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French Braid Your HAIR For Sleep | hwh <3
So, one of my coworkers at Sally Beauty Supply told me a cool idea the other night: to wear your hair in a french braid while you are sleeping. It’s supposed to keep your hair really healthy and help it grow longer. It seemed a little weird at first but then when she explained it, it made sense to me. So I decided to write a post about why french braiding your hair for sleepy time is good for your hair.
1. Scalp Stimulation
When you braid your hair, you are gently pulling your hair tight. This stimulates your scalp. Stimulating your scalp circulates blood flow to your hair follicles, which, in turn, equates to a healthier scalp and supposed faster hair growth. While hair is in the Anagen phase (the growing phase), growth cells in the papilla rapidly divide and produce the hair shaft which becomes keratinized as it pushes up and out of the follicle into the pore. At the same time, the follicle grows down into the deeper levels of the dermis (skin) to get nourishment (hairlosshelp.com). It makes sense that increased blood flow would help speed this process up a little. I’m not saying that you are going to wake up the next morning with hair down to your butt, but it will add a little boost.
2. Hair Protection
I’m the type of person that moves around and tosses and turns all night long. As you can imagine, this wreaks havoc on my hair. When I wake up in the morning, I have the craziest hair; it sticks up everywhere, and the only way to salvage it is to take a shower. It’s really not ideal for me, because I wake up early to go to work and I am not a morning person. I would like to be able to shower at night and save myself some time in the morning. Keeping your hair in a tight braid prevents your hair from getting crazy while sleeping.
It also protects your hair from any damage that may be caused by moving around a lot. If you think about it, maybe you are sleeping on a section of your hair and try to move, which rips part of your hair. That is kind of a bad example, but it is feasible for me, as I share a bed with my boyfriend, 2 dogs and a cat. My space is pretty limited, so there’s always a chance that someone is sleeping on my hair. Not to mention, my kitten loves to attack my hair, which can’t be good. Keeping my hair in a braid will keep it safe from the possible damage.
3. Eliminate HAIR-tie Breakage
I really hate having my hair in my face while I sleep, so I usually put my hair up in a ponytail. The problem with ponytails, is that the hair-tie can cause breakage if placed in the same part of you hair every day. Therefore, if I wear my hair in the exact same ponytail every night, more than likely the hair-tie would break my hair over time. Braiding your hair will eliminate the breakage from the ponytail. Although, you do need to use a hair-tie to tie off your braid, you can vary where you wear it. Some nights you can braid your hair further down, and others you can tie it off at the nape of your neck.
The last thing I want to mention is that it is better to braid your hair when it is dry, because wet hair might be too tight, causing strain on your hair.
I want to know what you think! Leave feedback in the comments!
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Aphogee | hwh<3
This week I am going to share some knowledge with you all that I recently ran into. I’m going to tell you all about a little miracle product called “Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment.”
How did I learn about it?
While I was working at Sally’s one night, a long-time hairstylist walked in. She overheard me giving coloring advice to a different customer and approached me to tell me that she thought I handled the situation well. I talked with her for a few minutes and she said to me “I’m going to let you in on a secret. This stuff right here (the aphogee) is the best thing in the world. I always keep it on stock in my salon.” She let me know that it works miracles on even the most damaged hair. I decided to give it a shot.
How does it work?
This protein treatment is different from a traditional treatment. You wash your hair, towel dry it, apply the treatment, comb it through, an let it dry and harden. You do not wrap your hair up or put a bag over your head. You just let your hair fall like it normally does and sit under the dryer. The product will turn very hard when it dries. Do not attempt to comb through your hair after the product has began to harden. When it is done processing, you simply rinse out the product with warm water.
The treatment, formulated with modified proteins and magnesium, fuses into the hair with the application of heat. This product will dramatically reduce breakage, regardless what condition your hair is in.
How is it different?
Most other deep conditioning treatments only strengthen your hair for a few washes, while the Aphogee Two-Step treatment lasts up to 6 weeks. It is recommended to only treat your hair with this product every 4-6 weeks.
What is my opinion?
I really do like it. It does make my hair a lot stronger. However, this product is recommended for use under a hooded dryer, which I do not have at home. The heat from the dyer completes the fusion of protein to your hair. So in other words, I didn’t get the full experience of the treatment.
