Scientist's Top Haircare Hacks (mostly cheap or free!)

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Okay, fabric semi expert here (I'm a dressmaker) - so the reason that cotton and linen make your hair feel crunchy and worse when you go to bed with damp hair, is because as plant fibres, they soak up moisture. But silk is a protein fibre, and it doesn't do that so much. It also has less friction, as you noted.

[@pinkunicorn8794]

Another dressmaker here, fully agreeing with you. Also like to point out to people that satin is NOT a fibre - it is a way to weave fabric. Personally I would stay away from polyester satin, I see plenty of people talk about silk while pointing at a polyester satin textile. It doesn't really breath and in case of fire it will melt on your skin just like plastic melts while natural fibres will turn into ash. So you can have cotton satin (makes for quite nice sheets tbh) Polyester satin (the super slippery and shiny sheets that you just glide off) Silk satin is a thing too but I haven't seen it in sheets (not that I have looked very hard) but you can definetly get silk sheets. I also like to sleep with a silk cap, it's easy to pack with incase of travels and I get to sing to my husband "I bringing sexy cap--" which makes him roll his eyes like a teenage girl.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@pinkunicorn8794 are the silk sheets a twill, perhaps? I've never actually seen them, and I'm too poor to afford them. I have made a silk satin bonnet though, and it's the best thing I've ever done for my hair. I couldn't imagine using poly satin (it's hot and sticky and generally unpleasant, though I am biased against polyester generally- I'm a historical dressmaker, so it's natural textiles only for me), though I think it would at least prevent the friction and the moisture wicking. I don't get why people wear it, tbh. It's wrapping yourself in plastic. Way too hot and sweaty, afaic. And yes, one of my bug bears is people saying "silk or satin". That's not an OR type of thing. As for what I use, as I said I use a silk bonnet, and I have (very pretty 18th century style) cotton velveteen pillow cases and quilt cover, and normal cotton sheets. I'm not generally a fabric snob (except for my hatred of polyester), but no denying that silk is definitely the way to go for bedlinen if you can afford it. Though I'd probably go for a linen quilt cover in summer to keep things cooler. Silk can get pretty warm.

[@lucklessluce557]

@@katherinemorelle7115 My mother used to call some of the 100% polyester fabric clothes, that was all over clothing outlets here in SA about 10 - 15 years ago, plastic bags. 🤣 I am not a fan of artificial fibres either. Terrible for hot weather, irritating to skin and in my personal experience, really bad for exczema.

[@lelalu101]

​@@katherinemorelle7115 I don't manage to keep a silk bonnet on, but I love my silk pillow cases!

[@ZomBeeQueeen]

Oooh cool, thank you for explaining that!

[@Turtletoots3]

Hair hack: if you're crafty and don't want to shell out the money for silk scrunchies, you can make your own from silk satin thrift store neckties.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Oh that's brilliant!

[@bigbucketlist]

Why have I never figured this out?! I have several of those at home, never use them, and have wanted a silk scrunchie for YEARS! This is what I am making today!

[@Alex-ki1yr]

I would spring for silk nighties - cheaper per yard, and silk neckties can have Nasty treatments to them especially if they are old

[@kasiajaniak2765]

I made my silk pillow case from cheap thrifted maxi gown.

[@muiawat]

Love this !!

[@peasnap3000]

When I was dying my hair black, I would add charcoal powder to tapioca starch in order to make a homemade dry shampoo that wouldn't leave a white cast on my hair. It worked really well.

[@HeavenlyEchoVirus]

I came to add, cocoa powder!

[@Onlythesassiest]

Cocoa powder is great for browns in between!

[@Snowfoxie1]

You’re the first hair KZbinr in a long time who hasn’t acted like needing to wash your hair often or every day is a war crime. Thank you!

[@notevennero]

thats cuz shes much more than just a hair youtuber ong she made me feel a lot better about how often i have to wash my hair

[@amandaodom5732]

Something that I’ve always been interested in, but never seen anyone online talk about, is the effectiveness of shampoo bars. I’ve seen a couple people just go off of their personal experience with them, but I rarely can find information on the science behind them. Same with “natural” and/or zero waste makeup. The only people I see talk about these products are people who regularly use them, so I’m just constantly curious about how they actually stack up against normal versions of the same product

[@ievalibeka8171]

Beware those companies which just slap "solid shampoo" label on part of their soaps unless You already know that Your hair can handle that. Otherwise, a lot of of liquid and solid shampoos use the same kinds of ingredients and the important thing is how well they are balanced with each other. For example, in a liquid shampoo the surfactant will be diluted to a safe usage concentration with water, in a solid shampoo that water has to replaced with either additional conditioning ingredients or a filler like starch. For me the results from the same surfactant/conditioner combos are close enough that the final decision comes down to ease of use/availability/ preferred scent etc. Make-up wise I haven't found much that works with my budget/skin sensitivities/performance requirements :/

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Shampoo is meant for the scalp

[@PhanieDaemonia]

I'd love to see that as well. I have extremely thick hair. The shampoo bar works just fine - definitely very convenient when travelling! - but the conditioners were unusable. My sister, whose hairs are a LOT thinner than mine, had success with both shampoo and conditionner and now exclusively uses bars for her hair.

