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Reverse hair washing. Tried it?

(52 Posts)
shysal Wed 27-Jul-16 15:54:00

This seems to be the new trend. Conditioning before shampooing is said to increase volume and make hair softer. I have stock-piled my usual products so won't be using the ones sold specifically for this routine, but might give it a go. Since having Polymyalgia Rheumatica my thick, wavy, previously greasy hair has become very dry and frizzy. Rather than employing phoenix's head-in-a-bag technique I think it is worth a try.
Has anyone tried it and does it make a difference? I usually apply a leave-in conditioner afterwards, do you think I should still do this or would it defeat the object?

lizzypopbottle Thu 28-Jul-16 11:55:11

My hair is fairly short and pretty dry nowadays, on top anyway. I shampoo and use conditioner but no more than twice a week. Sorry to shock all the every day clean freaks but I think too much shampooing and blow drying damages and dries my hair. I use a styling mousse and then, to smooth the top, a single spot of Lee Stafford shine serum on dry hair. It takes a bit of experimenting to get the amount right but, if you use too much, you can give it a quick blast with the hairdryer and that puts it right.

lizzypopbottle Thu 28-Jul-16 12:04:06

Also, you can use the serum between shampoos. It doesn't weigh the hair down or make it look greasy once you've got the quantity right and it lasts for ages.

WilmaKnickersfit Thu 28-Jul-16 12:05:31

Funny, I have been meaning to try this for a few weeks. Must do it just so I can see if it works for me or not.

miep Thu 28-Jul-16 12:22:41

I use conditioner to shave my legs too; I just rub some on my legs and then shave. Can't remember where I read about it, but it works!

shysal Thu 28-Jul-16 12:30:08

I tried this today. My hair feels nice and clean but it is a bit fluffy, probably because I didn't use the usual leave-in conditioner.
I must try the leg shaving thing. I usually use Foamburst shower gel but need to moisturize afterwards.

lizzypopbottle Thu 28-Jul-16 13:09:27

shysal the Lee Stafford serum is great for taming fluffy hair.

shysal Thu 28-Jul-16 13:13:41

Thanks, Lizzy, I will try it. I have a cupboard full of products I have bought that do not give the result I want! smile

Omaoma57 Thu 28-Jul-16 13:21:42

I have faded red hair and have been doing this every 3 - 6 months with a product from Lush. It really helps to make my hedge More manageble....

AnnieGran Thu 28-Jul-16 14:46:21

Yes, Shysal - it works but you might have to practice a few times.
After an illness my hair was very dry with no shine and the normal shampoo followed by conditioner wasn't enough. I saw a tip in a magazine - simple ordinary coconut oil (it is actually white and solid and in a jar, quite cheap, doesn't look like oil, melts in the hand) combed into the hair and left for several hours or overnight. Put a towel over the pillow! Wash out in the shower, usually two generous shampoos, no other conditioners.
When you get it just right you will have lovely smooth hair, no frizzy bits sticking out. As I said, you might not get it right first time and be too heavy and greasy but try again. Everybody's hair is different. Good luck.

sue01 Thu 28-Jul-16 16:08:05

Hi icanhandthemback

OK... so first wet your legs... then rub the Nice 'n Easy conditioner onto your palms and smooth it over your legs.

Then use your razor as usual.

Absolutely no nicks and a gloriously smooth finish.

1974cookie Thu 28-Jul-16 17:17:54

I tried this method a couple of times last year when an article appeared about this method in a newspaper. This was long before the latest pre shampoo conditioners were around.
As recommended, I used ordinary conditioner.
Rinse hair, massage in hair conditioner, leave for 5 minutes then wash with shampoo as usual.
In all honesty, I did not find anything remarkable about this method, if anything, it was a bit tedious.

pollyperkins Thu 28-Jul-16 20:44:04

I aree with Lizziepopbottle that frequent washing dries and damages hair. My understanding is that shampoo opens the cutlicleS (fine scales on hair) so grease can be washed out, and conditioner closes them again so that hair is easier to comb. It makes no sense to me to do it the other way round.

