We all do things, every day, that do not always result in healthy, shiny hair. The good news is, there are a few little things that you can either do, or stop doing, that will make a difference.
BLOT WITH THE TOWEL, DON'T SCRUB
When you get out of the shower, don't scrub at your head with the towel as if you hate it. This causes unnecessary abrasion on your hair. It raises the cuticle (the outer layer of your hair) and causes more tangles. Try blotting gently, then wrap damp hair in the towel, like a turban, to let the towel do its job and absorb as much extra moisture as possible.
COMB WET HAIR, DON'T BRUSH
Even if your hair tangles like crazy, even after carefully blotting with the towel, please resist the temptation to rip through those snarls with the nearest brush. Wet hair is weak hair, and every time you snap a hair, a tiny hair fairy screams in agony. When your hair is wet, it stretches more than it's supposed to. And, if your hair is chemically altered (color, perm, straightener, etc) it may not always snap back, and you'll be left with thin, noodly hair with no elasticity. Instead, before trying to remove tangles, use a leave-in conditioner or strengthening product first. Isle of You Hair Color Studio favorites are No.4 Super Comb Prep & Protect, Pearatin Fortifying Repairative Serum, and Moroccan Oil Treatment (original or light, depending on hair texture) . Apply the product to damp, un-combed tangles. Then, using a wide-toothed comb, gently work from the bottom up to loosen tangles without yanking or forcing the comb through. Take the extra few minutes required to get through, especially if your hair is fine or fragile. Thicker hair takes a lot longer, I know, but if you want it to stay thick and healthy, and don't want to see those little flyaway ends popping through, it's worth the time. And the hair fairies will thank you.
PROTECT YOUR HAIR IN HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS
When you're out in extreme weather, your hair can take a serious beating. Are you a skier? In my misspent youth, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing a hat on the slopes. In fact, once, during a girls-only Colorado ski trip, my two friends and I were taking a break from the Winterpark slopes when a man walked past the table and paused to ask if we had just gotten there. We replied that no, we had been out all morning tearing it up. He marveled that our hair- all of us- looked perfect. (All of us were hairstylists, and in our "fashion-before-function" mindset, we made sure that hair wouldn't move no matter how hard we skied.) BUT- that kind of effort isn't always the best idea for hair, especially fragile hair. Extreme cold can make hair brittle.Use a leave-in conditioner, one of those mentioned previously or your stylist's favorite, before going out into the cold. Covering your hair (yes, with a HAT) will protect it from harsh wind, and will also keep you warm. The good news? There are some really fun hats out there now. Something for everybody.
WET YOUR HAIR BEFORE YOU SWIM
Chlorine is, hands-down, one of the harshest things we humans expose our hair to. Also, nearly impossible to remove once it's in there. There is a distinct feel to chlorine-damaged hair; it feels rough; "skritchy" is my favorite word for it. On any type of hair, it's unpleasant; on fragile or curly hair that tends to be dry anyway, it can be devastating. If you swim only in your own pool, it's easy to either adjust the chlorine levels so it's not so harsh, or use other sanitizers that don't damage hair and skin. But if you swim in a public pool; a gym, school, or the local park, you can't do anything about what they use or how much. And frankly, when there are lots of people using the same pool, chlorine is a good choice to keep everyone healthy. But there are things you can do to protect your hair. The easiest is to simply wet your hair down - thoroughly saturate with tap water first, before going in the pool. Even if you are required to wear a bathing cap, this is a good practice. The cap is usually not going to keep your hair dry anyway, so this shouldn't add much to your time getting ready to go later. Doing this simply prevents your hair from absorbing the chlorinated water. Think of a sponge; if the sponge is soaked full of water, you can't use it to absorb more water. Same idea with your hair. To make this idea even better, take the time to add a conditioner to your tap water-wet hair too, before swimming. The best for this would be a thicker, "rinse-out" type conditioner instead of a leave-in, though leave-ins will work in a pinch. The thicker cream base of a traditional conditioner formula will create a little more barrier to keep your hair from absorbing the chlorine. Keep in mind, though, that many public pools frown on wearing anything into the pool, like body lotions or hair products, that can make the water cloudy. So be a good citizen and cover your hair before swimming if you use this tip.
USE THE SUN TO HELP CONDITION YOUR HAIR
Going to a beach for a warm-weather escape this winter? (as I'm writing this, winter is in full force and out my window the snow is accumulating; my mother has already called to warn me to wear a hat.) If you're getting away from all this, and are going to be sitting on a beach somewhere, let the warmth of the sun help condition your hair. Pack along a good, deep conditioner. Ask your stylist for suggestions; Isle of You Hair Color Studio likes Keune's Color Care Treatment, Moroccan Oil's Intense Hydrating Mask and Wella's Brilliance Treatment (for fine or thick hair). Shampoo first, then load on the deep conditioner of your choice before you go claim your spot on the beach. Relax, and let the sunshine help all the nutrients and nourishing goodness penetrate into your hair while you sip margaritas and ogle the cabana boy/girl.
Awesome blog posts and excellent advice!! I obviously need to get a wide-toothed comb.
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