4a or kinkier hair: question about shampoo

[BEAUTYU2U]

I'm a unicorn, my 4a/4b hair tolerates most shampoos. My preference though is Organix (OGX) Coconut Milk for "everday use." For clarifying, I use Ion Hard Water.

 

[Leeda.the.Paladin]

Have you tried maybe diluting whatever shampoo you are using? I've also had success with castile soap (DILUTED) and it doesn't dry my hair out that much.

I don't use shampoo all that often but I've found Aunt Jackie's shampoo to be very gentle and keeps in the moisture.

 

[Ann0804]

OP, you mentioned having hard water. I copied the list of recommended hard water removal shampoos (of mineral deposits) recommended by the Science of Black Hair writer. Also this is a helpful book that has really helped me pick great products for my HHJ. See if you can find it at your local library, or bookstore.

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[oneastrocurlie]

I second both of the Elucence shampoos mentioned.

 

[KinkyRN]

I used Shea moisture curl and shine shampoo on my daughter's hair yesterday. She has dense, APL hair in the 4s it is very tangle prone. Was shocked when I could finger detangle! Left her hair soft and moisturized. Maybe you should try it.

 

[Lilmama1011]

Perhaps, it's your method of shampooing that's contributing to the tangles and matting, e.g., scrubbing with the pads of your fingers versus using the fingers and palms to gently smooth the hair shaft from root to tip. My hair is extremely tangle-prone and using the latter method has helped tremendously in reducing tangles and facilitating detangling.

FWIW, one of the best shampoos I've ever tried is Elucence Acidifying Shampoo. It's a highly concentrated, non-stripping clarifier and chelator. Also, have you tried any cleansing conditioners?

Yeah I have used cleansing conditioners but I still need a shampoo, I use conditioners with cones. PJaye

 

[soulglo]

Wow never heard of it, will check that out

It's the raw moisture rentention shampoo that comes in a yellow bottle it works for me check it out

 

[Prettymetty]

Creme of Nature Argan oil gets 4 stars. It smells good, has a nice lather and it is inexpensive. It loses a star because it doesn't soften or detangle my 4b hair.

Keracare detangling shampoo gets 5 stars. This stuff does it all:softens, detangles, has slip, smells great and doesn't strip my hair. This is my HG shampoo.

I have also had really great results with Bioinfusion olive oil shampoo, but that is when I was relaxed. I find that products don't work the same on my natural hair. Probably a porosity issue...

 

[DarkJoy]

Hey lilmama!

I agree with the Shea moisture yellow label raw retention shampoi at target, Cvs & Walgreens. There's also a white bottle curls unleashed by ORS that doesnt dry you out. That is at Walgreen too.

Im a natural 4x btw. Everything except those dries and mats my hair

 

[imsovain]

Ever since Wen advertised one product as shampoo, conditioner, leave in and deep conditioner I decided to skip the shampoo step all together. Now I just deep condition my hair with my favorite conditioner and rinse. My hair thrives!

 

[Lilmama1011]

Hey lilmama!

I agree with the Shea moisture yellow label raw retention shampoi at target, Cvs & Walgreens. There's also a white bottle curls unleashed by ORS that doesnt dry you out. That is at Walgreen too.

Im a natural 4x btw. Everything except those dries and mats my hair

Thanks so much

 

[Lilmama1011]

Ever since Wen advertised one product as shampoo, conditioner, leave in and deep conditioner I decided to skip the shampoo step all together. Now I just deep condition my hair with my favorite conditioner and rinse. My hair thrives!

imsovain do you use cones?

 

[kikisf]

Hey lilmama!


Im a natural 4x btw. Everything except those dries and mats my hair

Lol!!! I feel like that too. I am wondering if there should be a 4d category for hair that loves to dread and mat. My hair does the same thing making it impossible too stretch without pressing so I am anxiously waiting to hear what worked for you!

 

[Dayjoy]

I use CON Detangling shampoo, the yellow bottle old formula. As a matter of fact I have tried all three and I like the green, yellow and red. I think my first preference is the red on though. That shampoo is very helpful to me and my NG because I do long stretches 16 weeks or more.

eta: They never dry my hair out, currently i'm using the yellow bottle and I need to stock up on the green and red because they are just as good. Cleansing, moisturizing and I read they are sulfate free.

PureSilver Is your CON from a stash or are you still finding it?

 

[PureSilver]

I'm still finding it. All the old formula's red yellow and green plus the white bottle Nourishing Conditioner, in both big and small sizes. Dayjoy

 

[Lilmama1011]

You ladies are all helping me. I want to get at less one or two of these to try while I have new growth because then I will know it's the bomb lol

 

[KinkyGenius]

Also, I know there are some ladies that condition, shampoo, and then DC.

