At this point in my life, I've probably had more bad hair days than I've had good. Growing up with thick, frizzy hair was always difficult for me. The texture has always been extremely coarse and until recently, completely unmanageable. It takes a lot of love to tame my mane but I know that I'm not alone. I've been getting a lot of questions lately about how I take care of my long hair and keep it looking healthy between trims. The short answer would be "trial and error-- a lot of it." but I love my readers so I compiled a handy list of the products that I use in my hair.
1. I color my hair with Henna. It's all-natural, safe, and WON'T fry your hair. It'll work with your hair's natural oils to condition your hair and leave it soft, smooth, and frizz-free. Since my knowledge of henna is fairly limited, check out this article. It has some great Q&A's as well as some resources. As far as which brand I use, it's called
Rainbow Henna (in black) and I buy it from a local health food store.
2. Scrunchies are not only totally coming back (hello Kimmy Gibbler) but they work wonders for tossing your hair up in a bun before bed. If I must fall asleep with my hair wet, I'll tie it up in a scrunchy because a scrunchy doesn't get tangled in wet hair the way that a regular hair tie would.
3. You can't be an adult without a decent hair dryer and you can't have a decent hair dryer without a diffuser attachment. Trust me, I rarely use mine without it anymore. It's ideal for curly hair because it evenly distributes air flow so that the hair's natural wave isn't moved around too much while drying. One thing to keep in mind when using a diffuser attachment is to keep the heat on low.
4. Carrot oil is a miracle worker for skin and hair. It helps to strengthen and protect hair follicles against things like chlorine and other harmful chemicals. It also happens to be great for combatting dandruff, especially when combined with Tea Tree Oil.
5. Boar bristle brushes are a lot better for your hair than plastic because they're less harsh and the small fibers help to evenly spread your hair's natural oils.
6. Whether you get something fancy like
Goldie's or just stick with good 'ole Apple Cider Vinegar, it's a good idea to do a vinegar rinse every few weeks. Vinegar is a gentle natural shampoo and will help to restore your hair's pH levels to normal while also getting rid of the residue that other shampoos may leave behind.
7. I rarely visit the hair stylist but when I do, he yells at me for using an iron on my hair. I know that it's not good for it but sheesh, I love the way that the styling wand makes my hair look! (It's what I used in the photo above.) As long as I don't use it too often, I can't see what's so bad about it. Just make sure that if you're using any kind of heat on your hair, you keep it on the lowest (but most effective) temperature possible.
8. Here's the most valuable piece of advice that I will give you in this blog post: dry shampoo. Embrace it. It will become your best friend. Find one that you like,
this one is my favorite. Washing and styling your hair is actually not too great for it. I only wash mine once a week or so and have no shame whatsoever-- just healthy hair. As long as you have something to take care of any potential oiliness, it's not gross. Trust me.
9. Coconut oil treatments are a monthly thing that can become sort of a nuisance but work wonders. I buy solid coconut oil, spread it all over my head before bed, wrap it in a silk scarf and a shower cap, and then rinse it out in the morning. It's the only deep-conditioner you'll ever need.
10.
LUSH Sea Spray is an absolutely wonderful invention. It adds texture and smells fantastic. It's particularly helpful if, ya know, you're not washing your hair too often. (If you skipped it, go back to #8.)
11. Lastly, never underestimate the power of some good old school hair curlers. They'll give you mega volume and you'll feel like a Hollywood starlet while you're getting ready. If you don't know where to begin,
this video is very helpful.
xo,
e.m.
