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!

[@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!

[@mars4531]

Thats genius

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@varde42]

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)

[@kathyoverton998]

​@@PhanieDaemonia I bought a conditioner bar once and didn't like it at all. So I would actually use it on my feet when I get out of the shower, kind of like bar lotion. Very handy when going to the gym, or on a trip.

[@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 !!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@teeveepowers4400]

Flannel baby blankets (swaddle blankets) work really well. I had a bunch of them left from my babies not needing to be swaddled anymore and they are the perfect size for wrapping long hair. They are really absorbent and lightweight and good if you have sensitivities to synthetic fibers.

[@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

[@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!

[@iioaneb]

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

[@бронза.вафля.конус]

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

[@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

[@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 😅

[@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.

[@lucyy9447]

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

[@eblake3617]

Arrowroot powder is also great dry shampoo and face mattifying powder

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@mishree]

I use coconut oil to "pre-poo", leave it in for an hour. A lot of us Indians do this and many even leave it overnight. Hair oil also seems to help the shampoo emulsify better. I also detangle and brush my hair at this stage. Have been using conditioner as hair mask for a while now :) i just leave it in for an hour after shampooing. So after a wash my hair is clean and smooth and not frizzy. My hair is wavy and thick and I don't know how well this would work for fine or straight hair.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@michael-dy7pn]

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

[@she5los92]

Two years late lol, but to me, the coolest thing about starch-based hair powder is that that's how they got those big, fluffy 18th-century hairstyles (think Revolution-era France) so we actually have tons of info on good powder colors! Pink looks good on blondes, blue looks good on brunettes (no clue why, but I tried it and it did look great!) and there are lots of records of people making brown or gray powder. Personally, I mixed cornstarch with blue food dye and a little water, and when it was dry enough, I ground it in a mortar and pestle. Worked great! Soap dye would be perfect if you want to be sure it won't over-dye your hair. I know for certain that I grind my head against my pillow, and for me, the best solution (adjacent to your nighttime ponytail) is to braid it. Two braids, one under each ear so they don't press on anything while I'm lying down, and eventually I figured out if I tie them with ribbons, there's way less bulk than a hairband (or even a scrunchie) so I don't suddenly have something hard and lumpy under my shoulder.

[@mhenderson7673]

I move my head a lot when I sleep and sometimes I braid my hair, but it don't like the wavy look it gives my hair after I take it out. Plus if I brush my hair after it's been braided it gets extremely frizzy and poofy. I might try getting a silk pillowcase

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@MsGrinny]

I have to condition my scalp - it's incredibly dry & dehydrated. My hair is as well. I apply a very rich conditioner to my hair and scalp. Also, my skin produces no oil, so I need to treat my scalp the same way I treat the rest of my skin, ie, hydrating it and nourishing it regularly.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 😊

[@cathwalsh9921]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@MintyFrills]

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

[@toaster9562]

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

[@0-Mayari-0]

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.

[@0-Mayari-0]

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.

[@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.

[@killerpea]

Your hair looks so healthy and your shirt is so awesome! 🤩

[@Em22214]

Instead of risking the preservation system for the colored conditioner like you mentioned, buy any dye that comes in enclosed packaging (squeeze tube/bottle, just not a open jar) keep it in-shower alongside your conditioner & mix it up then and there in your palms. It also works with shampoos & hair masks! I do this to tone my blonde with violet dye. Since the conditioner dilutes the color it doesn’t stain the hands too much and it’s usually gone from my soap by the end of my shower.

[@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

[@_Glorie_]

Thank you! This is a great video! Very helpful and concise 🖤

[@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 :)

[@lisalovesphotography]

Love your sense of humour-and great tips!

[@carochan86]

Hair scrubber brush for washing your hair . That way i dont have to dig my nails into my scalp. I feel like it makes sure I get the shampoo in well. Especially if I havent washed my hair in a few days. It seems to help get rid of the scalp build up .

[@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.

[@LJFaeBae]

Adding cocoa powder to the starch really helps for darker hair colors

[@katherinefuller5267]

I’ve been having major hair fall issues for over a year. I’ve even discussed it with my primary care doctor and my dermatologist. I’ve been tested for every condition you can think of. I just went through my shampoos and the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special has both MCI and MI. This was always my go-to shampoo for when my hair was really dirty or had significant product buildup. It won’t be my go-to anymore. I’d love to hear what other chemicals in our hair care could cause scalp issues and fallout.

[@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

[@e.w.4677]

I actually used to get super bad dandruff from using shampoos for like the next two days until my scalp had re-oiled itself so I started using conditioner on my scalp as well which really works for me for some reason.

[@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

[@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!

[@бронза.вафля.конус]

​​@@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?