[@PredictableEnigma]

I use shampoo bars and conditioner bars but I really want there to be more research on them. I tried 3 different brands and the third was the one I liked and settled on, but just because it makes my hair feel good doesn't mean that it would do the same for all hair types so it's hard to reccommend it to others. The first couple I tried definately made my hair feel too "squeaky" clean aka dried out. I have really fine hair but a lot of it. (the individual hairs are very thin but I have a whole lot of densely "planted" strands of hair on my scalp, which I am told is a forgiving and easy to manage hair type with the only flaw being it tangles easily)

[@cferracini]

I learned on Blowout Professor how to shampoo the scalp and that changed my life. He says to use salon shampoo, but I found that the technique is the most important. As long as I section my hair and apply shampoo directly on the scalp, massaging it with the finger tips (no nails) and do that for all my hair sections, any shampoo works. Yes, even really cheap ones that almost feel like detergent, but those ware too aggressive so if I need to use those, I dilute them with water and no issues so far. I can go much longer without washing without itchy head. I used to need to wash every other day and still had dandruff and dryness but now dandruff is almost gone, frizz is getting better, all is better. I just pay better attention in the conditioner

[@halfmoon3017]

I know I don't know any better than a professional but using nails kind of helped me.

[@cferracini]

@@halfmoon3017 It's just risky to you because you may hurt yourself and create scabs. But if you are used to it and don't hurt yourself, might be ok. I'm also not a professional

[@halfmoon3017]

@@cferracini Thanks for the reply 🩷

[@octo.p14]

@@halfmoon3017If you need to use nails to clean your hair but are afraid of scabs, try getting a scalp scrubber/massager! It works basically as nails but they are soft to prevent scratching your scalp

[@onerva.]

if I shaved my nape I'd have about 10 strands left 😅 tbh the best thing I ever did for my hair was to stop bleaching/dying it. sad but true sometimes letting damaged hair grow out and then cut it off and leave it natural is the only thing that's going to fix things. I now have wigs I use whenever I get the urge to bleach the heck out of my hair again...

[@sadmermaid]

Facts!

[@shannoncharron]

A silk sleeping cap straight up changed my life. Ditch the scruchie for bed time and get a cap. It will be the ONLY topic in your next "top hair care" video, I swear.

[@StephanieLeighG]

A lot of people recommended that to me, but I thought it just worked by preventing a small amount of damage. It’s not like it can reverse damage, so I figured I’d only see a difference after a year or 2, when new undamaged had had a chance to grow out. Wrong wrong wrong! It made an immediate obvious difference. Way more than any conditioner or mask I’ve ever used. More than a $400 professional “defrizzing” treatment that I wasted my money on out of desperation during a very humid summer. I use a straight up satin durag which fits around my hair because I have an almost chin length bob. When I first started using it I suddenly started getting so many compliments on my hair with random strangers asking me where I got it done and what I used on it. Nothing has made a bigger difference to my hair than a goddamn $2 satin durag.

[@lelalu101]

​@@StephanieLeighG your life may change again if you pick up a 100% mulberry silk bonnet. They'll cost around $20 but the super breathable natural fiber is So Worth IT!!

[@paIeville]

any time ive tried to sleep with something on my head it comes off during the night…

[@Brianna58321]

@@paIeville You can tuck the band of the bonnet in (all around) and it helps it stay on. Also, you can (if you have short hair) get a wig cap and wear it underneath. my bonnet never slips off when I have the cap on and it’s comfortable.

[@luc9447]

I've also got a silk bonnet now but it makes my hair get greasy soooo much quicker than it did before :(

[@mendicantcrow]

My biggest hack is that I wash my vibrantly-dyed hair separate from showering. That way, I can wash it in much cooler water, which washes away less of my vibrant colour. Then I wrap it in my microfiber towel and throw a shower cap over it, and shower in nice warm water! It also helps to keep conditioner off my back, which does seem to give me more acne.

[@VanK782]

Yeah cold water makes the biggest difference

[@udontevenwannaknowbruv]

Do you wash it with luke warm water? Or cold water?

[@mendicantcrow]

@@udontevenwannaknowbruv cooler than lukewarm I'd say, but I usually don't turn the tap all the way to the coldest setting. I wash my hair every 2-3 days, and can stretch vibrant hair colours 1-2 months this way.

[@WankiTank]

oh my god I recently wondered if my back acne at only exactly the place where my hair is during showering might be from the conditioner

[@pl0shiee]

This is a game changer. Idk why I never considered just doing a shower cap.

[@megleland6320]

After switching to silk pillow cases I can't go back again, cotton feels like sandpaper now, lol.

[@sabeanie5002]

same! I bought two and I bring one with me when I sleep anywhere else lol

[@glomendez2248]

My husband say the same thing! 😂 I bought the silk pillow cases for me and he ask where are his silk pillow cases.

[@eeaotly]

​@@glomendez2248😄👍

[@catetanenbaum2418]

I'm the opposite, I weirdly went off them after several years of using them every night. Suddenly out of no where they started giving me the ick. 🤷‍♀️

[@PlentitudeIsland]

​@@catetanenbaum2418 More details plz. What happened ? TIA

[@lavendargooms2056]

I've been thinking about asking for a scalp science vid for a long time now (no idea why I haven't) and this video has definitely touched on some things I've been figuring out myself. My biggest advice (that I don't know how it took me so long to realize) is, if the fix for whatever you think is causing you issues isn't working like it should be, check and make sure you've got the cause right - someone who didn't know that dandruff isn't always dandruff and is actually just super sensitive

[@peggedyourdad9560]

Yeah, what a lot of people tend to think is dandruff is actually really dry and flaky skin. Based on my own experience, it could also be itchiness and flaking caused by buildup on the scalp. I've found that increasing washing frequency tends to help with this.

