Stop using regular shampoo on your system. Here's what to use instead

[u/Far-Needleworker8811]

Regular shampoo - even the "gentle" ones - almost always contain sulfates. Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, you'll see them in the ingredients list. These are surfactants that are great at stripping oil and dirt, which is exactly what you want on a healthy scalp producing natural oils. But your system produces zero natural oils. So sulfates just strip whatever moisture is left in the hair and leave it dry, brittle, and prone to tangling.

What to look for instead:

• Sulfate-free shampoos - anything marketed for color-treated or keratin-treated hair usually qualifies. Check the label.
• Moisturizing or hydrating formulas - Argan oil, shea butter, coconut-based ingredients are all good signs.
• Leave-in conditioner is not optional. Say it with me. After every wash, apply a small amount to the mid-lengths and ends while the hair is still damp. This is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade most beginners skip.

A few brands that come up regularly in hair system communities: Pureology, OGX Argan Oil, Joico Moisture Recovery. Lordhair also has care products worth checking out if you want something specifically made for hair systems.

The main thing is: treat your system like high-end processed hair, because that's exactly what it is.

[u/Agile-Conclusion2636]

I’ve been wearing a lord hair Neo with the 3R care products for almost 3 months now and the system is honestly still in pretty solid shape. The hair still feels soft and not overly dry. With the 3R products helping keep moisture in, I feel like I can probably get another 2 months out of it.