Itchy, dry, red scalp. It’s embarrassing, painful and frustrating. And that’s just the way it looks. Having a scalp which is suffering these symptoms is also incredibly itchy, painful and can even sting and burn.
Is any shampoo safe?

Will any scalp treatment work?

Are you making your scalp worse by using anti-dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis or anti-psoriasis shampoos?

Fact: the signs of contact allergy or irritant reaction to shampooing products can look and present exactly like dandruff and psoriasis.   You read that right, a badly chosen dandruff shampoo can actually exasperate your condition.

It’s easy to waft this away.

I’ve been using the same shampoo for months/years with no issue – it definitely cannot be my shampoo.

Or…

I used this shampoo a few days ago – it didn’t cause me a reaction straight away so it definitely cannot be my shampoo.

Fact: allergic contact dermatitis is not immediate. It can also take months and years of exposure to build.

This is why shampoo allergy can be enormously hard to pinpoint.

If you’re beginning to see that your scalp symptoms could be more than just dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis – keep reading. We spoke to Matthew Zirwas, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Bexley Dermatology, and 15 year expert in working with common, but difficult to treat, dermatologic diseases and problems.  And we spoke to Ruth Holroyd, founder of the award-winning blog What Allergy to find out more.

During the course of this article you’re going to learn;

What is an allergy and how do shampoo allergies develop?
What is the difference between an allergy and an irritation? – helpful if you’ve previously had a patch test
What shampoo ingredients cause allergies?
What is usually the first sign of contact dermatitis?
​
We start at the beginning…

​Last year, after a conversation with a freediver at an event for work (I know, weird flex), I made the decision that I seriously needed to do something about cutting back on my plastic consumption. We were talking about ocean plastics, and she told me a story about how dolphins like to play underwater by passing things like shells and pufferfish to each other… but now, she sometimes sees them playing with pieces of plastic. It’s been estimated that there is going to be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And while it may be too overwhelming for most of us to go cold turkey and completely detox our homes from plastic, like this writer did, small plastic-free changes definitely make an impact. The beauty industry is a big contributor to plastic consumption—like, I hate to say it, your shampoo bottles. That’s where shampoo bars come in.

These little guys have been gaining popularity because they have way less plastic packaging than your fave liquid shampoo because, you know, they’re bars. Bonus, they’re also TSA friendly. (That also means you won’t have to use those tiny shampoo bottles they put in your hotel room.)

A word of caution to this tale: If you’re switching from a shampoo that gets super sudsy—i.e. probably contains SLS—bar shampoos may take some getting used to, because they don’t lather as much. That means your hair probably isn’t going to feel as “squeaky-clean” as it would after sudsing with a traditional shampoo. Also, most directions involve rubbing the bar directly on you head which, not gonna lie, sounds like it may be strange at first. Just like with any beauty product, not all shampoo bars are created equal. We scoured the internet to find the best shampoo bars on the market. Of course, one of those viral Lush bars made the list (and reviewers say that these bars last seemingly forever.) Behold, the fruits of our labor.

These are the best shampoo bars, according to the internet

For those of us who grew up with shampoo in a bottle, shampoo bars are a relatively new hair care product. I have written a lot of information in blogs, FAQs etc. about shampoo bars.

There is a list of links at the bottom of this page that may help answer your questions.

Shampoo bars are quite easy to use. This page is dedicated to some shampooing techniques. If you have a technique that works for you, please leave a comment to share with others. 

Why Is A Shampooing Technique Important?

Shampoo bars are superfatted and thus contain extra oils and butters to nourish your hair. If you do not lather up really well, you will have areas that remain coated with the soap oils, which will; make it look “gummy.”

If you are used to commercial shampoo and shampoo twice, you will have already noticed that the second wash produces a lot more lather. The first wash is mixing with the dirt and excess oil in your hair so the second wash is working on cleaner hair. The same is true for our shampoo bars.