[@inspiredby624]

big oily flakes --> dandruff small dry flakes --> dry scalp just as a rule of thumb :)

[@LikeCakeIDo]

and sometimes you just can't fix things alone with regular products. the only thing that works for my scalp is hydrocortisone, which i need a prescription for

[@crimbleland]

This could have saved me from my perioral dermatitis lol

[@oliviac295]

Yeah, it could also be a skin condition like psoriasis, which I have. You might need a topical cream to help with flare ups and do a scalp treatment before washing with a shampoo that won’t irritate your scalp

[@manojipereira9169]

Great video! Another low cost hack is to use a big old cotton t shirt as a hair towel, it's surprisingly absorbent and I noticed a huge difference in frizz compared to a regular towel

[@ooopticnerveee]

I'm going to try this tonight! Thanks for the tip!

[@BbGun-lw5vi]

The perfect hair towel doesn’t cause frizz and it absorbs way more than the cotton tshirt. And it’s inexpensive at around $20.

[@omniscient.nescience]

​@@BbGun-lw5vi I might just be broke, but $20 is expensive af for a hair towel 😶

[@BbGun-lw5vi]

@@omniscient.nescience I get that. But I bought the Aquis waffle weave hair turban and it’s lasted me 10 years and it still looks great.

[@ah3191]

I would highly recommend just washing only your fringe with shampoo when it gets oily instead of dry shampoo. I just segment my fringe and wash in the sink in the morning. Really resets the fringe and brings the fluffiness back much better than dry shampoo.

[@diamondsngunns88]

I never though about doing this!! ❤

[@MộtMình_VẫnVui]

I wash only my fringe in the sink when it gets greasy too. My hairdresser laughed when I told her that.

[@mariaignacialeonor]

I used to do the same ! ​@@MộtMình_VẫnVui

[@BehindTheBush96]

If you have coloured hair then your colour will fade much faster from your fringe than the rest of your hair and make your hair colour uneven, though. So I’d only recommend that if you don’t colour your hair.

[@ocxt0314]

Fellow super thick haired person here. A nape undercut made a huge difference, I second everything you said. More manageable volume, cool neck in the summer, no more tangles. Plus I found a jaw clip that can actually hold up my hair now 😅

[@ioanabarbarie2267]

Great tips! Here's one of mine: don't use fabric conditioner on towels, especially Aquis. They do a much better job without it!

[@zvezdoblyat]

Borax and vinegar make my clothes fluffy, it might work on towels too

[@12Sanguine]

Wow I wish I had the problem of too much thick hair... 😅 *Cries in Northern European blond*

[@Chahlie]

Oh man, I'm northern UK blonde....too much too thick...curly...I'm a Viking :(

[@Celeste-.-marie]

Me too. I have androgenetic alopecia 😢

[@jojijohn2608]

Cries in bad genes

[@mansigupta]

The nape undercut is awesome!! I like having short hair, but still being able to put it up in a ponytail when its hot... I got an undercut about a year ago and my hair volume is just over half now (I used to have a LOT of hair) and I can go pretty short and still get most of it in a pony when needed. I live in India where it gets crazy hot and humid, and this has been amazing in the summer... feels so light and airy.

[@lelalu101]

I LOVE my undercut. No one notices that I have one and it's lovely to have my hair airdry faster in SoFlo's 60% humidity.

[@strawberry_punch_art]

yes! I also have that exact undercut and it's everything I ever needed and more. It's even great in the winter where there are no scarves or collars rubbing against it, so it doen't knot or matt

[@lizzy_bu]

"I've got so much hair..." Oh how I wished to have that problem. Much easyer to fix than having low density hair where the scalp is showing through 😕 Nice video by the way, thank you for those precious tipps!

[@Faith-us4zc]

Trust me having too much hair is very difficult to handle.. especially if you live in a country with limited sources.. mine is dry, very curly and takes forever to fully dry which causes me headaches in cold weather and when i blow dry it it would be much drier than it was and i struggle to have the perfect haircare product for my hair type

[@michaw.2168]

​@@Faith-us4zc I know it's been quite a while ago but maybe i can give you an idea for your hair. Try a silk bonnet it will help protect your hair so it will not become to dry and it can help with a cold head. Even if you adva cotton stripe over your ears it will be wonderful 👍 There are lotions for curly hair that reduce the drying time a lot but maybe you can't get them every where. Greetings 👋

[@Faith-us4zc]

@michaw.2168 thanks for the reply dear, I do cover my hair at night but the problem is that I need to dry my hair as soon as I get out of the shower or else I'll get a headache.

[@kckc4955]

After having a mushroom head of hair for decades, I shaved from my crown down to neck. Near Mohawk. I have a full head of hair when I style it and I’m so much cooler. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever done with my hair.

[@clairebarrow8706]

For a hair towel I use a camping towel! I’ve been doing this since I was 14. They are so absorbent and soft, and I get the same effect as a tshirt plop on wavy hair. Plus, so portable! I have one from Kathmandu but I have used the Kmart ones and they’re totally fine.

[@Mothernatureontherun]

Me too. I’ve been using the same one for 14 years and I’ve finally had to say goodbye as holes starter appearing and now they too big. I will definitely be replacing it with another camping/travel towel.

