VERY Thirsty Hair - Conditioner Help

[Nohomemadecandles]

My hair is ridiculously thirsty. Need recs for a really good conditioner and/oil to quench it.

I CANNOT do CG or no poo routines, I have tried. I have awful scalp issues that need a specialist shampoo to clear. Currently I:-

*Only shampoo the roots
*Squeeze out excess water and smother with conditioner (currently Aussie)
*Leave for 5 mins whilst I do my other bits
*Rinse
*Use Liz Earle oil on the mids-ends
*Blow dry roots to mids thoroughly (or my scalp makes a fuss)
*Half dry mids-ends and smooth with Denman rubber brush thingy.

It needs more moisture. What's going to quench it???

I think the oil forms a barrier on the outside of the hair, stopping moisture getting in, or so I’ve read. Hear always helps open the hair cuticle to let moisture in, try wearing a shower cap for 15 mins when the conditioner is on.
I’ve been doing wavy girl method (not as strict as cgm) and discovered my scalp is much happier without sls and my hair needs protein more than moisture. Also coconut and aloe are a problem for some people, my hair seems to like them.

I'll try & fashion something to simulate the shower cap effect. (Can't let conditioner touch scalp ) Good idea.

I have similar very 'thirsty' hair and Garnier Banana Hair Mask helps a lot.

Moroccan Oil Hydrating mask

@Nohomemadecandles

I'll try & fashion something to simulate the shower cap effect. (Can't let conditioner touch scalp ) Good idea.

Wrap the bottom of your hair in cling film

Castor oil or coconut oil. Leave it on for a while before you wash your hair.

I found the body shop banana shampoo, conditioner and hair mask have done wonders for my dry bleached hair. I also use coconut oil, put it on the ends for about 10 mins before I shower then shampoo twice and condition. I always use a heat defence spray before styling.

Thank you. Will try all this!

Love the hive mind!

@MisgenderedSwan coconut oil? Like the cooking oil? Or is there a specific product?

I came on this topic for the exact same question.

My hair is like a scarecrow, so dry and brittle, I think it's being inside central heating, wearing beanies to walk the dogs, not always drying and it being tied up all day long.

It's the worse condition and it's only just past jaw length. 🙈

I use cold pressed coconut oil (from the food aisle) warmed a little in my hands. The one I've got at the moment is from Lidl 😂 I've also used the coconut oil spray from the body shop before which is less messy!

You sure it needs moisture and not protein?

I used to think my hair was super dry but actually it was in need protein.

Try a rice water rinse. I use starchy water from cooking rice, pour omit over my head between two bowls then pop a shower cap on for 15/20 minutes then wash off). Super cheap and easy and my hair gobbles it up (make sure you deep condition for a few minutes after the rinse though).

Rahua hydrating shampoo.

For the scalp try Nizoral leave for 15 minutes as a treatment. It works wonders. I had alopecia and itchy flaky scalp. It's all nice and clear now.
My hair also is growing back. I also take vitamin D.

I keep reading that it’s actually better not to squeeze out the moisture, and apply conditioner when the hair is totally saturated.

I find it hard to believe that the conditioner won’t simply run off the hair, but thought I’d pass the message on!

Aussie is one of your big problems here . Constant use of that and your oil is stopping any moisture get into the hair - you’re just piling on silicones.

Silicones aren’t the enemy as people say but it would help to clarify your hair regularly and use something different now and again.

I leave Alberto balsam blueberry conditioner on and wrap hair in a micro fibre turban.

You need to spritz your hair with water. Preferably bottled water. That's what your hair needs.

Use Castor or Coconut Oil on your scalp. If you have scalp problems, Nizoral shampoo or the Neutrogena Therapeutic one (sorry, forgotten the name) are good.

Take a good Multivitamin & Mineral supplement, take Vitamin D alongside.

You can buy Wheat Protein online (very good for your hair) and mix a little in with your leave- in conditioner.

Some people take protein powders, if that's something you're interested in you can look up the different types.

But water spritz is the key thing above all

My hair loves a rice water rinse too.

Is it the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle? I think, fundamentally, that it's just really shit. It shouldn't be, considering what it promises, but it is.

I got my hair done (five hours of lightening and toning on already overprocessed hair) yesterday and before drying they used the Swarzkopf Hyaluronic Moisture Spray Conditioner before they dried my hair, along with some oil. It looked pretty good and I'm considering buying some.

Gosh, mumsnet really forces you to learn to proofread before you post, right? I hate not being able to amended my errors.

@itwillbehormones, the coconut oil I use is from Superdrug but it is just coconut oil with added fragrance, but you could use normal coconut oil. I sometimes use castor oil (from the £1 shop), but it is gloopy and sticky. Hair feels soft afterwards.

Aussie is shit, which is a shame as it smells sooo good!

I use Palmers shampoo and conditioner which is super thick. I wouldn’t find any the last time I bought some and I bought Dream Lengths instead and my hair felt instantly dry. I’ve got some more Palmers again now and it feels much better again. I’ve recently had all the dry lengths taken off so I’m really trying to keep my hair in good condition. I also use Olaplex no 7 after washing.

I think they've changed the Aussie stuff.

Coconut oil is much better IMO.
I tried the castor oil because I read that it was the key ingredient in Philip Kingsley Elasticizer.

You can also use a tiny amount of coconut oil on the ends of your hair as a leave in conditioner, you melt it in your hands first.

Just looked up the PKE ingredients, and it is castor oil. You put the PKE on damp hair, so maybe that's what I should do with the oil.

Thanks, I've been on a cycle of Nizoral & Tgel for years. The prescription stuff when they stop working. I need to keep them rotating or it stops working! TWENTY years now battling it. Sigh

I'll give the oils a bash. I'll see if my DH fancies helping with the rice water!
I wonder if Aussie has changed its formulation?