So lather up, once, twice, maybe even three times at first. Then be sure to rinse, rinse, rinse!!! Again, if you have long hair, pay special attention to the middle back of the hair so that you rinse all of the soap out of your hair.

Technique #1: Use The Bar Directly On Your Hair

• Begin with thoroughly wet hair.
• Gently rub wet the shampoo bar directly onto your hair from scalp to ends in a combing motion.
• Cover each section of your hair. Gently massage scalp and hair, adding more water as needed, until a good lather forms.
• To prevent tangles, be sure to always work from the top down, don't pile your hair on your head and use your fingers like a comb, not a mixer.
• If you rub the shampoo bar directly on your hair, remember you are washing your hair with superfatted soap.
• The most common trouble spot, especially for people with long hair, is at the nape of the neck. 
• It is very important to work the shampoo into your hair with water and really build up a good lather on your head so there are no patches of soap left on your hair.
• Lathering up also allows the dirt and extra oils to be washed away.
• Rinse, rinse, rinse! 
• Repeat if desired

Technique #2: Create The Lather in Your Hands
Some find it helpful, especially in the beginning, not to rub the bar directly on their hair. They use their hands, a puff or a sponge to create foamy lather, and only use the lather to wash. It can be very helpful in making the hair less tacky until the adjustment takes place.

• Begin with thoroughly wet hair.
• Rub the wet shampoo bar between your wet hands to create a nice lather.
• Using your fingers like a comb, smooth the lather along your hair.
• Gently massage it into the scalp and hair, as you would with a bottled shampoo.
• Work up a good lather
• Rinse, rinse, rinse!
• Repeat if desired.

Relax, you can wash your hair with natural shampoo everyday if you desire! It cleans thoroughly without drying or coating your hair or scalp. Dry and style your hair as normal.
 
Ida's Technique for Long Hair
Men and women with short hair seldom have hair adjustment problems. Folks with long hair have to experiment a bit and I have found that often times the technique can make all the difference. The most common spot for build-up, especially for people with long hair, is at the nape of the neck. 

You have to experiment with your unique hair type. I have long, fine hair.

Below is my technique for using a shampoo bar.   I...

• tie my long hair into a loose ponytail
• thoroughly wet my hair 
• wet the shampoo bar and rub the bar across the top of my head in strokes from front to back until I have covered the entire scalp area. (I have found that if I rub any shampoo vigorously in all directions, my fine long hair gets very tangled)
• massage my entire scalp in a combing motion to work up a really good lather. I do not rub the bar or work the lather on the length of my hair.
• take out my ponytail and rinse, rinse, rinse allowing the shampoo to drip down the length of my hair. (I have found that this rinsing is enough to clean the length of my hair.)
• rinse for at LEAST one minute as I rub my fingers through my hair to be sure that all of the shampoo is rinsed away
• squeeze gently on the length to remove excess water and cover with a towel while I dry off the rest of me. I do not rub the towel over my wet hair because it causes nasty tangles.
• use a wide-toothed comb and gently comb from the bottom up
• dry and style your hair as usual

This "How To" is from Chagrin Valley Soap and Salve Company

Still more here >>>
Everything You Want To Know About Shampoo Bars!

You may have seen bar shampoo products when you’ve gone camping or traveling—they’re super easy to pack and totally TSA-friendly. However, in the wake of the “no poo” craze, the idea of lathering up with something other than liquid shampoo has become more and more common for your everyday. Thinking about swapping your traditional hair cleanser for a good ol’ bar? We consulted the experts to find out what you need to know before making the switch.

Essentially, bar shampoo is simply shampoo in bar form. As Brianne West, product formulator of Ethique says, “A good solid shampoo should do what a good liquid does—leave you with body and shine, without either drying the hair out or adding too much buildup.”