[@alexandraponych8410]

Can you please do a video about fermented ingredients in skincare? I'm really interested since I see a lot of people like to use those products. Also can you talk about peptides and enzymes in skincare? Love your channel

[@Blue666LV]

That corn starch hack is GREAT!! I had similar struggles with itchy scalp from dry shampoos - thanks for the tip! :)

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

You're welcome, I hope it works for you!

[@christineh86]

Haha wow I’m so envious that you have so much hair you even need to shave off that much to make it look like other peoples hair volume 😮! My hair is kind of a normal/ medium amount of hair, but the strands are so thin and fragile I can’t grow it very long, only mid length or it looks very damaged because I color over my gray hair too 😢 your hair looks so strong, like Pocahontas hair 😊 looks great!

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I think the grass is greener on the other side - I've always been envious of how soft fine hair is, my coarse strands can be quite spiky! It also acts a bit like wire when you try to style it - until I bleached the crap out of it, it wouldn't hold a curl for more than a couple of hours. And it clogs up the vacuum cleaner all the time. So it definitely isn't all sunshine and roses!

[@jacquiz.6837]

Edited: My brunette dry shampoo hack is to mix some cocoa powder into the cornstarch so it leaves less of a cast. Thanks for these tips!

[@lavendargooms2056]

I like to also add a little cinnamon to mine in addition to cocoa! I initially saw it as an add in for its antimicrobial-ness (no idea about that) but I love it because it smells amazing when you're showering it out later

[@Turtletoots3]

Sounds messy

[@meremeth]

I just looked at my acure dry shampoo for dark hair, and the first two ingredients are corn starch and cocoa powder my life is changed haha

[@animemangalover94]

Do try cocoa powder, do not try hot chocolate mix, it’ll most likely have sugar or a sweetener in it and probably milk powder as well. I can’t imagine sugar in your hair is a good idea when it’s already sweaty, and if you’re using it in hot weather or going outdoors, your roots may feel sticky and you may attract insects to your head.

[@Parrot5884]

@@animemangalover94 Yeah, hot chocolate on your scalp sounds like an absolute yeast party!

[@Muh-Rang]

you've been on a bit of a hair content kick! I'd love for you to talk about lamellar products - like L'Oreal miracle water!

[@wearelegion1163]

Yes, please. I want to know more about lamellar water & use over longer term

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I'm actually trying it out at the moment! We don't have it here but Nadine Baggott was kind enough to send me a bottle 😊

[@jpossible]

Omg yes! The undercut has been an incredible change to my hair as someone with really thick hair. I keep my hair much shorter now, but you still can't really tell unless I style it to show

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Yessss! There are so many of us walking around with chunks of hair secretly hacked out like ancient warriors in hiding 😂

[@naxp42]

I loved my undercut when I had long hair, my hair is so thick and dark that you couldn't really tell unless I explicitly showed it off! It stopped matting, and felt a lot cooler (both literally and figuratively lol).

[@willowvee5844]

@@LabMuffinBeautyScience Yes! I'm 59, and I have an under cut, even though my hair is just above my shoulders. Takes at least 5 minutes out of styling my thick hair, and it sits way better! It's my rebel ageing disgracefully move!😊

[@debbiewalker273]

@@willowvee5844 I’m 61, and have an undercut. Same hair length as you. Took me years to get brave enough to try it, and you’re right, it really shaves off time spent drying and styling. No pun intended. 😂🤣

[@estherstreet4582]

Same here, even with the undercut I've got quite a lot of hair so it makes it just barely manageable. I also like showing it off, I often have my hair in a bun right at the "point" of the undercut, or in two dutch braids down the side. I'd love to get something shaved or dyed into it but my hair grows so fast it wouldn't really last.

[@AuroraCarlisle]

I've also violently hacked a good chunk of my hair off (undercut). It changed my life because my hair vaguely has an "A" shape when it dries due to how thick it is.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

It's the best!!

[@eblake3617]

Arrowroot powder is also great dry shampoo and face mattifying powder

[@ExothermicRxn]

Can I ask about how to adequately treat nape hair? Overall my hair isn’t damaged but the nape hair is awfully damaged, gets tangled all the time and breaks a lot so I have like a “halo” around my nape when I put my hair up in a ponytail.

[@Amara178]

So great to see a video about haircare from you! I've been wondering about the scalp products from The Ordinary - their Multi-Peptide Serum, Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for Scalp and Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum. Just wondering what the science behind these is and can they potentially work, and who are they best suited for? Thanks Michelle! :)

[@nah_.]

I would love to see a video from her on those products, especially the multi-peptide serum!

[@kisikisikisi]

I'd love more hair content! I feel like most of it is very unscientific stuff said by hairdressers, or stuff concentrating on the scalp, said by derms. I want to know more about hair itself, and I want it to be based in science.

[@miss.mercurial]

The one thing I don't like about diy dry shampoo is that the spray ones seem to distribute so much better (but I'm also fairly certain that's a skill issue lol). I keep telling myself I'll get a fancy hair towel but the old t shirts route is just so much cheaper (and less microplastics!). I'm also too scared to try the nape cut - I love my volume!

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I don't think these tips will work for everyone - if you like your current volume I don't think the nape cut would be anywhere near as useful for you, although you could try cutting out less? With higher quality microfibre towels that last a long time, there isn't that much microplastic since they don't shed much - the "microfibres" in microplastic research papers are usually referring to microscopic fibres that come from regular fabrics shedding.

