to the rinse out conditioner if I'm pressed for time. That way my hair doesn't go dry. If I don't have time at all,i don't shampoo . :P
happy to help!

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Jas76 · 12-26-2012, 06:44 PM

I use sulfates once every 2-3 weeks to clarify. The rest of the time I use SM, but sometimes I will use a "stronger" low-poo, and sometimes I will co-wash.

Sulfates and even cones are "evil", lol! It's the cycle of constant use of them. If you are only using a gentle sulfate poo 2-3 times a week, you're probably fine!

I just sort of go by what my hair "wants" on any given day. I do lots of PT's and DT's, too!

If it works for you - do it!

curlypearl · 12-27-2012, 09:01 AM

I've returned to using cones in moderation and I use a very mild shampoo which is specifically for colored hair, since I dye my hair and most important: I dilute the shampoo like ShubhoR does (earlier in this thread).

The poo contains sulfates but it is a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and diluting it makes it even gentler. I've tried Lo Poo and I just don't like the results as well; my scalp feels greasy afterward. Sometimes I will use Deva NoPoo and skip washing altogether and that's fine too, but I usually just use the shampoo for dyed hair.

You really need to experiment to make the decision about what works best for your hair. Have fun!

curlybran · 12-27-2012, 05:08 PM

What shampoo do yall use?

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ShubhoR · 12-27-2012, 06:53 PM

Enliven, the cone free Herbal Essences shampoo, Pantene lively clean, Himalaya Herbals protein shampo

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Cristy_amk · 12-28-2012, 04:17 AM

I think you should use what your hair responds to. I notice you are a 2b. I'm a 2c. I think us wavy girls have a bit more leeway. I used to think if I used sulphates and silicones that I was "failing". Now I realize, the point of the Curl Girl Method and this Forum is to gain general information about what could be causing our hair problems and then finding out what methods may (or may not) work for us. LOL when I first visited the forum a few years back I thought I could NEVER shampoo, that TONS of conditioner (any kind without cones) was my friend, and that I needed half a bottle of cone free gel to curl up my hair ha ha ha! Now with everyone learning more about hair properties we can find specific products that are better suited for our hair types. For me moderation was the key....I can shampoo with sulphates but no more than twice a week. I can handle a cone or two but now I avoid products overloaded with them. I can use gel but only need a little for definition. I also learned protein overload was causing my rough hair. I've learned so much here what an awesome forum!

ShubhoR · 12-28-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cristy_amk

I think you should use what your hair responds to. I notice you are a 2b. I'm a 2c. I think us wavy girls have a bit more leeway. I used to think if I used sulphates and silicones that I was "failing". Now I realize, the point of the Curl Girl Method and this Forum is to gain general information about what could be causing our hair problems and then finding out what methods may (or may not) work for us. LOL when I first visited the forum a few years back I thought I could NEVER shampoo, that TONS of conditioner (any kind without cones) was my friend, and that I needed half a bottle of cone free gel to curl up my hair ha ha ha! Now with everyone learning more about hair properties we can find specific products that are better suited for our hair types. For me moderation was the key....I can shampoo with sulphates but no more than twice a week. I can handle a cone or two but now I avoid products overloaded with them. I can use gel but only need a little for definition. I also learned protein overload was causing my rough hair. I've learned so much here what an awesome forum!

Lol. I thought so too at first..that i'd have to give up shampoo and cones. six months back when I read all about the benefits of CG,i stocked up on CG friendly conditioner thinking that that was all I needed. I still have five bottles left(talk about crazy huh?

). I was wrong. Yes co washing is the best thing that I have discovered for my hair but I need to use sulfates at least once a week.

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dresdendoll · 12-28-2012, 10:40 AM

I had the same experience...and with Shea Moisture Shampoo. I found it was great for my hair but terrible for my scalp (and senses with the strong smell!) Just recently, I went on vacation and stayed at a hotel that provided a sulfate-free shampoo that actually worked really well! I took the sample/travel size home, and I'm loving it. So there are good sulfate-free ones out there that actually clean your hair, but sometimes they are hard to find. For me, lowpoos can either dry out or not clean my hair. If a sulfate one works for you, go for it! For optimum moisture absorption, the hair should be clean anyway.

virginblue · 12-30-2012, 07:45 PM

Thanks for all the advice and sharing, guys! dresdendoll, what's the name of the low poo sample you got?

CurlyCutie1394 · 12-30-2012, 08:53 PM

I use sulfate shampoo I like tressume naturals shampoo as long as my conditioner is silicone free I can use any shampoo

dresdendoll · 12-30-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virginblue

Thanks for all the advice and sharing, guys! dresdendoll, what's the name of the low poo sample you got?

Well, I got it at a hotel, and I don't think they sell full sizes

However, I'd say Acure Organics might be comparable

virginblue · 12-31-2012, 12:00 AM

Curlycutie, you are definitely brave girl! Lol

I will check out the tresseme. I just picked up vo5 Shea cashmere shampoo. Hoping that will work ok. I've heard a lot of good things about the strawberry but I find the smell nauseating :/ thanks for the advice dresdendoll. Where do you find Acure organics? I live in ok. Kinda primitive *ugh*

ss40 · 12-31-2012, 05:47 AM

I went back to sulfates with herbal essences honey I'm strong. I loved the results & I loved the price even more. But, after repeated use I noticed my hair getting brittle so I spread my shampoo day out by 2 Weeks. I can't go that long without at least an acv rinse & low poo.. So I just parked the honey I'm strong in the bathroom cabinet & went back to CG.

Do what works for you & pay attention to what your hair wants.

These are my curlfessions

Jas76 · 12-31-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlybran

What shampoo do yall use?

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I use multiple things, depending on what my hair needs.
Co wash with suave nats clarifying condish or coconut condish.
Low-poo with SMR,
Or with Organix Shea (w/coco-betaine)
Clarify with Johnson's head to toe, mixed with an oil (Burt's Bees organic baby oil)

Again I just go by what my hair "feels like". If I just washed it the day before, a co-wash may be all that's needed. It maybe a SM low-poo.

If it feels fairly dirty or built up (2nd-3rd day hair, usually), I might step it up to the Organix poo.

If its ready for a clarifying wash (funky, built up, oily, etc) I'll hit it with some mild sulfates mixed with oil. (Maybe cut with the Organix low poo, too.)