Getting rid of buildup on hair

jennyk213

I tried a different shampoo and conditioner that made my hair feel disgusting - greasy, weighed down and dull.  I stopped using it a few months ago but it's still feeling gross and I'm thinking maybe it's left over build up from the other shampoo/conditioner. 

I googled and came up with using baking soda straight, mixing it with shampoo and doing an apple cider vinegar rinse.  Has anyone tried something like this?  What worked or didn't work?  Any other suggestions? 

Adb6283

Not sure about EF options, but here's a non-EF option if you have to resort to it.

Herbal Essences has a shampoo for getting rid of build up - I think it's actually called De-gunkify or Clarify or something like that.  It's green.

I used to use that every now and then before switching over to EF products and it was wonderful.  I do admit, I kind of miss it.

annabelle.27

I've just started shampooing solely with baking soda (1 tablespoon mixed in one cup of water, a small amount then poured on head and massaged in) and either honey or apple cider vinegar. I use no shampoo at all anymore, and my hair is clean and looks a lot better (I have naturally curly hair and I always straightened it because it tended to frizz, no matter what shampoo I used. Now, though, it naturally forms thick bouncy ringlets. It's great). I have heard that sometimes there is a waiting period in which your hair will look greasy while your scalp gets used to going chemical-free, but I haven't experienced that at all. Give it a shot on a weekend night in the bath or something (not  on a work day) and see how it works.

MaryWithoutSound

annabelle.27:

I've just started shampooing solely with baking soda (1 tablespoon mixed in one cup of water, a small amount then poured on head and massaged in) and either honey or apple cider vinegar. I use no shampoo at all anymore, and my hair is clean and looks a lot better (I have naturally curly hair and I always straightened it because it tended to frizz, no matter what shampoo I used. Now, though, it naturally forms thick bouncy ringlets. It's great). I have heard that sometimes there is a waiting period in which your hair will look greasy while your scalp gets used to going chemical-free, but I haven't experienced that at all. Give it a shot on a weekend night in the bath or something (not  on a work day) and see how it works.

 I also have curly hair, and baking soda/ACV has done wonders for it.  FWIW, my "formula" is 2 tablespoons baking soda in one cup of water.  One tablespoon left me a little greasy.

Izzybeth3

how much ACV do you use (approximately)?  just trying to figure out how to try it

xxSOMMERxx

I have been thinking about trying this mixture as well.

 

Does anyone know what it will do to colored hair?

MaryWithoutSound

For the PP, I use about 2 Tbsp ACV to a cup of water.  I have a LOT of blond highlights in my hair, and I have noticed less fading than when I was using sulfate-free shampoo/conditioner and a blue shampoo 3x a week.

DharmaChick

Interesting.  I have curly hair, and the product buildup issue.

ACV doesn't dry out curly hair?

MaryWithoutSound

DharmaChick:

Interesting.  I have curly hair, and the product buildup issue.

ACV doesn't dry out curly hair?

 

I've actually been able to stop using mousse, hairspray and frizz serum because the curls are so frizz-free.  This is the start of my third week, and I just recently noticed that I no longer need to wash every day, and even on day 2 the curls still look great!

jennyk213

Hmm....maybe I'll have to try the baking soda ACV thing.  I have curly hair, too, and no product sounds pretty darn awesome!  I'm a little afraid to try it, though.  I was using Giovanni which I really liked but then I tried GudonyaToo because all of the awesome reviews.  My hair is just not the same anymore.   

MaryWithoutSound

jennyk213:

Hmm....maybe I'll have to try the baking soda ACV thing.  I have curly hair, too, and no product sounds pretty darn awesome!  I'm a little afraid to try it, though.  I was using Giovanni which I really liked but then I tried GudonyaToo because all of the awesome reviews.  My hair is just not the same anymore.   