[@miss.mercurial]

Oh, interesting - I hadn't thought about fiber types shedding differently although in hindsight that makes sense. It's so hard to tell "good" microfiber without feeling them, though... they feel the same to me 😆! Just that weird scratchy feeling like your skin is rough and dry even though you know it's not.

[@missbeaussie]

Maybe you could use a sifter? :3

[@eggandchips4t]

Unfortunately, microfibre fabrics are made from plastic - polyester and polyamide being the main source. Cotton tee-shirts are a useful, gentle option- why buy another plastic -based product when it takes 450-500 years to 'biodegrade'?

[@ducklingscap897]

Cotton shirts are also very soft. I don't think you need to switch for your hair health. Because I want to avoid plastic products I've bought a bamboo hair turban. It's also very soft but more like a t-shirt I suppose.

[@alexherts7953]

I have thin, fine hair and the Biggest change for me was to 1)switch to professional shampoo ~ I now wash every 4 days and my hair finally feels clean and has volume 2) shampoo twice but actually use much less product (see point 1) 3) silk pillow ~ so much less frizz 4) blow dry my hair, has much more volume and it lasts longer

[@alexherts7953]

@A Simple Girl I’m using Purology Pure Volume range

[@bonniherself]

I have really thick hair, and until quite recently, it was long (during quarantine, it got down past my waist, longest I've ever had it!). I had a lot of trouble with my hair tangling and getting ratty in bed. I did try a satin pillowcase, which I still use because I like it, but the thing that was extremely helpful for me was to wear a satin bed cap. I like the double sided ones, so the satin has a silky side inside as well as outside. The difference in my hair was amazing. My hair didn't spread everywhere and the tangling went way, way down.

[@Oonagh72]

It is so funny that you bring up MI and MCI. I figured this out on my own. I hit middle age and became allergic to everything. There was a shampoo and conditioner I became allergic to. So when something else I used started to make me itch I cross referenced the ingredients. MI was the culprit! Now I have to be very careful.

[@bethdahl3741]

really sad to see yet another influencer corrupted by the big crocodile clip lobby *sigh*

[@neuro-mm8in]

😂😂😂

[@kirstinpiche]

My problem with micro fibre towels is that we're washing micro plastics down the drain. As a curly girl I of course bought one but then I realized I was wrapping my hair in petrol chemicals. Today I use a organic cotton flat weave towel. Natural material and no micro plastics.

[@MintyFrills]

corn starch is nice but honestly tapioca starch is even better!

[@Call-me-Al]

As someone with too dry skin, I find my scalp does better with conditioner. I haven't tried reverse conditioning but I have done "conditioner only" washings with a weekly shampoo and that too was infinitely better than only shampoo at my scalp because of my skin issues.

[@sicsempertyrannus6685]

You could try cowashes instead of shampoo!

[@Call-me-Al]

@@sicsempertyrannus6685 that's literally what I said I did...

[@CurlyCrowie]

I also do the cowashing thing for 20+ years. My curly hair needs to be wet thoroughly everyday to look presentable. So I started doing cowash daily and shampoo weekly.

[@SchlichteToven]

Heehee! You call them crocodile clips, and over here (in Canada) we call them alligator clips!

[@marye813]

Oily scalp goes away post-menopause. Your recommendations are often only for younger women like yourself. Believe or not that oily T-zone does go away and scalp is dry.

[@AMN320]

Yes! What do you do? I don't get oily at all on my scalp. So I stretch my wash for upto two weeks. Even then I don't wash it because it has become oily but my dandruff starts to increase by then.( I don't know if it's dry or oily dandruff)

[@francedangela9556]

MI/MCI are a real pain. They destroyed my skin for over 30 years before I found out about them. They are in shampoos , conditioners, body lotion, body wash, laundry detergent, dish detergent,and many more. They aren’t always listed on labels like in liquid dish detergents but you can verify their website and it’s in the ingredient list. Wish they’d bring back parabens; less damaging.

[@ayeshaali6462]

what shampoo do you use that is without mi/mci

[@francedangela9556]

@@ayeshaali6462 Nexxus Keraphix - violet bottle. I have fine hair and need a little care. In my area I can find it at Costco and any drugstores.

[@elleh6469]

I’m allergic too, it’s in sooo much. Wish they would bring back parabens too!

[@Turtletoots3]

I've been seeing a lot of ads for hyaluronic acid in hair care products for "hydration" but was under the impression that hair needs moisture not hydration. What benefits does HA have on hair? Is it just a gimmick?

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

How water and hair interact is quite complex, it's very different from water and skin - a lot of it depends on the location of the water. I've been meaning to do a video on it but I haven't come up with a good plan yet. This post has some info though: labmuffin.com/hair-frizz-science-water-hydrogen-bonds/ Hyaluronic acid could potentially help, but I think it's more likely to be counterproductive - it's probably more of a marketing ingredient and there are other ingredients in the product doing the actual work.