[@grimalkinouranpotter7352]

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

[@Yhabd87579jd]

You have so much hair!!! I had no idea you had a nape undercut wow

[@landshanty]

I was in the market for a new hairdryer and my hair concerns were very similar to yours, so I got the Panasonic Nanoe & Mineral and wow what a difference has it made! Even if it's slightly weaker than my old one, the technology is legit, my hair has so much less frizz! I hope it lasts!

[@shibibi1]

High velocity hair dryer with a diffisuer has helped my wavey hair a lot. Much better than air drying. Mine also has 3 speeds and 3 heat plus a cold function

[@tamarblackburn4312]

Your top here is gorgeous omg love the carnivorous plants

[@emilybalan7545]

Saw someone add cocoa powder to cornstarch for at-home dry shampoo for darker hair!

[@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.

[@melodyblackhall6702]

Have u tried the Gamma X cell dryer? I was in Cosmetology school and also worked a Cosmoprof, we had hair stylists come in to buy this dryer for themselves and for their clients that they used this dryer on by request.🥰🥰🥰

[@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.

[@Stacyann_1]

I thought i was allergic to the methyl stuff but recently realized one of the h&s shampoo or conditioners has it and i was fine. So im not sure actually as most hair products do make my scalp itchy. Another one I remember caused it was the deva curl angel gel or something like that

[@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 😂

[@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!)

[@alexisasheep6554]

I want her to do a video on scalp care

[@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?

[@cutesquidthulu9659]

So glad I watched until the end, as I have very short thin hair (pixie cut) and none of the tips (except the silk pillowcase and the DIY color conditioner) would apply (I’m literally a blue haired old lady 😂). I was even about to skip to the next video. Then you mentioned the MI and MCI. I have the exact same reaction. Now I know what to look for. Thank you so very much. ❤💜💙

[@mandapndaful]

I've used b&b pret-a-powder for over a decade, which is corn starch-based. I usually go 3 days before washing and have found that using it at night is more effective, maybe touching up a bit in the morning.

[@ametaphorfor]

Same! A nape undercut was the best life decision I've ever made!

[@modernmotzful]

Yes, the undercut!! I could not have long hair without it, when I was a teenager with long hair I would get headaches and it would just take forever to dry. I've had my undercut on and off for about 5 years and its been a lifechanger.

[@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 🤔

[@soupbowl2750]

I'm a big fan of corn starch as dry shampoo, it makes my hair look better and so slippery

[@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!

[@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

[@purpleahaze]

With silk pillow cases, i had the worst breakouts; like my whole face was just zits, that went away when i stated using cotton pillow cases again.

[@LeisureLizard]

I hate to pay the price but Aquis towel material is superior to the common microfiber ones. At least in user experience. It feels like micro terry cloth.

[@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.

[@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.

[@sc3381]

Could you do a tips video on how you style and maintain your fringe? I just got one and I'm having a hard time adjusting.

[@pummeluff951]

Could you do a science check on hair oiling?

[@watson483]

Dry shampoo wrecks my scalp and broke me out and I literally had chunks of scalp come off. Thankfully my hair is pretty good and I brush it well every day and the oils from my scalp spreading it which helps it getting gross. I also have only shampooed my scalp since I was a teen as my sister was a hair dresser and it works so much better. I also get a nape undercut as even though the fibres are really thin but I have so much of it. I also typically need only to wash my hair once a week or once a fortnight, more frequently in summer and less in winter. Brushing all the skin cells and oils from root to tip keeps my scalp from building up.

[@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.

[@Kornkitt3n]

I use a makeup brush to apply matt transparent powder (the makeup compact kind) to the hair around my face. I have eyebrow piercings and they get upset if I spray anything in the vicinity of them, so applying mattifying powder with a makeup brush has been a game changer

[@jadebergamini3981]

Ive been doing reverse conditioning for years now, having no idea it was a thing!! I just knew it made my hair feel pretty and considered it to be a quick and dirty hair mask.

[@TheArcSet]

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of colouring my hair for the 1st time, but I'm a bit nervous about ongoing upkeep and self applying the colour.

[@danielalaatz57]

Do I really need a conditioner? I haven't used one for the last 20 Years. My hair is so smooth I loose every clip ore hairband with movement. I just don't feel like putting something that promises to make my hair smooth and silky on is going to give me any benefit. I wash it 2 times a week or after getting lots of dust and wait 30 minutes till it's dry. Then I comb through and don't give a damn for the next two days.

[@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.

[@cgg2621]

This is a really helpful video. I will definitely try reverse conditioning and making some colour conditioner with the remnants of the dye next time I dye my hair, and consider a nape cut! I have very thick hair and leaving my hair down will make the back mat up very quickly.