Have you tried this treatment? I want to know what you think! Leave feedback in the comments!
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How to Keep Bleached HAIR Healthy | hwh<3
Blondes seriously have more fun. That’s what I usually tell everybody. I’m 26 and started bleaching my hair when I was 12. Even though I have gone dark a few times, I always end up with bleached blonde hair. I’m just happier with blonde hair. I feel like it brightens up my face.
However, bleach can take its toll on your hair very quickly. Bleach penetrates into the hair cortex and removes all the color pigment. The first component of hair lightener / bleach is an alkaline, which lifts up the “scales” of the hair cuticle to allow the next part. An oxidizing agent, like hydrogen peroxide, is added to penetrate deep in the hair shaft to the area where color molecules chill. Then, the bleach starts to lighten the pigment molecules by releasing oxygen molecules during the oxidation process. These oxygen molecules break up the chemical bonds of chromophores, the parts of molecules responsible for color. ”The changed chromophore molecules either reflect no color or a color outside the visible spectrum. This absence of color is seen by our eyes as white.”(Wonderopolis: How Does Bleach Work?)
Hair lightening goes through a series of phases. Remember the three primary colors that make every other color are blue, red and yellow. Bleach first removes the blue molecules, which leaves the hair red. This process is very quick, so if you blink, you’ll miss it. Next, the red molecules start to be removed. This process takes a long time, and if you rinse the bleach out during this process, you will be left with orange hair. The last thing it does is removes some of the yellow pigments, which leaves it pale yellow. The natural color of keratin, which is the protein that hair is composed of, is yellow, so your hair will never not be a form of yellow. If you want an actual shade of blonde, you will have to use a toner, but that is a whole other article in itself.
Bleach doesn’t just strip the color molecules in your hair; it strips the protein, vitamins and moisture. It also changes the structure and texture of your hair. Remember how I said that it uses an alkaline solution to raise the cuticle? Well if you over-process your hair, the cuticle will not lay back down, which leaves the hair dull and susceptible to more damage. The cuticle’s purpose is to act as a barrier to protect what’s on the inside of the hair, and if that is damaged, the inside will get damaged too.
So now that you know what we are working with, I want to tell you that I am the *queen* of damaged hair.
I can’t even count how many times I have colored my hair black, just to bleach it back to platinum blonde again, and back and forth.
Within about a year and a half…
I realized after a while, that I am happiest when my hair is platinum blonde. I bleached it one last time and told myself that I had to commit to it. It’s been blonde for about a year and a half now. It looks healthy now, but believe me, it went through some tough times. At one point, I completely fried all of my bangs off. You can tell in some of the pictures that they were so short. I used to wear a headband just to hold them down every day, so they didn’t stick up. Now that I have made the mistake of over-processing my hair, I want you to learn from it. It’s not a good thing. So these are the tips you can do to make your bleached hair healthy again:
Wait Longer in Between Touch-Ups.
I try to go as long as possible in between bleach processes to give it time to heal. By the time I touch up my outgrowth, my coworkers have been begging me for a while to take care of it. It sucks having huge brown roots, but I really want my hair to grow and get healthy. When you have more space to work with, the less likely you are to overlap the bleach on already processed hair.
Only Touch Up The Outgrowth.
When you do have your roots bleached, only apply the bleach to the roots. In fact, try to get the bleach about an 8th of an inch from the line of demarkation (because bleach expands when it processes). The more you apply bleach to the same area, the more damaged it gets. Believe me, you can easily damage your hair to the point of no return. If that is the case, the only thing you can do is wait for it to grow out or break off. If you are just applying bleach to the new virgin hair, it will be fine.
Low Peroxide.
There are different levels of peroxide. 10V, 20V, 30V or 40V are the most common. The higher the level, the faster it works and more lift you will get, but also the more damaging it is. Bleach really only needs 20V to process (unless you are trying to bleach black colored hair, then you will probably need 40V). But if you are just bleaching your roots, 20V should work perfectly. Since your outgrowth is close to your scalp, it processes really fast from all the body heat your scalp emits. It will probably take a little longer than 30 or 40V would take, but would you rather do your hair fast and sloppy or have healthy hair?
Healthy Color Refresher Between Processes.
