Recently I found myself in the position of having to use an anti-dandruff shampoo. Unfortunately, the ones that have been effective in treating my seborrheic dermatitis contain sulfates. My natural hair texture does not like shampoos that contain sulfates because they make it drier. However, there are ways to minimize the drying effects of these shampoos. Check out a few ways I protect my hair when using a sulfate shampoo.
The Pre-(Sham)poo
I do this whether I use a shampoo containing sulfates or a sulfate-free shampoo. However, I need extra protection when using a sulfate shampoo. I normally use, Carol’s Daughter Olive Oil Infusion as a pre-poo. To boost it, I add a tablespoon of mayo and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) to the jar. I use about half a jar on my hair to thoroughly coat it, concentrating on my ends. I allow the mixture to sit on my hair for two to three hours with a plastic cap on top and warm towel wrapped around my head. Once the allotted time is up, I rinse with warm water and proceed to use shampoo.
It may seem like overkill to deep condition after such an intensive pre-poo. Depending on the shampoo you use, this may be critical in helping to control frizz and maintaining moisture. The anti-dandruff shampoo I am currently using requires me to deep condition to prevent my ends from drying out and frizzing. This is something I learned through trial, error and dry ends. I found an awesome deep conditioning mud mask, Tresemme Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Mud Masque, $5.49 at Walgreens that kept my ends moisturized. I leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes but the packaging recommends to leave in for three to five minutes. When it comes to conditioning, my motto is to apply based on what your hair needs. Rinse with warm water then follow with a cool or cold water rinse to flatten the cuticle.
Apply a Leave-In Conditioner
Test to see how your hair feels. If it feels soft and supple then use a leave-in conditioner spray. If you think you need a little more moisture, try a thicker leave-in conditioner. I use Kinky-Curly’s Knot Today. Only a quarter size drop is needed for me after this intensive conditioning process.
Seal and Protect
You can use different products to seal your hair like a shine serum, anti-frizz serum or split-end serum. I prefer EVOO to seal my hair. Just apply a small amount of your sealant into your palm, rub palms together and smooth throughout hair. This helps to keep the cuticle flat and seals in moisture. Depending on how dry the conditions are outside or indoors you may need to refresh. Lightly spray a leave-in conditioner or water on hair then reapply your sealant sparingly.
All of this conditioning I do protects my hair and keeps it hydrated when I use a sulfate shampoo. Not all sulfate shampoos strip hair of moisture. However, if you’ve been sulfate-free for a while, switching to a shampoo that contains sulfates may be too drying on your hair. Thus, an intensive conditioning treatment may be necessary. Remember, dry hair becomes brittle hair that is prone to split ends, breakage and frizz. The more hydrated your hair is, the less that breakage, split ends and frizz will occur.
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