Plug aeration and shampooing--pros and cons. First, they are tools/aids that are available to serve a purpose. Just because they are available doen't mean they need to be used. I own a hammer-drill but I don't go out once or twice a year and drill holes in my sidewalk. I also own a bottle of Clorox liquid bleach, but I don't add a cup every time I do laundry. Identify the problem, find a solution, and use the correct tool to impliment the solution. Plug aeration. Removing cores/plugs from the the soil. The machines typically available for homeowner use remove a plug either 5/8 or 3/4" in diameter from the top 3-4" of the soil Usually the spoon is fixed to and rotates on an axle. These aerators are available as self powered walk behind models or riding mower/garden tractor pull behind. In very rare circumstances, a cam style serator can be available for rental--but vary rarely.Professional aerators (used on golf courses) have a variety of spoon sizes available ranging from less than 1/2 to almost 1", both hollow and solid tine, and can remove plugs over 8" deep (some solid tines can penetrate 24") and are usually cam actuated. This discussion will be based on home-owner style aerators. Pros: Will reduce the effects of soil compaction, thatch, hydrophobic soils allowing the turf to thrive or at least, recover. With topdressing and possibly the addition of dragging/raking, ammendments (peat moss, lime, gypsum, OM, sand, etc). can be added into the root zone. Water and air can be intoduced deep into the soil. Improved drainage in areas of standing water. Rhizomes can be cut separating daughter plant from mother and inducing the daughter to "mother" its own daughters. Cons: To be effective, a minimum of 20 holes per sq ft is recommended. As most home-owner available aerators produce 5-10 holes per sq ft per pass, that can be a lot of passes to get a bare minimum of 20 per sq ft. Even at 20 holes, you are pulling up soil cores and creating holes in less than 10% of the soil (although the collapse of the hole and the pivot action of the spoon as it travels through the soil will effect a greater area than the area of the hole for purposes of counteracting compaction or for aerifying the soil.) The plugs look like a flock of geese reside at your home. The aerator just dosen't pull up soil, it pulls up turf that will not survive and the action of the spoons puts significant stress on the turf--this is an aggressive action, Unwanted plant seeds (both weed and grass) can be brought to the surface and germinate. Aeration can spread nutsedge and rhizomeous (sp?) weeds like poa triv, and quackgrass (if present, either don't aerate or avoid those areas when aerating.--while most unwanted plants can be controled with post or pre emergents, these have no cure short of "maybe" RU) It can be expensive, especially if you rent or hire it out. Shampooing (aka (erroneously) liquid aeration) The use of a surficant to reduce water surface tension and allow water to easily penetrate soil, to remain in soil voids for future use by the turf, and keep the soil moist to improve absorbtion of subsequent waterings. Shampoo is recommended as an inexpensive surficant source. Pros. It's cheap. It effects 100% of the soil surface. It's easy- can be applied with a hose-end sprayer. It's fast to apply and if it's the right tool, will show results within a couple of weeks. Nearly everyone who has tried it, reports improved screw-driver test results over extended periods. Creates very little stress or damage to turf/grass. No unsightly residue and your lawn smells like a baby. It may be the only action needed to resolve hydrophobic conditions not due to compaction. It's practicaly idiot proof. It's CHEAP. Cons: It's cheap and easy--you'll need to convince yourself it can work. People will ask why your lawn smells like shampoo. (Questions can be reduced dramatically if you have a doobie hang outa your mouth.) It does little if anything for compacted soil. It can be counter productive if used on sandy soil. Personally, I have had mixed results. I have sandy-silt soil. I applied 36oz over 3k sq ft over a 3 week period. (so above the recommended rate). I had inproved turf reults on the hill section, but completely lost the turf on the flat areas. It could be that there is the possiblity (contrary to what the advocates say) of over applying shampoo, or the surficant effect adversly increased the leaching of water through the already sandy soil, or it's possible that the surficant treated water when obsorbed by the turf plant has an adverse affect on capilary function or other biological processes. If used in modration, shampooing may have a positive affect on hydrophobic soil (due to crusting or microbial causes) with little to no adverse affects. At 20 cents per thousand plus the cost of water--there isn't much down side even if it fails to work. My philosophy is: Do whatever it takes to create healthy turf and roots. Strong prolific rooting will eventually take care of soil compaction, OM, and water penetration and retention issues.

I am female but I feel your pain - and while short hair does not necessarily suit my features - I can't go there (did years ago) but my hair is so thick and wavy I would look like a giant brillo pad within a week. My husband also has thick hair - but he does wash it everyday. I think you seriously need to re-think your haircut. I understand that your hair stylist is thinning out your hair - but there is thinning (as in the dreaded "pinking shears") or layering. I have layers so that when I wash it, it does have bounce, but isn't like a giant ball of hair (I keep it about 3 inches below my ears.) I use a shampoo for wavy, coloured hair (greyed in 20s - now 60) - auburn - so that is another problem. I could not go without washing my hair because with such thick hair it absorbs odours and I hate the flat look - and I usually wear a hat due to the darned auburn which will fade in a second. You might need to get a fully layered cut - one designed for a man of course - and go to have it cut at least every 4 weeks. I agree with the envy of many women -I get that too - too bad I am so hair challenged. You can also get some hair control products - a form of "mud" to use to help keep your hair under control. My husband does this as well.

My absolute favorite is Biolage shampoo and conditioner (white bottle with green leaves on it). You can find it at most drug and grocery stores, and many times salons will have a sale on it where you get one of each for about 40% off the total. Always stop at salons in the malls, they usually have something on sale. A little goes a LONG way with both products, I have hair to my waist and it is in perfect condition, I get it trimmed about twice a year. The regular formula works the best for me. And use the conditioner sparingly, like seriously a dime size flat drop will go all over my hair. I, like you, have thin, silky hair that is "virgin" but a whole lot of it, and every time it gets this long I donate it to the Locks of Love, a charity that makes wigs out of human hair for cancer patients.

Don’t forget also you can decant your products into different containers. I like to use plastic in the bathroom (because of risk of breaking) but it’s not hard to find plain or decoratively shaped plastic bottles with a variety of top styles (pump, flip top, disc, etc.) online in a few colors (I’ve seen clear, amber, green, and cobalt blue off the top of my head) and they visually simplify things quite a lot, which lets more of the niche be noticeable since your eye is no longer distracted by all the packaging graphics which are designed to catch your eye on the shelf in the store. This also lets you adjust the size of the bottle so you can decide how much of your tile you cover up versus annoyance of refills. (I don’t have all matching bottles at the moment because I’m lazy, but I do have a cobalt pump top for my shampoo and another one for my conditioner - the brand my hair likes best is expensive and I get a much better price buying the salon/Costco size bottles which are far too big to leave out in the shower, there just isn’t room. The smaller bottles are I think 8oz and hold plenty so I don’t feel like I’m refilling all the time, and that’s with two other people in the house who occasionally steal my stuff.)