No matter what you do, your hair will probably develop a yellow tint in between processes. I really have no scientific explanation for why it does it, but I’m pretty sure it has to do with buildup of minerals and other stuff that goes into your hair. The good news is that there are ways to prevent that without damaging your hair. The first way you can do this is by using purple shampoo that is made for blonde hair. Purple and yellow are on opposite sides of the color wheel, which means they are complimentary colors, which means they neutralize each other. Purple shampoo is meant to keep bleached hair looking fresh. Don’t be fooled; it’s not going to make your hair white if it is super orange or yellow. It’s not something that processes your hair or makes it lighter. It just adds a tiny bit of purple pigment to neutralize the yellow. My favorite purple shampoo is Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde Shampoo.
The second thing you can do in between processes is to tone it. Toner is similar to the purple shampoo, but a little bit stronger. If your hair starts looking really yellow or dull, toning it will freshen it right up. The shade of toner you use depends on what type of blonde hair you want. You can do anything from platinum to ash to neutral beige to strawberry blonde. I like platinum hair so I use a purple based platinum toner. Just a friendly reminder: every time you tone your hair, you add pigment to your hair. If you tone it all the time, your hair will get darker and darker.
The final thing you can do is probably the best way to freshen your hair but also the most damaging. If you do it right, it shouldn’t do too much damage. It’s called a soap cap or color balancer. I probably do this about once every two months. A color balancer is when you mix bleach, 5V Peroxide and clarifying shampoo. You apply it to your whole head, and let it sit for just a few minutes. Since you are going to use a low peroxide, and short time, it shouldn’t damage your hair too bad. I always, always, ALWAYS recondition as soon as I am done though. Which brings me to my next point….
Deep Conditioner.
I am constantly reconditioning my hair in between processes. I really like the It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Masque. When I am at home, doing chores, I’ll put some deep conditioner in my hair, put a plastic bag or cling-wrap around it, and leave it. Sometimes, I will even sleep with it in my hair. Deep conditioners penetrate further into the hair shaft to help repair the damage, rather than just coating it. You should use a deep conditioner at the very least once a week. And also never ever skip on conditioner.
Be Gentle.
The strength of your hair has been compromised with the bleach. You need to be extra gentle when dealing with your hair, otherwise you will break it. Don’t ever rip a brush through your hair. When your hair is wet, especially, use a wide tooth comb to gently comb through it. Start combing through the tips and slowly work your way up.
Minimize Heat Damage.
Heat damage, like that caused from a blow-dryer, curling iron or flat-iron, wreaks havoc on everyone’s hair, but especially bleached hair. Like I just said, your hair is not as strong as virgin hair. And since your cuticle is exposing the innards of your hair, you have to be very careful not to damage it more. In layman’s terms, your hair is more susceptible to damage than non-bleached hair. Always make sure to use a heat protecting spray, like the HealthySexyHair “Soya Want Flat Hair Flat Iron Spray”, when you do use heat on your hair. This will coat it and protect it from the damage. If you can, try to keep hot tools to special occasions. If you are just bumming around at home, who cares what your hair looks like? Or maybe if you are going to flat-iron your hair, let it air dry first. Just try to minimize it as much as possible.
Alternate Hair Styles.
If you wear your hair in the exact same ponytail every day, on the exact same place on your head, the rubber band will start to cause breakage. And since your hair is already weak, you should try to alternate where you place your ponytail every day. Low side ponytails are in style right now, so maybe alternate between that, and high, medium and low ponytails. Also be aware that wearing braids, especially tight ones, in the same place everyday will do the same thing.
Replenish Protein and Moisture.
You need to use hair products that are going to help put protein and moisture back into your hair. I would recommend a high protein shampoo/conditioner system like Joico Kpak. After a few weeks of using just protein shampoo / conditioner, I would start to alternate it with a moisture shampoo /conditioner. I hate admitting this but seriously the best moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that I have ever found is Cost Cutters Hydrating Shampoo/Conditioner. It’s sulfate free and makes my hair feel so amazing. You most likely have a Cost Cutters nearby, so check that out because I can’t find any for sale online. A really good leave in conditioner for bleached hair is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Plus Keratin. It is expensive, but it will really help your hair. It deposits keratin right into your hair, which is needed for healthy hair.
