Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Hair never feels properly clean

51 replies

QuestionableMouse · 01/04/2020 13:56

I'm finding lately that no matter what shampoo I use my hair never feels properly clean. It feels quite coated (I don't use styling products) and nasty.

In the last few months I've tried

-Pantane miceller water
-Citrus head and shoulders
-Vozine
-Elvive nutri gloss

The only one that leaves my hair feeling clean is the Vozine but it leaves my hair a nasty dry mess too.

Any recommendations? I can't use Tresemee in any form as it irritates my skin badly!

Solid shampoo? What can I try next?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Thesunrising · 01/04/2020 23:50

As previous posters have said - you need shampoos without silicones. Shea Moisture Black Castor oil is great - hair feels absolutely squeaky clean - almost to the point of being too dry - after using it. I use it spareingly about once a fortnight or every three weeks.

SkaLaLand · 02/04/2020 11:45

In that case are you rincing properly op?

muckycat · 02/04/2020 12:00

I came on to suggest using Fairy Liquid too! Although maybe use gloves if you have exczema on your hands. About once a month should do it.

Avoid silicone in any products.

I know what you mean about the water up in those parts!

I live down south with really hard water that leaves my hair dull and tangly. As soon as I have a shower at my south Yorkshire relatives', my hair is swishing about like a My Little Pony's! Reasonable housing and amazing hair. I might start looking at jobs after all of this.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 02/04/2020 12:03

I might be going slightly mad under lock-down OP, but when you mentioned Hull, I immediately thought of Brian from Hull, that MNers are so fond of. Did you get the chance to meet up with him at all? Grin

Roomba · 02/04/2020 12:06

I get that swishy hair when I visit my family in South Yorkshire too Grin When I first moved to Lancashire my skin and hair were awful for months, until they got used to the harder water (it's not hard hard here, just not as super soft as in Sheffield). When I visit my aunt in Hull though, my hair is dreadful. But they have to descale the kettle every couple of weeks there (I've never had to descale a kettle in my life, for comparison).

jenganinja · 02/04/2020 16:42

How much fairy liquid should you use? I have the same problem but also dry ends.
So interesting about the water hardness. Water is terrible where I live, always having to descale things. Explains a lot

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 02/04/2020 17:11

I'm going to try the fairy liquid tomorrow and I'll report back.

I'm assuming the hotel had a water filter because I was using the same products and my hair/skin felt amazing.

Rinse for about two minutes on the highest pressure. I also sometimes do a cool rinse.

I have quite thick hair that reaches the middle of my back and use about a 50p sized blob, adding more if I need to. Unfortunately due to the size and layout of the shower I can't just wash my hair. It's all or nothing.

I didn't meet anyone called Brian in Hull sorry. 😂 (I really want to go back just for the shower 😂😂😂)

OP posts:
OP posts:
Indecisivelurcher · 02/04/2020 18:39

If you want to try a bar, don't get a cold processed one. I really recommend little blue hen.

smileannie · 02/04/2020 23:52

You could try a vinegar rinse every second or third wash.

NellGwynsPenguin · 03/04/2020 00:07

Baby shampoo vote from me too. Johnson and Johnson with a conditioner on the very ends first.
Also cradle cap shampoo is good.

@QuestionableMouse You might have a yeast overgrowth on your scalp and hair. It’s very common- looks dull and a bit dusty- and gives that never clean feeling.
Try Tgel or a shampoo with nizoral.

NellGwynsPenguin · 03/04/2020 00:10

@QuestionableMouse cerave products are essential for excema.
Their moisturising pot is excellent. Excema is genetic- Celtic- your skin doesn’t produce enough ceramide 1 and ceramide 3. Cerave will replace your missing ceramides and boost your skin to make them itself over time.

I use a big pot every month- it’s very good value and has completely cleared up my excema and atopic dermatitis..

You sound like you need to see a dermatologist actually.

CuriousCapricorn · 03/04/2020 02:48

I have read on here about doing things the opposite way when washing your hair so conditioner first and then shampoo. It actually works!

I love Tigi Bed Head in the red bottle. It lasts months and is around £7 in Home Bargains and B and M.

Another tip I have is to really massage the scalp with your nails. My hair feels so clean when I do this and lastly, shampoo twice.

managedmis · 03/04/2020 02:56

My happence worth :

Alberto Baslam Tea Tree Tingle - cheap
Redken Sky High Volume - dear

Any silicone free shampoo
Johnsons Baby Shampoo (very good)

Wash hair twice when in shower. Give it a good scrub, don't use conditioner

SpeckledyHen · 03/04/2020 06:10

A water softener will make a huge difference to the look and feel of your hair . I can’t work out why you can’t wash your hair everyday OP ?

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 03/04/2020 10:33

Thanks for the suggestions!

Shower is tiny with a fixed shower head so not easy to just wash your hair. Was meant to be getting redone this summer but.. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It looks clean, just feels horrible when it's wet!

OP posts:
EngagedAgain · 03/04/2020 11:30

I started to get this and occasionally use alberto balsam (£1!) when hair is feeling dirty. It seems to strip out the grease and grime. I use fairly hot water, to give a good lather up, wash twice then condition well. Only wash hair once a week anyway which helps keep healthy balance, though I'm sure some will find this disgusting!

EngagedAgain · 03/04/2020 11:36

Oh and I wash over bath using shower head or whilst having a shower. Somehow showering hair upside down seems to clean it better, as I think it cleans all underneath, but if hair is dry say after taking a bashing from colouring, it's rubbing the cuticles? up the wrong way, but solved with conditioner.

Mulanlin · 03/04/2020 11:40

Alberto Balsam works a treat I find. The more expensive ones like tresame and the like just make my hair so greasy

Reginabambina · 03/04/2020 11:45

It’s the hard water. I’ve just gone from a very hard water area to a really soft water area. My hair yesterday was cleaner and softer and shinier and bouncier than it has been since I last was here. If you can afford it I’d suggest a water softener. I was about to buy one but then lockdown happened.

Lexilooo · 03/04/2020 12:30

Ditch all silicone containing products as it causes build up. Then after you have eliminated silicone you will be able to get clean hair even with a very gentle shampoo or by washing with conditioner only.

Have a look at the curly girl method, you don't need to follow it all but I found my hair felt cleaner with less washing once I eliminated Silicones and SLS.

Lexilooo · 03/04/2020 12:30

Ditch all silicone containing products as it causes build up. Then after you have eliminated silicone you will be able to get clean hair even with a very gentle shampoo or by washing with conditioner only.

Have a look at the curly girl method, you don't need to follow it all but I found my hair felt cleaner with less washing once I eliminated Silicones and SLS.

Lexilooo · 03/04/2020 12:34

Also try a scalp brush to work your cleanser in. Absolutely revolutionary!

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 03/04/2020 13:48

I have a scalp brush somewhere. I keep meaning to try it and forgetting about it.

OP posts:
ZaraW · 03/04/2020 14:36

Scalp brushes are really good. I got mine from Muji.