Hair Detox

Wash, dry, style, hairspray, workout, dry shampoo, wash, tight bun, workout, add gel, repeat. When does the vicious cycle of damaging our hair ever end? Well, maybe it never does, but a detox helps! Give your hair a break, even for just a week. Don’t touch your mane with a blow dryer, curling iron, straightener, zilch… and see what happens.

I don’t think we realize how much damage we cause to our hair with the blowouts and color and whatever else you do to abuse your mane. It’s really hard to work out during the week and not redo your hair and sweating it out, especially when you have things going on after work that you need your hair done for. Here’s my advice: Whenever there is a time that you don’t have anyone to see or anything going on, give your hair a break and go oh so natural.

The best times for me are those quiet weekends where I’m hanging out at home, the weeks where I magically have nothing on my calendar for work or after hours (rare occasion), and ALL SUMMER LONG!!! Unless I’m going to an event, work thing, or special occasion like a wedding, I almost never blowout my hair during the Summer. It’s such a waste and I’ll just sweat out my newly blown out hair either out in the sun or working out. And I almost never bring a blow dryer on vacation. If I don’t know of a special dinner or event during vacation in advance, I might find a blow out bar or plan to do my own hair, but aside from that, there’s no reason I can’t throw some curling milk in and let my locks rock with some vacay vibes. My “Vacation Hair” is curly or thrown up in either a high or low bun, but here are so many hair styles you can play with. FabFitFun recently shared stylist tips for rocking a natural look and skipping the blowout.

Moisture

Moisturize those locks and leave them be for a few days. And if you can, try going without a blowout for a week. You’ll notice huge difference in your hair, during your next blowout. But if you don't plan on blowing out your hair and heaviness won’t be an issue, then just go ahead and lather up with all of the oils and creams your hair desires. Here are the best natural hair conditioners, according to StyleCaster’s Nikki Brown. SheaMoisture products have worked miracles on my hair, after taking a beating from all the blowouts and tight braids and up-dos. Here’s some advice from Joseph, a talented hair stylist I discovered in SoHo. You might recall his name from an older post about my balayage.

“Healthy hair and how to get it there — Because we don’t have to be too presentable (except for the Zoom meetings), I would save the blowout and hit tools for when we get out of quarantine. This really saves the hair wear and tear. These tools can sometimes cause split ends and even breaking, so a rest from them is a big help. Also, if you have it at home, use some coconut oil, olive oil, etc. Keep it to the mid shaft and ends and keep it in for as little as 15 minutes to overnight. If you want deep conditioning with products with protein (helps strengthen) or moisture.” -Joseph Bennett, NYC Based Hair Stylist

Need help detoxing? Check out my Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/ohsofashionablylate/all-about-the-hair/no-blow-outs-here/

Don’t over-wash your hair. Yes, there is such a thing. Over-washing can strip the hair of its natural oils, making your scalp prone to dandruff. I workout a few times a week and my hair can get super nasty, I just spray in some dry shampoo, throw in some moisturizing styling creams, and plop my hair into a bun. Can’t go wrong with a bun, pony, or braid!

Gently towel-dry your hair. I’m used to be a top offender or ringing water out of my hair and wrapping the towel around so tight that it could fall off for dear life. I know… So extra! It’s actually not necessary to squeeze, pull, and twist your hair in a towel to dry it up a little bit. That’s actually what ruins my curls. I mean, does anyone rocks curls better than Tracee Ellis Ross? Probably not. Sign up for the Patterns email newsletter and get 10% off your first purchase, whether you decide to try out the towel and order some new products.

Length

Growing out your hair requires some serious nourishing moisture. The longer your hair, the more maintenance is required. That’s a given, but I think it’s easy to forget how much extra moisture your mane will require the longer it gets. Our girl Nikki also recommends SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque among other hair care products like Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum. I love Carol’s Daughter products, and the Monoi Intense Repair Inner Strength System is actually my favorite for when I’m trying to grow my hair out long and strong. And if you’re looking for both length and thickness, try Oribe Serene Scalp Thickening Treatment Spray. I like Pantene’s Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash whenever I can find it at my local Duane Reade. In my opinion, Pantene, TRESemmé, and Garnier are best hair care brands at the drugstore. Sometimes I go several months using an luxury hair care line from a celebrity stylist and it just stops working because my hair just needs a change. And switching back to Pantene for a little bit always does the trick when my hair is having a dry spell. All of these items can be shopped at the bottom of the post.

Hair Masks

Masking is caring! Hair masks can be so beneficial for your hair’s health, especially when done right. I don’t believe in these five minute hair masks, but that’s just my opinion. I don’t actually have any science to back that up for you. I always use overnight masks and if they aren’t labeled for “overnight use,” I feel free to do so anyway. I’m all about hot oil treatments and leave-in conditioners, but those leave in masks are great for your hair. And if you’re more on the natural side of things, DIY hair masks are also a great way to detox. Here’s some advice from Sam, the Manager of Glam + Go (TriBeCa). Sam recommends a coconut oil hair mask, especially for anyone who has very dry hair like her. Pure Wow has nine coconut oil hair masks with ingredients to treat your specific hair care needs.

“Think of this as a mini vacation from the heat and chemicals you endure on your hair week after week. Being quarantined gives us time to get creative. There are many ways to treat your hair without a visit to the salon. DIY hair masks are always a great way to replenish your tresses. And after all this is over, your hair will thank you!” -Sam, Glam + Go

Pinteresting Hair Detox Ideas

Check out my Pinterest board called “No Blow Outs Here!” There are all kinds of tips and tricks for restoring your hair’s health, including ways to style your hair without heat and all-natural DIY hair masks. Share your results if you decide to take this unofficial challenge of giving your hair a break from heat. If you’re wondering ahead of time what the results might be, I’ll tell you my personal experience, which is what I expect for you. My hair gets super smooth, fly aways start magically disappearing, and my blowout lasts longer (like 5 whole frickin’ days). True story girl!

Shop my favorite hair care picks on Amazon!

This post was originally published on February 26, 2020 and updated July 23, 2020.

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