The Haircare Post

My haircare routine used to be really simple, but in the past few months I’ve found products that work for me and I thought I’d spread the word! My locks are nowhere near healthy but they’ve come a long way, probably because I’ve been more strict about my haircare regimen and I’ve been putting in more effort to avoid damaging it further.

My hair is generally dry, course, thick, and wavy/curly. I was a competitive swimmer for nine years and that definitely took a toll on my hair. However, since I started university I haven’t been in chlorine as much so my hair has had a chance to be nourished for once. That has also made a huge difference in the feel and look of my hair!

When washing I’m careful with what I put where. Shampoo goes only on my scalp and conditioner in the bottom ¾ of my tresses. The reason behind this method is because your natural oils don’t get a chance to reach the ends of your hair, so shampooing them will only dry out your hair more. In contrast, the hair closest to your scalp has the most natural oils so putting conditioner there will only make it look greasy. I also only wash my hair every 2-3 days. I genuinely think doing this has helped my hair and it doesn’t get greasy as fast as it used to when I washed it every day.

My favorite shampoo and conditioner, and the only kind that I’ve ever had a noticeable change with, is the Redken Allsoft. I used to use it when I was little and I remember it completely transformed my hair, but it was too expensive for teenage me so I didn’t get it again until last winter. Now I’ve got the full size and I don’t think I’ll switch back anytime soon. It has a subtle but pleasant scent and it’ll last you ages as you only need a small amount of each. Occasionally I’ll try out a mask but the ones I’ve used haven’t offered lasting results so I don’t have a solid favorite. The only one I recommend is the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle because it smells incredible and makes your hair softer for at least a few days.

I always let my hair dry naturally (I hate blow driers and they take too long) and while it’s damp I’ve been applying a pea-sized amount of the It haircare 12 in One product, which I got in my August Ipsy bag. It makes it feel softer and claims to have a lot of other benefits, so hopefully over time I’ll see some of those.

A product I always use, wet or dry, straightened or natural, is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave in Conditioner spray. I have a full size and a travel size, I love it so much! I can feel the difference in my hair and my parched end always need the extra nourishment. Plus this absorbs quickly and doesn’t seem to weigh my hair down.

When it comes to hair styling I am a complete novice. I can’t curl it to save my life—and it’s naturally curly! I straighten it a few times and week and that’s about it. Before using heat I spray in the Got2b GuardianAngel heat protectant. This is a pretty standard spray, I hate the smell but I love that it sprays a fine, even mist.

The straightener I use is the Irresistible Me Diamond flatiron* which I received a few weeks ago. This is a big range of heat settings and it gets the job done 5-10 minutes faster than my old straightener. I like it because my hair stays straight until I wash it again! A full review is here if you’re interested in reading more about it, it has a lot of other cool features.

After straightening I like to apply the S factor smoothinglusterizer. It smells incredible and makes my hair soft and shiny. The bottle is the only thing I dislike about this product, it’s difficult to get the amount you want and it balances precariously on my dresser because of the awkward shape. Once it fell and the cap broke and I wasted at least $10 worth of product, which is always frustrating. 

For dry shampoo I like the popular Batiste line and the Tresemme. I think the Batiste makes your hair feel less oily but I use the Tresemme more often because you have to use a lot more of it to get that white cast most dry shampoos have. 

As for tools, I try to avoid doing more damage to my hair by using a wide tooth comb instead of a brush. I start from the bottom and work my way up--yes it takes longer, but it'll be worth it in the end! I also don't often use ponytails; I prefer the less-fashionable but more-practical cloth scrunchie. The 90s are making a comeback, you know! These don't pull at your hair and when you take them out they don't leave a line around your hair the way ponytails do. 

So, basically my regimen is all about moisture and trying to do as little damage to my hair as possible. Let me know what your haircare routine is like in the comments below! 

Xx Katie