Beauty

[IowaLove]

Hello, friends -

This is my very first post here, though I've been reading a lot of your most recent threads since I finally decided to take the plunge and try WEN. Actually, I researched WEN like crazy for probably close to a year now, and just last night I used the conditioning cleanser for the first time.

I have a few questions that I hope someone could help me with. I'm sure my questions have been discussed by all of you before, and I apologize for the newbie post. If no one answers, I won't be offended!

First, could anyone tell me if they use WEN with any type of topical monoxidil product for thinning hair? I had been using Bosley for women up until about two weeks ago. I wanted to stop using it before I started WEN, because I wasn't sure it was a good idea to use both. However, with so many all-natural ingredients in WEN I don't think it would adversely affect the benefits of monoxidil -- but maybe you've heard otherwise?

Second, today (the first day after my first WEN cleanse), I noticed that my scalp feels itchy. I've never had a dry scalp or dandruff issues. Could it be that I didn't rinse long enough last night? I swear I've watched that how-to video 20 times to make sure I did it exactly right, but I'm scratching my head like crazy today!

Third, I read that some of you alternate the formulas you use throughout the week. Should I do that? Can anyone give me a summary of the order of which to use the additional treatment products too? I haven't tried any of the other goodies that came with my kit yet. It's a little overwhelming!

Again, sorry for the long post. I'm grateful for any advice you can give me!

p.s. - Forgot to mention that my hair feels lovely today. If I could just stop scratching!

[NycVixen]

Hi! It could be that you did not rinse enough or that WEN formulation may not agree with you. I use fig and have never had an issue but I have read that some people may be allergic to certain ingredients.

[IowaLove]

Thank you, NycVixen! I used the Spring Orange Blossom because that is what was sent in my starter kit.

[Angel1948]

My guess would be the rinsing to, I have very short hair and I probably don't rinse as long as long haired people, try rinsing a little longer next time and see if that helps.

[glitzandglam]

I don't think WEN would interact with that product you mentioned, but the number of Chaz's salon is printed on every bottle. If I were you, I would call and ask. They are very helpful and I'm sure can find out for you.

[chickenmoo]

I'm sorry, I didn't see in your post which CC you're using... I find I get a little itchy when I use the wheat-based cleansing conditioners because I have an allergy to wheat(but I use them anyways lol).... You could try switching to soy or rice based or vice versa...Let us know what one you're currently using. Contrary to what some people may say about obsessively rinsing, I don't find it to be all that necessary--Once you have a formula that agrees with you--like, you don't have any allergies to it--it doesn't harm your scalp if there's leftover in there. I mean, the AA models with natural hair don't even get a second rinse--Chaz leaves most of the second cleanse right in as a leave in conditioner (He's got videos on Youtube of 'cleansing Katia' you can check out to see what I mean). I'm caucasian and I have left cc in my hair like they do Katia and I've had no issues...like I say though, I do that with the seasonals/pomegranite because I'm not allergic to soy...same with the bamboo green tea. The regular ones like Fig and Sweet almond, I tend to keep off the scalp and rinse better because of my wheat allergy.

As someone who was formerly thinning/breaking, I recommend the tea tree oil...and the cleanser if you're not allergic to wheat. My hair was scary thin, broken and just horrible before starting Wen 2 years ago. I tried everything in the salon and was ready for minoxidil but I tried Wen instead. The tea tree oil makes my hair grow fast--no joke!! I had to stop using it because I couldn't afford to get my roots done every couple of weeks--normally I go once a month or every 6 weeks, but with regular tea tree oil treatments I needed touchups every 2 weeks!! Seriously! And after giving up all heated styling tools, my hair's grown from a chin length bob to below my bra--almost to my waist now!! I'd say definitely check with the salon to see if Wen is ok to use with your current system--or if you want to try switching entirely to Wen.

I was terrified of minoxidil --I mean, I didn't want to grow hair *and* a beard.lol So when I started with Wen I was skeptical..I mean, who'd believe it? But seriously it does work...it doesn't have any side effects besides thick gorgeous hair--just on your head!lol

Hope that helps...and welcome to the forum!!! Woot!!

[MissKlynn]

Hi lowaLove and welcome!

It may be the rinsing, or a sensitivity to an ingredient? But my other thought is that adding a few splashes of water to your head after you apply the CC really helps emulsify and froth up the cleanser and cleanse the scalp... and helps it to rinse easier too. Maybe try it one more time and really work/massage that cleanser around your scalp and hair after you add the splashes of water and see if you still get itchy. If you do then yeah it may be a sensitivity to an ingredient.

I can't comment on the interaction with the other product, call the salon about that.

What other goodies came in your kit!?

[okiebug]

Welcome Iowalove!!

It could be just a case of over-zealous scalp scrubbing. Sometimes when someone first starts using WEN, they feel they have to really SCRUB their scalps to get it clean to make up for lack of suds and they get their scalp irritated. It's not necessary to scrub it any more than when you were using shampoo. The splash of water is a great idea - it helps distribute the cc and makes it rinse easier.

Like chickenmoo said, some people get an irritation from either wheat or soy based formulas. The seasonals, like you used, are soy based. If you got one of the core formulas with your starter kit, it should be wheat-based, and you could try using that.

Your questions are always welcome!

[HonnyBrown]

Hi Iowa and welcome!

I use Rogaine for women. I have been using it successfully for a year, and I have been using Wen for 6 months. I use them together; I just make sure my scalp isn't wet or dripping water. I'm having great results with it, so I'm not ready to let it go and give in to Wen.

As for the itching, I experienced that as well. I think the CCs I used cleansed my scalp, including the sebum, which caused an itchy scalp. That was resolved when I started using Wen Treatment Oils the night before cleansing.

Wen can be a lot of trial and error. It took close to 6 months to find a regimen that works for me:

Weekend cleanse: Tea Tree Oil overnight, 613 first cleanse, Fig second cleanse, ReMoist + Lav Oil leave-in

Mid-week cleanse: Tea Tree Oil overnight, Tea Tree first cleanse, Fig second cleanse, ReMoist + Lav Oil leave-in

[DoxieMomma]

Welcome to the Wen forum! You've already been given some great advice, so I'll add my two cents.........once I apply the Cleansing Conditioner (focusing on my scalp), I add more than just a "splash" of water to it. I literally stick my head back under the shower for a couple of seconds. This allows me to more easily massage it into my scalp and then throughout the length of my hair. Also, I do not use my fingernails to scrub my scalp, just the pads of my fingers. Like others have mentioned, I rinse well, using my fingers to lift the hair away from the scalp to make sure it's thoroughly cleansed.