After I wash my hair it feels soooo dry, like straw. Conditioners don't seem to help much. Has anyone tried olive oil or some kind of oil that really would help soften hair.....even a little?

Thanks.

By Texannie on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:04 pm:

Are you using a moisturizing shampoo? What about a leave in conditioner? I think Infusium products are great. Do you use high heat to blow dry? I have had good luck with mayo.

By Coopaveryben on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:08 pm:

Do you use a lot of product? I put baking soda in my hair and scrub really good every so often and then I wash it like normal...it really helps get the build up out and to soften it.

I am also a big fan of Infusium. Also, I don't blow dry...ever.

By Emily7 on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:21 pm:

Infusium is great. If you do blow dry you should put something in it to protect it from the heat. Hard water makes my hair feel like straw.

By Amy~moderator on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 01:29 am:

I use Infusium leave-in conditioner about once a week. The best shampoos and conditioners to use imo are Biolage. You can buy them at your local hair salon. They always make my hair soft.

By Sue3 on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 07:26 am:

I wonder if you have a build up on your hair ? If you do,use vinegar and water equal parts as the final rinse to get it off.
Then use a deep conditioner , like a hair repair conditioner and apply it then put a plastic cap on your head
and apply heat so it gets into your hair shaft.You may have to do this once a week for several weeks , and like Amy suggested , invest in some good hair care products. Biolage is a excellent hair care line for dry damaged hair.
Good luck !
Do you color your hair ? Perm it ? I just wondered why it is dry and feels like straw.

By My2girlygirls on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 07:42 am:

As a cosmetologist I think that you could be missing vital nutrients in your diet that are affecting your hair. Anything and everything you put in your mouth shows in your hair and skin. Re-think your diet and if necessary see a nutritionist. You could need something as simple as a multivitamin every day. As for repairing your hair, get a great heavy duty conditioner and put in on your hair comb it through and wrap it in saran wrap and then throw a towel in the dryer and then wrap your head in the towel and leave it! If the towel gets cold, throw it back in the dryer and do it again. Do this once a week or so and it should really help. If you go into any good salon and tell them you need a heavy conditioner they should be able to help, you could even go to a beauty supply and get something. Some sell to the public. It just sounds as if something is lacking in your diet because even processed hair can feel perfectly healthy.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 07:54 am:

Have you had it highlighted or colored recently??

When I had mine highlighted once in the past, it was like that. However, recently when I had it done, it feels healthy. I've been using Biolage products.

By Mommyathome on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:58 am:

Biosilk Silk Therapy works GREAT! It is kind of like "oil". You can put it in when your hair is wet or dry.

I love Biolage styling products because they don't leave build-up in my hair.

My favorite shampoo and conditioner is Bed Head Tigi. My hair feels so wonderful since I've started using it. Much healthier!

By Momaroze on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 02:50 pm:

Thanks all.

About 2 weeks ago I used a color Henna. It could be our water as well. I have been forgetting to take my multi vitamin...that could be it. Biolage sounds familiar. Infusium, I do agree is really good although I haven't tried the deep conditioner. I thought Henna was supposed to be good for your hair. I just have never experienced such dry hair. The odd thing is my hair looks healthy when it is dry....it's just when and after I shampoo and condition that it is tangly and feels very straw like.

I'm going shopping later so I will pick up a product or two. Thanks again all!

By Momaroze on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 02:53 pm:

BTW I blow dry on occasion and hardly use any products on my hair. That's why I'm thinking that maybe the problem is lack of something in my diet?

By Texannie on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

Ack, I put Henna on my hair years ago and ruined it too!

By Rayanne on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 05:04 pm:

My neighbors older daughter has a dry scalp, so she puts hot VO5 oil on her hair and it always feels soft.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 03:27 pm:

Sarah (Mytwogirlygirls) has the experience and offers what sounds like good advice.

For my experience, I once had a not good perm on top of color treated hair and my hair was dry, brittle, tangled and impossible to brush or comb. My stylist recommended Redken Undone, which worked wonders. I didn't buy it in the store because it is very expense - about $15-20 for less than 4 ounces. I found a source on the internet, something like drugstore.com, where I got an 8 oz tube for about $24-25 and, since you use only about a dime sized blob each time, that lasted long past the growing out of the bad hair.

I recently gave the half-used tube to our receptionist, who had a perm on top of bleached hair and it was terribly frizzy and unmanageable, and it has worked wonders for her also.

By Feona on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 07:29 am:

I met someone who used olive oil. She said it worked. You put it on sit around with it for a while and wash it out at least twice.

By My2girlygirls on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 09:01 pm:

Ginny, I love Redken products! They are so gentle and they smell great to boot!
Feona, you can do olive oil but it is so hard to wash out... One thing that alot of people don't realize is that you do not need to wash your hair every day unless it is oily. It dries the hair out, what you are doing is washing away essential oils that your body produces. If you can get away with washing it less frequently that should help. Another thing, DO NOT BRUSH wet hair. It just shreds it, use a pick or better yet a wide tooth comb. Big pet peeve of mine is to see people raking through their wet hair with a brush...