Jalima Thu 28-Jul-16 20:49:27

The one place you can't wear glasses, in the bathroom,
I used to like to read in the bath Maggieanne, alas no more as my specs steam up.
sad

Jalima Thu 28-Jul-16 20:50:05

Conserve good idea, should have thought of that

Jalima Thu 28-Jul-16 20:52:06

Sorry to shock all the every day clean freaks but I think too much shampooing and blow drying damages and dries my hair.
lizzy the hairdresser I used to go to for years said that hair should not be washed every day, only a couple of times a week.

Grananncan Thu 28-Jul-16 22:55:34

I have very fine thinning hair and have been using my usual shampoo and conditioner in reverse order for the last 2/3 months. My hair seems very much easier to control. Yesterday I went to the hairdressers (cut,wash and blow dry) and realised how much thinner my hair looked when washed in the "usual" way.

Tegan Thu 28-Jul-16 23:41:22

It certainly makes showering easier as I'm fed up of leaving the conditioner on for a few minutes when I want to get out of the shower. I did it at the gym today; sat in the steam room with my hair covered in conditioner then used the shampoo when I showered. Good job we all know each other in the sauna room and don't bother about what we look like. I can't get over the fact, though, that I used to have such greasy hair and yet I now absorbs so much conditioner/Argan Oil etc. Currently using Neutrogena Clean Replenishing leave in conditioner.

Shizam Thu 28-Jul-16 23:43:52

Most of these products are full of some fairly shabby ingredients, hair conditioner using the same stuff as they put in clothes fabric conditioner.
I Have done the olive oil, argan oil etc. Nothing works on my frizzy, chemically killed by dyeing hair.
Long for my hair when young, which, ironically,, I then hated. But it was beautiful, thick and happy!

Helmsley444 Fri 29-Jul-16 01:56:30

Plantuer 39 from boots the best ever shampoo abd conditioner.Its £9.00 though

icanhandthemback Fri 29-Jul-16 10:35:54

Thank you sue01.
AnnieGran, that sounds a great idea with the coconut oil. I have a few jars bought whilst they were on offer because I heard it was great for cooking. Trouble is, I don't like the taste! A nail technician was waxing lyrical about it the other day as, rubbed into the cuticles, make nails stronger. She also said it was marvellous for your sore sitdownupon if you have problems following the menopause. blush

cheerfullizzy Fri 29-Jul-16 17:04:48

nk you SandyD for sharing the name of a helpful product for us fine haired ladies!...oh what I wouldn't give for some bulk & volume...does anyone else out there think the same as me..? where oh where did my bouncy curls & crowning glory dissappear to?...when I just wasn't looking...now having to rely on design line volumnising hair spray...only available from regis salons...a great help for special occasions when you need to look a bit 'glam'...I almost had a breakdown when they stopped making it!...happy to say it's back again..so i've stocked up...just in case!! ha ha!!smile

Anzza Sat 30-Jul-16 06:48:34

It can't be better than putting conditioner on after shampooing. Maybe if your hair is greasy?
Also if it is effective. What ingredients are in it that doesn't get removed by shampooing?
Sounds like a gimmick to me.

dramatictessa Sat 30-Jul-16 09:50:47

icanhandthemback, I have psoriasis on my scalp and have found the only shampoo which doesn't leave me scratching till I bleed (sorry for the image, everyone!) is from the Zambesia Botanica range. I can only find it online and it is quite expensive, but it's worth every penny. It might help with your eczema.

WilmaKnickersfit Sun 31-Jul-16 01:00:51

Just thought I'd mention that the Plantur39 range mentioned by Helmsley444 is on offer at Superdrug at the moment.

Plantur39 range

M0nica Sun 31-Jul-16 21:33:11

Don't all toiletries have to have a list of ingredients on the bottle? My skin is very sensitive to a number of chemicals and as a result I use organic products, including shampoo and conditioner, to avoid this problem.

I did try to compare the ingredients list on two body lotion products to try to isolate an irritant, but they only had about three ingredients in common. The rest, all long chemical names, were different in each.