The Pros

Aside from being travel-friendly and seemingly longer-lasting than liquid shampoo, bars are touted as being able to get your hair back to its original, shiny, voluminous state by clearing away residue left from the chemicals found in traditional hair cleansers. “Plus, since shampoo bars do not strip hair in the same way as detergent-based shampoos can, you will notice a difference in the way your wet hair feels after washing,” Jamyla Bennu, creator and Grand Mixtress of Oyin Handmade, says.

How? Because many shampoo bars don’t include some of the icky additives used in commercial shampoos, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate. “Many educated consumers have become wary of the detergents found in commercial shampoos, finding them unnecessarily stripping of the natural moisture of the hair and scalp,” she says.

Gentle, low-lather bar cleansers leave hair clean without feeling dry the way many detergent-based shampoos can. For some people, conditioner isn’t even needed after their hair adjusts in a couple washings with a bar.

The Cons

Chicago-based master stylist Jon-David says that because of the high concentration of cleanser in bar shampoos, they tend to have more a waxy consistency, which can build up in your hair.

“This happens because the soap—which is saponified oils and an alkali—reacts with water when you use it, and this forms soap scum,” says Kirsten Connor, formulator and creator at Flourish Body Care. To avoid this, many bar shampoo users rinse with apple cider vinegar to remove the coating and shine their hair.

Those with long, porous or curly hair especially may also experience tangles and frizz, along with that “coated” feeling, something Susonnah G. Barklow, editor at NaturallyCurly.com, knows all too well. “Personally, I find the act of rubbing a bar of soap on my head awkward,” she says. “And it almost always results in very tangled hair.”

How to Choose One

If you want to go for it, there are actually three broad categories of shampoo bars out there, according to hair and makeup pro Grace Mahoney, owner of Blushing Brides. The first are cold-processed shampoo bars (typically made by home crafters and natural products companies). They’re usually chock-full of natural oils, which help condition your hair, and are typically free of sodium lauryl sulfate. (These tend to be the ones that cause buildup, she says, and might require an apple cider vinegar rinse).

Then, there are glycerin-based shampoo bars, which tend to be more gentle and pH balanced, but they might not be as clarifying as other shampoos and won’t lather as well. Finally, there are solid surfactant shampoo bars (think of the kind made by Lush), which lather the best and are more pH balanced but can be a bit too clarifying for some hair.

Really, it’s all about trial and error and, of course, avoiding products with bad-for-hair ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate. (Really, any sulfates should be avoided). Sodium hydroxide—an extremely strong alkali that is used to make soap along with oils and fats—is another one to look out for. “The reaction that takes place produces a mildly alkali product—soap with a pH of 8–9,” Bennu says. “Since hair varies between pH 4 and 5 and doesn’t have an acid mantle like skin, this pH difference leaves the cuticle sticking up, resulting in rough, dull hair, which over time can cause damage.”

To use, natural hair expert Amanda Starghill, of NaturallyCurly.com, suggests cutting the bar into smaller portions so it’s easier to apply directly to the scalp. Ahead are some top-rated options to get you started.

 
This article is from StyleCaster

How to wash one’s hair with rice water is one of the top trending searches for hair care recently, but it is actually an ancient hair care method with a long history in Asia. Japanese women in the Heian period (794-1185 CE) had floor-length hair and they kept their hair healthy by soaking it in rice water. Chinese women in a village called Huangluo in China generally have hair over 6 feet long, and they don’t even get gray hair until they reach their 80s.

At the end of this article, you will learn how to prepare rice water for your hair and tips to make the best use of it!

What is actually rice water?
Rice contains 75-80% starch and is a great beautifying aid. And rice water is the starchy water after the rice has been left to soak in it for a certain amount of time. It is said to be packed with rich nutrients that soothe inflammation in the scalp and dryness in the hair, including:

•      Amino acids
•      Vitamin B
•      Vitamin E
•      Minerals
•      Antioxidants

Advocates of hair treatments using rice water believe that:

•      It makes hair smoother and detangles the hair
•      It makes hair stronger and increases luster
•      It helps hair grow longer faster

Although it is rich in nutrients and used throughout history as a hair care ingredient, are all the beneficial values of rice water promoted on the internet true?

