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Original poster

going sls/silicone free and needing support!!

62 replies

daimbardiva · 07/04/2014 19:02

I've ditched silicones, sulphates etc and am looking for reassurance that soon my hair will stop looking dull and lank and will suddenly start looking fabulously healthy..! I'm also trying to lay off the straighteners in an effort to give it a break all round.

Any words of encouragement? ?!

OP posts:
JokersGiggle · 07/04/2014 20:22

The first week is hard but after that its amazing Smile mine is lovely. I got the best results with the Jasons range (Lavender was best for me and smells devine)

Original poster
daimbardiva · 07/04/2014 22:34

Thanks Jokers It's been about a week for me, so i'll be expecting the loveliness to commence soon...! I'm using the Body Shop's rainforest shampoo. Fingers crossed...!

OP posts:
RunnerFive · 07/04/2014 22:49

I've been using the Body Shop range for around a month and like it a lot. I've been using the curlygirl method for wavy hair and letting it air dry and it is in very good condition and all soft and lovely I have found that I need to wash more frequently. With my old shampoo and conditioner I could get away with 2 washes a week but I need to wash every other day now (or wear it up on day 3).

JokersGiggle · 07/04/2014 23:06

Sorry to hijack - What's the curly giraffe method?

JokersGiggle · 07/04/2014 23:06

Haha girl, not giraffe! Auto correct struck again lol.

Original poster
daimbardiva · 08/04/2014 20:35

Curly giraffe!! Love it. Interesting runnerFive - I'm finding I need to wash more frequently too - I feel like I want to wash everyday but restricting myself to every other day. Have only been brave enough to wash with only conditioner once so far though - that's the next step. I feel it does look a bit better today, so maybe I'm getting there!

jokers I'm no expert but curly girl is about using conditioner to wash and "plopping" (leaving to dry in a microfibre towel). Basically interfering as little as possible I think (search on here - loads of threads about it).

I'm not sure my hair's curly enough for it - I'm more of a wavy girl I think. How wavy/curly are you, Runner??

OP posts:
tobybox · 08/04/2014 20:41

I've read before that going sls-etc. free only works if the hair is cleansed of all the crap first. So I rinse with apple cider vinegar after going to the hairdresser then follow up with my sls/cones-free products, and it comes out lovely and shiny, and far more manageable/less static.

Attraversiamo · 08/04/2014 20:43

Ive been using the Bodyshop Rain Forest Moisture shampoo and conditioner but my hair looks dry after leaving it for a few days? I dont know why this is, I only wash my hair once a week as well. Does anyone know why this could be and what I could do to combat this? I use coconut oil on my hair before I wash it and on the ends whilst it is drying.

callamia · 08/04/2014 20:50

I'm using the naked shine shampoo and it's lovely. My hair is looking pretty good on it, if a tiny bit staticky.

I looked at all the loreal pure range, but they all seem to be for problem hair - does anyone know whether there is one that works for normal, untreated, not-dry hair?

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 16:51

I've been using the Bodyshop Rainforest range ( on advice from my hairdresser ) for about 5 months now and I can honestly say my wavy, slightly curly hair is the best it's ever been! Much more manageable and less frizzy. I think it just takes time. I would also agree that if you have been using a lot of silicone based products that you need to do a clarifying wash to get rid of all the crisp before you start with the new regime.

Don't lose heart. Firstly you are using a shampoo that is much more gentle on your hair and you are also not then coating your hair with silicone which is essentially like plastic and will do more harm than good in the long run!

HTH

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 16:52
  • crap not crisp!
Original poster
daimbardiva · 09/04/2014 18:41

Will try a clarifying wash...hair is so awful today I can hardly stand it. Thin, lank, greasy, dull, frizzy...urgh. :/

OP posts:
Original poster
daimbardiva · 09/04/2014 18:43

What should I use? Anything w clarifying in the name?? Intrigued by apple cider vinegar!

OP posts:
kazzawazzawoo · 09/04/2014 19:54

Also interested to know what to use. Watching with interest.

Laquila · 09/04/2014 21:06

OP I was just googling about Curly Girl/no-poo method (ugh hate that name!) and found a good blog post about apple cider vinegar - it was called artofsimple.net, I think, and the author was called Tsh. Maybe google "washing hair without shampoo" or similar?

I just had a hair appt today with a stylist that uses low-poo products and my hair looks great. He doesn't sell the products he uses so I have nothing to carry on with - can anyone recommend a no-poo (I.e., sls-, paraben- and silicone-free cleanser), conditioner and styling gel/product of some sort for curly hair?

Many thanks

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 21:12

My hairdresser who specialises in curly hair and trained for ten years in New York with the woman who wrote the Curly Girl Handbook recommended Body Shop Rainforest range. There is also Devacurl which is for curly hair and is only available on Amazon.

CoteDAzur · 09/04/2014 21:13

What harm do you think comes from silicone?

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 21:16

Apparently it's a form of plastic so although it may make the hair look shiny it's actually coating it and eventually forms a barrier preventing any moisture penetrating the hair.

Laquila · 09/04/2014 21:22

Scarletohello...is your hairdresser Matt James?!

Laquila · 09/04/2014 21:22

Côte it's a bit of a bugger for curly hair as it prevents it getting hydrated enough, and hydration is what we need

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 21:24

Laquila yes it is? Do you know him?

Laquila · 09/04/2014 21:26

He did my hair today - LOVE IT!

BookFairy · 09/04/2014 21:26

I have curly hair and use John Masters Organic. I'm intrigued by Devacurl so I must have a google :)

Scarletohello · 09/04/2014 21:29

Yeah he's great. I found him last November. It's totally changed my hair. It was so great to find a hairdresser who understood wavy/ curly hair. I have never come out of a hairdresser with my natural hair looking so good. It was like a miracle! I've also been using the Bodyshop Rainforest range as he recommended and my hair has never been in such good condition. I've been raving about him ever since! How was your experience?

Laquila · 09/04/2014 21:33

God I know!! (Sorry for hijack OP...)

He dry cut it in about 7 minutes and it looked soooo much better, even before he'd styled it! Donna did my colour, which I love, and he then cleansed and styled it - it looks SO MUCH HEALTHIER, it's incredible. My only very slight reservation is that it might look too styled, but I think that's just because I've been used to it looking terrible and messy for bloody ages ;)

He did actually briefly mention the Rainforest range - is there a styling product that does a similar job to the Devacurl gel, do you know? I have some Naked shampoo I could use, but nothing for styling.