The diary begins here

So, as the title suggests, this blog is about the trials I conduct and failures I encounter along the way to finding the perfect hair cleaning method for me. I worry about my hair. More than an average person does, I guess. I do quite some research, not that I put most of it into practice. I usually go back to what my mom suggests, using more easily available at home items to be used on my hair.

I decided to chronicle my journey, I am yet to find the HG method. These chronicles are likely to help me in deciding what has worked for me or helped me with a particular problem at any stage or why a product did not work for me. So I do not repeat the same mistake twice! And for anyone out there, who is interested, I hope it is an interesting read at least and maybe informative too! :) I would like to find a method or a product that cleanses the scalp well without over drying my dry hair and helps in retaining some moisture without causing excessive hair fall. Ah, one could always wish, can't one?

A little background about my hair,  being an Indian, I have typical very dark brown to black hair, fairly thick and unfortunately dry. I have some grays too now. I have had it long all my life, from waist length to almost knee length at one point.  But I have not been greatly successful at battling frizz, dryness and flyaways. I used to use soapnuts and shikai on my hair. For at least 20 years straight since that is what my mom would use at home. Shampoo was a strict no-no. That it contained SLS which dries out hair, causes hair loss or in fact causes gray hair :) So soapnuts it was! I would oil my hair most of the time with coconut oil, at times herb-infused coconut oil. Braid it all the time, leave it down my back. Use hair masks at times may be - henna or fenugreek seed paste. It worked for a long time. Then it stopped. I moved to a place where soapnuts is a rare commodity, almost non-existent. And honestly, soaking soapnuts and using them to wash my hair was never a quick task. It takes time and effort unlike shampoo. So I started using shampoos. And never found one that I was happy with. Most would work the first couple of times and then I would go back to being unhappy. Tried generic brands, non-SLS brands, organic brands, expensive ones, inexpensive ones, medicinal ones... but am back at square one. Three years after I tried shampoo bar/liquid soap without much success, I have decided to give shampoo bars and alternate methods another shot. And decided to note down my observations.

My haircare routine currently includes oiling my hair and washing it every 5 to 7 days. It tends to look terrible by day 5. If I can drag it to day 7, I would do that else wash on day 5. I usually braid my hair or just use a hair claw. Ponytails tend to tug at my scalp so I try avoiding those usually. But otherwise I use a few drops of argan oil or jojoba to smooth out flyaways or give my hair a little moisture.

Quite a few blogs online mention about these alternate methods. Quite a few brands out there sell products to suit various needs and hair conditions. Much choice! I have my raw materials on hand, I mean, some samples from a couple of these brands. So my posts will be initially about these brands.