[@SaheeliRai]

The allergy one could really help me. I have some allergies, but can't put my finger on the exact ingredient and finding a good(!) dermatologist is really hard here. Problem is that laundry detergents don't say what the ingredients are... Oh and as I only wash my hair about twice a week, changing my pillowcase every time I wash my hair really helps with preventing it from getting greasy and bonus, it helps my skin

[@LucianaVIP1]

Before watching, I'd like to ask whether it'd be possible for you to talk about APKH (acquired progressive kinking of the hair) caused by CTE (chronic tellogen efluvium). The hair shaft is so twisted, bent and crinckled, it's like having pubic hair on your hair. Just worse. Thin, hard, twisted, bent, crinkled (APKH) and shorter and less strands by the year (CTE) hair.😔🔫

[@primordialmeow7249]

Always appreciate you Muffin: Dryer and fine hair (but lots of it thank goodness!). No more colour. Soooo, during lockdown I left it alone except a gentle wash and condition 2x/week for two years. I use coconut oil on ends before a wash to protect. I do not use heat on it until 75% dry. I use all of your tips and my layered, below shoulder hair is healthier and more beautiful than ever.

[@michael-dy7pn]

I laughed so hard at your analogies in this video! You have a great sense of humor!

[@terryenby2304]

2:43 FYI if you have dark hair, and you want to, you can mix a little bit of cocoa powder in to the starch to get the same effect with less of a grey coating :)

[@shleya2476]

I love you videos as fellow chemistry nerd. I was wondering if you have ever thought of doing a myth busting of dog products like shampoo or toothpaste?

[@Linh-rv5dg]

What do you think of apple cider vinegar rinse? I've been using it for a while due to ultra-hard water causing my scalp to fall out, and it seems to work. Even after I got a water filter, I still keep using it as it makes my hair super shiny and soft, more than any hair mask. Wonder if there're any side effects with using it

[@birdlover7776]

Vinegar rinsing is great! It’s like a toner

[@rb5078]

I put conditioner on my scalp and all down my hair, let it sit while I do my body care, and then shampoo just my scalp. Works great for my fine, thin, straight hair.

[@mintsaturn]

Why is every dry shampoo so heavily scented 😑

[@Chahlie]

I think it's to cover the smell of benzene. Think that smell at the drycleaners....

[@susanmcf1]

My hack is: I found that L'Oreal over-the-counter permanent hair color was superior in tone to salon color, no matter how expensive. My house has very hard water which tends to cause an orange tone to dyed hair, but not to L'Oreal.

[@AMN320]

Is the orange tone visible when you go for a lighter shade?

[@susanmcf1]

@@AMN320 I didn't go lighter. Sorry.

[@AMN320]

@@susanmcf1 thanks for the reply. I have black hair but with a lot of grey. I did grey coverage and 2 months later the color has faded to orangish yellow (they told it would fade to brown!)

[@laryssagobbi]

cocoa power ((without sugar!!)) can be used as dry shampoo too, and it's less obvious in darker hair :)

[@helmaschine1885]

😂way too wasteful and expensive!

[@zvezdoblyat]

​​@@helmaschine1885Hershey's cocoa powder costs about 4 dollars. They have a Dutch processed one which is darker for the same price. I assume if you use a lot of it on a regular basis it would last for around 4 months. So 12 dollars per year. How is that expensive?

[@Kat-tr2ig]

I stopped bleaching my hair and started dying it with henna and cassia obovata. It's been a game changer. Not only does my hair look and feel thicker, the henna has restored the damage. Plus, the copper color lasts so much longer than hair dye.

[@MelModica]

Great idea. I’m going to stop using permanent color box use and use professional color with 10 volume developer because I’m not lightening my hair and in between use semi or semipermanent to blend roots and instead of coloring regrowth every 4-6 weeks I’m going to recolor 6-8 weeks. I don’t have a ton of grey so in between coloring I use root cover powder or colored dry shampoo to hide roots. I also try not to change colors to often and don’t color mid lengths and ends more than 3 or 4 times a year to refresh color.

[@elleh6469]

Great tips! I’m also allergic to MI/MCI, definitely very prevalent in hair care…I’ve also noticed it in a lot of products marketed to people as “clean” and “sensitive skin” - I’m looking at you Lust Minerals, Omo Sensitive, and Palmolive Sensitive. I wish there was more awareness on it but I’m so glad you’re letting people know through your videos and posts 😊! Even doctors don’t know what it is when I say I’m allergic to it.

[@juliabinford6500]

Very interesting! All your tips were very practical, and explained so well. I might have to pull the trigger on a silk pillow case. I was hoping that wasn’t real 😂

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Thank you! Someone recommended trying polyester first - I personally find it staticky and hot, but if it works for you it's definitely more budget friendly!

[@Flutterbyby]

I’ve been reverse conditioning due to dry ends & scalp issues from conditioner on it :) glad to know there is a term for this

[@PumpkinMozie]

I’ve heard for homemade dry shampoo, if your hair is dark you can mix a little cocoa powder in with the corn starch.

[@zoricasarvas5067]

Do you have a recommendation for an antidandruff shampoo and washing powder that isn’t irritating? My whole family seems to get itchy scalps to varying degrees and two of my boys have eczema. I asked the dermatologist we’ve been seeing and he was absolutely no help. He made me feel like I was overreacting.

[@lisalovesphotography]

Love your sense of humour-and great tips!

[@itsgonnabeanaurfromme]

I can never use silk pillowcases because i go to sleep with moisturizer on my face which just gets on silk.

