In an industry where there is this unspoken pressure to have picture perfect hair all the time, I’m still someone that sticks to the philosophy of doing as less damage to my hair as possible. In the long run, I feel like this has allowed me to feel beautiful wearing my hair in whichever way I please, whether naturally down, or tossed up in a ponytail. Don’t get me wrong–I’m not against styling; I just think the less you have to do the better. Saving the whole styling your hair for the bigger moments in your life feels much more special 🙂 Here are a few of my personal hair hacks that allow me to walk out the door not having “styled” or applied heat to my hair:
- Do not wash your hair every day. I thought I’d start with the most obvious one first. I personally only wash my hair 1-2x a week, but you can adjust this based on how fine your hair is, as well as it’s proneness to catch oil.
- Change your shampoo every month. Just as in exercising, using the same routine with your hair proves less effective over time. I use shampoos from Formulate, Dove, and Caudalie. P.S.: if you’re on the hunt for products that can revitalize any damaged or dry hair, look no further! I’ve come across a wonderful post here, all about the Dove Intensive Repair System!
- Use a natural oil/fat of some kind once a week to moisturize. As odd as this may sound, I’ve recently been using Organic Valley Ghee, or clarified butter in my hair. I take some in my hands, and rub it in my scalp and through my hair just about 2-3 hours before I hop in the shower to wash my hair. It’s a good self care task to take care of on the weekends.
- For naturally curly hair, twist your hair and tie it (loosely) into a bun while it’s semi-wet, after you wash it. I often do this at night, and then sleep with the bun so that I wake up to a nice wavy texture in the morning. This goes without saying, but try not to make the bun too tight; hair is much more brittle and prone to breakage when wet.
- Eat avocados. No, seriously. I know this is the most cliche blogger statement, but avocados do wonders for maintaining shine on your skin and hair. If you live in a place where avocados are not a local fruit or readily available, then just make sure you’re getting some form of healthy fat in your diet. (Ghee!!!)
- On second, third, fourth, etc.. day hair, opt for slicked back looks. Often times, you won’t even have to apply extra gel/grease, but if you do, apply conservatively. From braids, to top knots, to even low buns, there are so many ways you can play around with greasy hair. In my opinion, working with greasy hair is actually so much more fun!
- If you’re not a fan of working with greasy hair, invest in a good dry shampoo. I use one from Drybar.
- Try to touch your hair as less as possible throughout the day. It’ll allow you to have to wash less; the oil from your hands won’t seep into your scalp. I should really take my own advice on this *realizes 90% of her Instagram photos are of her touching her hair*
- Don’t compare your hair! Just like our eyes, nose, and lips, our hair too is what it is: a god given gift. Be kind to it! We should feel proud of whatever we’ve been given: whether it be beautiful voluminous curls, or else glossy pin straight strands.
- Keep an eye on those ends. For some of us, split ends appear far too often, while others of us are blessed with the gift of very rarely seeing them. Whenever you find yourself combing through your hair and finding a good number of split ends, it’s time to get a trim. Remember, the more you can moisturize, use less heat, and take good care of your hair, the less likely it is to constantly have to deal with split ends. (Which means you get to save a bunch of money for not having to get trims all the time–bonus). Now, I’m not saying that this would happen to everyone, but because I’ve been taking pretty decent care of my hair, I haven’t needed a trim in over 4 months!
That’s it, my friends. I hope you remember that hair is indeed an important and essential part of your self-care routine. I must say that I owe my diligence with my hair to something my mother constantly tells me; it’s a quote that I want to leave you all with. “Your hair is your crowning glory.”
XOXO,
-MS
