shampoo....why so many choices??

Hey everyone hope all is well!!
just got off of work a few hours ago, cooked dinner and now I’m on here blogging, I’m trying to keep the blogs coming so please be patient with me =o)
I’m taking some time away from you tube, so I can focus on a few others things including my blog.

well today target, was having a great sale on huge bottles of herbal essence shampoos and conditioners, as you know I rarely shampoo my hair with regular shampoo,
I mainly co-wash at this point in my life, so I bought the conditioner.
I am co washing 2x a week, I henna 2x a month so the weeks that I henna I drop a co-wash day, I hope your following me =)

Ok so I wash my hair at least 8x a month, some months more depending on the weather,
I believe the frequent washes have really helped my hair turn around.
what I have found out especially now that I am transitioning, a lot of products that were ok for my relaxed hair are no longer ok for my natural hair, my hair doesn’t really agree with regular shampoo any more, so I mainly cowash, and if I shampoo I use a sodium sulfate free shampoo, the days I henna, I have to wash my hair a min of 5x with a sls free shampoo, a lot of sls free shampoos, do not lather as well so this is why I have to do a few more washing,
where as when I used regular shampoo, I could get all the henna out in 3 washes.

the main thing especially after doing a henna treatment is to deep condition, I deep condition for min 2hrs because henna can dry your hair out, so I make sure to d.c. every time, I used to d.c. every week after I used shampoo, but now that I mainly co wash, I do not have to d.c. as much as I used too. I d.c. 2x a month now.


Ok ladies that was just a update about me and my hair follicle lol
I know a lot of you may not be in to the natural stuff or could care less about sulfates,
So I wanted to compile a list of good sulfate shampoo for you, and good sulfate free shampoos for those who may be interested.




The Best Sulfate Shampoos

There are numerous shampoos geared towards women of color. Some of them work and some are crap they leave our hair worse then when we started =(
Here are some shampoos to look for when choosing a shampoo for relaxed and/or natural black hair.these are listed all over the net as the top the five shampoos for african america women.
I have used most of these myself and I had never had any issues with the ones that I tired.

Crème of Nature Regular Shampoo• sls free =)
Why it works: It detangles extremely well and leaves your hair soft and super conditioned. This shampoo has been around since the 1970s and works great.
It's a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, so no conditioner is needed at all.
It’s inexpensive, too. You can find Crème of Nature Shampoo at your local beauty supply retailer.



Mizani BotaniFying Conditioning Shampoo•
I love this stuff, as you ladies know, I am a huge fan of mizani products!!
this particular shampoo is gentle enough to be used everyday, it cleanses the hair and scalp while restoring a natural moisture balance. The aromatic blend of botanicals nourishes, soothes and massages the scalp. The lubricating emollients of the shampoo linger in the hair long after the rich lather is gone.”•
Why it works: This shampoo smells amazing, and while that obviously isn’t a good enough reason to use a shampoo, it definitely adds to the experience. Mizani products are great for women of color! Their products makes your hair more manageable, softer, and shinier.
This shampoo is slightly more expensive than drug store brands and can be found at select Mizani salons. I used their relaxer for 4 year straight, and I loved it,!
mizani worked well on my hair so no complaints over "hair" lol
if you relax your hair, mizani is a great product to use....see i don't knock anyone, you want to relax, then do what makes you happy, but use good products that wont cause as much damage to your hair.



Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural Shampoo•
The claim: “This rich Pantene Pro-vitamin shampoo has moisturizing conditioners that hydrate hair and help relieve the scalp's dryness with every wash.
It can help dry, brittle hair look healthy and irresistibly shiny.”
• Why it works: This ultra-creamy shampoo is amazing because it really cleans your hair without drying it. Your hair will feel remarkably softer after just one wash.
It works just as great on relaxed or natural hair. You can find Pantene Pro-V products at your local drug store. I have heard rave reveiws from plenty of ladies, on this product.
before I stopped using sulfates, I never got a chance to try this shampoo,
but I have heard great things about it... so fee free to try it!




