Why Does Shea Moisture Dry My Hair Out or Make It Look Bad?

Shea Moisture has heavy oils and shea butter very high in the ingredients list. These can have a drying affect on low porosity hair types. The cuticle lies flat, so all the shea butter does is seal the moisture OUT of the hair, not good. Look for humectants that draw moisture inside of the hair. Kinky curly is full of humectants and is a good line to try or gvp cb. Clarify or low poo the shea butter or oils out with Kinky Curly Come Clean or another clarifier.

If you have fine or wavy hair, Shea Moisture might be too heavy for your hair, weighing it down. Hair will look greasy, dull, or weighed-down or will be over-conditioned. Again clarify or low poo to get back on track and start using something lighter and less moisturizing.

Shea Moisture can also cause a waxy-coated feeling or tangles on many hair types. Regardless, depending on your hair type and environment Shea Moisture may still build up on your hair and scalp so just be aware. It is ok to use if it works for you, but just know it could possibly do this. I have had to decrease using their products as often because they are building up on my scalp since I am becoming lower porosity on my healthy unbleached roots. I was getting an itchy scalp and white flakes on my roots. High porosity and curlier types generally fair better with Shea Moisture. It seals the moisture in on porous hair types. The hair is more porous so it doesn't build up as easily.

Build up

Build up can happen from water soluble cones, cyclmethicones, polyquats, shea butter even oil or hard water. Fine, thin, or low porosity hair is more sensitive to this. So I mostly low poo to prevent this. Some people even need to clarify once a month or so with a sulfate or diluted sulfate.

What does product build up look like? Heavy and coated, less curls and volume, dull, some have frizz. Weighed down, greasy, flat curls, no volume at the roots. I get an itchy scalp and white flakes that look like dandruff at my roots along the hair line. I have had to use a clarifying sulfate on occasion to get the build up out. You can prepoo with coconut oil so it shouldn't affect your curls much. I also use a hard water shampoo.

Hard Water and the Curly Girl Method

When I first started the curly girl method, I had curls that could be cowashed every time and no build or itchy scalp. After I moved to a new area, I had dry curls, build up on my hair and scalp, itchy scalp and frizz. I couldn't cowash very often anymore without limp, greasy curls.

Turns out I had hard water. I had to start using a shampoo for hard water build up and low poo most of the time. I occasionally use the hard water shampoo, once a month or every week if needed. I used Ion Hard Water Shampoo from Sally's with sulfates because I couldn't find the one without sulfates, but I am going to get the ion Hard Water Shampoonext time. Also, there is the MopTop Clarifying Treatment that removes hard water which is sulfate free and the Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo, volume 9 fl oz. You can also try ACV Rinses. Hope this helps.

This is my hair after the MopTop super shampoo.

Check out these shampoos here:

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar with the Curly Girl Method

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has excellent benefits for the hair:

ACV-
Helps remove build up or hard water
Balances the pH of the hair
Balances the scalp and helps with dandruff and itching
Smooths and closes cuticle
Conditions the hair

Dilute it 1-2 TBS per 1 cup of water.

Try it before cowashing or after low poo, let soak a couple minutes, rinse, then condition and style as usual. Do NOT use baking soda with curly hair, except diluted with a tiny amount if you have severe build up once in a while to clarify because it is too abrasiveness on curly hair and dry it out. The pH is also too high and can damage the hair over time.


Used on the hair, apple cider vinegar can smooth the cuticle, making your hair appear smoother and shinier. It does this by balancing pH levels unlike commercial shampoos that strip the hair and leave it looking rough, dry or dull. It also removes buildup and can help with dandruff and an itchy scalp.
Simply use ACV as a rinse. Dilute it and dump over your head while in the shower. Give it a moment to sink in before rinsing.

One of the biggest hang-ups people have about using ACV is the smell. Yes, this is a vinegar so it does smell a little like a salad or pickles. But that smell quickly dissipates.

Sources:
http://coconutsandkettlebells.com/apple-cider-vinegar-hair-rinse/
Read more: <a>http://naturalsociety.com/how-to-use-apple-cider-vinegar-healthier-skin-hair/#ixzz3z2O26ZhQ</a>