Transition Hell.

[cineophilia]

Hi, I've been a part of this community for a while, but have never actually taken the no-poo plunge. I have used 2in1 shampoo/conditioners forever and go days and sometimes a week between washes - so I'm used to having less than perfect hair. I'm trying out the Water Only method, and the last time I washed with shampoo was last Thursday and last

Comments

[jsherlock]

Chamomile might help - but it does lighten hair! You just make a tea, and sort of rub it into your scalp once it cools. Same with Rosemary - that works really well for me. Lavender will help too.

I think a couple posts below mentioned an oatmeal mask. Also, rubbing in oil to the scalp can help. :) Olive, coconut and jojoba are nice. Though I think Olive Oil, even evoo is kind of too thick for me.

What oils are you using for for the OCM? I really like jojoba and Castor, but I'm trying out olive oil as my face dried out from too much castor oil. I was thinking of trying Sunflower or something really light, as when I use too much my skin gets too oily.

[cineophilia]

I'm using Grapeseed oil and Castor. I'm still playing with the amount of each - more castor to get more of the "cleaning" power vs. more grapeseed to get more moisture. Grapeseed seems to be working well for me and is good in the dry winter air.

[hannahsarah]

I use jojoba on my face most of the time, but olive oil in the winter when I'm really super dry (AND oily, what's up with that?).

I absolutely adore henna! It's a royal PITA to do, but it's so worth it. My hair has never looked more amazing, and I've always fought with my hair.

[cineophilia]

I just ordered some, so hopefully I'll have beautiful auburn hair next week!

[rosarisata]

I would suggest you to wash your hair following this suggestion: a lot (a lot! Like ten minutes) of scalp massage while you're under the shower, with you finger and nails, then work through the length, every lock from your scalp to your tips and never in the opposite way: WO wash must be a lot more accurate, if you don't work chemically you have to work mechanically...otherwise will be a mess. Some people say that alternating cool water and hot water is a good idea to break the grease.
And I have to add that this method is fantastic for curly or wawy thick hair, but if you have very straight hair I'm not sure it will work.

[cineophilia]

Oh darn... I have STRAIGHT hair. It's very thick and Medium/Coarse, and getting more so with the sebum. I'm going to keep trying though.

I was even more vigorous today in my wash and my scalp feels a lot better today. I think it dried out the body some, though, so I put coconut oil on the ends and they soaked them up.

I'm not normally going to wash so often, but my day 2 hair wasn't cutting it for my birthday today! It actually looked good down and the front wasn't oily. It feels like it has some kind of product in it, and was horribly tangled after the shower (a comb worked where my fingers usually suffice...)

[pionie]

Hello, I'm in week 5 of water only. I've found that massaging my scalp with my fingers but not nails morning and evening and then giving it a good brush is helping remove the flakes and keeping my scalp moisturised. (I've got fine, wavy, shoulder length hair btw).
When I wash it, I use hot water and wash for ages, trying to get all the gunk along my hair. It is definitely starting to pull out of the really yuk phase!

One tip for when there are still flakes - I tie it back, and then wipe a damp washcloth over the surface. That seems to take off all the visible ones :)

[mshanai]

There is a wealth of information about WO here:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=3412

A lot of good points have already been raised, but I want to add that henna would be a big pain in the ass to wash out of your hair with just water. It shouldn't affect your transitioning, though (I don't think).

[cineophilia]

Such a great site! I only wish I had the length that some of those ladies have.