LET'S TALK ABOUT PRODUCT ACCLIMATION....

[westNDNbeauty]

Taken from ConfessionsofaBlogVixen.com

Many are unaware of something called acclimation. Webster defines this as the ability to adapt or become accustomed to a new environment.

What does this mean for our hair?
It means, for most, your hair will adjust to the products you are using and at some point those products will not work like they once did. Often times, we find what we call our staple products. Because of the wonderful way it made our hair feel and look at the time of initial use, we designate it as the go-to product for that step in our routine.

Ever experienced that time when you hair did not react as it normally would to a product that you have been using for quite a while? That's product acclimation.

This also holds true for skin products. A great example of this is what happens with Proactiv. This product initially works to combat acne, but after a few months, customers always report the product no longer works. This often results in the makers of Proactiv creating new and improved formulas because they are aware each product formula will acclimate after a period of time.

I avoid this by finding multiple go-to products for the different steps in my routine. Yes, that results in me now being a recovering product junkie but I have been able to find multiple staples. There are at least 2 products that I can turn to when acclimation reveals itself. For example:

Shampoo/Clarify - Creme of Nature

or Curls Clarifying Shampoo

Deep Conditioner - Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizing Treatment

or It's a 10 Mask

Detangler - Knot Today or Nioxin Thermal Bliss

or Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

Have you experienced this? How has it contributed to your search for the products?

 

[darlingdiva]

Unless there's an element of my hair that I don't understand, I've never experienced product acclimation. The products that don't work for my hair have never worked for my hair. I can't recall a product that used to work for my hair but doesn't now. Also, I find that, with MY hair, I can use a product repeatedly with no adverse effects once I find one that works.

Although I get curious about different products (right now, I'm curious about Oyin's Burnt Sugar Pomade), I like to stick to what works for my hair. I don't like the guesswork that comes with trying new products. When I stick to what works, I know how my hair is going to turn out each time I do it.

 

[LaidBak]

I've read other articles that claim that hair never gets "used to" product. I don't know what to believe. I know that I used Pantene for years (pre LCHF) and my hair always reacted the same.
I think that if hair reacts differently there might be other factors involved (water quality, internal factors, etc). I don't know; just my thoughts on it.

 

[hannan]

I always thought companies came up with that so you could weasel off your staple and try their product.

 

[Tiye]

I always thought companies came up with that so you could weasel off your staple and try their product.

^^ - I agree

I've been using Aveda products pretty much exclusively for over 5 years and no acclimation for me. Maybe "acclimation" is a euphemism for buildup - i.e. some cheapie products are known to leave hair with waxy and greasy buildup which can necessitate "clarifying" products that might cause you to try another line maybe because the line you're using doesn't have a shampoo labeled "clarifying" - or you're bored anyway and want to try something else. But reality is that plenty of people go into "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mode so they'll use the same product line for years or maybe even for life with no problem. Honestly there are some products I stop using only because the manufacturer changed the formula or recipe not coz of acclimation. Non hair related example - the brand of soy yogurt I've been buying for a while has changed and since I don't like the other available brands of soy yogurt I switched back to dairy.

 

[NaturalEnigma]

My hair ALWAYS experiences product acclimation. I've had to throw away some of my staples because of the negative response I was getting from my hair. I used to LOVE castor oil, it made my hair so thick and healthy, but after a couple months my hair started to hate it. The castor oil makes my hair so hard now, I can't even use it anymore, the same thing happened to my Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream, Phyto 9 Daily Ultra Nourishing Cream and my Keracare leave in conditioner. It varies on how quickly I experience product acclimation, for the Burdock Root Butter Cream I wasn't even able to finish the jar before my hair started acting up, but for the Keracare Leave in conditioner, I've been using it for 2 years and all of a sudden it just stop working on me. I was so hurt because its so hard to find good hair products that agrees with my hair. I find it interesting that some people don't experience this problem. I don't rotate products, once I find my staple thats it, I won't use anything else. I might have to start buying back-up products for my staples.

 

[westNDNbeauty]

*Beauty_Bandit

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. This happens to me for all hair and skin products.

....was starting to feel like an alienerplexed

 

[Your Cheeziness]

I don't think there is a such thing. I think that the needs of our hair change over time, not the product effectiveness. There are too many factors to solely say a product just "doesn't work for me" anymore. Hair that was once overly porous, can become healthier. Damaged hair can be trimmed. Hair needs to be clarified. Weather changes. The product could be expired. Or the products that I've used just don't agree with each other. I think that companies try to keep their product quality as consistent as possible (unless they change the formula). While our hair (and the millions of different things we do to it produce the biggest variables in results.

 

[gadgetdiva]

YESSSS!!! I thought my hair was having personality disorders. I HAVE to switch it up otherwise my hair acts ignorant.

 

[LuvlyRain3]

This has never happened to me but it happens to my older sister all the time. She's constantly looking for new products because her hair just get used to products so easily.

I needed this app!!!

 

[BostonMaria]

I usually have at least 2-3 deep conditioners on rotation. This has happened to me in the past where I will have a favorite DC and then after 6-8 months it stops working for me. I hate when that happens.

It just happened to me with my favorite gel (ProStylr) and I am SO MAD

 

[Vashti]

I've never had this problem with my hair. Sounds very perplexing. Sometimes I wonder if it has to do with an internal health issue that hasn't been addressed or even found out yet. I had this issue with my skin and skin moisturizers until I found out the root cause of my skin problems.