Okay, I have always used cones. Since I have found LHC and read and read I decided that my one big first change was going to be going cone-free.
My question: after I clarified my hair it is so much drier! It is like a totally different texture - instead of being sleek and shiny it is very very soft and fluffy. (buildup maybe?)
I have tried SMT's - my hair hated them! I have tried a couple of commercial deep conditioners - the Burt's Bees avacoda preshampoo treatment and the deep conditioner. They help, but my hair still seems so dry to me - and it is very very tangly. It almost never tangled before.
So is all of this just a result of leaving off the cones? Was my hair really this dry underneath the cones, and they masked it, or did they really help to hydrate the hair? I am so confused as to what to do.......
BTW, I used Redken products before; now I am using
Burt's Bee's grapefruit shiny shampoo and conditioner, and just today bought some Aubrey Organics conditioner to try. I tried Sauve and VO5 in the SMTs - I am too sensitive to the fragrances to use those products.
Help!! My hair is okay , it's very soft, but the ends are breaking off like mad!!
ETA: I have also tried CV and RG Liggett (something like that) shampoo bars, but my water is waaaay too hard for them to work properly, I think, They were a total disaster.
You've clarified off the cones that were masking the damage and dryness. Cones coat the hair and give it slip and shine. That's what "Pantene" hair is all about. If you have decided to go cone-less keep up with the moisturizing conditioners. I'd suggest trying CO with something like WH 365 conditioner with no scent. I think it's the one with the blue printing on the label. That should help with your sensitivity to the scents. I like to lightly oil my hair when it's damp and wear it in a bun all day. Camellia oil is a favorite. It's nice and light and doesn't seem to build up and has a nice scent. It's going to take a while to get the moisture back in your hair. It's an on-going project to keep hair moisturized. You could also try an SMT with something with no scent.
Thank you Carolyn - that's what I was afraid of, that the cones were only masking the damage. One question, I googled WH 365 and I think it's a Whole Foods house brand? If that's right, the nearest one is two hours away - I live waaaay back in the sticks. But, yes, I can try an SMT with something else= just haven't found anything unscented cheaper yet!
When I first stopped using cones I had the same problem. My hair was very tangly and dry. I CO for about two weeks and oiled my hair with coconut oil after every wash. After those two weeks my hair was soft again and I had no issue with tangles.
I used VO5 for CO and Biolage conditioning balm on the length. Cutting out the shampoo for a bit, oiling the ends, and wearing it up for a couple of weeks will do wonders. If there is damage (breaking and splits) you will have to cut that off, but this regimen may help with the moisture level.
Chrissy -b, thank you! So, maybe I just need to really try and get my hair hydrated again......I am kind of afraid of CO since I have such baby fine hair, but I may try it. My hair wasn't damaged at all even after the clarifying, but it is getting that way now, because it is breaking from all the tangles!!
I wouldn't go long term with CO, but it's worth it to try for a while until your hair is in better condition. The only down side that I found with CO (as I have mostly fine hair too) is that it weighs my hair down. You can always try a leave in too. I've made a mix of conditioner, shea and aloe that I use as a styling aide that works well as a leave-in.
My hair also got more tangly when I stopped using cones. It didn't really become dry, but softer, so it tangled easier. Oiling helps a lot, but I'm actually considering going back to cones, since I didn't really have any problems with it.
Help! Cone damage or just dryness?
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