The Ultimate Hair Guide

Clarifying

All of us, even the super cleanly people, have developed some kind of build up on the hair and scalp. This is where clarifying comes in and rescues you.

Where Does The Build Up Come From And How To Prevent It?

Build up on the hair can come from a number of things:

-Pollution

   ~Wear A Hat; Keep Your Hair In A Braid

-Shampoos/Conditioners/Styling Products, Etc.

   ~Use Less Product; Don't Apply Conditioner Directly To The Scalp; Avoid Hair Spray, Gel, and Dry Shampoo; Don't Use Products With A Wax Base; Thoroughly Rinse Hair After Conditioning

-Hard water

   ~Get A Water Filter, Use Bottled Water

-Various Medications

   ~The only thing you can really do for this is research on your medications and work around that, but if you need the medication, you need it.

-Chlorine

   ~Avoid Chlorinated Pools

-Excess Sebum

   ~Adjust How Often You Wash Your Hair

-Low Porosity Hair

   ~Use Less Product

What Is Clarifying?

Clarifying is basically when you remove any kind of build up on the hair and scalp. This is very important because many problems develop due to the residue, some of which include:

-Difficulty Styling Or Brushing 

-Hair Looks And Feels Dirty Or Greasy 

-Declined Hair Growth

-Hair Products Don't Work As Well

-Bacterial Growth

-Bleached Hair Turns Brassy

How To Clarify Your Hair?

You have 2 choices: 

Clarifying Shampoo- A clarifying shampoo is usually just a regular shampoo with harsher detergents, which can be drying. They are convenient and non-time consuming. The prices will vary between brands and stores. If you are looking for a clarifying shampoo, always avoid sulfates. You can find certain gentle clarifying shampoos that are non-drying, but it would take a lot of experimenting to see what works for you. I have personally tried various clarifying shampoos and I never liked them. They always were very drying and made my hair unmanageable. Some even made me lose quite a bit of hair, so I personally don't trust clarifying shampoos on my hair. It may or may not work for you, though it is an option.

DIY Clarifying Hair Mask- This is basically when you throw together a mixture of natural kitchen ingredients and apply it to the hair and scalp to thoroughly cleanse the hair. It does take time to prepare and not all people enjoy the application. DIY masks are typically inexpensive and I have found that they work a lot more effectively than just using a clarifying shampoo. Also when you use a DIY hair mask you are knowing that what you are putting on your hair is safe and you can switch up the ingredients and amounts to fit your personal needs. My favorite go to DIY clarifying mask has always been a mixture of apple cider vinegar, honey and almond oil. The acidity of the apple cider vinegar gently but thoroughly removes build up. It also helps to balance the natural pH level. Make sure it is organic and has "the mother". Honey is known to have healing properties and is also a natural humectant, meaning it helps to draw in moisture. The almond oil adds shine and softness to the hair, while aiding in the application of the DIY mask. You can use other oils such as olive oil, castor oil, avocado oil, hemp oil, or coconut oil. So what you need to do is mix those ingredients together in a small bowl or cup and apply it onto your hair with your hands until your whole head of hair and scalp is covered. Gently message your scalp to promote blood flow and to loosen dead skin cells. Throw your hair up in a bun, cover it with a shower cap or grocery bag, and leave it on for an hour. Wash your hair as usual. The results are unreal, I promise. If you decide to try it, come back to this chapter, comment, and tell me how it went for you.

How Often Should You Clarify Your Hair?
How often you clarify your hair really depends on your personal lifestyle and environment. If you have a lot of pollution where you live or use a lot of products on your hair, you're going to have to clarify more often opposed to someone that doesn't. You should clarify your hair every time after swimming in a chlorinated pool. For non-regular swimmers, clarifying once a month usually is enough. If you co-wash a lot, use heavy conditioners, butters, oils, styling creams, hair spray, dry shampoo or hair gel you may want to clarify twice a month. And if you're like me and just stick to a shampoo, conditioner, and finishing oil, then you could probably get away with clarifying once every other month. 

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Hey guys. Sorry for the verry late update again. I've been so busy with school and other projects, so I hope u guys will forgive me.

I hope this chapter was helpful in some way to you.

If it was hit that star button.

Xoxo

~Lesley