Nexxus Therapee Shampoo
• The claim: “This luxuriously lathering, beautifully scented, and lavishly opalescent formula was created to help restore and maintain hair’s vital moisture balance. Intensely moisturizing and nourishing, you will notice the difference in just one shampoo.”
• Why it works: This shampoo detangles hair wonderfully and is also extremely hydrating.
This shampoo uses scientific technology to make your hair noticeably more pliable.
It includes such naturally moisturizing ingredients such as Avocado Oil and Wheat Flour.
You can find Nexxus products at your local salon.
Nexxus products are the bomb! I have used a few of their products,
they smell great and I have no complaints!




Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo•
the claim: “This hair-quenching shampoo provides gentle cleansing while restoring hair's moisture level. Moisture Recovery's exclusive Hydramine Sea Complex, combined with Joico's Quadramine Complex repairs and reconstructs, restores vital fluids and provides intense moisturization.”
Why it works: The Hydramine Sea Complex, which is a blend of “moisture-loving ingredients from the sea that quenches overly dry hair attributed to the environment, chemical services or genetics,” really does do something to repair the hair. It’s a little pricier than the other shampoos, but it’s definitely worth it. You can purchase Joico products at your local salon or beauty supply retailer. I have never tried this, but it is revered as one of the top shampoos!
if you use it, let us know what you think about it!!


Why some people choose to go the sulfate free way...

Scalp problems such as itching and flaking affect millions of people across the world.
If you have an itchy or flaky scalp, one of the simplest things you can try is washing your hair with an SLS-free shampoo. SLS-free shampoo do not contain the chemical Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, which is a foaming agent used by many of the big brands. In fact, the next time you are in your local supermarket, take a look at the ingredients listed on the shampoo bottles.
You’ll be surprised at how many have SLS in them.

Why is SLS used in shampoos?
There are two main reasons that SLS is such a popular ingredient in shampoos. Firstly, it is cheap as it is produced synthetically, making it ideal for low-cost brands. Secondly, it is a very effective foaming agent; that is to say it creates lots of foam when mixed with water. In addition, as well as making shampoos foam, SLS also helps them to cleanse the hair of oil and dirt.
As can be seen here, there are a number of good reasons why so many manufacturers choose to use SLS.

What else can SLS do?
SLS is a pretty powerful chemical which has several functions in shampoos.
Unfortunately, not all of its effects are good, which is why it is sometimes causes to scalp problems.
SLS is a known to be irritating to the skin and is even used as a standard skin irritant in clinical studies!
It is not surprising, therefore, that it can cause scalp problems when frequently applied as part of a shampoo. It is recognised as being one of the most irritating chemicals of its kind which are used in shampoos.
Its irritating effects can create an itchy, flaky scalp in some people and manufacturers are slowly realising that SLS in shampoos is affecting their customers in this way. There is a gradual move to using less irritating chemicals in its place but SLS-free shampoos are still not that commonplace on supermarket shelves.

SLS has also been found to have some other undesirable effects. One such effect is its ability to penetrate the cornea of the eye, even if absorbed through the skin, where it can accumulate and then be released slowly. This is particularly a concern for babies and children, where the effects are greater.

SLS-free shampoo
Green People offers a range of SLS-free shampoos for different hair types. Instead of SLS, we use gentler foaming agents such as Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate and Decyl Glucoside which are less likely to cause scalp problems.

ok so these were just a few of the reasons I decided to go sulfate free.
more mainstream shampoos are starting to go sls free mode!
L'Oreal is one of them, here is the description:

L'Oreal has introduced EverPure, a complete sulfate-free color care system that takes out the harsh ingredients that can dull color-treated hair and cause damage. Research shows that harsh sulfates, surfactants and salts can strip and fade color, as well as dry hair. New EverPure uses gentle ingredients and natural botanicals to deliver rich lather without stripping shine.

Here go's a list of a few sulfate free shampoos

Pureology
Queen Helene Mint Julep Shampoo With Protein
Qhemet Biologics Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleansing Tea
Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile
J/A/S/O/N (Not all formulas are sulfate-free)
Morrocco Method
MyHoneyChild Cleansers
Organix
Dudu-Osum Herbal Shampoo
Creme of Nature
Burt's Bees
Carol's Daughter
Back to Basics
Aubrey Organics

How ever you decide to wash your hair,
make sure to use the best products,
this will help to prevent any damage,
and save you a lot of hair trouble in the future,
email me with any questions!
be blessed,
ti