[@quintecence]

I have super curly hair that's dyed and dry.. I support your claims on the clips, microfibre towel, conditioner with dyes (my main colours are colour depositing masks) and the silk pillowcase (I have a satin bonnet instead).. they helped my hair the most. I would like to add having a co-wash shampoo as an every couple of washes thing and a rubber or silicon scalp scubber for better cleaning of the scalp because washing once a week and trying to remove all the crud with your hands is so much more work and significantly less relaxing. Also, oil spray for root health - the one I have is from palmers and contains peppermint oil so I call it "hairfreshener". It's my substitute for dry shampoo 😂

[@DianeH2038]

NAPE UNDERCUT! I need this -- my hair is super-thick in the back and that undercut area grows the fastest (so about a week or two after a nice haircut I have a mullet, no matter what I want). thank you! do you have any clippers to recommend?

[@dovelugosi]

I use potato starch in water to refresh my curls and it's perfect I love starch. And I'm still in my NIN phase at 35 😅

[@andreav2175]

…not being paid by Big Crocodile Clip 😂

[@abeach5420]

Yeahhh for purple tresses !! I also luv Dr. Rupa Wong's . . .she is a fab eye specialist in Hawaii...her colour would look lovely on you too.

[@dianebishopdesigns]

Thank you for this information about MI/MCI. About 10 years ago I suddenly started having bumps and spots on my scalp with itchiness. I tried to figure out what ingredient it was that caused it but I put it down to cocamidopropyl betaine. I tried out shampoos from Lush and found that my scalp stopped itching and the bumps went away. Recently I tried a shampoo without realising it contained cocamidopropyl betaine and while it gave me a very slight itch I didn't get the bumps so I realised that probably wasn't the problem ingredient. I had never even heard of MI/MCI but I will make sure to watch out for them now.

[@infinitigirl29]

I love to sleep with my silk pillow case and my silk bonnet. That has been one of the greatest improvement to my hair routine. Plus the cocodrile clips.

[@Lili3nlhilp]

I thrifted a silk dress n repurposed it as a pillowcase and have satin pillow cases and scrunchies cz im broke lol

[@lauraferrazzo1080]

Could you talk about all the Olaplex products? Some say all you need to use is number 3? And not to use both Olaplex and Other hair repair products

[@nitzeart]

Oh I did exactly the same with my finishig powder and it works! Pretty much the same, I wa slike what if I use this as dry shampoo?? My scalp gets oily like after a day after washing so it is handy

[@cynicalreverie]

I'm also allergic to MI/MCI and at least in the US if the concentration is low enough they're legally allowed to leave it off the label, so I try to test products for about a week to see if they trigger a reaction. I also wouldn't be surprised if it's used in fragrance mixes because I've had a lot fewer reactions since I stopped using fragranced products.

[@laexploradoraaaXD]

I LOVE the crocodile/alligator clips. I clip my bangs to give them more volume when I'm diffusing. (I also agree re hair dryers. I only diffuse my hair so I looked for dryers that did that well before buying my current one.) Another thing: if you have wavy/curly/coily hair adding an oil before shampooing helps reduce breakage and helps with detangling. Idk why this works but it works.

[@a.hopeful.rosebud837]

i personally only wash my hair with conditioner, as in scrub scalp with it with scalp brush and wash it all the way out, i don’t have curly hair like most people who do this but i have severe eczema including on my scalp so this seems to keep my scalp happiest

[@retronartz1268]

It’s funny, we must have very different hair types because most of the tips you listed hurts my hair (besides the clips) and everything you said doesn’t work DOES work for me… lol

[@EH012]

+1 to an undercut! SO much more comfortable, and I can finally have a blunt-ish hairstyle! 😄

[@hannahshark8080]

So what you're saying is we can stay in our eternal NIN phase without looking like Trent in the 90's. Sick 👌🏼

[@increasingjoy1391]

could you please teach us about K18 and if the science behind it is actually science or advertising smoke

[@msimpson2779]

I have chronically bleach damaged hair...K18 was total waste of$$ for me $130 +shipping. I followed instructions meticulously...save your money. Im actually about to start with Camelia oil and see if that helps.

[@gaya3vaidy]

@@msimpson2779did camellia oil help ?

[@PlebeianGoth]

I ended up shaving both sides of my head into a big thick mohawk as to avoid migraines lol. Glad to see someone else discussing the practicality of undercuts and sidecuts

[@missbeaussie]

Did it help the migraines?

[@diamondsngunns88]

@@missbeaussie following as well! ❤

[@yensid4294]

I definitely get that itchy, irritated scalp with raised pimple like bumps that can become crusty if scratched. I thought it was from fragrance & I ended up with multiple Rx scalp treatments & even a Rx medicated shampoo. It was misdiagnosed as seb derm originally & dandruff shampoos did not help. I now special order a fragrance free/sulphate free gentle shampoo & conditioner from Jessicurl. I cannot use any commercial drugstore or salon shampoo/conditioner due to the fragrance & other irritating ingredients. I have to be super careful with any styling products too. I wish more personal care product lines offered fragrance/parfum free options since it is an issue for many people. I will now check for those 2 preservatives to see if that was actually the cause of the scalp irritation.

[@gwhitcom]

Oooh that sounds like my scalp right now! Hope you and I can find something that works!

[@grimalkinouranpotter7352]

Your haircare videos are so helpful. Could you make a video about hair oiling and your thoughts on it?

