Can you combine shampoo and conditioner?

[LisaR]

Such a stupid question but I googled it and came up with one yes and one no so I still don't have an answer.

DD has long hair and always uses a 2 in 1 product. She takes FOREVER in the shower so using two separate products would just increase her time in there. She wanted to try a new shampoo but they don't make it combined with conditioner. Could I add a little conditioner to the shampoo or isn't it that simple? I'm guessing it won't work but thought someone on the Dis would know for sure!

 

[WDWBarb]

I would imagine that the shampoo would simply be washing the conditioner out of her hair? I have long hair that really needs a good conditioning and I have to leave it on my hair for a minute or more to really get the benefit of it.

I can relate, BTW - DD takes FOREVER in the shower.

 

[Imzadi]

Read this post here I wrote on another thread a couple days ago. It's called "co-washing," when one uses conditioner to cleanse the hair with, instead of shampoo.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=42860460#post42860460

I don't know if it will shorten her time washing her hair though, as one needs to really saturate the hair really well (about a full minute or two, depending on the hair length,) before applying the conditioner to cleanse, and she will need to lift up the layers of hair, to both apply conditioner and to rinse out the hair. The thicker and longer the hair, the more she will definitely need to lift up the heavy top layers, to get to the under layers. Although, she might not need to add conditioner in a second step, depending on how healthy or dry/damaged her hair is.


You might Google "co-washing." It brought up a forum just for long hair and listed how the individual members deal with it and keep it healthy. Long hair does require extra steps. The avatars showed pics of gals with hair down past their butt.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Depending on the combination, they will either separate or the conditioner will become too much and make her hair a bit too oily. Usually 2 in 1 combinations are for short hair and not long hair. I would suggest just using the shampoo she wants and adding a leave in conditioner. Or, try the solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars. I decided to buy them at DTD when we were at WDW a couple weeks ago. Not sure why I thought they would be odd, but I have been very pleased with the results and my hair gets so many tangles usually.

 

[Jennasis]

What about using regular shampoo and a leave-in conditioner after the shower?

 

[canopynut66]

Such a stupid question but I googled it and came up with one yes and one no so I still don't have an answer.

DD has long hair and always uses a 2 in 1 product. She takes FOREVER in the shower so using two separate products would just increase her time in there. She wanted to try a new shampoo but they don't make it combined with conditioner. Could I add a little conditioner to the shampoo or isn't it that simple? I'm guessing it won't work but thought someone on the Dis would know for sure!

Not sure what the mix is when you buy them mixed but the only thing is might get to much conditioner in the shampoo is all.. I can not use the mixed as it builds up on my hair so bad makes it limp. wish I could the shampoo they had at Disney is mixed and so many swear by it and even buy it somight try that one as well...HO think it is called

 

[DebIreland]

My 7 year old had a very dry scalp until I started using quite a bit of conditioner. But because she still hates getting her hair washed I started (a while back) putting conditioner on her hair before she even goes into the shower. I just wet her head a little bit (with my hands), apply some conditioner throughout, leave it sit, she gets into the shower, washes herself, then I wet her head properly, put on shampoo and rinse the whole lot off. It really works. I know it shouldn't work as I'm putting on the conditioner before the shampoo but honestly she has the shiniest healthiest head of hair I've ever seen!

 

[LisaR]

Thanks! I am going to look at the co-washing, the leave-in conditioners, and the bars.

I didn't know the combo stuff can cause breakage. She does have some problems with that. She just had her hair cut the other day and the stylist asked if she puts her hair up when it is still wet. She does! She told her that that is a terrible thing to do to your hair so she stopped. Maybe the 2 in 1 stuff isn't such a good idea either?

 

[Imzadi]

Maybe the 2 in 1 stuff isn't such a good idea either?

I have never heard good reviews about them. they came out back in the late 70s or early 80s. There is a reason why separate shampoos & conditioners have still been on the market all this time. It doesn't work for all hair.

Your DD has long hair. Because the bottom portion has been around for a very long time, it needs special treatment(s).

 

[C.Ann]

I've done it in a pinch, but I prefer to use the ones that are already mixed..

Almost seems to me the last time I stayed at Pop Century they had the MM shampoo/conditioner mixed.. I don't think I have one up here that I can check though.. That was in 2007..