THIS.

I hardly ever shampoo my hair naked, only time I do is before a medium/hard protein treatment which isn't often. I like to prepoo with coconut oil (HairVeda Vatika Frosting) and a slippery conditioner (Tressemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth) before I cleanse. This not only gives my hair a bit of a barrier before cleansing, but helps me to remove the majority of my shed hair so I don't have to deal with a lot of tangles and matting. If I wash my hair without removing shed hair first, detangling is always harder no matter what product or technique I use.

And I also never expect to have hydrated hair after cleansing, that's just not the purpose of a shampoo ya know.

 

[divachyk]

Lilmama1011, my hair tangles badly so I know what you mean. Even with my most gentle efforts and perfect shampooing technique, my hair would tangle, matte, web, etc. I'm no longer battling with that issue.

Cleansing 2x weekly keeps the new grow soft which helped to reduce tangles tremendously. I think this has been the turning point to most of my issue. At the start of the week, I shampoo. I then co-cleanse mid-week.

ETA: I almost never shampoo without pre-pooing or dry DCing first. This helps to soften things up before shampoo touches my hair. It's not necessary with the cleansers that I use, but it helps.

Shampoo:
CON Argan - most hydrating, doesn't strip, detangles well, etc. However, it not as cleansing as some shampoos but it gets the job done.

Bee Mine Botanical - moisturizing, non-stripping if you do not over use it

Co-Cleansers
HairVeda Amala Cream Rinse - the absolute best in its category, nothing compares


Clarify/Chelate
Redken Cleansing Cream - hydrating, never strips
Elucence Moisture - I prefer Redken because Elucence can be stripping if overused

 

[NappyNelle]

Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat
Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture
Giovanni 50/50 Balance

 

[imsovain]

I rotate Alter Ego, Miss Jessies Super Sweetback and Rapid Recovery treatments and Wen 613.

 

[Honey Bee]

I am a 4A I believe. My tangle issues did not stop until I transitioned. When I was permed I had horrible tangles. The further I got into my transition the less tangles I had.

Me too.

@shortdub78. I might have to go from 12 weeks to 10 weeks. My hair isn't over processed. I do dilute my shampoo in my root only bottle. And the conditioner works fine. Any conditioner makes my hair soft. It's just after washing I cowash with v05 under running water to detangle before deep conditioning. I apply relaxer style so it needs to be detangled in advance . I don't like doing it any way because I lose more hair trying to apply conditioner on knotted hair and don't feel ever strand gets conditioned

Lilmama1011, I'm 13 months into my transition and I think I'm 4a. I'm not anti-shampoo, my hair loves it!

This is what I do: pre-poo with a cheap moisturizing conditioner, shampoo (I don't section but it falls in natural halves), and then apply my dc using the relaxer method. I use a rat tail comb (the end) to make the parts. I divide into quarters just using my hands, clip it off, and use the comb to make smaller sections, apply dc, rinse loose.

I find that I do most of the detangling in the pre-poo phase. I don't have a particular shampoo I swear by, I just use whatever sounds interesting.

Hth!

 

[tjrj1998]

Quantum clarifying shampoo

The original trader joes shampoo. I cant respond on the new one because I dont use it and dont plan on purchasing.

 

[MissMusic]

Like suggested above, do you get the shed hair out before shampooing?

In answer to your question, I use Trader Joe's Tea Tree, CON Argan, KeraCare Hydrating & Detangling, or Ouidad Curl Co-wash to cleanse my hair.

 

[Lilmama1011]

Like suggested above, do you get the shed hair out before shampooing?

In answer to your question, I use Trader Joe's Tea Tree, CON Argan, KeraCare Hydrating & Detangling, or Ouidad Curl Co-wash to cleanse my hair.

Yup, I have very healthy hair practices. I do all these things suggested. It's just I don't pre poo which I did and I didn't see a difference

 

[Saludable84]

In faithful to Paul Mitchell Shampoo One. It has never dried my hair out, suds up good and rinses clean. At one point, to preserve it longer, I would dilute it and it worked just as good. This is the only shampoo I like and never had a problem with. I can't recommend any others because their shelf life is usually limited with me.

John Masters Bare Shampoo was ok, but I just felt I had to use too much for it to really sud. But then again, I have a lot of hair.

 

[lamaria211]

I use and like : SM moisture retention
Elasta QP mango butter and macadamia natural oil poos