Tips From Someone Who Knows Very Little About A Lot - Hair

So occasionally people ask me about what products I use or to help them with their hair and make up.  In another life I would be some sort of beauty stylist but my pragmatic side tells me to put those dreams aside because I am not going to be the next Estee Lauder.  This doesn't stop me from trying different products out and finding things that work for me and in theory work for other people. This week I will discuss hair tips because if you know me, you know I am a little hair obsessed.

Hair

If you have thicker or coarse hair I hope you already know not to wash it very often.  Honestly as long as your hair isn't baby fine and you don't overproduce oil on your scalp, you should try to go a few days without washing it.  Ok well that is not news but what the magazines and products don't tell you is how to actually implement this into your daily life.  If you workout, how do you handle scalp sweat?  Well what works for me is to shower as soon as I get home and cover the rest of my hair but expose the outer roots all around.  I scrub that quarter inch area with shampoo and let it rinse a bit and voila I feel refreshed.  It is sort of how you should treat your bangs if you have them, they tend to need a scrub more often than the rest of your head.  As far as the rest of the head goes, right at the crown of your head you might accrue extra oil or sweat (eew gross I know, get over it) and I know that they have come up with a ton of dry shampoos, but really they don't work for me.  They clog the nozzle or feel like hair spray.  I still think baby powder works the best.  I usually work out at night, take my shower and then run just a little powder in my roots, don't work through the rest of the hair.  

If you have exceptionally dry hair your ends might need a little boost, especially in the winter and if you use a lot of heat related products.  Any kind of oil will work (I know this seems counter-intuitive to what I just said but this is just for the ends of your hair).  I like Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine anti frizz serum but the ultimate is Morrocan Oil which I swear by but the Garnier is a cheaper alternative.  I also have a reaction to the sulfates in hair products and have to use the sulfate free hair products. If you are interested in a product line of that variety, L'Oreal has a whole line of those products including an overnight leave-in conditioner that will not stain your pillow case.  Again use any of these products sparingly because you don't want to grease up your hair, especially if you're completing this regimen at night, any product that might end up on your sheets could end up on your face and cause you to break out.

Another tip that I use in the winter to make my blow outs last longer is a satin or silk pillow case.  I wont use it in the summer because I feel like it doesn't breathe as well as cotton but it is smoother on your hair and thus doesn't frizz is up like a rougher material.  Also it wont leave those little creases and sleep wrinkles on your face in the morning.  I recently watched some random beauty show where the guy had said that you do more damage to your hair when you air dry it before you use your hair dryer.  This was shocking news to me because for years I've allowed about 20min of air drying time before I got my tool kit out because it saves me tedious blow drying time.  I took his advice and it actually is true.  The hair isn't as fragile with all of that moisture still locked in.  

I think my number one tip for curly or wavy haired girls like myself (besides never ever brush or comb curly hair after it is dry) is to PUT DOWN THE FLAT IRON.  Yes it is quick and yes your hair looks shiny and smooth after but you are really doing yourself a world of hurt in the follicle department.  Those oils I mentioned for the ends of your dry hair are actually even more affective on your wet hair, or if you go for more of a straightening serum pre-blowdry look for ones with silicone in them.  Once you use whatever your product of choice is, section out the hair and use a paddle brush for the ends to achieve the straight factor and a big round brush for the roots and top.  The bigger, the better.  The round brush will give your hair body and also help smooth it out.  I love boar's hair brushes but I know there are some people who think it can damage your hair.  I mean you can't do everything to try and stick with every new beauty mandate otherwise you'd lose your hair from stress and then where would we be? 

If you insist on using a flat iron because you don't have the patience to dry the hair with the proper brushes and take your time, use a hair proctectant.  I recommend Nexxus Pro-Mend styling spray specifically the Heat Protexx heat protection styling spray. Justt spray it about 10 inches from your hair in sections before you use the flat iron.  I know there are some amazing straighteners out there but really I've found that any ceramic plated one will do.

So last but not least, shampoo and conditioner.  I mix it up, I admit it, I'm a shampoo whore.  Your hair and skin are both susceptible to product overload and they can become immune to whatever product you are using those negating the intended effects.  As I mentioned in my Extreme crazy? post, I'm currently using the Organix line.  You can get it at your drugstore and they range in price from $7-$9 a bottle. I have the Morrocan oil shampoo and shea butter conditioner (anything boasting Morrocan or Argan oil is great). I will use any sulfate free product though. I will say that if I could use Pantene I would.  Is it just me or does their conditioner smell like Swedish Fish?  Yum. Anyone?

I also try and use a deep conditioning treatment once a week.  I know this is gross but those little brown packets of Henna and Placenta work wonders.  Yes, there is real placenta in there, from sheep I think.  I don't know, something about the proteins works wonders.  When I'm not into using after birth related products I also use the 3-Minute Miracle from Aussie and it is like $3.  You can use this in the shower while you're shaving your legs and let it sit.  The best products though are the ones that do require you to sit and let them soak in for 20-30 minutes.  I find this is prime time for caching up on The Daily Show and painting my toe nails.

So there you have it.  That is my hair advice.  I didn't really discuss letting your curls go naturally because I almost never let mine.  If I do I use a richer curl cream and section out like 1 inch wide area of strands and twist them each, let it air dry, and occasionally scrunch it.  I don't use any gel sprays because many have alcohol which can dry out your hair, mousse I find gets crunchy and also seems old to me, gel is sticky and I just haven't found many I like. Right now I use Curly Sexy Hair Curling Creme and its like $15, you can get it at a salon or nicer drugstore. 


Ok  that's it for now.  I haven't yet tried for any free hair products but another update on my free things adventure NARS came through with the tried and true (and universally flattering) Orgasm Illuminator 

 

CoverFX emailed me to let me know they were out of the blush that I wanted but it will come next week AND I got quite a few vouchers from Sabra Hummus for free hummus yesterday.  Thanks SABRA! Looks like I'm going to be glowy and full of tasty chick peas this week thanks to these products.