Trim the Split Ends.
This is important, because if you don’t trim the split ends, you are gonna end up with major breakage. I would recommend trimming a little bit after each bleach job.
Let Your Natural Oils Go.
Your scalp produces natural oil, as you may already know, that is very good for bleached hair. It’s like the body’s natural conditioner. You definitely shouldn’t wash your hair everyday in the state it’s in. I usually just use conditioner when I am in the shower to freshen up my hair. Bleached hair is really porous like a sponge. It will absorb the oil really quick, therefore there is no need to shampoo often. Just judge when your hair starts getting greasy and then you can wash it. I seriously wash my hair like once a week. In fact, I have been using the “No Poo” method for about a week now, where I use baking soda in place of shampoo. This is because shampoo strips your natural oils really bad. Just remember that the oils are good, and if you don’t need to wash your hair, don’t do it.
Now you are ready to rock healthy bleached hair! Good Luck!
Do you know any other great tips that I missed? Leave them in the feedback!
If you liked this article, check out 10 Weird HAIR Tips (That Actually Work).
To read more about hair, check out HAIR 101.
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19 Super Foods for Healthy HAIR | hwh<3
I always say that everything you put in your body comes out through your hair. It’s super true! This is why they do drug tests through hair strands, or why sick people on a lot of medication have brittle hair. So with that being said, it should make sense that if you have unhealthy eating habits, you would expect your hair to be unhealthy as well. Keep in mind that the hair you see on the outside of your body is dead. There is not a lot you can do to change that hair, but new hair growing in can be stronger and healthier. In this article, I am going to discuss the top foods that will make your hair grow healthy and long.
19. Spinach
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin-A and vitamin-C, which your body needs to produce sebum. Sebum is the natural scalp oil secreted by hair follicles. It works as the body’s natural hair conditioner.
Spinach is also packed with iron and calcium.
18. Tomatoes
Lycopene is found in tomatoes, and is also found in the prostate gland. Male pattern baldness and prostate problems are caused by the same chemical, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Lycopene has antioxidants that reduce the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, preventing male pattern baldness. Lycopene is more powerful when coming from cooked tomato products like tomato sauce or tomato paste.
They are also rich in biotin, vitamin-A and vitamin-C, which are all great for healthy hair.
17. Beans
Beans like kidney beans and lentils are a very important part of a healthy hair diet. Along, with protein, they have a lot of iron, zinc and biotin. Biotin deficiencies result in unhealthy hair. It is nicknamed the “hair growth” vitamin.
16. Kiwis
Kiwis are loaded with vitamin-C and antioxidants. Vitamin-C helps your hair prevent splitting and breakage. They are also rich in vitamin-E, folic acid, zinc, calcium and iron, which are all great for healthy hair.
15. Chicken
Chicken is an excellent source of high-quality protein that healthy hair thrives from. Without the right amount of protein or with low-quality protein, you should expect weak brittle hair or loss of hair color.
Hair is composed of 91% protein. It makes sense right? If your body isn’t getting the amount of protein it needs, it’s going to cut off the supply to the hair first.
14. Eggs
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein out there. No matter how you eat them, they are great for your hair.
13. Red Wine
Red Wine contains bioflavonoids, which are known to help keratin growth and protect against keratin degradation. The antioxidants in red wine are great for you since they work by neutralizing natural “free radical” molecules in the body. If the free radicals are left alone, they can damage the core structure of healthy cells, which leaves them open to disease.
12. Whole Grains
Complex carbohydrates, like those found in whole grains, help your body assemble the proteins for hair growth. They also contain a lot of zinc, iron and vitamin-B.
11. Dark Chocolate
You are probably so excited to read this. However, keep in mind that I am talking about chocolate with a high flavanol content and that is made of 60 percent cacao. This type of chocolate helps skin stay hydrated and protects from sun damage. Fresh cocoa has the highest antioxidant levels in the world. It has double the antioxidants of red wine, and three times the antioxidants of green tea. Like red wine, it contains high levels of flavanoids, along with calcium, zinc, iron and vitamin-B.
