Is This Blog Still Alive?
Hello there… have we met? Yep, it’s me that one chick that used to blog about lifestyle stuff. 2020 has been a wild ride for us all, but I think it’s time we get back to the content we all really need: some good ole health and wellness because self-care is uber important, especially now. If you aren’t taking care of yourself how are you supposed to look out for the ones that you love most, am I right?
Hair Care IS Self-Care
Self-care includes every form of care including hair! This hair care post is a long time coming, but it’s definitely not what some of you may expect. For those of you who have seen my Instagram stories, I’m sorry to disappoint but this is not going to be the ultimate Curly Girl Method routine.
For any of you that don’t know what the Curly Girl Method it’s a set of do’s, don’ts, and ingredients to avoid and embrace to have healthy natural waves or curls. I was born with curls that are now 2A waves, so I attempted this method for over 3 months. I wanted to love it so badly, but the truth is it sucked. There’s honestly no other way of putting it. So do I recommend the Curly Girl Method? Nope, and here’s why…
First of all the majority of the women out there doing this method are obsessed, like achieving the perfect curl is their life goal and honey I just don’t care that much about the curl… for me, it’s all about having healthy hair using the most natural products.
While the CGM appears to advocate the use of clean, natural products its all smoke and mirrors folks. Sorry to burst your bubble but once these influencer type gals —known as curlies or wavies— started contradicting themselves that was it for me.
When The Trend Gets It Wrong
While the method is based on products free from harsh chemicals and sulfates it requires lathering on thick products like gels, leave-in conditioners, sprays, foams, and who knows what else. News flash: using all these products over time in combination with co-washing (washing your hair with conditioner), low-poo (low shampoo), or even no-poo (no shampoo) will result in product build-up. And how does one get rid of said build-up do you ask? Well according to CGM experts and hundred of Reddit threads all you need to do “clarify” your hair periodically with a shampoo that contains… yep, sulfates.
Honestly, you can’t make this shit up. I’m dead serious this is it. The whole thing… for curlies and wavies alike.
Of course, I learned this major method flaw the hard way as my hair did not react well to the prolonged use of gels or leave-in conditioners. The build-up was so bad and I was so tired of looking at frizzy hair that I did the only thing I could do. A chop.
Feelin fly with my new short doo, I decided to take a more simple approach to hair health. Essentially I went through Curly Girl hell so you don’t have to!
Switching to Conscious Hair Care
Instead of hopping onto the next big trend, here’s a new and improved method of hair care that I highly recommend for those looking to get luscious locks naturally.
- First of all ditch any products with harsh ingredients. If you can’t read it out loud it shouldn’t be touching your hair. Be aware doing this switch will take time for your hair to adjust because your microbiome is probably off-balance due to years of using chemical ingredients, so don’t get discouraged!
- Secondly, honey, those hairs can’t take any more heat damage so get rid of any curlers, straighteners, blowdryers, crimpers, etc.
- Next, swap those hair bands for scrunchies this will prevent breakage (literally the hair shaft breaking, yikes) when you put up your hair in a pony or bun. You’re gonna want your hair up at night to prevent tangles, but scarf wraps work just as well if you have more hair to maintain.
- Stop washing your hair every day as this strips your scalp of natural oils and can cause all sorts of problems down the road, like inflammation and dandruff. You can spread out wash days slowly over time and you’ll notice you’ll have less oil build up!
- Get a good microfiber towel to dry your hair as regular towels can cause frizz, and that’s not good for your hair nor a good look in general.
- Lastly, do yourself a favor and switch to a soft bristle brush. I promise if you take care of your hair like I recommend you won’t have any crazy tangles anymore.
Ok, once we have those basics down I’ll get to my actual routine including the products and techniques that I use.
My Routine For Healthy Hair
- Start off by adding to your roots an oil of choice. I usually let this sit for about 15 min. This will help replenish your hair before its fully washed.
- For maintaining a healthy pH balance do an apple cider vinegar rinse of 5 parts water, 1 part ACV (a spray bottle is best for this), and gently massage it into the scalp before rinsing it out in the shower. This helps naturally clarify and prevent dandruff.
- Once your hair is wet, wash with a clean shampoo, my favorite is Love Beauty and Planet because its cruelty-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, dye-free, and formulated without phthalates.
- Next, use your favorite clean conditioner (I also use one from Love Beauty and Planet) and use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently work it through the ends of your hair. (Warning: you will see a lot of hair come out, this is normal once you stop using a regular brush because the natural fall out is not being forcible ripped from your head; it’s gently escorted away by soft comb strokes lol).
- Once the conditioner is fully rinsed out you can take time to gently squeeze out excess water (DO NOT TWIST OR RING OUT HAIR AS THIS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE). If you like to keep a little wave/curl this is the perfect time to scrunch, but again be gentle.
- Use a microfiber towel or cotton fabric t-shirt to continue gently scrunching/dabbing the ends of the hair. DO NOT plop at all while wet if possible as this can lead to the growth of bacteria that creates a red, itchy, and sore scalp (I have some nasty pictures of my scalp and it looks as bad as it felt…).
- Optional: While my hair is still damp I then go in with a hair serum by doTERRA at the root of my hair, lightly massaging it in. This has helped my hair health tremendously let me tell you… and it smells amazing too! Get yours through my site. Let me know if you make a purchase so I can personally thank you!
- Use a few drops of any oil you like, spreading it on your hands and gently work it through to areas of hair that are dry and damaged (for me these are the areas I used to straighten the most).
- Leave your hair to air dry. And never go to bed with wet hair if possible, no one wants fungal infections. Sleeping with wet hair could also result in tangles that need major tending to in the morning.
That’s A Wrap
And that’s all she (I) wrote folks. You’ve come to the end of my personal hair care routine. Like I said it’s nothing fancy, but it’s important to understand even if we are born with thick gorgeous hair if it’s not cared for it’s gonna end up lookin tired.
Go on now, try out my methods with your own flair of course! Share your hair care experiences with me on Instagram or Facebook, make sure to tag me and use #maddimadeveganhaircare
Love ya!
