The Long Hair Community - What do you consider the most gentle cleansing method?

Madeleine · March 21st, 2003, 06:52 AM

Inspired by the answers to the natural vs. synthetic products poll I was wondering if I could improve my routine further.

I have very sensitive skin and scalp and was quite happy to find out about C/O wash. I have C/O washed almost exclusively since last summer (using a clarifying shampoo once every two to three months followed by a henna treatment). While this works great for me I'm still wondering if there are even gentler cleansing methods around.

I tried to find out as much as I could about products like Mastey, Morrocco Method or self made shampoos with soapwort/amla/shikakai (soap based stuff like AO would be horror for me, can't have soap on my skin), but I guess there's nothing as helpful as direct comparison between the different methods ...
As products like MM are quite expensive for me to order and import to Europe just to have a try I hought I'd ask here:

Based on personal experience, what do you think is the gentlest method of cleaning scalp and hair?
Please include in your answer what methods you have experimented with.

(Although I created this poll for rather selfish reasons I hope the results will be interesting for others as well

)

Jonobie · March 21st, 2003, 08:49 AM

So, right this instant, regular shampoo is the most gentle for me. CO washing causes my hair to break, and my homemade concoctions as often as not gum up my hair and require multiple shampooings to get out -- not particularly gentle!

I've never tried Mastey or MM, although MM continues to tempt me.

But, if I find a homemade concoction I like, maybe that'll be the ticket. I'm keeping a running recipe list in my journal of what I'm trying, and if I ever hit the jackpot, I'll post on the Mane Board with my excitement. ;-)

Cheers,
Jonobie

DweamGoiL · March 21st, 2003, 08:52 AM

but I dilute it with water and squirt it on my head. I do 2 washes with the CWWC method and this gets my hair really clean, yet protected.

Kati75 · March 21st, 2003, 09:26 AM

It's so funnythat everyone says that CO is good for a sensitive scalp. i have very sensitive skin and CO makes it go crazy. Maybe you guys don't have sensitive, but dry skin? That's not necessarily he same. My scalp feels best when I use shampoo, but not too often. Every other day is fine.

Deborah · March 21st, 2003, 09:58 AM

I have CO washed exclusively for 18 months, and my hair and scalp are both in wonderful condition, shiny, clean, no split ends.

When I first began this, my hair felt weird and heavy at first, but after a week or two, I guess it adjusted, because from then on it has been great.

I have used the Mastey products in the past. They are nice, but CO definitely works better for me.

I also love the idea that I am not using any soap or detergent on my hair. Now that's gentle!

Deborah

Madeleine · March 21st, 2003, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kati75

It's so funnythat everyone says that CO is good for a sensitive scalp. i have very sensitive skin and CO makes it go crazy. Maybe you guys don't have sensitive, but dry skin? That's not necessarily he same. My scalp feels best when I use shampoo, but not too often. Every other day is fine.

I guess the question is what the skin/scalp is sensitive to.

You are right about the fact that my skin/scalp is dry as well, but not overly so - I still have to wash my hair about twice a week if I want to wear it down (somewhat less frequently if I'm happy with updos).
I need a facial and body moistrizer and hand cream after cleansing (even if I only rinse with water) or my skin will itch and hurt, but my face gets slightly shiny at the "T-zone" at the end of the day by itself.

There are many products that I can't use because they are too drying, but quite a few "moisturizing" products (like certain sunscreen lotions, "rehydrating" soap or some of the heavily scented skin care products) give me a rash and itchy scalp and skin as well.
I'm also quite sensitive to some foods and generally somewhat prone to allergies.

I don't know if the reason why I like C/O so much is a matter of my skin being sensitive or dry - I guess it's rather a mix of both. Sensitive oily skin has probably different needs and preferences.

Elle · March 21st, 2003, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kati75

i have very sensitive skin and CO makes it go crazy.

It's the same with me, Kati! I loved the way the CO method made my hair feel, but it messed my scalp up something chronic!

Unfortunately for me, I've found that ANY type of extra-moisturizing shampoos do the same to my scalp.

I don't know why my scalp can't handle it.

I remember when I was experimenting with oils, I made my regular shampoo into a moisturizing, creamy shampoo by adding sweet almond oil. I ended up breaking out on my scalp. *sigh* I don't get it.

epiphanee · March 21st, 2003, 01:52 PM

Herbal powders work best for me, notably Shikakai. It is different but gentle in its cleansing action. It's like applying a mud face-pack in effect. It soaks up the oils and dirt and cleans without a lather.

Shampoos (and I have tried many, diluted and straight) over-strip my hair. They also make my scalp itchy and tight.

Having said that, herbs are messy and time-consuming to use - but my hair and scalp like them the best.

cortese · August 15th, 2004, 11:12 AM

I checked "other" -- shampoo the roots, condition the ends. That's my typical routine.

Gaijin · August 16th, 2004, 02:43 AM

I voted CO as being the most gentle for me. Sometimes, a little too gentle because it is not always enough for my dandruff. Whenever I need it, about every other week, I will need to use a decyl polyglucose shampoo, like California Baby. Still very gentle, but cleansing.

I tried AO, but I lose a lot more hair with the shampoos because of how little slip they have. I don't really know how to describe it, too squeaky, and hard to work with in my hair, even when diluted. It's like the more I try to scrub with it, the more it wants to work against my fingers.

I have not tried MM or Mastey. Regular shampoos are definitely the harshest for my hair, so I try to reserve them for clarifying. But my scalp really likes moisturizing shampoos, like Kenra.

Meg_Evenstar · December 30th, 2004, 02:20 PM

I think washing with herbs is the most gentle, perhaps with some added clay.

Meg

Eboshi · December 30th, 2004, 03:22 PM

CO washing has been the most gentle to my scalp and hair - unfortunately I have to wash more often (every 2-3 days) instead of 4+ days using the CWC method.

I use Tresemme Moisturizing shampoo because it contains no 'cones and has SLES as the detergent - I am thinking though of trying out Lush or AO products.

Lone · December 31st, 2004, 12:35 AM

The most gentle and effective method I've ever had was on expedition one time. We couldn't use soaps (we were bathing in a river everyday, and I don't think biodegradable soap was really available back then), so it was just the river water. By the end of the week, my hair and skin looked the best they have ever looked.
Also knew a girl in college who did water-washing only on her hair; she said the soap in the shampoos was too harsh for her scalp (she used a leave-in of some sort, but I don't know what).
I think herbs would be gentle, depending on which ones you pick, but I really haven't done much with them.

allthatkaz · December 31st, 2004, 07:47 AM

Cortese - I agree with you. When I do use shampoo that is also my method. Otherwise if I must wash a lot of times I will just wash with conditioner and give my scalp a bit of a scrub and rinse.

Tap Dancer · January 1st, 2005, 02:32 AM

"C/O"

I know that shampoos strip the oils from the scalp. My hair color isn't fading as fast now that I CO!