Natural Hair Care: Shampooing Natural Hair

Shampooing Natural Hair

When you tell natural hair girls to shampoo their hair; they'll grab their bags and run for the hills. Most girls have a No-Poo regimen and remove shampoo from their life all together. In my option, we need shampoo or something of that sorts (that is not a conditioner) to effectively clean our hair and scalps of dirt and product buildup. Its a fact that shampoos can be drying to our Natural Hair. However that doesn't mean you should eliminate shampooing all together. If you had a cup of tea and it taste bad, do you completely stop drinking tea? No, you go and get a different cup. Notice, if you tried a conditioner and it was crap you run right back to the store and try something else. Why can't we do the same with shampoo? Just try and try until you find one that's best for you.

For me personally, I have eczema and washing with a conditioner 100% all the time will result in flaky scalp or white residue. I know I am not the only natural girl that experience this. It doesn't matter how many times you co-wash or what motion technique you use, nothing beats a good shampoo. We NEED a good shampoo in our life!

When looking for a good shampoo for your natural hair you should look for:
• Sulfate-free cleansers to prevent excessive dryness and scalp irritation
• Ingredients to condition your hair while you cleanse
• pH adjusters to balance the pH of the shampoo and prevent unnecessary cuticle damage to your hair


Find a Moisturizing Sulfate-free Cleansers 

There are a wider array of shampoos on the market now that have moisturizing agents which conditions while you cleans. Also, at a cost that won't rob your stove of food. Not every natural hair products sells for $20 a pop. Ever wonder why after shampooing our hair feel hair and dry? Sulfates my friend. Sufates have been used in hair products for many years and also the first ingredients in the detergents in your cupboard. Yes, go grab your bottle of Tide or Dawn and take a look. Makes you wonder if you can just use some Dawn and wash your hair. Please Do Not Try that. LOL!

Now we need to learn how to read ingredients (at least a little).

Ingredients to Run Away from:
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Myreth Sulfate


Gentle ingredients to look for:
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
• Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
• Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate


Try cleansers that promote moisturized hair (even though some marketers falsely advise their products). Please note that not all sulfate-free shampoos feel good on your hair. If your hair feel stripped its not a good shampoo (even if its sulfate-free). Companies like Shea Moisture and As I Am have started to make Conditioning cleansers now so you can try those out too.

My Recommendations:
Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Shampoo
Shea moisture Cowash
As I am Cowash
OBI Naturals Shampoo Bars

I firmly believe that in conjunction with a cowashing regimen we should shampoo at least once per month. How often do you shampoo your natural hair?