Do What I Say: Hair Edition

image from weheartit.com

I'm starting a new feature here at Tzipporit Industries, "Do What I Say." It is comprised of lists of tips of a relating theme from good ideas and tried-and-true methods I've gathered from a variety of sources that help me in my everyday life that hopefully will do the same for you!

Lately I've had a few friends who have asked for advice relating to haircare and I found myself repeating a few things. It also got me thinking about all the tips and tricks I've gathered over the years. I have done everything to my hair but bleach it, get dreadlocks, or shave it. I've had it from waist-length to pixie cut and I've been dying it for years. Lately, having long, dyed hair forces me to take good care of it, which is why I have all this to share. I'm sure some of these things you have heard before but I figured I'd just share...

• If you trim your own bangs do it not just when they are dry but also when they have been recently cleaned. That way they will be at their highest, keeping you from cutting too much.
• When you wash your hair, use shampoo at the roots to about midlength, skimming down from midlength to roots with just a light amount, and condition mid-length to roots to keep your roots from getting greasy.
• My hair is about six inches past my shoulders and I shampoo and condition every other day. I shampoo but not condition my bangs every day. When I don't wash it I wear a shower cap to keep the rest from getting wet in the shower.
• When my hair was shorter than shoulder length and I wore it curly I would shampoo my hair every other day and condition and rinse every day. That kept my hair from being over clean but the conditioner kept the curls moisturized and restructure what curls had grown limp after the first day.
• Why spend a lot of money on dry shampoo? The active ingredient in most is corn starch, and a giant container of it is 5% of the price of fancy stuff and absorbs a lot of grease (so use sparingly!). Baby powder is a less-absorbent alternative for hair that is just starting to get oily. Rub it into the scalp and work out lightly, just like when you shampoo. Brush your hair as needed, especially if you need to distribute it further.
• If your hair is dyed, the main thing that fades hair colour is not rampant shampooing, but UV rays! Make sure you use a UV protector spray, like L'Oreal EverPure UV Protect Spray from their new sulfate-free, vegan, not tested on animals line. It smells amazing, too.
• When I dye my hair red the box always suggests I leave it in for 25 minutes. I always leave it in for at least 40 minutes. It's a darker red for the first week, and then fades into the colour on the box! It doesn't over-process my hair, especially if I make sure to condition thoroughly when rinsing out the dye.
• I blow dry my hair every day so I absolutely have to use a protecting product aside from my styling lotion- and you should, too! I use Tresemme's Heat Tamer Protective Spray. It's cheap and isn't tested on animals!
• Another way to prevent split ends is to put my hair up every time I leave the house. I rarely do my hair in an updo, but I pull my hair into a low chignon before I leave the house (and if it's cold, top it off with a cozy beret). When I get to work or wherever I just undo my hair and viola- no tangles, my hair hasn't poofed up if it's humid, and my hair is nice and soft.
• I also pull my hair back when I sleep into a loose plait. It keeps the hair from getting tangled in my sleep and from my hair's oils irritating my face. I also pin back my bangs for the latter reason.
• When I rinse out my hair in the shower, no matter how painful, I always do a very very cold rinse. It keeps my hair from getting frizzy and ups the shine. It also blocks my follicles from getting nastified by whatever products I put in it- think of it as primer for your locks.
• If you end up getting too much gunk in your hair and it feels limp and gross, do an apple cider vinegar rinse in lieu of your regular shampoo. I dilute 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 1/2 cups filtered warm water and follow by conditioning/cold rinsing as usual. I've never had a problem with it affecting my hair colour, either.

Phew! I hope this list proved helpful. Does anyone have any tricks they would add to my list?