probably heard of clarifying shampoos, but maybe you thought these
cleansers were only for certain hair types, primarily those that suffer
from oily buildup. Black hair is usually dry by its very nature, so
perhaps you steered clear of clarifying cleanser, but is that wise?
Answer: If
you use hair products, an occasional shampoo with a clarifying agent
will help a great deal in freshening up your tresses and readying them
for styling. Clarifying shampoos remove product buildup and present you
with a “clean slate” for future styling. If your hair:
- Is limp and lifeless
- Looks dull
- Doesn’t want to hold a style
Then it may be weighed down with old product residue, and clarifying should help.
Who needs a clarifier?
Some people need clarifying cleansers more than others. You’re more
likely to need one if you use a lot of product each day and/or heavy
products. Oil-based products, especially those containing an ingredient
like petroleum (a real no-no when it comes to good hair ingredients)
will quickly adhere themselves to the hair and they can be difficult
get rid of completely, even with the most diligent shampoo. Clarifiers
are designed to remove this buildup that regular cleansers often don’t.
Since black hair requires moisturizing shampoo, chances are your usual
cleanser is leaving some residue behind.
You’ll also need clarifiers if you swim often, whether or not you use
a lot of products. Pool chlorine and other chemicals need to be
thoroughly removed in order for your tresses to remain healthy. However,
even the most frequent swimmers shouldn’t overdo it when it comes to
these cleansers.
How often should you use one?
Because clarifying shampoos are so good at removing buildup, they
also tend to be drying, which is why anyone with black hair should use
these products very sparingly. If you’re a heavy product user, once or
twice a month (maximum) is acceptable. If you rarely use heavy products,
you can use one even less, perhaps every other month or so. No matter
how much you put in your hair, don’t risk excessive dryness or breakage by overusing a clarifying cleanser.
After clarifying, your hair should feel light, clean and
refreshed. It will probably not feel as smooth as it does after using a
quality moisturizing shampoo, so follow up with conditioner. Although
not a product for every day, having a quality clarifying cleanser in
your hair care collection is a good idea for anyone.
http://blackhair.about.com/od/basiccare/f/Does-Black-Hair-Need-A-Clarifying-Shampoo.htm
