How shampooing daily kills your hair

We, Filipinos, proudly take a bath daily and shampoo daily. It's a cultural thing. It's always hot outside (here I am again with the weather) and we like to be squeaky clean.

But daily use of shampoo strips the hair of sebum, which is a kind of natural oil that moisturizes the hair, and apparently, dermatologists add that shampooing a couple of days a week is still too much.

*My mental powers hear "that's gross," "my hair will stink" comments.* Before you pellet me with sachets of shampoo (organic, please), read first below.

Actually, aside from the fragrance, there's no reason to shampoo your hair daily (those commercials brainwashing again). In fact, over-washing can turn healthy locks into dry hair, in worst cases giving the strands a straw-like look. Aside from stripping the hair of natural oil, the white bubbles on shampoo that we consumers love contain harsh ingredients. We mistakenly associate foams with cleaning. Foams are there only for enjoyment purposes.

What is dry hair like? Stiff and dull and frequently needs detangling. If you're truly unlucky, you probably have dandruff too because apparently those two go hand in hand.

 

How often should you wash your hair

The issue of how often do you need to shampoo is highly debated (and interesting).

Dermatologists at WebMD say that the longer, thicker, curlier, and more processed hair can go on longer without lathering compared to fine and straight hair. On the same website, it is mentioned that daily shampooing is necessary only when there's high oil production in your scalp.

The New York Times reports that, in 2007, Richard Glover, a radio host in Sydney, Australia, asked his listeners to abandon shampoo for 6 weeks, and 86% of the participants said that their hair is either the same or better.

How to go No 'Poo

Just so you know, No 'Poo is a movement against commercial shampoos, and it utilizes alternatives to shampoo.

There are natural shampoo products and home ingredients you can use, including:

• A mixture of water and a teaspoon of baking soda to make a paste. Baking soda removes grime while retaining the hair's natural oils. Massage in the scalp and let sit for a minute. Rinse with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Don't worry, the smell will go away.

Hair washed with baking soda. Photo credit: onjustacoupleacres

How to use apple cider vinegar according to hair type (from Yahoo Shine)

• Curly, wavy, long, or thick hair: mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water, once every 2 weeks

• Straight, thin, fine, or short hair: mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 1 cup of warm water, once a week
  

• Chemically treated hair: colored, permed, or straightened: mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 2 cups or warm water, once a month

• Naturally curly or thick hair: mix 1 cup of vinegar with 3 cups of warm water, once every 6-8 weeks.

 

• Beer -- Beer works as hair conditioner and tonic. Dilute with water or simply pour directly in your hair while in the shower.

          Reserve another cup of beer for later. Chug down.

• Egg yolk -- Egg yolk is mostly protein and is commonly used to treat damaged hair. You can also use it as a shampoo alternative. Just don't rinse off with hot water or you'll cook the eggs.
  
• Mayonnaise
• Dry shampoo -- There are dry shampoo products and there's baby powder.
  

There's a transition period when you go without shampoo. Your hair may become frizzy or greasy or it may itch. Read about these and necessary solutions in Nature Moms.


So here's the ultimate question we'll go back to: How often do you have to wash your hair? There's no hard rule here; it depends on your hair type (see table on apple cider vinegar as example). As an added note, I don't think the authors of these articles realized how dirty and polluted Manila is -- in fact, it is one of the five most polluted cities in the whole world.

So personally, I'd go for a day or two without shampooing. Besides those natural alternatives, there are organic shampoos now available from different brands and dealers.



Further readings on the subject:

• You can read more on this topic in Yahoo Shine.

• If you have curly hair and wants to go shampoo free, read Naturally Curly.

How to take care of digital permed hair

If you want your curls to last longer, you should take care of it carefully and religiously. Some women, I've read, maintained their digital perms up to a year, and of course, it is important that the curl still holds and does not limp.

Hair stylists have different opinions on what products to use for maintenance, so you can ask them personally at the salon. I think this recommendations depend greatly on (1) their own professional experience and (2) availability of that product in the country. However, most agree on the basics of taking care of digital perms.


Proper maintenance

You can wash your digitally permed hair the same way you wash normal hair. Afterwards, comb only the top part of you head and not the curls; combing pulls out and messes them up. What you can do is finger comb your hair.

Crunch the curls or twist sections of your hair to maintain the curls and let the hair dry naturally.

Curls might get tangled, although not very often since hair after a digital perm is softer and always stays in shape, but to be sure, use a conditioner and untangle the knots, if any, only using your hands.

Condition hair in the shower, use a hair coat afterwards, and get a hot oil treatment once a week. Using curl enhancer gels or sprays is optional.

There's a longer, more detailed article on taking care of a digital permed hair on Niche Topic.


Styling

You can style your hair by twisting and separating the knots.

If you want to straighten them, just brush the curls after showering, and the curls will flatten until after the next time you wash your hair. Can you use a straightener? Yes. You can also use a blower, make sure one with a diffuser. A diffuser locks the curls in and/or makes them curlier and without frizz. Normal blowers create frizz; skip those. Limit using hair straigtheners or curlers because, in general, added heat is not good for permed hair.

Maintain your lovely curls


Based on our experience, every girl who gets a digital perm discovers and has her own special way of styling her hair and  own picks of hair products.

Have you discovered what's yours yet?

Did you know?

... that you can determine whether your hair is healthy by taking a few strands of your hair and putting them in a glass of water? Healthy hair strands float, while damaged ones sink and need to soak up moisture.

This "hair float" trick is particularly useful when you are planning to go to a salon for a hair treatment that involves chemicals (such as hair rebond, relax, perm, etc.). If the hair strands sink, you'd better skip that treatment for a while.

You can also use this to try if a hair color product suits your hair, health-wise. Try the color first on a few strands and see if the hair still floats.