Looking for a natural way to remove product buildup from your hair? You can forget the drug store. Household products are all you need to create a clarifying shampoo for your hair. Plus, when you make a hair clarifying treatment at home, you know exactly what you’re using on your hair, and you can decide which ingredients to use based on your hair type. There’s nothing quite like custom-made products created by you!
For Dry Hair
If your hair is dry and brittle, product buildup may be your problem. Start by rinsing your hair in warm, not hot, water before you shampoo your hair. Use a shampoo labeled as “natural” or “sulfate-free.” After you shampoo, rinse your hair with a homemade clarifying solution made of half lemon juice and half water. Only use this rinse when your hair seems dry.
For Unmanageable Hair
If you’ve got hair that tends to frizz, tangle or generally do what it wants, not what you want, you might need a clarifying treatment. Squirt a dollop of shampoo into your hand and mix it with about a teaspoon of baking soda. This mixture will reduce buildup and help make your hair more manageable. Use this mixture whenever your hair seems especially difficult to style.
For Normal Hair
You might not have problem hair, but you still need to clarify regularly to prevent problems from popping up. Try making your own apple rinse, like the one at Good Housekeeping. Chop an apple into small pieces and mix it with two tablespoons of apple citer vinegar and two cups of water. Blend the mixture in a food processor and then strain out all the apple pulp, saving the liquid. Shampoo your hair with your favorite natural shampoo, then pour the apple juice mixture over your hair. Massage the mixture through your hair and then rinse it out. You should use this rinse about once a month.
To Add Shine
Product buildup can cause your hair to look lifeless and limp. Bring back the shine with a homemade vinegar rinse via Care2. Add one cup of vinegar to two cups of water and massage the mixture into your hair. Rinse out. Apply this mixture up to three times a week to enhance your shine, but be sure to moisturize first, because vinegar can dry your hair out if you use it frequently.
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Basic Care for Natural African American Hair