How often do you clarify, where clarifying counts as any of the following:

- Vinegar rinses
- Baking soda and any of shampoo, conditioner, or water
- A shampoo specifically made for clarifying

If your answer is "whenever my hair feels like it needs it", try to estimate about how often that occurs.

I'm trying to get a sense of how often I should clarify; I've not been in the habit of doing it, so this is kinda new territory for me.

Thanks,
Jonobie

Whoops, I forgot some CO people use lemon juice to clarify. That should have been in the list, too. :)

Cheers,
Jonobie

I used to clarify every time I shampoo'd as I used ACV as a rinse. I used ACV not to clarify but to create the shine and give me the slip I needed.

I did use a clarifying shampoo from Suave that I loved :love: about every two months.

But now that I'm using GM stuff, I haven't clarified at all - that's been two months so far. I don't feel like my hair is coated, so I see no need as yet.

hmmm, what option would I be?

I used to clarify every time I shampoo'd as I used ACV as a rinse. I used ACV not to clarify but to create the shine and give me the slip I needed.

I did use a clarifying shampoo from Suave that I loved :love: about every two months.

But now that I'm using GM stuff, I haven't clarified at all - that's been two months so far. I don't feel like my hair is coated, so I see no need as yet.

hmmm, what option would I be?

Hrm! I always forget when I write these things that most of us have routines that are frequently in flux. :) I'm not sure -- I didn't mean to exclude you, snippet! :(

(I love that little beating heart smiley, btw. Makes me grin every time I see it. )

Cheers,
Jonobie

I was clarifying once a week but have found that I really didn't need it. Have cut down to once every other week, using Herbal Essences Clarifying Shampoo. :)

I did not vote above, but I clarify when I feel that my hair needs it. This can vary greatly.

--Cheryl

Because you wrote that vinegar rinses count I had to vote "more than once a week", although that really sounds like a lot.
I C/O wash twice a week and follow with a very weak ACV rinse (2T on one litre/quart water). It doesn't feel like clarifying to me really ...

I use Neutogena clarifying shampoo about every two months before I henna.

I use an herbal vinegar rinse almost every time I wash, but it's too diluted to consider this clarifying. I use Mastey Traite or Paul Mitchell 3 shampoo and a more concentrated vinegar rinse to clarify every 4-6 weeks. :wacko:

i use a few cones in my routine and when my hair starts to feel unnatural when wet i clarify. this seems to happen every couple of months. sometimes sooner but not often.

I don't clarify at all these days. I'm not using any products that could cause buildup, so I don't have a need to do anything additional or special with my regular routine.

Because you wrote that vinegar rinses count I had to vote "more than once a week", although that really sounds like a lot.
I C/O wash twice a week and follow with a very weak ACV rinse (2T on one litre/quart water). It doesn't feel like clarifying to me really ...

I use Neutogena clarifying shampoo about every two months before I henna.

Yeah, I couldn't decide what to do with vinegar rinses. Strong rinses clearly clarify, but I don't think 2T/quart is really a clarifying rinse either. I'm not sure at what point it switches over.

Cheers,
Jonobie

I clarify (with baking soda) roughly once every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks...depending on how my hair feels.

I've been moving toward less frequent washings...currently only using shampoo once or twice a week and home-made conditioner once/month, so I've also had fewer issues with build-up lately, and a year from now I'll probably only need to clarify once every other month.

the chlorine and metals from my "hard water" as opposed to product build-up. I do it every other week as a back-up for my shower filter.

Yeah, I couldn't decide what to do with vinegar rinses. Strong rinses clearly clarify, but I don't think 2T/quart is really a clarifying rinse either. I'm not sure at what point it switches over

I voted never, since all I use is a couple of teaspoons (vs. tablespoons) per 2 to 3 cups of distilled water.

between every 2 and 3 weeks.
That's a good ave for me.

I really depends on what I am doing with my
hair and what products I am using.

I voted for more than once a week 'coz I use vinegar rinses everytime I wash my hair which is 2-3 times a week.

I voted for 1-2 months. I like to clarify if my hair gets to feeling coated. I have no real schedule for it. Just whenever. I used to do vinegar rinses when I was doing AO.

