Skip to main content

What is Clarifying?

It took me a long time to figure out that I need to clarify my hair every so often. But, what does that actually mean?

Clarifying is a deep cleanse of your hair and scalp. When you clarify, you're removing or stripping away dirt, oil and product buildup.

How do I know I need to clarify?

  • Your products aren't working the way they used to
  • Your hair feels weighed down
  • Your scalp is dry, itchy and/or flaky
  • Your hair is dull and filmy
How does buildup happen?
  • Gel, mousse, conditioner, and even shampoo gradually accumulate over time and leave buildup on your scalp
  • Hard water
  • Chlorine (hello, swimmers)
Benefits to clarifying
  • Hair is bouncy
  • Hair is easier to style
  • Hair grows faster
  • Hair is thicker
How often should I clarify?
Use a clarifying shampoo no more than once or twice a month - otherwise, you risk drying out your hair. You may need to clarify more often if you swim frequently. 

Always deep condition after clarifying.

If you feel you need to clarify often, you may be using too much product, or the wrong product altogether. 

Ways of clarifying
Clarifying Shampoos
  • Live Clean Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
  • Ion Hard Water Shampoo
  • Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat Shampoo
  • Suave Daily ClarifCCying Shampoo
  • Bounce Curl Moisturizing Shampoo
Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Helps restore hair and scalp to its natural pH
  • Mix 1 part ACV to 4 parts water and use after cleaning (before conditioning)
  • Use in spray bottle, or dunk hair in a bowl. Squish up into the roots. Pour over your scalp and scrub. 
  • Rinse completely before conditioning. 
Lemon Juice
  • Helps with dandruff
  • Mix the juice from one lemon with 1/4 cup of water
  • Spray on hair or dunk hair in bowl after washing and before conditioning
  • Let sit 10 minutes before rinsing
Blog to follow
Check out https://curlycailin.ie/, or follow her on Instagram at @curlycailin.ie . I learned a lot about clarifying (and other curly know hows) from her. She is a wealth of information. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Wet Plopping?

The difference between wet plopping and regular plopping is with wet plopping, you plop your wet hair on top of your head in a shower cap instead of a cotton t-shirt, leggings, or micro fiber towel. Why wet plop? It encourages hair hydration It defines curls It reduces frizz ... and more. How do I do it? After you wash and condition, apply your leave in, curl cream and/or stylers to soaking wet hair with praying hands and rope each clump Squish out excess water with your hands Dip your clumps into a shower cap Wrap a towel around your head and the shower cap to keep water from dripping all over you, OR just keep a towel around your shoulders, OR wrap a headband around the shower cap Plop for 10-20 minutes Remove the shower cap, remove excess moisture by squishing with your hands, a microfiber towel or a cotton tshirt (some prefer to regular plop at this stage) I learned about this method from @powerdomi on Instagram - she is the queen of hydration for wavy hair,...
2 comments
Read more

What are Praying Hands?

Praying hands is a good way to apply product to your hair. You know what it looks like when you pray and your palms touch each other? Now, put your hair between those hands! Apply your conditioner (and afterwards, styler) into one palm, rub your hands together and hang your hair over your head, or to each side. Now, place your hands together with your hair between them, and rub the product on, from the root to the tip. Then you can finger come to detangle, STC, etc. Why praying hands? It helps apply product more evenly across your entire hair, it smooths your hair and reduces frizz. VIDEO HERE.
Post a Comment
Read more

What are Itchy Ms?

Itchy... What? These refer to preservatives, usually listed near the end of an ingredient list, that are long and start with the letter "M." The common ones are Methylchlorioisothiaolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. Basically... if it begins with Meth  and ends with One , it's an Itchy M. What do they do? They are preservatives that keep your products from going bad. They are anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, so they keep your conditioner and other bath products safe in a hot and humid climate. But, they can seriously irritate your skin . Many people get scalp itch, irritation and pain from using products with Itchy Ms. If you have skin allergies, it can be quite serious. So, what should I do? It's generally a good idea to avoid co-washing with Itchy M ingredients. I don't use them as a co-wash, as I have psoriasis. But, I do occasionally use them as a conditioner (Suave Essentials and Beauty & Planet, for example). If you use them as a condition...
Post a Comment
Read more