Need to conquer the world? Pony tail
Stressful day? Bun it is
Boost of confidence? Down it goes
But wait….where did my scrunchie end up? Today, lets discuss a couple effortless ways to keep your locks in the best condition (pun intended).
MYTH: Wash Daily.
Okay yes, you should in fact cleanse your face and skin regularly. The dirt, oil and pollution that you encounter should be rinsed off – but not your mane.
Each hair type will have a different process. Imagine how much more time you will have binge watching Netflix. Many have said to me “if I don’t wash daily, it becomes too greasy.” Well, that is because every time you cleanse, you are stripping those natural oils. By doing so, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive. Start out by skipping just one day. String it out for as long as you feel comfortable by gradually adding one more skip day, monthly. After a couple of weeks, your body will catch on. Those with medium or thicker density will have an easier time doing so. Course textures can go upwards of a week, or month if professionally styled. Us fine haired gals will just need to embrace the challenge, while being grateful for the volume that accompanies.
For in between days, reach for dry shampoo. Your new best friend for absorbing sebum and prolonging your tresses. There are many on the market to chose from, depending on hair color and desired scent. Second hair days I typically reach for Batiste ($11, Tjmaxx.) Save the IGK Hair First Class Charcoal ($ 27, Sephora) for that third day, or long dreaded days you just can’t even.
How to: Section areas with your finger, from the natural part to crown of head. Shake bottle, holding bottle about one foot away from head and apply a light layer to the root only. Once the scalp is lightly coated, massage into head and brush out ends with remaining product, style as desired.
MYTH: All Shampoo’s do the same thing.
Please run, don’t walk to the nearest exit with that advice. Drugstore shampoo and conditioners typically contain some sort of plastic or silicone meant to coat each follicle, making it appear temporarily shinier. Meanwhile the active ingredients strip the integrity and color vibrancy right away. Color treated hair must be nourished with a color friendly formula like Redken Color Extend ($17.50 for a 10.1oz, Ulta Salon). Otherwise, you spend all that money, just to watch as it washes down the drain.
As my cosmetology teacher once said, “the best conditioner for damaged hair is scissors.” No amount of deep conditioning will rid you of those split ends. So don’t forget to get regular trims every few months. In the meantime, don’t fall into the keratin trap. While great in smaller doses, too much may causes breakage. To restore what is left, opt for a repairing conditioner. My go to is Joico Kpak Repair ($10 for 10.1oz, Ulta Salon).
Virgin hair that has never been chemically altered should focus on individual concerns. Fight frizz with a smoothing duo, and so forth. Hate to break it to you, but salon products contain the safest components. With higher concentrates, you’ll need less and with all those skip days in your future, one bottle will last you a whole month – or two!
MYTH: My curling iron says it’s non-damaging.
Lets allow one brief moment of silence for those women we wish we were. Waking up before the kids to curl our hair daily. Or think back to the damaging days of high school. Pretty sure my best friend once told me it works best on the highest setting. Blow driers are just as harmful, especially with daily use. High temperatures burn the shaft, starting by creating frizz and breakage on the ends. Follow the temperature guide lines suited for you, typically found on the box of these tools. Extra tip: invest in a heat glove to protect those fingers if using a wand.
What if I told you there was a way to prevent damage? Heat protectant spray can add extra hold, shine and safety. Sexy Hair Protect Me Hot Tool Spray ($20, Salon) is my favorite so far. This light aerosol mist doesn’t weigh down my straight strands. Thicker textures may work just as well with an added shine protective spray such as Chii 44 Iron Guard ($16, Salon.) Just remember to skip those roots to avoid any product build up that will weigh down your hard work.
Lipstick and Life 