Best conditioner for post-menopause hair? (Hair not thinning but weird)
August 17, 2019 6:21 PM
I always had plenty of fine, shiny, somewhat oily hair. Cue menopause. Now I have dry-ish thicker somewhat frizzy hair. Any suggestions on conditioners (particular brands) or other strategies? I've been experimenting with leave-in conditioners. Also, I only use shampoo about once a week and otherwise just use conditioner in the shower.
I use Tresomme conditioner. I have gone thru the change. I have mostly dry and frizzy curly hair.
I don't wash my hair every day, but when I do, I put seven or eight pumps of conditioner on my hair. I leave it in while I'm washing my body. Then rinse.
When I get out, I dry my hair and wrap the towel around my head in a turban after drying my body. Then I get dressed. By that time, the drippy water has been absorbed.
I use a few more pumps of conditioner and work it through my hair like a pomade. Then I comb with a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends. I work the conditioner into my hair, and add a few more small pumps if necessary, to control the grey fly-aways at my temples. I let it air dry, down, or if I will be active (doing chores, exercise, etc.), I let it air dry about 10 minutes and then put up in a bun using a scrunchie.
Days I do not shampoo: I get my palms wet, and wet my hair a little. Then I use a small amount of conditioner and rub on my wet hands and onto my hair. Usually on these days I will be putting it up, and just want to control it a little.
Have tried some of the pump pomades in the past, but they don't seem to have lasting power. I've also had success using mousse, but that needs to be washed out, as it can leave a sticky residue that I find off-putting when sleeping at night with it in my hair for more than one day.
Think I am using the Tresomme with argan oil, currently. They all seem fine to me.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:45 PM on August 17, 2019
I don't wash my hair every day, but when I do, I put seven or eight pumps of conditioner on my hair. I leave it in while I'm washing my body. Then rinse.
When I get out, I dry my hair and wrap the towel around my head in a turban after drying my body. Then I get dressed. By that time, the drippy water has been absorbed.
I use a few more pumps of conditioner and work it through my hair like a pomade. Then I comb with a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends. I work the conditioner into my hair, and add a few more small pumps if necessary, to control the grey fly-aways at my temples. I let it air dry, down, or if I will be active (doing chores, exercise, etc.), I let it air dry about 10 minutes and then put up in a bun using a scrunchie.
Days I do not shampoo: I get my palms wet, and wet my hair a little. Then I use a small amount of conditioner and rub on my wet hands and onto my hair. Usually on these days I will be putting it up, and just want to control it a little.
Have tried some of the pump pomades in the past, but they don't seem to have lasting power. I've also had success using mousse, but that needs to be washed out, as it can leave a sticky residue that I find off-putting when sleeping at night with it in my hair for more than one day.
Think I am using the Tresomme with argan oil, currently. They all seem fine to me.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:45 PM on August 17, 2019
My hair is washed every 4-5 days in the winter; every 3 in the summer. Since the change, Kerastase Bain Chromatique line is the only product that brings back the lushness and texture I remember. Work/scrunch in argan oil while hair is wet.
posted by lemon_icing at 6:47 PM on August 17, 2019
posted by lemon_icing at 6:47 PM on August 17, 2019
Living Proof No Frizz is a good line and is available at Sephora. Pricier than drugstore conditioners but if you like it you can get a giant pump bottle which is cheaper per ounce. Also when I get the frizzies, hair masking is good. Sephora often offers a kit with generous samples of about 7-10 different brands of hair mask.
posted by matildaben at 7:02 PM on August 17, 2019
posted by matildaben at 7:02 PM on August 17, 2019
Redken All Soft conditioner (& shampoo) makes my hair feel thicker and smoother (waaay post-change). Leave the conditioner in for as long as you can stand it.
posted by Peach at 7:24 PM on August 17, 2019
posted by Peach at 7:24 PM on August 17, 2019
Thanks for all the specifics, everyone. lemon_icing, I'm a little overwhelmed with the choices and words. Any guidance for where I would start? Which one would be a post-shower leave-in product (if you recommend that)?
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 7:53 PM on August 17, 2019
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 7:53 PM on August 17, 2019
I got this Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner on the advice of a swim coach for my swimmers hair. It's the one that says Moisture Retention with sea kelp and argon oil. I continue to use it even though I'm not swimming right now and it seems to work well. The conditioner is the one in the pump bottle not the jar of intensive treatment. I barely rinse the conditioner out, just kind of quickly run my head under the water, leaving a lot of it in. I can usually find it at the grocery store, sometimes on sale.
