Quick note - Scan the first few ingredients: go for cocamidopropyl betaine sodium cocoyl isethionate, or decyl glucoside, and avoid SLS/SLES and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate even if it says sulfate-free. To make a cheap bottle last and be gentler, dilute the shampoo in your palm and wash the scalp with lukewarm water, then use a conditioner with behentrimonium chloride or methosulfate and fatty alcohols on the lengths, plus a tiny bit of leave-in. If your hair feels soft but stretchy and mushy, add a little hydrolyzed protein weekly; if it feels stiff or straw-like, skip protein and lean on oils and light silicones like amodimethicone for slip.
At our family cookouts I treat conversations like the shared Netflix queue. When an episode drags, you hit next with a smile and a wave. Try a quick you two have been awesome to chat with, I'm going to circulate before the potato salad disappears, and pivot your hips toward the exit. If they keep rolling mid-story, toss in a to be continued and point to the person you need to catch. Works great on uncles and neighbors, less great on toddlers.
