If you have dandruff, this article isn’t for you.
You have an easy solution that’s ready-made for your situation.
I’m talking to the people who can’t figure out why their hair looks lifeless.
The ones who scratch surreptitiously when they think no one is looking.
Yet they don’t have flakes on their shoulders or scales on their scalp.
The things that dull shine
There are two main reasons why your hair isn’t glossy anymore.
The first is that it’s too dry.
And the second is that it’s covered in residue.
Both situations will make you itchy.
If you’ve recently changed shampoos or conditioners, you might want to rethink your choice. They could be stripping away too much moisture.
New styling products may be coating the strands and stealing the shine.
Or if you’ve moved to a place with hard water, that could be the problem. The minerals and metals have built up on the hair.
The same is true if you’ve started swimming in a chlorinated pool or salt water.
What you need to revive lifeless, dry hair
Happily, the answer is simple.
You need to clarify and add moisture.
Start with a best shampoo made for hard water. It will cleanse the buildup. Let it work for a couple of minutes to get the job done.
You might also try a swimmer’s shampoo.
Both products neutralize the chemicals and minerals that are irritating the scalp and dulling the strands.
There are also regular clarifying shampoos available that get rid of mousse, gel, hairspray, and the like.
In any case, make sure you rinse all the shampoo off your scalp.
Next, you need to moisturize. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes while you do other things before you rinse.
If you can let your hair air dry, all the better. Don’t brush or comb it too much while it’s wet as it’s more fragile then.
Now, how does it look?
If you’re not satisfied, it’s time for a deep-conditioning mask.
No matter how oily your scalp tends to be, you can find a hair mask that will work for you.
Massage it into the roots and out to the ends.
Repeat the hair mask once a week until you’re pleased.
Although you’ll probably notice instant results after using the clarifying shampoo, it may take a few days to a few weeks for your hair to completely recover.
How to maintain healthy, vibrant hair
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t use a clarifying shampoo every day.
On the other hand, many of the swimmer shampoos and those made for hard water are okay for daily washes.
You could also try best shampoo for sensitive scalps.
It puts a stop to the itching and resolves any flaking that might’ve developed.
It also provides plenty of hydration for the hair.
If you can’t avoid hard water, chlorinated pools, and styling products, then you’ll need to maintain this process in the future.
Once a week, clarify. Use a deep conditioner.
Then daily, wash with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
The myth of washing less to protect hair
I have friends and family who swear that they can’t wash every day. They say that it will ruin their hair if they do.
Honestly, this was probably the case twenty or thirty or more years ago.
Back then, shampoos were harsh. They stripped oil and moisture just like dish detergent gets grease off your plates.
Worse, the habit was to shampoo twice.
And then people either skipped the conditioner or didn’t use enough. Case in point: the conditioner bottles were about half the size of the shampoo bottles.
Modern formulas are a vast improvement. Most respect the natural pH of the skin. Many are safe for color-treated and chemically-processed hair, too.
You don’t need to be afraid of washing every day as it hydrates your hair and scalp.
Clarify when you need to, wash when you need to, and remember the conditioner.
Your hair will be just fine.