Myth: Does rice water help hair growth?
Except for the two Food & Drug Administration-approved chemical growth treatments available on the market, anything placed on the surface of the scalp will not make your hair grow. Hair growth is related to your genes and proper hydration of your body.

However, the rich nutrients such as inositol (vitamin B8) and protein in rice water can penetrate hair strands and help close the pores and gaps in the cuticles of damaged hair, preventing breakage and strengthening the hair. By reducing the breakage of hair, it helps retain hair and increase the hair volume that makes your hair appear to be growing at a faster rate. In reality, your hair grows at the same normal rate but looks more luscious and more voluminous as there is a decrease in hair breakage and hair loss.

8 simple steps to make rice water for natural hair:
1. You can use any type of rice: White rice / Brown rice / Wild rice / Basmati / Jasmine organic rice, etc.

2. Rinse the rice to wash out dirt and impurities with water.

3. At this stage, simply drain the water without letting the rice soak in the water for a long time to avoid the loss of nutrients.

4. After draining out the “dirty” water, add fresh water to the rice to soak. Depending on your preference, this is the range of ratio for making rice water:

• 1 tablespoon of rice to 1 cup of water, or, 1 jar of rice to 3 jars of water
• You can use any type of containers but you must be able to cover the soaking rice with a lid or a cover to seal the container.

5. Not everyone likes the strong smell of rice water, so you can add some citrus peel and a few drops of essential oil to the water (we recommend putting 1-2 drops of essential oil per ounce/30ml) to balance the scent.

6. Let it sit (covered) for at least 30 mins.

7. Stir it slightly or knead the soaked rice lightly until the water turns cloudy to help vitamins and minerals seep into the water.

8. Drain the freshly made rice water into a clean bowl or container for use.

You can even further ferment the rice water for better hair care performance!

Fermented rice water enhances the level of nutrients contained in the rice water. It is richer in antioxidants, minerals, vitamin B, vitamin E, and other substances that make it more beneficial and powerful than freshly made rice water.

2 more steps make fermented rice water:

1. After the first 6 steps above, instead of draining your rice water into a clean bowl, drain it into an airtight container.
2. For fermentation: Store in a warm dark place for 12-48 hours (i.e. allow half a day to 2 days for fermentation).

Depending on your hair type, you can boil the fermented rice water (or not) before you use it on your hair. Try both options and see which one works better for you. 

If you decide to boil the rice water, the smell of the water will be even stronger. You can add some citrus peel to the rice water while it boils and adds a few drops of essential oil after the water has been boiled and cooled. Stir until the essential oil is evenly distributed in the water.

Beware that as fermented rice water can be very potent, you may need to dilute it with warm water before use.
 
Store You Rice Water
You can store the rice water in the fridge for up to one week and shake well before use.

Ways to use Rice water / Fermented Rice Water
After shampoo, use it to rinse your hair and massage gently. We suggest a quality paraben-free, silicon-free and sulphate-free shampoo. The Iles Formula shampoo ticks all these boxes and is for all hair types.

Exclusive tips for you: Pay attention to your Hair type before using rice water!

People with dry and sensitive scalp

• People with dry and sensitive scalp should not overuse rice water. Restrict the use of rice water for no more than once or twice a week.

Protein-Sensitive hair: Avoid using too much protein

• Rice water contains a lot of proteins that may lead to protein overload.
• Protein and moisture treatments are very different and excessive use of one of them can eventually harm your hair.
• Usually, if your hair is stringy and limp it means that your hair needs more protein, whereas if your hair is hard and coarse, it generally has too much protein.
• If you have protein-sensitive hair, your hair will turn even more dry, stiff and brittle quickly after using hair products with too much protein. Once this happens, stop using any protein products for a while and just use moisturizing products until an optimal protein-moisture balance is achieved.

This comes to you from Iles Formula