Gentle shampoo and conditioner for thin/fine, dry, wavy hair (& sensitive skin)?

Kris22

I'm looking for a good sulfate-free shampoo/conditioner that will work for a sensitive scalp (and ideally is cruelty free). I tried DevaCurl and the conditioner was ok, but the shampoo make my scalp itchy. Right now, I'm just using Herbal Essences shampoo and Pantene conditioner.

I have fine hair that is between 2a and 2b. It looks like Hermione's hair in movies 4-6 (picture attached--when I don't brush it it's curlier). It tends to get dried out easily, and I wash my hair every day. That probably makes it drier, but if I don't, my scalp will be a little greasy and my hair frizzy. It's low porosity (based on the water test). I use a t-shirt to scrunch my hair and don't use heat.

I've considered products like Shea Moisture, Carol's Daugher, Kiss my Face (that's about my price range). I currently put some argon oil on my ends. I'm nervous about using a lot of products because I don't want to weigh down my hair.

I'd appreciate any help!

MorrisonFan91

hi, and welcome .


i have been doing alot of research regarding ingredients because my skin has a ton of allergens/sensitivies too. and my hair is low porosity as well.

you might like the new Shea Moisture Low-Porosity line, available from Target?

mandymae

Recently I have been using the new Giovanni 2 chic Ultra Revive Shampoo and conditioner and I LOVE THEM!!! This is the first shampoo that gets my hair clean but is not stripping. The conditioner is a little heavier but on line with what you are thinking if you are considering SheaMoisture. My hair, which runs on the drier side, has been really soft, even my stylist noticed. It is currently only available on the Giovanni website or at Whole Foods.

Mei

Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner for curly hair is my holy grail. It replaces my shampoo and rinse-out conditioner, and works well for my low porosity, fine, dense hair. You have to treat it like a shampoo and really scrub your scalp with it, then let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing.

Devacurl's no-poo as well as their low-poo made my scalp super itchy too, and gave me dandruff and seborrhea flareups.

fang

My scalp is super sensitive too., many shampoo (with or without SLS)'cause itchy and burning &Pain my scalp.
I agree with Mei I love Matric Biolage Cleansing Conditioner for curly hair.
(Also for midium hair ) doesn't weight down. No itchy.

Kris22

Thanks for your advice. I would be a little worried about getting a conditioner that's too heavy, since my hair is pretty fine. Giovanni and Shea Moisture both are cruelty free though, so that's great. Have any of you tried the Shea Moisture low porosity products? I don't know whether they're good for less curly, fine hair.

Also do you have a sense of whether the Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner for Curly Hair or for Fine Hair would be better?

Thanks again!

Mei

I haven't tried the SM low porosity line because I'm in Canada, but I used the Matrix one for curly hair and it works amazing for my low porosity, fine (but dense) hair.

Kris22

Do you know if kiss my face whenever shampoo would work for my type of hair? It sounds like the Matrix option is really popular, but I would go for a slightly less good option if it's cruelty free.

Mei

You could try it, but the surfactant in it is one of the harsher ones that is SLS free, at least it has been for me. You could also try Desert Essence Jojoba shampoo or Desert Essence Coconut shampoo and instead of washing with the shampoo daily, try co-washing with the Desert Essence conditioner that matches the shampoo. So you do one day with shampoo and conditioner, the next day with just the conditioner (scrub into scalp and rinse well as if the conditioner was a shampoo), then the next day do the shampoo and conditioner again and keep rotating like that. I used to have to wash daily but now I wash every 2-3 days and have no problems with oily scalp - Just have to go through a period of time where the scalp re-calibrates and stops overproducing oil.

MBCC sadly isn't cruelty-free which was a hard decision for me when I originally decided to buy it but the product is exceptional.