May 7, 2009

Clarifying Our Hair and Scalp

Clarifying our hair is important to prevent build up and to encourage strong, shiny, and healthy hair. Clarifying cleansers and rinses do not have moisturizing properties in them and can be highly acidic so following up with your favourite deep conditioner is important.

Clarifying cleansers that contain sulfates rid the hair and scalp of silicones and petro-chemicals. That said, I have talked about my search for an all natural clarifying cleanser and I am intrigued with the Aubrey Organics Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo. Currently I am using Organic Black Soap by Eli which is in liquid form. I picked this up from my local flea market and I am not disappointed. I have realized that my hair responds well to black soap as appose to castille soap. I wash my hair with the Organic Black Soap by Eli and than follow with rinsing my hair and scalp with Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water (half & half). I have gotten good results without my hair feeling stripped.

I like to think of clarifying cleansers as a reviver for hair. They bring the pH balance back to a normal level and promote clean scalp which assist in growth. Keeping our hair and scalp clean is a must if we want to prevent breakage and knotting. Sometimes the residue of products is what is causing the hair to feel rough and look dull which if this is also true for the ends of the hair strand that translates into knotting and breakage. Try clarifying whether it be once a week, every two weeks or once a month, your hair will tell you what it needs.

3 comments:

Kinky Rhonnie said...

Hey there.

Another simple way to clarify is to add a teaspoon of backing soda to your regular method whether you use shampoo of do conditioner washes.

Chrissystina said...

Hey, I like this post! Namely because I love using ACV to clarify my hair. I do have a question that I'd like you opinion on: I think my hair likes the ACV once a week and the DC directly after, but is it okay to rely just on ACV to get all the silicones off my hair?
before I knew better, I used way too much silicone-based products without washing then out every week! Bleh, NEVER AGAIN

Natalie said...

@ Chrissystina

Hi,

From my understanding of the way silicones bond to the hair it is better to rely on a product that can clean your hair more thoroughly. ACV may loosen the silicones and help to dissolve some of it but to get all of it off its best to try a more potent cleansing agent. Sulfate free cleansers can do as good as a job as sulfate cleansers. You may also try considering not using moisturizers and/or leave in conditioners that have silicones.

Hope this helps:)