I have gunk in my hair! :(

[dria_unique]

Ok so my babies are about to turn 1 next month on the 4th. When I washed my hair in November, I noticed this white/ grayish gooey stuff in my locs. It was the part that was right before my unlocked roots! Idk how to get rid of it! I use Cantu Shea butter shampoo and Jamaican Mango and Lime Tingle shampoo (I thought this would work since it says it removes build-up) but neither of those worked. I don't want dirty locs, I've been trying to prevent this . I use Jamaican mango and lime twist gel, if that matters. I hear people talk about doing and ACV rinse, but I'm kinda iffy about putting random stuff in my hair. What can I do? Thanks in advance!

[Karibana]

An ACV rinse is not random thing, it's one way to remove build up in your hair, it's effectiveness will depend on what products you normally use in your hair. I'll make the same suggestion every time a situation like yours comes up and that is to simply use a clarifying shampoo, it will work on just about anything you may have in your hair, you can water it down if you want to make it less harsh. It is the simplest way to get rid of your build up.

I'm guessing you use a gentle, non SLS shampoo, for your regular wash? Then after a while you will get build up if you also put other products in your hair. To prevent a similar situation, you can either do an ACV rinse or again a clarifying shampoo once in a while.

It would also help if you told us what product do you use in your hair to see if we can find the culprit.

[Lockolatte]

IMO the Jamaican Lime and Mango twist gel is the culprit. Do what Kari said and use a clarifying shampoo and ACV. Your locks are new so they might come undone if you have to really scrub, but it is important to get the goo out now and have a routine of clarifying so you can keep it at bay. Especially if you use heavy products like JLM.

[chachadiva]

Too much gel and oil with attract dirt and debris to your locks. Reduce the amount of product you use and look for water based products.

[dria_unique]

Yea I probably have been using the Jamaican Mango and Lime gel a bit much. I just learne how to re-twist my own hair lol so I guess I'll get better at not using too much.

@Karibana, I listed the products I use. Thanks for your info..... What would be a good clarifying shampoo to use?

[Karibana]

I missed the twist gel. IA with Lockolatte, that is probably the culprit. As for clarifying shampoo, like any other product there's no one answer because it all depends. I currently have a generic drugstore brand gathering dust in a cabinet, I used to use Pantene's Ice Shine others would have a different answer. It doesn't need to be fancy since it's not for your regular wash.

[Claire76]

An ACV rinse is not random thing, it's one way to remove build up in your hair, it's effectiveness will depend on what products you normally use in your hair.

In addition to what Kari and others have said, think about what your shampoo is like. I know others may have had success with the shampoos that you mentioned. But I am absolutely terrified of using products on my hair unless they are transparent.

And you don't need to use (heavy) products to retwist your hair. This is my fourth month, and I've gotten by using nothing but clips to hold my hair while it dries.

[Desdesdes]

Lockolatte is quite right. I had the exact same situation after using Jamaican Mango and Lime retwisting products. A good ACV rinse should help.

[dria_unique]

Ok cool! Guess I gotta face the music! Thank you guys so much for your help! My next wash I will try a clarifying shampoo, then if that doesn't work I'll do the ACV!

[KnottyAuthor]

So sorry you are experiencing this.

It definitely will benefit you to soak your locks at least 1x/month for 30 minutes with diluted clarifying shampoo or your choice of de-gunker, THEN wash regularly.

I agree with the PPs...J/L has a mineral oil/petroleum component in it. It's known to do what it's doing to you over time. I know, i know, it's for locks....unfortunately profit share and bottom line often have nothing to do with what's best for us.

The shampoo suggested is a good one! Another good one is Paul Mitchell's 'THREE'..it can rid pollutants and debris from hair. Since your locks are still forming there's probably hope for you. Some have also successfully used dish liq. detergent like Dawn. ACV is great to use after you clarify, to help further lift deposits left behind. Sls/sles found in these products are both extremely drying and can leave behind it's own issues, but the key right now is to dilute, get those locks clean and moisturize with some aloe vera juice, or something light like that because your locks will get parched during this process.

When I was dealing with my issues, QD helped alot with this video. Hope it helps!



Keep us posted!

[NappySoft]

I found it effective to get my hair soaking wet and wash with a half dollar sized amount of liquid castille soap in my hand

[PebblesPages]

I thought this would never happen to me, but it did. I put some ACV in the sink with water and I soaked my hair for a good 10 minutes. Gunk in locs is not a pretty site.

[dria_unique]

Another question for you guys. I wanted to dye my hair again this upcoming month for my 1 year locaversary. I'm guessing I should hold off on that until I get this gunk problem under control? Because it seems like the clarifying shampoo or the ACV might take all the dye away.

[dria_unique]

So I purchased Mane and Tail clarifying shampoo. It didn't really work. Looking at some of the videos by the woman posted above, I've been washing my hair incorrectly for the longest! Lol my next step is just to go ahead and do an ACV soak next time I wash. I re-twisted my hair today, and decided to re-twist with no products, just water. Surprisingly it came out pretty good! I think I might continue you to re-twist without products and see how that goes.

[chachadiva]

If the gunk is really bad, you can always wash your hair with dish soap. It's extreme but it works. Just moisturize after.

[PinkPfeiffer]

I had the same issue too and I was really upset. I use a clarifying shampoo and do a ACV and bicarb soak every so often. I have a lady who comes to my house to do my hair and I wash it before- properly! The salon I used to go to didnt wash my hair properly so the gunk would get re-twisted in it too.

[nnebekee]

As a practical matter - for those of you with shorter locks - how do you soak your hair. My hair is shoulder length and at this point, I can only pour diluted ACV on my hair, not soak it. Soaking it would require bending down on the floor over a basin.

[debe_999]

I soak in the bath. I lay back to get as much water coverage as possible and dip the areas that aren't under water, mainly the front side parts. I did this with shoulder length and still do it with BSL, as I want it soaked all the way to the scalp.

DeBe

[KnottyAuthor]

Yup-what Debe said. Length doesnt matter when you soak laying down. I would get up on the kitchen counter and lay my head back and soak...you can even sneak a nap in if you take some pillows. Just cover them with plastic bags...Did it for 2 yrs every weekend...long or short-fill the water to the height you need. There's nothing like a good soak and it is SO necessary the more mature your locks get to soak AT LEAST 1x a month IMHO.

[Denny]

I have a trolley in my bathroom, so I rest the basin on it and dip my head. Another option is to leave the clarifying shampoo on your hair for 15-30 minute before you wash it out. For us oldies, remember the good old days of soaking your clothes before a hand wash?..same principle.