The detox phase is always the first step of the journey to healthy hair. For some, it can be a daunting challenge (check out our
5 Detox Tips for more ways to ease the process). Today, instead of focusing on what to do, I want to talk about what NOT to do while you're detoxing.
1. Not Brush with a Boar Bristle Brush
The two most common symptoms of detox can be alleviated with proper brushing patterns: dry ends and oily roots. Brushing will disperse your scalp's natural oils, reducing oil buildup while simultaneously adding shine and strengthening your hair. Ideally, you'll want to brush multiple times each day, using a
boar bristle brush. For more brushing tips, check out our
Ultimate Hair Brushing How-to.
2. Over Shampoo
Oily, sticky, grainy--your hair becomes a mess during the detox phase. And to compensate, many people begin shampooing more often, once a day or sometimes more. This may, however, be counterproductive. Natural shampoos are very conditioning, which can cause excess oiliness for some people who are over-shampooing. Other shampoos can be drying, which will have the opposite effect. Try cutting back on how often you shampoo and find a routine that works with your hair.
3. Worry About It
Detoxing can be a stressful process, but you can't let that stress get to you. Your body reacts very negatively to prolonged periods of stress, one of the symptoms being hair loss and degradation. Put aside some time each day, or at the very least each week, to mediate or really clear your head from stress.
4.Quit!
Detox is no fun, and it's really easy to just give up, especially considering that the detox phase is so varied; some people take only a few weeks to detox, while others can take multiple months. The key is to not give up. Beautiful hair awaits you on the other side of this long journey. For a little inspiration, like our
Facebook page to receive weekly detox stories, motivational mantras, and other helpful hair tips.
Share your motivational quotes or detox stories in the comments.
More and more, people are checking the backs of shampoo bottles for ingredients lists, reading to see exactly what they are putting in their hair. However, that long list of scientific names and numbers can often be difficult to discern. You might as well be reading a foreign language. As a general rule, you want to be wary of any ingredient name you can't pronounce. In particular, here are five shampoo ingredients that should be an immediate red flag in any hair care product. 
MM Shampoos are Chemical Free, always.[/caption] Cocamide Diethanolamine. Here's a tricky one. Shampoos often advertise themselves as containing "coconut oil." But if the product foams, check the back; you'll most likely find cocamide diethanolamine (DEA), a foaming chemical derived from coconut oil in a laboratory. DEA can cause scalp irritation or a bad allergic reaction. Fragrance or Parfum. You never know what you're going to get when you see "Fragrance" on the back of a shampoo bottle. This enigmatic ingredient can be a mixture of any 3,000+ chemicals, which shampoo companies are not required to disclose. Many of these chemicals can be scalp irritants. Synthetic Colors. Usually appearing at the end of the ingredients list, synthetic colors are listed as either FD&C or D&C followed by a color and a number. These dyes are entirely for aesthetic purposes and may cause scalp sensitivity or allergic reactions. 
