When the weather changes from seasonally warm to bone chill cold, my hair reflects the same drastic change. It goes from hydrated and full of lively color to downright dry and dull. Unless of course I take preventative measures to maintain a healthy mane during this course of action.
I’ve experimented with several products and techniques over the years to find my perfect formula for keeping my hair feeling as rich and healthy as it does during the summer. This is the first time my hair has felt and looked as great as it does, which has given me the desire to share with you what I’ve found to work best for color-treated hair.
*These are products/techniques I’ve found to work best for my hair type, based on my environment, etc.
*Results will vary from working great to not working for you at all.
HYDRATION
The biggest issue I have is maintaining my hair’s hydration. My scalp gets so dry that I found myself applying doses of Head & Shoulders or Selsun Blue into my standard shampoo for that combo effect. However, those treatments can make my hair feel worse and often times only work when applied over and over again for 1-2 weeks. And by then, my hair is so used to the product that it completely rejects it and I’m back to square one.
SCALP CARE
I will NEVER use dandruff-specific shampoo ever again after seeing the results from one use of the Moroccan Oil Weightless Hydrating Mask. There’s no better product out there that will make your hair feel so fantastic from roots to ends – this I’m 98% confident about stating. If hydration is your priority, YOU NEED THIS MIRACLE WORKER.
Apply to damp hair after shampooing & leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Use 1x a week for one month, and you’ll thank me later.
For a serious deep scalp treatment to use in-shower, I highly recommend using Aveda Pramasana Purifying Scalp Cleanser. This is best used BEFORE shampooing and helps to balance sebum levels in your scalp (which are the culprits for making your hair oily & greasy when in excess.)
HYDRATE & REPAIR: SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
I’ve been super happy using these shampoos and conditioners in a shuffled rotation effort to maintain my hair’s hydration. *Shuffled Rotation means I alternate the shampoo & conditioner combos to prevent my hair from getting used to one single product.
(Budget-Friendly)
- Herbal Essences Bio:Renew ‘Hydrate’ Coconut Milk
- Herbal Essences Bio:Renew ‘Repair’ Argan Oil of Morocco
- OGX Argan Oil of Morocco
(Salon Quality)
SHOP HYDRATION PRODUCTS
HEALTHY
Along with hydration comes maintaining a healthy mane, which can be best reflected by its color and natural volume. These tried & true products have given me great results and I strongly recommend them if your focused on keeping your color vibrant with less visits to the salon and/or keeping your hair’s fullness looking natural during this dark & static-attracting season.
COLOR CARE
Finding color-safe alternatives to work as well as the natural sun’s Vitamin D is a challenge, because maintaining the golden tones in my balayage is something I want for my hair going into the fall season. I’ve been super happy with the results of using Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier spray right after showering, on damp towel dried hair. This spray provides 21 essential benefits to prime, protect, and perfect colour-treated hair, which is clearly proven in the above images.
NATURAL VOLUME
Anyone can tease and hair spray hair into a big & proud situation but that’s not my style. However I like having volume that’s natural & full of movement despite my hair’s desire to stick flat to my face or straight up & out with static shock. Another treatment spray I use after showering is Unite 7Seconds Condition Leave In Detangler. Just 3-4 spray shots to my ends and combing through using a Wet Brush helps to maintain strand strength and results in less hair being pulled out when brushing. This spray seals the cuticle and protects hair all day long, which is a must for chemically treated hair and as a UV and thermal protector for all.
SHOP HEALTHY PRODUCTS
QUICK SHOWER TIPS
WASH HAIR EVERY OTHER DAY
If you can, try to wash your hair every other day. The more you wash your hair, the dryer it becomes – no matter how organic and free of harsh ingredients your shampoo says it is. Think about when you wash your hands; ever wash them 2-3x in a row for whatever reason and find them feeling instantly dry? Same concept happens to your scalp, and thus leading to unsightly flakes.
However it’s totally understood if your hair type doesn’t let you skip a day without a wash, as some hair types make this strategy a hard one to follow. Another suggestion is taking advantage of that genie in a bottle otherwise known as dry shampoo. I’ve found Oribe ‘Gold Lust‘ to be a Godsend for my hair, although the price of it causes me to use it sparingly and only when desperate. Two other great, budget-friendly alternatives I’ve been happy with are Not Your Mother’s ‘Clean Freak’ and Tigi Bed Head Rockaholic ‘Dirty Secret.’
USE CONDITIONER ON HAIR ENDS ONLY
Limit your conditioner use to just the ends of your hair to keep those roots from appearing oily & greasy after 24 hrs. You’ll possibly find that “wash your hair every other day” technique to be easier to follow than originally thought.
FINISH WITH RINSE WITH COLD WATER
I know, I know..sounds painful to think about, especially during the winter. But I can assure you will find your hair looking shinier if you finish your shower routine with a cold rinse before toweling off. Plus, this technique helps to combat dry skin (i.e. scalp & rest of your body).
SHOP DRY SHAMPOOS