[@helplessheroine2641]

This reminded me to wash my silk pillowcase that's been sitting next to my bed for a month, thanks

[@mariadinapoli1745]

Game changer for me (long hair, very oily, look like grug without volume on top) - tying up my hair in a high bun before going into the shower, and then I wash my hair only at the top at the hairline and the parting (bending my head forward). I do that everyday. It's very gentle and timesaving (compared to daily full wash), and I always have fresh hair. (Full wash only once a week)

[@missbeaussie]

The shampoo doesn't sneak into the rest of the hair?

[@mariadinapoli1745]

@@missbeaussie No, not really. I also only use a tiny bit of shampoo, and massage it with my fingertips.

[@danielleraso5419]

Does anyone else feel like their head slides right off silk pillowcases?

[@pinkeysherbet7249]

When I had purple hair I added gentian violet to conditioner. My routine was putting my diy conditioner on dirty hair as a mask and leave it for like 15 minutes, shampoo, apply regular conditioner and it worked great! There was very little color depositing because I shampooed and conditioned after coloring and the violet stains really well so over time it looked less and less sad between colorings.

[@pusteheart]

😱 okay but what colour did that leave … everything? Gentian violet is…. Aggressive with the staining/dying

[@crymeris2531]

I would love to shave the lower back of my head if only that wasn't the only part with the most healthy hair 😭

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Argh so inconvenient! 😭 😭 😭

[@MộtMình_VẫnVui]

I feel you as my hair is frizzy in the outside and it’s nice underneath. I considered to shave underneath hair sometimes because I get hot and sweat easily on the neck.

[@getgaymin]

Hack #2 is so true! I prefer using rice flour, actually, because the extra grittiness is really good for absorbing oil and creating volume PLUS it's more translucent, so it blends into the hair more quickly.

[@ZoeMC369]

Where do you get rice flour?

[@getgaymin]

@@ZoeMC369 I live in California, the Land of Alternative Flours, so I found some Bob's Red Mill randomly at Food 4 Less lol

[@getgaymin]

@@ZoeMC369 you can also find it at Asian supermarkets too (which we also have a lot of)

[@emmaleeaman1110]

Japanese / Asian grocery stores should carry it. I know my local Japanese grocery store has it for making your own mochi.

[@naxp42]

Love this video!!!! I have a buzz cut, my scalp is oily but even with a buzz cut (less than half an inch of hair), the ends are coarse and dry. I do end up having to condition the ends of my very short hair because I like my hair to feel soft. Since switching to the buzz cut, I have been noticing I do get more build up and I think it's because the conditioner is too close to my scalp, so I have been using Inkey List Salicylic Scalp PreWash to balance out my sebum production. Would appreciate any tips you have for shorter hair, maybe things your partner has benefitted from?

[@whilykitt]

Sorry what is the math on the per hair thing? Does bleaching supplies cost a lot more elsewhere? When doing it myself It's like $10 max for supplies and if I were to get it done at a salon it would cost ~200 if I wanted cut and color with lightening.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

My hair is black and long, it gets taken to white over 8 hours and only a few hairdressers specialise in doing it for Asian hair, so it cost about $750 AUD in 2020 (but I only go once every 2 years)

[@whilykitt]

@@LabMuffinBeautyScience I forget how sheltered I am living in the bay area, I personally know a few people who specialize in doing bright colors particularly in Asian hair, it would cost around $200 USD to get what you'd want at somewhere like Glama-Rama! in San Francisco. I'm so sorry you have to pay so much to get good hair. I had no idea it was so expensive there, thank you do sharing!

[@toaster9562]

Babypowder works great as well. I keep it in a loose powder Container with large sponge thing

[@cathwalsh9921]

I found normal shampoos made my scalp itchy and dry. Since o started using products without the polyquats it’s really improved

[@savanabanana]

ironically, conditioning my scalp has really helped it stop itching! I have normal to slightly dry skin, so I can easily (and usually do) go a week without washing my hair since it takes so long for the oils to build up. I also live in a desert where the humidity is usually under 15% year-round, so our air only sucks moisture out of us lol. with both of those factors, I find my scalp needs the extra help to stay happy :) that + occasionally using the glycolic acid toner from the ordinary to exfoliate my scalp when it starts to flake from build up has really helped!

[@neen42]

I also condition my scalp and generally go a week or so between washings. I also alternate co-washing between shampoos and my scalp and hair thanks me! I just have super, super dry skin

[@gbarnett9470]

Does RX Tretinoin cause hair thinning front section of hairline? I try to keep back from eyes. So do I need keep it in a racing stripe across forehead?

[@MissHoyden]

Corn starch reminded me of 18th century European hair care. Which used starch and pomade. Hmmm.

[@evolvingboard]

I've been wanting to chop off the hair at my nape for a while, it is constantly tangled and I have way too much hair. Very tempted rn 🤔

[@kate8160]

Maybe try layers next time when you go to your hair stylist. You would need to grow those shaved hair a bit, but layering would look so nice on you and it would reduce the volume of hair along the length. I personally don’t even style my hair anymore, with layering, it just looks good on me personally, but I have naturally curly hair, so u might have to stile it as u blow dry it like once in 3 days

[@stephaniepower9437]

I love these hacks muffin,thank you!!

[@joelandkatelyn]

Big Crocodile Clip! Haha They’re always watching...

[@user-hm9uq8gk5x]

Hi!! I was wondering about Ph balanced shampoos- are they legit?

[@mermaidatlantica]

I have really straight hair and I cannot use those alligator/crocodile clips, they slip straight out of my hair 🥲🥲🥲 maybe one day 😂😂😂