keeping hair looking fresh

[khemist]

I have used regular CVS bought shampoo and conditioner for quite a while now, but I would rarely wash my hair, mainly because when I do my hair frizzes out, drys out, and looks like its all poofy... So I tried going out and getting some higher quality shampoo and purchased Burt's Bee shampoo and conditioner, and lo and behold, I still end up with my hair drying out, poofing out so it looks like my head is fat and round...

When I dont wash my hair, it stays down better, tends to look shinier, and feels better. Is my only solution to simply not wash my hair as often? I dont want my hair to smell like ***, but I also want it to look shiny and have that "wet" look. I dont use any kind of gels or leave in conditioner, so maybe I just have to get some kind of gel/ mousse that give me the desired effect?

 

[justfrost]

hair tonic is your solution, you can buy a good sized bottle at CVS for cheap.

 

[BigSwifty]

You also might want to give good ol' Brylcreem or Groom & clean a try

 

[khemist]

If you guys are suggesting what I think you are, then that is not quite the look I am going for..

I tend to get the type of hair after wearing a hat for a prolonged period of time. Basically pressed down, but not wet or slicked back, or even combed. I am looking for a solution, one which is that I simply do not wash my hair very often, but that leaves a bad smell, or at least not a good, fresh smell.

 

[Friskyseal]

You have frizzy hair. I do too. It has to do with how your hair is drying more than anything else. Good shampoos and conditioners will help, but they won't change the fact that you have frizzy hair. I doubt the Burt's Bee stuff was any better. You ought to be using a sulfate free shampoo specifically for frizzy hair, along with a deep conditioner specfically for frizzy hair. When you're shampooing, be VERY gentle. Use a lot of conditioner, and let it sit on your hair for at least 3 minutes. It should be salon quality brands, not drugstore brands. When you're towel-drying your hair, be VERY gentle. Don't rub it, just pat it dry. Again, this will only help, but your hair will still dry frizzy.

The solution is to blow-dry your hair. A quality professional hair dryer, with all the latest technologies (particularly "ionic"), will leave your hair as you describe it having not been washed, but clean.

If that's too much work for you, why not just cut your hair short?

 

[Uncle Erik]

Have you considered one of the various "no shampoo" programs out there? There are a number of people who wash their hair only with vinegar and baking soda. I haven't tried it yet, but am thinking about it. Everyone claims that it dramatically improves the condition of their hair. Just Google "no shampoo" and you'll find several methods.

 

[valmara1971]

Have you considered one of the various "no shampoo" programs out there? There are a number of people who wash their hair only with vinegar and baking soda. I haven't tried it yet, but am thinking about it. Everyone claims that it dramatically improves the condition of their hair. Just Google "no shampoo" and you'll find several methods.

I'm going to look at that just out of interest as I have cleaned the house with baking soda and vinegar and it works very well indeed. Just can't imagine how I would smell with it on my hair but I'll go and read up on it.

 

[BCatl]

Try Mrs. Meyer's Hand Soap from Target (or whatever store). Yup, as a shampoo. The Honeysuckle is good. It's the best shampoo on the market, and it's relatively cheap. It won't poof your hair out. All natural ingredients. If it does poof your hair out, then probably everthing will, and you can resign yourself that you've done everything possible.

I think you will find that you can wash your hair every day with this product if you want to. If you don't like it, you still have a great hand soap.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Have you considered one of the various "no shampoo" programs out there? There are a number of people who wash their hair only with vinegar and baking soda. I haven't tried it yet, but am thinking about it. Everyone claims that it dramatically improves the condition of their hair. Just Google "no shampoo" and you'll find several methods.

I use Baking soda in my weekly routine. I do not use it everyday. Baking soda is good when you have hard water, which essentially forms soap scum in your hair (precipitation of the soap). Baking soda exchanges the Ca/Mg ions (which make the soap insoluble) with Na ions making it more soluble and hence washable from hair...healthier hair. But, you don't want to do it everyday. Just use it with your regular shampoo

Most shampoos (salon brand or otherwise contain junk). My wife and I use Naked Naturals Shampoos and conditioners...they have no sulfates, Parabens or shall we say "less" than natural ingredients. They work great and smell good. Not sure if it'll take care of frizzy hair though, but it's a more natural alternative than most.

Cheers,
Robert

 

[BCatl]

Also, it seems like the OP wants a certain look with this hair. You may end up having to go to a GOOD stylist and get some recommendations to get the total look you want.

 

[khemist]

Thanks for all the great help guys. I will see what I can do, I will most likely end up talking to the lady who cuts my hair... I'm sure with everyone's advice i can figure something out.

 

[kingfisher]

My suggestion is JR Liggett's shampoo bar. It looks like soap, but is lathered up on the scalp and used to wash the hair.

I started using it about two weeks ago and what I have noticed is:
1) My hair stays in place much better than it ever did before.
2) I haven't had to use any conditioner whatsoever, but my hair is still in good shape.
3) The amount of hair that is falling out and collecting in the "hair trap" in the bottom of the shower is decreased.
4) My horrific seborrhea (itchy scalp with terrible dandruff) seems to have basically gone away. Too soon to say whether this will be a cure or not, but it is improved dramatically.

I wouldn't have believed any of the above if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. Just a great, great product.

(By the way, I use Nancy Boy hair gel to style my hair. I was using that before the Liggetts shampoo bar. I get better results from the Nancy Boy now that I'm using the Liggetts.)

Oh, and the good news is that you can buy a travel set from Liggett's for about six or seven bucks, so you can try these out before you buy.

 

[Jon1944]

Groom & Clean will work well

 

[tripper]

when i had long hair i washed my hair with conditioner only and my hair looked great.

now adays i don't wash it with anything daily, just rinse it really well and use any old shampoo when it gets too the point where i need to wash the excess oils out. so my hair is never dry.

dont wash out oils and put em back in. i sweat on the job heavily. theres no need to use shampoo unless theres filth/chemicals you need to get out every day. in that case, wash every day with conditioner only.

 

[dklaiman]

when i had long hair i washed my hair with conditioner only and my hair looked great.

+1

I have wavy/curly hair. I often skip shampoo and just use a mid-level conditioner. I find it helps if I stand under the shower for about 30 seconds before I touch my hair to let the water rinse off any dirt/excess oils.

 

[DanNYC]

I have the same type as hair as you and I found not washing it daily to really help. I sometimes go 2 or 3 days without washing it, but I do use a conditioner everyday. I usually work it into my hair and let it sit for a good 3-5 minutes. Currently I am using RedKen and after a day or 2 of just a conditioner, my hair is looking good.

 

[rickboone1]

Leave the conditioner alone.