5 RULES TO LIVE BY TO BRING YOUR HAIR BACK TO LIFE..

I recently experienced a really bad hair dying experience. I say recently but this was in 2018.. it however took me until 2019/early 2020 to really start feeling my hair come back to life. So no, it doesn't just happen over night.. and to bring my hair back to life I also had to stick by 5 very strict rules. I decided to write this post to share my experience with anyone who might have gone through something similar.. or if you just feel like your hair needs some TLC. Quarantine time is the perfect opportunity, since you're almost always stuck at home!

Let me just quickly explain where I was with my hair, you can skip this bit if you're looking for a quick read. But if you, like me, had your hair bleached - under heat - and have straw like hair that feels nowhere near smooth and silky like healthy hair should feel, then I would work these rules into your daily routine to start to see a change. These rules don't only apply to women by the way, men can use these too!

RULE NO.1: HAIR MASKS

I live by hair care with natural products. I never really tried anything store bought because I like to know what I'm putting on my hair (and skin). This is probably because my hair was bleached and I didn't want to end up looking like a rainbow. If you've read my other posts you'll know what hair care routines I'm referring to.

HAIR MASK WITH KITCHEN INGREDIENTS:

I used this hair mask the first few months of my hair care treatment. I saw instant results to getting the straw-like feeling out of my hair.

Mix together 1/2 an egg , 1 tablespoon of olive oil (Naissance Olive Oil), 1/2 tablespoon of honey (Nelson Honey New Zealand Manuka Honey (100+) 250g) see other post for health benefits of honey. Using a clean foundation brush, layer the mix into your hair section by section, making sure you start from the roots. Leave it in your hair for 20-30 minutes then wash your hair thoroughly. You might need to use your shampoo a few times since you've used egg in your hair. Then continue your normal drying routine. (You can use normal honey from your cupboard & milk in replacement of the oil.)

HAIR MASK WITH NATURAL OILS:

Mix together 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (melted), 1 teaspoon of castor oil (Naissance Castor Oil), 1 teaspoon of olive oil (InterOrleo Olive Oil) and 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil (Naissance Sweet Almond Oil). Once you have the mix ready, brush out any knots in your hair and massage the mix into your hair with your head tipped down - this will increase the blood circulation and encourage hair growth. Leave this mix in your hair for 30 minutes or overnight. When you’re ready wash it out with your regular shampoo & conditioner. Do not avoid conditioning because you’ve used the oil.  

To read more about coconut oil and its benefits click here to see my other post. I pretty much did this once a week for 3 months, without fail, before I could start to get the straw feeling out of my hair.

TIP: Use argan oil (Pure Argan Oil 100%) on damp hair, just for the tips, after every wash to avoid getting split ends.

RULE NO.2: SCALP MASSAGE

A scalp massage doesn't mean book an appointment and pay someone £30+ to get one done. A simple head massage every day for 2-3 minutes can help your hair grow. By massaging your scalp you're increasing the blood circulation to your hair follicles, which rejuvenates the roots and conditions the scalp. As well as promoting hair growth, doing this once every day for 2-3 minutes will also strengthen your hair overtime.

You do not need to use any oils. You can just use your finger tips (not your nails). Tip your head forward to get better results! Use both hands and place your fingertips into the centre of your scalp. With a little bit of pressure massage your head in circular motion, working your way from the front to the back. Do this for 2-3 minutes every day (play your favourite song as a timer - works for me). 

RULE NO.3: REGULAR TRIMS

Trimming your hair regularly is beneficial, especially if you're trying to maintain mid-length to long hair. False hope - trimming your hair DOES NOT make your hair grow longer, but it does get rid of the unhealthy ends and promotes healthy hair growth. During every trim you should aim get rid of as many split ends as you can.

TIP: Hairbands can make your hair break and fall our quicker. Instead purchase these stretchy elastic bobbles (10 pcs) or these soft velvet scrunchies (12 pcs).

RULE NO.4: LESS TO NO HEAT

If your hair is already damaged, you're only going to damage it more by using more heat on it. It might take a bit of time, but you'd need to find an every day hairstyle that you can wear that involves no heat. Only use straighteners/curlers for special occasions. That way you're limiting the heat exposure and protecting your hair. (I use a slick back low bun with a -Donut hair bun maker set- it works with all looks for me - work and going out)

When that special occasion does come along, or even when you're just hair drying your hair - you must use heat protection spray. I would recommend Tresemme Heat Protection Spray. If you have frizzy or dry hair you can use Coconut Heat Protection Spray.

TIP: I found that using the new hairdryer-brush combined, helps me style my hair and dry it all at once, therefore exposing it to less heat. If you do it right you can also get your hair looking lush -as if you've got it done by a pro. Try the REVLON PRO Hairdyer & Volumiser.

RULE NO.5: REDUCE NUMBER OF HAIR WASHES A WEEK

Washing your hair less takes a bit of time to get used to. It's quarantine period - no reason not to try! Washing your hair less means you'll be producing less scalp oil - which is called sebum. This creates less grease, which then leaves your hair shiny, moist and healthy. I started with washing my hair twice a week, then brought it down to once a week. Of course it sounds horrible at first but over time your hair is trained into it and doesn't get greasy as quickly. Try it & let me know how it goes.

TIP: If you find your hair is dirty and you're not comfortable doing this. Try the Apple Cider Vinegar mix recommended in my other post (click here). It'll help you clear your scalp and fix any dandruff issues.

You need to figure out what shampoo works best for you. Generally, if you're trying to repair your hair you would look for a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate is good in shampoos to help strip away any dirt or oil, however its a strong chemical that can strip all the natural oils out leaving your hair dry and frizzy.

TIP: If you're looking for sulfate as an ingredient, you want to keep an eye out for: Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

I would recommend the Olaplex line: Olaplex Shampoo, Olaplex Conditioner & Olaplex no.3 treatment. Several friends, including myself, have seen the benefits of using the Olaplex no.3 to repair damaged hair.

Those are the 5 rules that I lived by for 6-18 months, to get my hair from straw like texture to feeling thick and healthy just how it used to. Of course being cautious about where you get your hair dyed can prevent all this. You might want to just try these methods out to get your hair longer and healthier. Whatever it is, if any of this works for you, or you have any other hair care tips. Please share them for everyone to see! Hope you enjoyed the read.