10. Milk
When people think of getting their needed calcium intake, they think of milk. We can thank all of those “Got Milk?” ads for this. But it’s true; Milk is one of the best sources of calcium, and calcium is important for hair growth. Calcium is used by hair follicles to produce keratinized protein, which make hair look shiny and strong.
Milk also contains whey and casein, which are two high-quality protein sources.
9. Oysters
Oysters are very rich in zinc, which aids in skin cell renewal and repair. It is an essential ingredient to healthy hair. On top of it all, they are considered to be an aphrodisiac, so have fun eating them. ;)
8. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes are packed with beta-carotene, which protects against aging. Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin-A when the body needs it, with maintains growth and bone development and protects nerve fibers, which leads to healthy hair, skin and nails.
7. Bacon
Did you ever think you’d see the day that you’d read “bacon” on a list of things that are good for you? Although it won’t help you lose weight, bacon is high in protein, vitamin-B and zinc.
6. Red Meat
First off, red meat is high in protein. It is also a great source of vitamin-B, zinc and iron, which are all essential for healthy hair. Just be careful not to eat too much, because it can cause high cholesterol and too much protein can cause uric acid buildup (as a result of undigested protein) that can lead to hair loss.
5. Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamin-A, which helps promote a healthy scalp. Since hair is grown inside the scalp, it is wise to keep a healthy environment for the hair to grow in. Healthy scalp = healthy hair.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt contains probiotics, which are good bacterias that live in your stomach. These bacterias help your body absorb protein as well as good vitamins and minerals that are essential in hair growth. You can eat all the protein in the world, but if your stomach isn’t in good condition, it will just be wasted.
3. Blueberries
These delicious berries have the highest levels of antioxidants out of all fruits. Antioxidants, among other great things, protect you from pre-mature aging.
2. Salmon
Salmon is one of the best foods available for beautiful hair. It is naturally loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B-12 and iron, which are all essential for hair growth. Omega-3 fatty acids support scalp health, and a deficiency can result in a dry scalp with dull hair.
1. Nuts
Different types of nuts offer different benefits. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that conditions your hair. Cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts are all great sources of zinc, which protects your hair from shedding. Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Pine nuts are a great source of protein, which is essential for hair growth.
How are some great ways to incorporate these foods into your diet? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
If you liked this article, you should read What Your HAIR is Telling You About Your Health
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It’s a 10 Miracle Shine Spray | hwh<3
Here, I am going to teach you about It’s a 10 Miracle Shine Spray, which is another one of my favorite shine sprays.
This amazing shine spray has 10 Miraculous Benefits:
1- Weightless Shine
2- Softens Coarse Hair
3- Improves Elasticity
4- Is a Potent Antioxidant
5- Environmental Protection
6- Anti-Humidity Eliminates Frizz
7- Thermal Protection
8- Imparts Control and Manageability
9- Seals and Protects Hair Color
10- Locks in Moisture
So as you can tell, it is used for more than just a shine spray. It makes your hair very soft, and protects your hair from damage caused by natural elements and styling. It helps condition and moisturizes your hair to help bring out the natural shine.
The main ingredient is noni oil, which is a therapeutic treatment for stressed hair. Some other great ingredients in it are camomile extract, silk amino acids, Ylang Ylang extract, hemp oil, red tea extract, and babassu seed oil.
To use on wet hair for protection, spray directly onto hair and work through with fingers. To use on dry hair for finish, spray either directly on hair, or in the palm of your hand and work through.
Buy it here.
Have you ever tried this product? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments. Check out more of my FAVE products!
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It’s a 10 – It’s Amazing | hwh<3
I want to introduce you all to my favorite way to deep condition your hair.
It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Masque is my absolute favorite deep conditioner in the WORLD.
Like every product in the It’s a 10 line, it does 10 things:
1. Detangles
2. Restores Moisture
3. Instantly Restores Elasticity
4. Softens
5. Smooths
6. Imparts Luminous Shine
7. Enhances Natural Body
8. Nourishes
9. Defrizzes
10. Improves Color Vibrancy
So in a nut shell, it does everything for everyone. It is really light, so it does not weigh your hair down after you use it. It does, however, make your hair very soft and healthy feeling. This might be why it is ALWAYS in my shower.
Have you ever tried this product? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments.
