conditioner

[C Seeker]

What type of conditioner do you use on the trail? I'm looking for something light weight and compact. I'm probably going to cut my hair short before I leave for the trail but know i'm going to need something because of my thick hair. Also if you have any ideas for shampoo I will take them also.

[Trailbender]

I have really thick curly hair. What I did was just stop combing it, using shampoo or conditioner. The hair turned into dreadlocks. It is much simpler to maintain. Anyways, the reason I stopped using shampoo is that it is incredibly harsh on your hair and scalp. They use a stronger version of the same chemical for an industrial concrete and engine block degreaser. My hair was greasier for the first couple of weeks, but after that, it went back to normal. All I do to my hair is run hot water through it when I shower. I have done this for years with no issues.

I have had a couple of black people ask me "are you trying to be black?", I reply with, "Norwegians, cave men, ect had dreadlocks long before Africans", this usually shuts them up, due to massive liberal brainwashing, they don't expect a white guy to argue with them, they expect me to feel guilty for being white.

[grayfox]

Plus 1 on short hair.

If you have a bounce box put a small travel size in it for use in town.

If you are just out for a week or two, ask for a small sample size foil packet from a salon.

My choice is a tiny, 1 oz, nalgeen of H&S shampoo and conditioner in one. It is the ony kind that works for me in one wash.

[BarFight]

So I cut my hair shorter mid trip anyway, but I didn't use conditioner unless it was available at a motel or hostel, and yes, I have thick hair too. It's just more buildup. I usually had a travel sized bottle of Pantene with me and I would use that if there was nothing else available, they lasted quite a while as you don't shower every day or every other day. No one saw the hair much on the trail anyway-I always covered it with either a bandanna or a hat in the cold. This would flatten it, lessening the point of using conditioner.

[Red Hat]

didn't cut mine, easier when it's long! Just braids or a bun. Shampoo and conditioner at hostels and motels most of the time....

[Spirit Walker]

I just use the little travel bottles you get in motels that have shampoo and conditioner. I put a supply in my bounce box and take out one or two as needed. You'll only be washing your hair once or twice a week. If you have really dry hair, you might put a small tube of heavy duty conditioner in your bounce box, but I've never bothered.

[StormBird]

Hopefully you know that you won't need to use shampoo or conditioner while actually on trail. But at town stops you can always count on motels or hiker boxes for shampoo and potentially conditioner. None in the hiker box? Buy some, use it and throw it in for the next hiker. Bounce boxes are too pricey and complicated.

[Tilly]

1) Keep your hair. Wearing in a bun or braid is very clean, easy, and maintains tihngs really well. And it doesn't take a long time to maintain.

2) Google 'cowash.'

3) Most places will at least have shampoo if you really need it. Conditioner is available for about a buck in any drugstore/grocery/dollar store.

I thrued with hair halfway down my back. I just braided every day. No big deal.

[Bubble Toes]

I was/am not willing to cut my hair and kept it long for my whole hike. I ended up carrying a travel size of Dove conditioner (what I use at home) because shampoo was easy to find, conditioner was not. Shower usually came first before the store or even sometimes the bounce box, so I wanted it right away. In the future I will carry shampoo because I no longer use shampoo with Sodium Laurel Sulfates (see previous post about the bad stuff in shampoo that makes you hair greasier!).

[Erin]

At home I use good conditioner. I also travel alot for work. A hotel freebie conditioner will last a week. I used to never carry it. Now I have a perm, so have to do it.

[C Seeker]

I've been reading up on other post on WB and I think I am going to cut my hair short. It will be muh easier to wash and I would only need all-purpose soap, also my hair is really long and it will dry much quicker. Thank you for helping me out answering my question.