Transition to Organic Shampoos
May 04, 2021
How are JC shampoos different?
We choose not to use surfactants or performance enhancers in our hair cleansers as a well-formulated chemical-free organic shampoo is capable of thoroughly cleansing the scalp without stripping off the natural oils.Our hair cleansers are carefully formulated through the traditional cold process technique. Nourishing plant oils and butters are saponified with the help of ‘lye’ or sodium hydroxide (an alkali necessary to carry out the process of saponification).
And the resulting mixture is a true soap. The saponified oils and butters make our cleansers highly nourishing and also give them a bubbly mild lather.
What is the Transition Period?
Since our scalp is used to commercial shampoos for years, it may take some time to fully adapt to organic shampoos. The time scalp takes to adapt completely to organic shampoo is called the Transition Period.When you switch to an organic shampoo like ours, the scalp will undergo a natural detox. In simple terms, the scalp is being thoroughly cleansed and all the product buildup up from previously used products is being washed off.
This process takes a few washes as the scalp is trying to regulate itself and tries to end up compensating by releasing excess or too little oil.
What to expect during the transition period?
Here’s everything one can expect while making a switch to organic shampoos -
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Variation in oil production
During the transition, our scalp tends to regulate itself in order to adapt to the organic shampoo. It may produce too much or too less oil making the scalp feel oily/waxy or very dry. You may also find a greyish-white substance coming off when you comb through the lengths. That substance is the product build up. The strands may feel very dry too and you may even encounter hairfall more than usual. But, it will get better in a few days or weeks.
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Scalp may not feel cleansed
As organic shampoos are sans sulphates, they offer a mild lather and one may feel the need to take more product than usual. This leads to natural oils present in the shampoo not getting removed properly, giving a feeling that hair is not clean. The excess oil production by the scalp also contributes to this. The right way is to take the regular amount of shampoo and rinse really well. You may repeat the step but we recommend to not take too much product in one go.It is also important to note that foam is not the ultimate parameter to judge the cleansing power of the shampoo. An organic shampoo with mild lather cleanses the scalp just as well.
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Change in hair look and feel
Till the transition is over, the hair may appear sticky, frizzy and fuller. That is again because of the buildup being slowly released from the follicles and the strands. It gets better as you near the completion of the transition post which the hair goes back to its natural, full of life texture.
What to do during the transition?
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DO NOT give up.
The easiest way to get through the transition is to keep using the shampoo. -
Try the ACV Rinse - The Apple Cider Vinegar rinse helps fasten the transition process. Here is what you can do -Mix 1/2 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (ACV) with 8 ounces of water in a plastic squeeze bottle, spray bottle or other containers. Experiment to find a dilution that works best for your hair type (dry hair likes less ACV and oily hair likes more). After shampooing, pour this mixture into your hair. If you have a spray bottle, that works even better. That way you can spritz your hair with the mixture and massage it into your scalp. Let the apple cider vinegar concoction sit for a few minutes before rinsing fully with water.
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One section at a time! - For a better shampoo experience, make different sections of hair. Create lather on your hands with our bar or liquid shampoo and then apply onto the wet hair section by section.
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Shampoo twice if required but do not overuse - Taking too much product may make hair feel oily. Take a regular amount and shampoo twice if necessary.
- Do not shampoo everyday! - Phase out the shampoo over a period of a few weeks. If you wash your hair everyday, start washing every other day for a week. From the second week, start washing hair after a gap of 2 3 days. This helps easing the transition.
- Rinse well, really well! - Rinsing your hair once may not be enough, so rinse twice, thrice or as many times as required.
- Comb your hair - Our scalp releases natural oils which are good for the health of the scalp and strands. Combing hair from roots to tips helps spread these oils throughout the hair. Use a wooden comb to ensure there is no damage to hair.
How long does the transition phase last?
While everyone's transition period varies in terms of time, we've observed it typically takes 7 to 8 individual washes to adapt to a natural shampoo for hair.
That being said, some adapt almost instantly and some may take even longer than the typical time window but you'll get through if you don't give up.
The transition time also depends on the length and density of the hair. We have observed that people with short and thin hair adapt quicker as compared to those with longer, denser hair.
How to know the shampoo is working for you?
If the oiliness, dryness, hair fall, frizz and product build up slowly start reducing with every wash, then the organic shampoo is working for you. Usually, the experience does not vary a lot for the first three washes.From the fourth or fifth wash, it tends to get drastically better every time. There’s a good possibility that it may not exactly work for you in this pattern so give it a little time.
If you need more assistance through the transition, feel free to reach out to us anytime! Drop us an email or message via Instagram.
Looking for the best organic shampoo? Browse JC’s Ecocert Cosmos certified organic and natural shampoo for hair here.