Because of this, I worry about my hair a lot. What colour I'm going to do next mostly (I have a bag with at least 10 brand new dyes sitting in my bathroom cupboard) but also about the condition of my hair. I was lucky enough to inherit my mother's strong, thick Chinese hair...but it's also very dark and has to be bleached regularly. We all know bleach isn't good for hair and it's recommended not to bleach any hair twice. I recently bleached my hair 3 times to attempt removing a stubborn blue dye...I even bleached it twice in a day. I also washed it with a range of horrendous items such as dish-washing detergent and laundry powder. I am also essentially a beach bum and have spent every day off I've had this summer at the pool and beach. Chlorine, salt water and the sun strip colour and moisture out of hair like nobody's business.
My hair is what those in the profession would refer to as 'damaged'. But, actually, it's not that bad. In fact, most people who touch my hair are surprised that it's soft and doesn't snap off. I used to be super slack with my hair and would wash it with soap and just hope it would be okay but that lead to a few disasters. I now own several shelves of hair products and an intensive regime so that my hair doesn't resemble painted straw including:
- Sulphate-free Shampoo. I basically only shampoo my hair once or twice a week. Shampoo is pretty drying and also strips colour like a bitch so I only shampoo my hair if it looks and feels oily and dirty, or if I've been swimming or something (or if I'm washing out oil). Supermarket shampoo, even those designed for coloured hair, are generally shit and will result in colour disappearing down the drain. Stuff from hair stores is more expensive, but so worth it when you consider how much dying your hair costs.
- Leave in Conditioner. I am such a fan of leave in conditioner. It doesn't really matter what brand. I go to bed with leave in conditioner most nights and wake up with softer hair. If it still feels dry when I wake up, I put a bit more in.
- Moisture/Conditioner Sprays. Lighter than a leave in conditioner, moisture sprays are good for coating wet, just washed hair or when you want a moisture kick that won't change the way your hair is currently styled/sitting. They can also be used throughout the day if you've just been to the gym or beach or something.
- Deep Conditioners. I am slightly obsessed with Pantene 3 Minute Miracle. This stuff works wonders and is reasonable cheap (especially on special) being available at supermarkets. I discovered it in Queensland a few years ago on holiday when my hair had become brittle from swimming every day and it fixed it almost instantly. I tend to use once a week or so.
- Conditioner generally. Conditioner is one of those things that has more uses than expected. I've also noticed little difference in cheap and expensive conditioner, so I tend to buy the $2 one. Conditioner does actually clean your hair (not as well as shampoo but still) and I condition my hair more often than I shampoo it. For a deep condition, you can leave the conditioner on for an hour or so before rinsing it out. Conditioner is also useful when shaving your legs, and washing your skin with it will leave it feeling soft as well (especially after a day in the sun).
- Hair Oil. I tend to avoid store bought hot oil treatments and the like, but I do do an oil treatment on my hair perhaps every two weeks. I always coat my hair in coconut oil before bleaching which helps to minimise damage and then I use a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil as a hair treatment. These are just the regular oils you use for cooking. There's a bit of dispute about which oils are best for hair and I think everyone's hair is a bit different and different oils suit different hair. I love coconut oil, partly because of how it smells, but I use a bit of olive oil otherwise my hair gets a bit crunchy. Other people prefer straight olive oil, although I find that a bit greasy, or avocado oil. You can also buy special hair oils, often argan, but it's much more expensive. If you plan to leave it in this is a much better option than say, olive oil although a tiny bit of coconut oil can be left in.
- Keratin. I'm actually not that big of a fan of keratin. I don't think my hair is that hard-up for protein, and if I feel it is I'll wash it with mayonnaise as I feel that's softer, but I do use a keratin spray if I use heat tools such as a hair dryer on my hair. That said, I don't use straighteners or curlers very often. I imagine if you did keratin sprays would be more useful.
- Hair Dye. Little known fact: semi-permanent dyes are usually excellent conditioners. Dyes such as Manic Panic and Fudge should leave your hair in better condition than before you put it in. So don't be afraid to leave bright dye in for twice the recommended time. It's not permanent dye loaded with chemicals. And if you want a pastel shade, mix the colour with conditioner for coloured hair and a conditioning treatment in one.
See, I told you I think about my hair too much.