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Healthy Summer HAIR | hwh<3
It’s that time of year: The blazing sun, the beach, swimming pools. All of these elements are super fun, but can take a toll on your hair. Learn how to keep your hair healthy and happy all through summer!
1. ANTI-chlorine
Chlorine can make your hair icky, and we want healthy summer hair.
If you plan on swimming often, look into an anti-chlorine shampoo/conditioner to help neutralize the chlorine from your hair. I don’t know too much about it, because I don’t swim too often, but TRISWIM seems to be among the most popular of these products.
It works by removing the green tint, and smell of chlorine, along with moisturizing and softening your hair.
2. Clarify and Condition
To keep you hair healthy this summer, I would suggest clarifying your hair about once a week to remove any of the chlorine, salt, sand, and any other buildup. The absolute best clarifying shampoo I have ever found is Redken Hair Cleansing Cream. The reason I love this clarifier is because it doesn’t dry your hair out like most other clarifiers, and leaves it soft after using it. This is what I use at work and at home.
After you clarify, you ALWAYS want to make sure you condition your hair well. My favorite deep conditioner is It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Masque which works really well to prevent damage and make your hair feel so Uh-mazing.
3. Use products designed for sun
One of the worst things the sun can do is make your color look dull and faded. Healthy summer hair should be shiny and vibrant. I suggest that since you spend a ton of money to get your hair done, you should try to prolong the life of it. Therefore if you are going to be in the sun a lot, you should try to use products that will help your color stay fresh.
Redken has a whole line of products designed to prolong the life of the color, but they also took it a step further and created products specifically for sun. Redken Color Extend Sun is really good and gently repairs sun-damaged hair. The After Sun Hair Masque helps your hair regain its moisture and shine, while repairing split ends. The Solar Shield spray comes equipped with a built-in SPF 12 to shield your hair from sun damage.
For the bald guys out there, there is Nioxin Scalp Shield. We sell this at my work, and a lot of ladies tease their bald husbands with it. Actually, it is really good for anyone, especially balding guys, if you plan to be outside a lot. It has an SPF 20, and is designed specifically to protect your scalp from the sun.
4. Alternate Updos
If you are like me, and like to put your hair up often in the summer, try to alternate where you tie it up every day. Updos make awesome healthy summer hair. If you put your hair in a ponytail in the same place every day, the hair tie can eventually start to cause breakage and damage your hair. I try change it up every day, and sometimes pin my hair up with bobby pins, and other times put it in a ponytail.
5. Wear hats!
There are a million cute hats out there right now! Take advantage of it. Wear hats and even scarves some days to completely protect your hair from the sun.
6. Use a lot of conditioner!
Remember that conditioner is always your friend, year round. In the summer, never skip conditioner, and try to condition every day. This will keep your hair super healthy. I don’t wash my hair every day because it can dry out your scalp and since my hair is bleached, it doesn’t need it. However, when I take a shower, I just wet my hair and put conditioner in it, and then rinse it out, leaving it all refreshed and healthy.
7. Minimize heat damage!
Remember that the beachy tousled look is always in! Plus, your hair is already taking a lot of damage from all the natural elements, so try to minimize the damage that it will take.
Instead of blow-drying and flat-ironing/curling, try towel drying your hair. Put some mousse in, and scrunch it up. A good product for this look is Bedhead Candy Fixations Sugar Shock. You just spray some in your hair and scrunch it up for the perfect beach look.
I hope this helps everyone keep their hair amazing and healthy throughout the summer!
Do you have any tips to add to this list? I’d love to hear them in the comments.
If you liked this article, check out 8 Ways to Grow Your Hair Faster
If you want to learn more about hair, check out HAIR 101!
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8 Ways to Grow Your HAIR Faster | hwh<3
Do you want to grow your hair faster?
It’s a known fact of life: Girls are always changing their hair. They grow it out for years, just to realize that they want their hair to be short. After a week of short hair, they realize that they miss their long hair and start the cycle all over again. Actually, in today’s world of the “Justin Bieber Hairstyle,” a lot of guys are even trying to grow their hair faster.
Well, personally, my hair is still recovering up from a bad haircut. It was basically chopped into a mullet and has never fully recovered. Because I want to grow my hair long faster, like you, and I am sick of putting in my extensions every day (pic), I am going to teach you ways that will legitimately help your hair grow faster.
