Got Shampoo Bar...What Do I Need To Know???

[BeingMe]

I bought a JR Liggett shampoo bar and was wondering how I use it. And do I need some kind of conditioner or rinse? I'm so excited to try this but want to make sure I do it right.

[russianthistle]

I love the JR Liggets shampoo bars! I used it by itself with great success. If your hair feels like it is holding on to soap residue, rinse with a mix of 1 c. white vinegar, 2 c. hot water and 1/4 tsp (I use 10 drops...) of rosemary eo. The eo is optional. I really like the way it smells, though.

As for conditioning, I recommend using almond or olive oil (on a day where you don't plan to go anywhere...) and letting your hair soak it up for an hour or two...then wash REALLY well (as it is hard to get out.) You can also use coconut oil. I only have to do this once or twice a month, if that...but I have long, straight, fine hair.

[rgrindle]

I just got my new Chagrin Valley shampoo bar on Saturday, and LOVE it! Before using it the first time, I suggest you gather materials: BS, cup for the shower, ACV & water in a spray bottle, and your shampoo bar. I washed my hair with BS (1 Tbsp of baking soda dissolved into 1 cup of hot water.) I'm not ready to no-poo, and I haven't done it since, but I heard it would help rid my hair of any residue from my Suave shampoo.: I just poured the cup over my head in the shower and scrubbed really well. After I rinsed EXTRA well, I lathered up the shampoo bar in my hands and transferred the lather to my head. I discovered last night though, that I could wet my hair and run the shampoo bar along my hair 3 times from front to back (to avoid extra tangles) and that got plenty of soap on my head and was a lot less fuss! Anyway, when I rinsed my hair, it felt horrible, and I thought I'd messed up big time. I sprayed with the ACV, and that helped some, but it still didn't feel quite right. I decided to give it a try anyway, towel dried my hair, then brushed. Amazingly, the tangled mess I expected was not there! Once dried, my hair was soft and fluffy. I've used it 3 times now, and like it more than I expected. I don't know if you wanted that much detail, but I sure would have liked that much detail on Saturday afternoon!

[fork]

I love shampoo bars! They are so convenient. I just rub mine around on my head a few times and then lather up. Afterwards I use the unscented 365 conditioner for whole foods. My hair feels a little odd after I rinse everything out, but once I comb it and it dries it feels a amazing.

[BeingMe]

Thanks for the advice. I tried it today and then used a diluted vinegar solution. I just poured the water/vinegar over my head then rinsed with water. Is this correct? I only had reg. vinegar, is ACV better? And what about scrubbing, should I? I didn't do the bakind soda mix first, but as it is now my hair is a little fluffy and a bit tangley. How can I get rid of the tangley, a little difficult to brush through?

[starshine1001]

I use Oyin's Honey Hemp Conditioner most days, but you might like Oyin's Juices and Berries leave-in spray. I love it!! It smells so nice, and it's nice and light, doesn't leave your hair oily or anything. Only downside is that Oyin doesn't sell their products in stores...you have to go online.

[russianthistle]

Originally Posted by shannyshan

Thanks for the advice. I tried it today and then used a diluted vinegar solution. I just poured the water/vinegar over my head then rinsed with water. Is this correct? I only had reg. vinegar, is ACV better? And what about scrubbing, should I? I didn't do the bakind soda mix first, but as it is now my hair is a little fluffy and a bit tangley. How can I get rid of the tangley, a little difficult to brush through?

I don't use ACV because I don't see any real benefit over reg. vinegar...For me, white vinegar does the trick. And, I personally, don't like how much baking soda dries out my hair and scalp.

I'm not sure what you can do about the tangley fluffiness...I have very flat, very straight hair that is ALWAYS tangley. I comb my hair with a finer toothed comb while it is wet and always come before washing my hair...that makes things easier for me.

[BeingMe]

Well I spoke with James, and he said not to do the vinegar rinse, maybe only once a week. But my hair is really thick, and icky feeling. Hard to brush and doesn't move. This is coming from someone who has thin, flat, silky hair. One good thing is my scalp isn't oily. But now what???? I only did the vinegar once until I heard back from James, but it's getting worse. What should I do??

[maxwill129]

On the Chagrin Valley website it talks about using vinager rinses and why you need them (not all people do). Do you have hard water? If you have hard water you may need them after every shampoo or every other. We have VERY hard water, although we have a water softener. We've had our water tested, and even with our water softener, qualify as having hard water.

Okay, so that being said, our family has to do a vinager rinse after each shampoo. If we don't, our hair is dry and icky. We also can't rinse the vinager rinse out. We use 1 Tablespoon of ACV with 8 ounces of water. We pour it over our heads and massage in. Let it set while washing our bodies, then we take a towel and towel dry our hair, never rinsing the ACV out. Our hair is so soft.

You may have to play around with rinses for a bit to see what works for you. Also know that some people's hair just does not like shampoo bars.

[BeingMe]

Thank you....any chance you know a good place to get ACV cheap??

[3bees~1flower]

you really should use a vinegar or other type of acid rinse after using soap on your hair. the pH of soap is way higher than your hair and it needs to be returned to it's natural pH after each use of the soap. once a week isn't enough...IMO. it's hard on your hair to never return it to it's normal pH. the acid rinse allows the cuticles of your hair to lay flat again after the soap causes them to stand on end (this is the funky feel, cuticles freaking out).

[BeingMe]

Well I tried the tablespoon vinegar to 8 ounces water and left it in and my hair was a little less tangley but dried greasy looking and still had a filmy feel to it. It looked so gross. So I gae up on the shampoo bar. It was nice to have thicker hair, but not at the expense of it feeling like a rats nest with a film.

[maxwill129]

Originally Posted by shannyshan

Well I tried the tablespoon vinegar to 8 ounces water and left it in and my hair was a little less tangley but dried greasy looking and still had a filmy feel to it. It looked so gross. So I gae up on the shampoo bar. It was nice to have thicker hair, but not at the expense of it feeling like a rats nest with a film.

Don't feel bad. Not everyone can use shampoo bars.

Another question: did you rinse REALLY well? I know that sounds like a dumb question, but your really have to rinse and rinse and rinse to make sure you're getting all the soap out!

[gibas23]

shampoo bars don't really work for me as well. I tried using a couple of bars with or w/o the acv rinse and still, quite stringy and flat hair. I keep searching for those light, fluffy and so soft hair that everyone has been reporting and still not happening to me.

[BeingMe]

I did rinse well, but we do have really hard water I would love a shower filter but the faucet is so low that it would hit me in the head, and if it weren't a rental I would fix it, but for now it's gonna have to be.

I wish I could find something completely natural I loved. I hate when my hair feels all weighed down and heavy. Especially since it's fine straight hair, and it starts to feel yucky and not clean. Guess I'll keep searching.