Has your hair been feeling weighed down? Or is it frizzy for no apparent reason? Or suddenly, your products just aren’t working? You may need to clarify your wavy hair!
Clarifying the hair means to use a cleanser to remove build up from the hair. This may be a “low poo” which is sulfate free, or even a shampoo which contains sulfates depending on how much build up there is.
If you don’t clarify your hair but continue to use product, that product will typically build up over time. Additionally, if you have hard water in your region, there may be particulates in your water that can add into this build up. (I personally live in an area with extremely hard water, it stinks! But clarifying is key.)
this list is not a guarantee, but common effects are
- product build up
- frizz halo (around the crown)
- tangly hair – worsens with time
- dull looking hair
- “dandruff” looking spots that aren’t dandruff…..this is one way product build up can present itself
- dirty feeling scalp & hair
If one or more of the above effects are happening, it’s probably time to clarify. There is no exact time-frame because people use different products, have different wavy hair types, different weather, different water hardness….etc. Personally, I clarify every 4-5 washes, but also use the build up/frizz etc dictate this.
Yes! Clarifying wavy hair too often can make it more dry and brittle. This is especially true if you use a sulfate cleanser to clarify. So play around with how often you clarify until you find your ideal timeline. If you already know, let us know in the comments, we love to see the differences between wavies!
