I am a straight-haired gal who is enjoying the wisdom of the curly haired foxes on this forum.

Debbie ... your hair is gorgeous. I remember your posts last year because you told me about Jessicurl, right? I didn't think Jessicurl has cones, but maybe you have switched products. Or maybe I just am not remembering accurately. (ETA: Oh, reading more carefully would have told me that you have a Pantene conditioner.)

Since going curly girl, I've been literally feeding my hair ... sometimes I wash with a sugar scrub for my scalp , sometimes I leave a bit of agave nectar in my hair with the gel, sometimes I do an egg treatment. I haven't figured out what exactly my hair likes and dislikes (if you read http://www.naturallycurly.com's forum, you'll see people who figured out a science to their haircare), so I'm just experimenting and having fun using food on my hair. Its kind of crazy, I guess. My hairdresser was a little shocked when I told her I hadn't shampooed in over a year!

happylife- I would agree that you should maybe find a new conditioner. Pantene is known, at least among the "curly community", to be the worst culprit in terms of silicone. It is loaded with them, most having not just dimethicone or amodimethicone, but cyclopentasiloxane, which is the worst cone of all. Strangely, Pantene is very polarizing- people either love it or hate it. I am firmly in the latter camp, as I find that it "coats" my hair, like your stylist pointed out.

I wouldn't bother trying to re-start using a baking soda scrub/vinegar rinse. To get out 'cone buildup, you really need a shampoo with sulfates. I'd say use it once, scrub hard and start over with a cone-free conditioner. Maybe a Suave Naturals would work for you?

I have to remember to stay in the "no-cone zone."

Oh ladies thank you all for the wonderful responses!

I had forgotten some of the basics and maybe they will help my poor scalp.

Cricket, thank you for the hair compliment. Yes I use Rockin Ringlets from Jessicurl and love it but I am out of it at the moment and want to try something else.

My husband is going to Ireland this month and I have asked him to buy me some Boots curl creme (pink creme in a jar) which seems to be popular on the naturally curly board.

this thread is great!

I was thinking about the baking soda question you asked, and I think using baking soda might be too drying for your scalp. Ele gives good advice ... try clarifying your hair with a sulfate shampoo, and then try a deep moisturizing treatment for your scalp. Is your hair also dry?

This thread is so informative! I've been going no-poo for a while. It was no problem while we were in the Philippines, but now that we are here in the desert air, my scalp is super dry and I have awful dandruff. Super obvious with my black black hair! Has anyone ever done a tea tree oil treatment for that? I know I need to exfoliate my scalp, but I'm not quite sure how...any idea?
Also, I was wondering if any if you no-poo ladies use a curl cream or mousse instead of a gel, and what brand you use.

Yesterday I bought Pureology brand Realcurl, and Pureology Holdfast. I was told to mix them and apply to wet hair. 2 parts of the Realcurl to one part Holdfast.
Now in reading the lable I see they contain the first 2 "cones" that Ele mentions above. I guess if I use these products I will have to shampoo out the cones. I will not be on a no poo regime, well, I guess I need to think about this. You really have to watch the lables.