I am through the change as well and my hair got thicker too, wasn't expecting that!
posted by BoscosMom at 8:22 PM on August 17, 2019
I am through the change as well and my hair got thicker too, wasn't expecting that!
posted by BoscosMom at 8:22 PM on August 17, 2019
ClaudiaCenter -- if your hair has colour (temp or semi), this is the shampoo and conditioner to use.
* Bain Chromatique Riche Shampoo
* Bain Chromatique Riche Conditioner
Otherwise, this is a good solid start for hair behaving most unstable.
* Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Sulfate-Free Shampoo
* matching conditioner
Post shampoo with hair still wet:
* this is my go-to. It's pricey. Don't blame you if you chose something else below.
Kerastase Elixir Oil
* Joico K-Pak Restorative Oil. I know it says for colour-treated hair, but it's really great for everything.
* L'Oreal Mythic Nourishing Oil. Another solid moderately priced product that performs well.
Feel free to memail if you have questions -- I've gone through several brands/lines before I settled on Kerastase. Happy to share my experiences.
posted by lemon_icing at 9:16 PM on August 17, 2019
* Bain Chromatique Riche Shampoo
* Bain Chromatique Riche Conditioner
Otherwise, this is a good solid start for hair behaving most unstable.
* Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Sulfate-Free Shampoo
* matching conditioner
Post shampoo with hair still wet:
* this is my go-to. It's pricey. Don't blame you if you chose something else below.
Kerastase Elixir Oil
* Joico K-Pak Restorative Oil. I know it says for colour-treated hair, but it's really great for everything.
* L'Oreal Mythic Nourishing Oil. Another solid moderately priced product that performs well.
Feel free to memail if you have questions -- I've gone through several brands/lines before I settled on Kerastase. Happy to share my experiences.
posted by lemon_icing at 9:16 PM on August 17, 2019
Davines' Oi Oil is the one thing that has made my perimenopausal hair in any way manageable. I have chin length thick, dry, coarse wavy hair and I put in one pump after washing and conditioning, then scrunch and let it dry. When I had longer hair (past my shoulders) I used two pumps. It does not weigh my hair down or leave it greasy, and it is easy to wash out. The one caveat I have is that it is strongly scented coming out of the bottle--however I find it fades as the day goes on.
It's not cheap but a bottle lasts a long time.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:32 AM on August 18, 2019
It's not cheap but a bottle lasts a long time.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:32 AM on August 18, 2019
For a leave in, I can't recommend Kiehls Silk Groom more highly, it was a life changer for me. I have somewhat course hair, probably due to the processing I do monthly, and Silk Groom is the only thing that's ever controlled it.
Like you, I wash only once, maybe twice a week with conditioner only and then post shower use a dollop of this stuff with hair still wet. Eliminates frizz and courseness.
If you sign up at the website they have frequent sales; I usually wait to order several tubes when they're having one of their larger discount events, plus they almost force you to take free samples of your choice at checkout
posted by newpotato at 3:24 AM on August 18, 2019
Like you, I wash only once, maybe twice a week with conditioner only and then post shower use a dollop of this stuff with hair still wet. Eliminates frizz and courseness.
If you sign up at the website they have frequent sales; I usually wait to order several tubes when they're having one of their larger discount events, plus they almost force you to take free samples of your choice at checkout
posted by newpotato at 3:24 AM on August 18, 2019
Olaplex #3 is a bond builder for hair that can help with frizz
posted by typecloud at 6:41 AM on August 18, 2019
posted by typecloud at 6:41 AM on August 18, 2019
L'Oreal extraordinary oil conditioner is amazing. Rinse through, leaving most of it in your hair. If that's not quite enough, Garnier Butter Rich leave-in conditioner after towel drying, will also do wonders. Also, these products are not expensive.
posted by Enid Lareg at 8:08 AM on August 18, 2019
posted by Enid Lareg at 8:08 AM on August 18, 2019
My shopping list is pretty funny now. Enid Lareg is this the Garnier leave-in product you like?
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:28 AM on August 18, 2019
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:28 AM on August 18, 2019
Claudia, it's Fructis Butter Cream, by Garnier. Sorry.
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:55 PM on August 18, 2019
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:55 PM on August 18, 2019
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