If you regularly use medicated shampoo, or a dandruff shampoo, you know how drying they can be. Even though there are some cosmetically nice options available (there's a list here!), they're not a good fit for everybody. Sometimes a drying shampoo is the best choice for your scalp. Even if it makes a mess of your hair.
I don't like to see clients skip helpful medication just because of the cosmetic effects. Nor do I want to add hassle to your life.
So how about a quick pre-shampoo step that will help your hair not only survive the medicated stuff, but come out the other side looking and feeling great?
This post contain affiliate links for which I may receive a small commission when clicked, at no cost to you, and revealing none of your personal information to me.
10-15 minutes before you wash your hair, apply one of these options to DRY hair.
Apply LIGHTLY.
Apply more to the ends and top layer and dry, frizzy, or tangly areas.
No worries, you'll wash out the excess. It takes a few tries to get the amount right.
Keep it away from your scalp - some folks are very oil-sensitive.
- Coconut oil. Even if your hair doesn't like coconut oil in products, or left on a long time, really short treatments sometimes work wonders. Coconut oil is actively attracted to hair for stellar 💫 protection from "water logging." This is great for highlighted, frizzy, heat-styled or Coarse hair.
- Mineral oil. Yes, Mineral oil. This is unparalleled for detangling. You only need a tiny amount to make a huge impact. It is only one thing (unlike plant oils, which contain dozens of components). It's very slippery, it won't soak in to your hair or change with exposure to air or light. Provides a barrier to keep shampoo busy so it can't dehydrate your hair, and protects fragile, porous ends in longer hair from tangling and breakage. grapes, pears, zucchini
- Olive, Avocado, Jojoba or Grapeseed oil. These are not attracted to hair like Coconut oil. They can provide a barrier to keep shampoo busy so it can't dehydrate hair as readily. And help reduce tangles and breakage. grapes, pears, zucchini
- Commercial hair serum. These combine plant oils and emollients to provide different benefits. Many include silicones, which offer protection through detangling and giving your shampoo something to work on so it cannot dehydrate hair as readily. See the notes. grapes, pears, zucchini
- OGX
- Bond Protein Repair Serum: Conditioners (attracted to hair to protect from water logging, bond-repair actives, Wheat germ oil, proteins. This formula hydrates and protects.
- Argan Oil Penetrating Serum: Silicone emollients smooth and detangle, short-chain fatty acids penetrate the hair, Argan oil softens.
- Healing Dry Oil Spray: This spray uses short-chain fatty acids, Cocoa butter and Coconut oil to protect hair, especially fragile ends. And silicone emollients for extra detangling.
- Coconut Miracle Oil: Silicone emollients for extra detangling, with Coconut oil to protect hair from dehydration.
- Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum: Silicone emollients for extra detangling, Coconut oil to protect hair from dehydration. Milk protein and silk amino acids for extra hydration.
- Giovanni
- 2Chic Frizz Begone Smoothing Serum: A base designed to reduce the oily feel of oils, including Coconut oil, Shea butter, Sweet almond, Macadamia, Baobab, Moringa and Jojoba oils. With silicone emollients for extra detangling.
- 2Chic Repairing Potion Super Serum: A base designed to reduce the oily feel of oils, including Coconut oil, Shea butter, Sweet almond, Macadamia, Baobab, Moringa and Jojoba oils. Keratin protein and Panthenol to hydrate. With silicone emollients for extra detangling.
- 2Chic Super Moist Serum: Silicone emollients with Avocado and Olive oil. Triglycerides help soften and protect. Aloe and Quinoa protein for hydration and protection. Shea butter and Sunflower oil.
- Pantene Miracle Rescue Regenerating oil: Silicone-free, with Triglycerides to help soften and protect. Grapeseed, Soybean, Argan, and Jojoba oils lend protection and detangling.
- Aussie Miracle Moist Intense Hydration Oil: Silicone emollients for extra detangling, Jojoba and Avocado oils for protection and softening.
- Aussie Miracle Curls Curl Defining Oil: Silicone emollients for extra detangling, Coconut and Jojoba oils for protection and softening
When using an anti-dandruff shampoo, does the conditioner need to have anti-dandruff ingredients? The Head & Shoulders website say the following: "If you use dandruff shampoo, make sure to use anti-dandruff conditioner for soft hair. Most ordinary conditioners will wash away some of the active ingredients left on the scalp, so you’ll lose a lot of the anti-dandruff protection".
ReplyDeleteBut I don't know if that makes any sense. You don't apply conditioner in the scalp and even if you did conditioners do not lift or remove dirt or oil.
Source: https://www.headandshoulders.co.uk/en-gb/all-articles/hair-routine/why-do-i-need-a-hair-and-scalp-conditioner/#471BKBxPKxWojlgCPRQT5x
Hi Sam, You don't need anti-dandruff ingredients in your conditioner. Head and Shoulders does a lot of research and development to assure their medications deposit on the scalp. I'm copying the address to a page from the same website where they tell you that! They'd love to sell you a bottle of conditioner, though. Telling you you need it for the best anti-dandruff effect is a good way to do that. https://www.headandshoulders.co.uk/en-gb/all-articles/scalp-conditions/piroctone-olamine-retention-anti-dandruff-efficacy/ ------------ Leave-on products with Piroctone olamine - now that's a different story. Leaving those on the skin for longer can make them more effective. But that's *not* the same as a rinse-off conditioner. Great point! Thank you for the comment. - W
Delete