1. Try to keep your hair from damaging
The first thing you can do to help grow your hair faster is to eliminate sources of damage.
Just so you know, I am the *queen* of damaged hair.
I can’t even count how many times I have colored my hair black; just to bleach it back to platinum blonde again, and back and forth.
Within a year and a half…
The last time that I colored my hair platinum blonde, I committed to keeping it that way. I try to go as long as possible in between hair colors to give it time to heal. People ask me all the time how my hair is so healthy, soft and shiny, even though I bleach it. I am constantly reconditioning it in between colors. I really like the It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Masque. When I am at home, doing chores, I’ll put some conditioner in my hair, put a plastic bag around it, and leave it. Sometimes, I will even sleep with it in my hair. I also try to keep my flat-iron use minimal. If you do flat-iron your hair every day, do use a protectant /conditioning spray, like the HealthySexyHair “Soya Want Flat Hair Flat Iron Spray”, which infuses your hair with protein as you use it. I also use protein shampoo/conditioner often. Dumb Blonde by Bedhead is my favorite. Keep in mind that your hair needs more than just protein. I live in Nevada, where there is usually about 0% humidity, so every once in a while I use a Moisturizing Shampoo. My favorite is Bedhead Urban Antidotes Recovery Level 2. To read more about keeping bleached hair healthy, click here. You’ll never be able to grow your hair faster, if you are creating constant breakage. Okay, now that we understand how vital it is to keep your hair healthy…..
2. Trim Your Hair Every 6 Weeks
A lot of people don’t think cutting your hair will help it grow faster. And although, it doesn’t make it grow faster, it will eliminate split ends, which could lead to shorter hair. The best analogy I have ever heard is to think of your hair like a piece of rope. When rope starts to fray, you have to burn the piece that is frayed, or else it will continue to fray further up the rope. If you have split ends, and you don’t trim them, they may continue to split further up your hair, causing breakage. Breakage means shorter hair. We can’t have that if we are trying to grow it out faster.
You don’t have to cut a lot of hair off. Just be very sure to express to your hair stylist that you only want to trim the tips of your hair because you are trying to grow it out, and want the split ends cut off. Also be sure to let them know not to cut off more than a quarter/half-inch. The better communication you give to your stylist, the better he/she can understand what you want and deliver it to you.
3. Take vitamins
You probably always hear that prenatal vitamins make your hair grow faster. I have researched that topic a lot in the past, and it turns out that an abundance of hormones produced while pregnant is what really makes your hair grow, not the prenatal vitamins.
Here is a hair lesson: For normal people, at any given time, 90% of their hair is in the growth phase, while the other 10% is in a resting phase. This is why your hair grows uneven after a haircut. After the resting phase, your hair follicle prepares for the shedding phase. It is normal for anyone to lose about 50-100 hair strands per day.
The increased level of estrogen present in pregnant women causes ALL of your hair to stay in its growing phase. Therefore, you are not losing any hair (which gives the impression that your hair is growing faster). Hair texture and color have also been noted to change during pregnancy. Now keep in mind, before you rush out to get pregnant, that pregnant women lose a TON of hair after they have a baby. This is because the estrogen level drops back down to normal and they shed all of the hair that they didn’t lose while they were pregnant.
So even if prenatal vitamins are a bust, there are still other vitamins that help your hair grow faster. Vitamins rich in B-complex are known to help your hair grow a great deal. Vitamin B-complex contains biotin, folic acid and insositol which help rotate the growth cycle of your hair quicker than it did before. There is even vitamin B-complex shampoo that is said to help your hair grow faster. It is said that flax-seed oil, vitamin E, and vitamin A all also help grow your hair faster. Personally, I have used the Nioxin Vitamins that are designed for growing hair, and also “hair, skin and nails” pills, and have seen positive effects with both of them.
4. Eliminate factors that impede hair growth
Keep in mind that everything you put in your body comes out through your hair. Different types of medications cause different reactions to your hair. Sometimes, medications will cause a color or perm to not take, and also some can make your hair fall out. Your hair will not grow faster if you are constantly losing hair. Common types of medications that cause hair loss are Acne medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, birth control, anti-clotting pills, cholesterol lowering, drugs that suppress the immune system, epilepsy drugs, drugs used in breast cancer, high-blood pressure medications, hormone replacement, mood stabilizers, steroids, weight-loss drugs and thyroid medications. It does depend on what dosage you take and how sensitive you are to them. I don’t know much about the health industry, so I would recommend talking to a doctor about what you take.