 If you do decide to try it, know that it won't feel "right" in the shower.  I massage the baking soda/water into my roots, leave for a minute, then rinse.  I keep a spray bottle in the shower with the ACV.  Spritz, let sit a min, rinse.  You won't be able to run your fingers through your hair.  At this point I just scrunch and let air dry.

jennyk213

MaryWithoutSound:

jennyk213:

Hmm....maybe I'll have to try the baking soda ACV thing.  I have curly hair, too, and no product sounds pretty darn awesome!  I'm a little afraid to try it, though.  I was using Giovanni which I really liked but then I tried GudonyaToo because all of the awesome reviews.  My hair is just not the same anymore.   

 If you do decide to try it, know that it won't feel "right" in the shower.  I massage the baking soda/water into my roots, leave for a minute, then rinse.  I keep a spray bottle in the shower with the ACV.  Spritz, let sit a min, rinse.  You won't be able to run your fingers through your hair.  At this point I just scrunch and let air dry.

Ooh, that will be a new feeling.  Thanks for the extra info.  So do you comb before you scrunch and let it dry?  Doesn't it get tangled?   Do you think it would work to blow dry it with a diffuser? 

MaryWithoutSound

jennyk213:

MaryWithoutSound:

jennyk213:

Hmm....maybe I'll have to try the baking soda ACV thing.  I have curly hair, too, and no product sounds pretty darn awesome!  I'm a little afraid to try it, though.  I was using Giovanni which I really liked but then I tried GudonyaToo because all of the awesome reviews.  My hair is just not the same anymore.   

 If you do decide to try it, know that it won't feel "right" in the shower.  I massage the baking soda/water into my roots, leave for a minute, then rinse.  I keep a spray bottle in the shower with the ACV.  Spritz, let sit a min, rinse.  You won't be able to run your fingers through your hair.  At this point I just scrunch and let air dry.

Ooh, that will be a new feeling.  Thanks for the extra info.  So do you comb before you scrunch and let it dry?  Doesn't it get tangled?   Do you think it would work to blow dry it with a diffuser? 

I actually don't comb at all anymore since it doesn't get tangled.  I think it will work with a diffuser, but if you try let me know for sure!

jennyk213

I'll let you know about the diffuser.  I'm going to try it tomorrow morning.  Thanks again!

jennyk213

Marywithoutsound ~  I used baking soda/ACV and dried my hair with the blow drier today.  I didn't use any products before drying.  I always do my bangs straight and they turned out just fine with the drier and a round brush.  I used the diffuser for the rest of my hair and I am completely amazed.  There were a few fuzzy bits but it was great overall.  I rubbed a very tiny amount of jojoba oil in my hands and smoothed it lightly over the top layer of my hair and that took care of the fuzzies. 

Just one more question...  do you use the full cup of water and baking soda to wash each morning?  I couldn't figure out exactly what to do with all that liquid (vs. a thicker shampoo) so I ended up pouring all of it over my head and washing.

ETA:  I don't feel any build up or greasiness anymore.  My hair is soft and bouncy and light.  I'll give it a month and see what happens but so far so good.  Thanks everyone!

MaryWithoutSound

jennyk213:

Marywithoutsound ~  I used baking soda/ACV and dried my hair with the blow drier today.  I didn't use any products before drying.  I always do my bangs straight and they turned out just fine with the drier and a round brush.  I used the diffuser for the rest of my hair and I am completely amazed.  There were a few fuzzy bits but it was great overall.  I rubbed a very tiny amount of jojoba oil in my hands and smoothed it lightly over the top layer of my hair and that took care of the fuzzies. 

Just one more question...  do you use the full cup of water and baking soda to wash each morning?  I couldn't figure out exactly what to do with all that liquid (vs. a thicker shampoo) so I ended up pouring all of it over my head and washing.

ETA:  I don't feel any build up or greasiness anymore.  My hair is soft and bouncy and light.  I'll give it a month and see what happens but so far so good.  Thanks everyone!

I do usually end up dumping the whole cup over my head.  Monday I bought a hair color applicator bottle to put the liquid in and I'm going to see if getting it straight on my roots vs. dumping the cup over my head makes any difference.  I'm so glad it worked with a diffuser!  I may actually invest in a blow dryer now!