Creating A Great Hair Foundation

April 11th, 2012 - By Rich

Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge

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Take the Healthy Hair Survey

I know a lot of women are so focused on “What products make my hair do this” and “What products make my hair do that?” It can get overwhelming and sometimes we can lose focus. A lot of times we focus on styling products versus a solid foundation with a great shampoo and conditioner.

The foundation to healthy hair is making sure your hair is properly washed and conditioned. As Black women, our hair texture doesn’t require us to wash on a daily basis. I even know some women who wait 2+ weeks in between washes. We should definitely wash more than that. The elements of the weather and so many other things factor into hair that needs to be cleansed. When you sweat and put product after product on, you can have so much buildup on your hair and scalp. You have to thoroughly cleanse your hair and scalp to remove all of that build up and allow your scalp to breath and promote healthy hair growth.  After shampooing, follow up with a conditioner (or even a deep conditioner if you’re in for a treat!) and finally rinse with cool water to close the pores and give your hair an added shine.

Optimum Care’s Replenishing Shampoo and Fortifying Conditioner are a great duo. The shampoo cleanses and replenishes dry hair and aids the conditioner in finishing out the job of providing breakage reduction for stronger hair. I use both as a pair when I have product buildup and I have been sweating a lot (OMG it’s hot in ATL). If I haven’t put a lot of product in or I am washing after a couple of days, I co-wash (conditioner wash). I use a conditioner and put it all over my hair and then finger comb to detangle and spread the product. This helps my hair stay moisturized and it helps my hair look even better when I put the styling product on.

How often do you wash your hair? What routine have you found that works for you?

Join the Optimum Stronger, Longer Hair Challenge! Complete the Hair Survey and share your experience in the challenge by commenting below or tweeting us @MadameNoire with the hashtag #StrongerLonger for your chance to be our weekly winner and score amazing Optimum Care products!.

We are looking for the most engaged users. Participate in the challenge, send us your questions… and we could feature YOU on Madame Noire! At the end of the challenge, three Grand Prize winners will receive a salon experience, tons of Optimum Care product, and the opportunity to serve as an Optimum Care blogger. Join us!

Feel free to e-mail us at HealthyHair@madamenoire.com

Congratulations to our first winner Dionne N. We will be selecting our 2nd winner shortly!

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  • Shau’nea

    At home I wash and condition my hair once a week and I do a deep conditioner under the dryer every 2 weeks. The product I am currently trying is Shea moisture.  I let my hair air dry and curl or flat iron to style and I wrap my hair every night.  

    Currently my hair is relaxed with a 1 year old color and hi light that I’m trying to grown out. I tried going natural twice last year but I could not maintain my hair nor find a style to keep it in and I do not know how to properly style my hair. I’ve also considered cutting my hair short but everyone says that it’s harder to maintain short cuts as opposed to me letting it be long so that I can just put it in a pony tail.    

  • guest

    I wash my hair every 2 weeks.  I don’t sweat much even when I’m working out.  If I happen to work out intensely, I wash my hair once a week.  I have relaxed hair that is past my shoulders.  (NOTE:  I also grease my scalp once every two weeks…(just a side note b/c most people don’t grease their scalp at all anymore) and my hair is healthy with a lot of volumn (spelling)).

    I deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner or use a leave in conditioner every two weeks. I use a protein conditioner every 2 to 3 months.   

  • Erika Auman

    I wash once a week with a sulfate-free shampoo, finger detangle with a cheap conditioner (VO5) & apply a deep conditioner. Occasionally, I’ll detangle my hair when it’s dry with olive oil. I want to try a pre-shampoo oil treatment since my hair is color-treated & really dry.  

  • Gelus1snv2002

    I actually use Optimum salon care replenishing shampoo
    I love it!!!!

  • Ajacourtney

    I wash my hair once a week using a moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioner. I then seal my ends and depending on what I have going on like working out I’ll make sure I use a daily moisturizer.

  • Angelfrmbklyn

    This is my weekly regimen. On Sunday I pre-poo with oil then I co wash. Each week i alternate between a moisturizing and protien conditioner that I make myself from ingredients in my kitchen. Then I steam my hair and final rinse in cold water with apple cider vinegar. I moisturize and seal my ends.

  • Rbelizor18

    i wash my hair weekly and use shea moisture to twist then i take it out. i have been natural for over a year now and has stopped flat ironing my hair. i love the results.

  • Nichole D Thomas

    I wash then cowash then deep condition every 2 weeks …. I wear my transitioning hair straight so I air dry then blow on low and flat iron after I apply my 425′ heat protection … I have used optimum but fell in love with wen and use Avon shampoo for colored/ dry hair

  • nini

    This is an informative article. I have yet to try out Optimum products but my hair regimen is as follows: I wash at least once a week, and then alternate between a hair mayonnaise deep conditioner or a hot EVOO treatment. It works for me :)