Today, I want to chat with you about something I just learned. (Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?)
The time before last when I was getting my hair done, my dear friend Kathleen (Who is also my colorist) said "You need to do a wash with a clarifying shampoo soon!'
"Huh? I use a moisturizing shampoo...Per your instructions!" and with that line, I learned about clarifying shampoos.
Back when I was in high school we all washed our hair everyday. Dry shampoo was something you'd see only at hospitals and nursing homes. It's use was limited strictly for those who were bed bound.
Somewhere, in the last 10 or so years, we've finally realized that this is not necessary and not helpful.
I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I wash my hair every 4th day. (Yes, I shower every day.)
My hair is very thick, even though I only wash it every 4th day, I still don't tend to use dry shampoo very often.
However, I do use leave in conditioner, hair oils, smoothing creams, mouse, shine spray and hair spray at varying times through out the month. I'd always thought that as soon as I did was my hair, whatever was in it, would wash out. While this is mostly true, little bits of each of these products stays behind and forms a build up in your hair. Even residue from your normal shampoo and conditioner will stay behind. All of these things will leave your hair heavy, dull and lifeless.
When I left Kathleen that day, I stopped and bought a bottle of Neutrogena's Anti-Residue shampoo. After I stretched my salon blow out for as long as I could and it was time to wash my hair again, I used the clarifying shampoo, them deep conditioned with my favorite hair mask.
WOW! the results. My hair was SO shiny and more manageable then I ever remembering it being.
This isn't a case of "if a little is good, a lot must be great" though. This is something that even our friends with the most oily hair, should use no more than once per month.
If you color your hair, its best to shampoo with a clarifying shampoo right before you get your hair colored. Also, its best to get a clarifying shampoo made specifically for colored hair, as you don't want to strip the color out.
Paul Mitchell's shampoo 2 is ideal for this.
Set aside enough time to do your clarifying. Consider this a beauty treatment.
The same way , you wouldn't try doing a pedicure as you were dashing off to work in the morning, you shouldn't with this either.
I like to do a lather, rinse, repeat with this. Really getting it all lathered up from root to tip.
Then, I'll put my favorite hair mask on and wrap it in a damp, hot towel. I'll make some coffee or read a few chapters in whatever book I'm into at the time. The goal is to leave the conditioner in for 30 minutes or so.
The way my hair looks and feels after...Ahhhhh!
If your hair is not cooperating when you try to style it, if its looking dull or feeling limp, these are all signs that its time to use a clarifying shampoo.
Remember though, don't over do it! If you have oily hair, use a clarifying shampoo once a month. Normal hair should use it every 6 weeks and our babes with dry hair should use it once every other month.
I encourage you to give it a try and let me know what you think!
XO,
SheShe
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