I'm "more than once a week" as I do a fairly strong vinegar rinse (1/4cup to one quart of water, 3 drops lavender EO) each time I CO wash or shampoo, which is about every other day for the CO wash. I also consider my weekly shampoo a clarifying of sorts, even if I don't always use a shampoo specified as "clarifying".

If my hair gets really gunky, my scalp feels coated, or I've used a terrible product I'll mix some baking soda in with my shampoo. I haven't had to do that in over a month though.

I usually clarify every 2 months a bit before I color my hair, the color seems to take better.

i voted more than once cos i use acv rinses 2-4 times a week.
very weak rinse - 1 capful to a 64 oz mugful of water.

and yes, i feel that even the weak rinses clarify - removed the grease from the loads of shea or oil, i apllied on my hair and also the thickness (or heaviness which might have been buildup) from infusium.

It probably winds up being once a month, MAYBE twice.
I use BS mixed with conditioner, ACV Rinses, and a clarifying shampoo called Purify by Curl Friends. I only use the shampoo when all the others have not worked and I still feel that my hair is coated.

I voted more than once a week - to stop my dandruff I use a an ACV rinse every time I wash (about 3 times a week) but I usually hold my length out the way... The ends get some baking soda in my shampoo maybe once every few months...

Similar to Ali here.

I clearify more than once a week - basically every wash. I alternate between bakingsoda and ACV sometimes both. I have only had good results form this so far. I am careful to condition each time as well.

Irishred

How about "WTF is clarifying?" O:-)

Later: AH! You know, I could have read ahead ... Sheesh.

I voted more than one a week because I'll do a couple weak ACV rinses. But I only use a clarifying shampoo maybe once a month if my dandruff acts up.

Very, very infrequently for me as I interpret the original question as when do you intentionally use something other than regular shampoo for clarifying purposes. So infrequently that I voted for "never".

I find that the current routine with GM products give me no to very minimal build-up - in any case nothing that the regular Cream Shampoo can't handle. Even when I've had signs of build-up from botched CO experiments the Cream Shampoo has been able to cut through it in a couple of washes. I can also say that I've had minimal problems with build-up when I was on a routine that included cone-based products (conditioners + leave-ins) - again nothing that regular shampooing couldn't handle.

/Fia

I use ACV everytime I shampoo which is three times a week.

Meg

More than once a week. I use shampoo bars so I do a ACV rinse with herbs everytime I shampoo which is every other day or every 3rd day depending on my hair.

I never do. I never have. I don't think I need to... If I ever meet anyone who does, maybe they can look at my hair and tell me if i need to start.

I guess I would say once a month, since I try to wash my hair only once a week. Usually when I clarify, I use Neutrogena Anti-Residue, then I shampoo with my Redken Headstrong, then I condition with 3 Minute Miracle. I don't know if that's the right way, but it seems to work for me.
Tori

I avoid cones and other ingredients, that create build up. So I never felt the need to clarify!

I chose once every two weeks. I don't like using vinegar rinses or baking soda, because it makes my hair really dry and frizzy. So I use a clarifying shampoo after every three or four CO/CWC 's, this to prevent build up.

Strangely enough I appreciate a certain amt of build up on my hair to weigh it down a bit, so I don't clarify that often. Actually, last time I tried it was over the summer after using Fructis everyday for about a month (ick) and I got the Suave clarifying shampoo, only later to realise that that had cones in it toooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grr . . .

Once a month, or when needed. Sometimes when Iīm lazy, I clarify after 6-8 weeks when my hair (specially ends) feels so dry, crounchy and frizzy that itīs a nightmare :scared: . I use Redken Hair Cleansing Creme and I absolutely love that stuff. After deep cleansing and 3-5 different deep treatments my hair feels like silk :cloud9: . I donīt use styling products, but my beloved leave-in and some conditioners I use contain some silicones.

I use an actual clarifying/chelating shampoo once every 2 to 3 weeks. My current shampoo & conditioner don't have any ingredients that would build-up over time, so I don't see the need to clarify any more often right now.

About once per month. I don't even think I need it that often, but just do it then to keep some sense of regularity there. I figure that way, I don't run into a bad need to clarify when I don't have time to do it.