Now medications are a hard thing to deal with because many of us need our drugs. But another thing to keep in mind is that if you are unhealthy, so is your hair. Eating healthier food, drinking a lot of water, not smoking/drinking alcohol are all factors that play a part in hair growth.
Another big problem is stress. Stress does a number of horrific things to your body but can also trigger hair loss. It’s easier said than done sometimes, but try to de-stress if you want your hair to grow faster.
5. Stimulate your scalp
There’s an old wives tale that states if you brush your hair 100 times every night before you go to sleep, it will make your hair grow faster. Not only is that not true, but brushing your hair is actually bad for your hair. The bristles get caught in small tangles and usually rip hair out, creating our enemy: breakage. When your hair is wet, you should comb it with a wide-tooth comb to help eliminate breakage.
There is something called “Scientific Brushing” that is said to help grow hair faster though. It is vital that you use a natural bristle brush and remember that you are brushing it against your scalp, not your hair. You brush all around your hairline first and then you brush in 1/2 inch subsections throughout your scalp. When you brush, do a rolling motion. The bristles stimulate and bring blood flow to your scalp, which encourages hair to grow faster. Do this before you shampoo your hair. I would also comb it first to make sure there are no tangles. Scientific brushing can also help with dandruff.
When you shampoo your hair, really massage your scalp. This does the same thing as the scientific brushing. Sometimes, it’s even better to shampoo your hair twice so you get a better lather. I would spend a few minutes massaging your scalp. Not only does it help, but it also feels good!
6. Nioxin / Invati
Working in the hair industry, I have heard a ton of good things about Nioxin. In fact, I had one client that specifically told me that it was so weird because hair was growing so much, and she had a lot of new growth. She couldn’t figure out why it was growing. I asked her what she used. She said “Nioxin”. I told her that Nioxin is formulated to make your hair grow and she didn’t even know that. Now she’s hooked on it for life. She will buy another bottle before she even runs out, so she never has to go without it. It works by detoxifying your scalp, removing and neutralizing toxins, cleaning out the pores, and reducing scalp inflammation. It also cleanses hormones from the hair follicle that causes male pattern baldness.
It’s a controversial topic if Nioxin actually works or not to make hair grow faster. The answer is it works differently on everyone. I’ve heard people say that they’ve used it for months upon months and seen no difference. I also know people who swear by it. It is not known if it actually makes your hair grow faster or just stops you from losing hair. Either way, I believe it works, and the fact that it keeps your scalp healthy, can’t hurt. I know that the best results are seen when the cleanser, scalp therapy conditioner, and the scalp treatment (which you spray on after you get out of the shower) are all used. I recommend a starter kit like this one. I also know that it takes a few months to start seeing noticeable results. I have heard people say that they think Nioxin dries their hair out, but my own personal experience is that it makes my hair feel very soft and hydrated when I use it.
Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that there is a new product similar to Nioxin, made by Aveda, called Invati. I can’t really tell you anything about it, but it is supposed to work well, and Aveda is at trustworthy name, so I would expect it to be good.
7. Eat a lot of protein
I know someone who is getting a gastrointestinal bypass real soon. The doctors instructed her that she needs to eat a lot of protein before, and after the surgery. The doctor told her that all the extra protein will make her hair grow faster. It makes sense, right? Hair is composed of 80% protein. If your body is not getting enough protein, it may not have enough to give your hair follicles, and therefore your hair will grow slower.
8. Rogaine
If all else fails, there is always Rogaine. Rogaine is the only FDA approved over-the-counter topical medication that is actually proved to make your hair grow faster. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and exactly how it works is unproven. It was originally a drug used to treat high blood pressure, but it turns out that it works better for growing hair than keeping blood pressure down. A 16 week study showed that 85% of people using it correctly experienced new hair growth. Only mild side-effects have been reported, including scalp irritation and itching. I say it’s worth a shot!
Do you know any other ways to grow your hair faster? Please leave feedback in the comments.
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