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.
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.
@@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.
@@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.
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 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
@@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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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 :)
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!
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.
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.
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'?
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.
@@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?
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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!
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 😂
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!
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.🥰🥰🥰
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.
Literally easiest and best tip for semi-permanent hair color: wash with cold! water and use shampoo and conditioner for colored hair which will strip the color less and protect it from fading in the sun. And in case someone didn't know - anti dandruff shampoos strip haircolor even more than regular ones. Also as a person with long hair I found a loose low braid is much better for sleep than ponytails, less chance for breakage and stays put better
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.
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
If you have very silky thin hair or just hair where silk scrunchies don't grip and slip out, then you can try velvet scrunchies:) little tip that for some reason I haven't connected for wayyy too long
Baby powder as dry shampoo. Put in before bed and plaid your hair. TRUST ME. I have dark hair, nothing can be noticed. LIFE CHANGING. My bff’s mom told me eight years ago I haven’t stopped since! Irritation is pretty unlikely since it’s made so that it doesn’t irritate baby skin
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
I have very fine hair which breaks easily because, y'know, fine. I've been looking at silk pillow cases for a while and I think you might've just sold me on actually giving them a try. I'm going to get a balayage in a few weeks so I'm also motivated to try and take even better care of my hair since I know that's going to damage it.
I have a sort of wolf cut so I wind up putting conditioner closer to my scalp to get the ends, which seem to split easily. My scalp is oily so it's frustrating. I think they'd get too dry otherwise though
I wonder if it's the clippers causing the split ends? You might also want to find a more conditioning shampoo - modern shampoos all have conditioning ingredients, some have more than others.
Urgent question: does heat protectant work? The couple of sprays that hairstylists use don't actually do anything right? Kind of like spf in foundation? This has been bothering me for the past couple weeks
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.
Hi Michelle! Any recommendations for an anti dandruff shampoo? I've been using head and shoulders for basically as long as I can remember but it kind of makes my hair feel like straw. I'm in Sydney if that helps!
I'm currently using the Essano Scalp Refresh Shampoo and it's been incredible for my scalp - I'm sitting here after not washing my hair for two days and my scalp barely feels itchy, whereas with every other shampoo my scalp will itchy after max 36 hours. It's often half price! I'd also recommend not getting the pump (it's a bit too thick to come out of it easily).
I got any shampoo with >2% salicylic acid, put it in a bottle with a pointy small opening, and squeeze it in your dry scalp (all around it). Leave it at least 5min, and then enter to the shower, lather and rinse.
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!
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.
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
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 :/
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.
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)
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.
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.
@@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 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.
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...
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.
@@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.
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
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.
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
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
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 😅
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
"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!
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
@@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 👋
@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.
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
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).
@@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!😊
@@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. 😂🤣
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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! :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.😔🔫
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.
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
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.
