Hair & Beauty 2me like to invite our suppliers to share their knowledge and tips and today we’d like to thank Wendy French of Kithkins Mobile Hair for this post on natural hair care tips. If you’d like to add your pearls of wisdom too please contact us and we’d love to publish yours too!
Looking after your hair is not always easy…
Hormone changes, stress, illness will all show in your hair and scalp but may not be apparent for a few months following. It can take a long time to repair and sometimes hair never quite returns to its former glory. However we do have some control over this by giving the best care we can to help support healthier growth and condition.
Firstly; we are what we eat – and drink! So balanced eating with plenty of fruit and vegetables and drinking plenty of water supports from within and is probably the most important thing we can do. Exercise and learning how to relax properly, maybe by joining a class will help your overall health and well-being and in turn help your hair.
Good general practice is to be gentle on your hair; when you towel dry after washing gently squeeze don’t scrub! Using a T-shirt or soft muslin cloth is helpful. Comb gently through in small sections from bottom with a wide tooth comb or better a shampoo brush.
Reduce the amount of times you wash hair with shampoo. Conditioner wash, Co-wash your hair (no shampoo) as hair doesn’t always need it; surprisingly conditioners can contain cleansers too! Try every 4 -7 days shampooing and in between condition wash or even water and massage as if you were using shampoo and rinse again with cool water.
Ideally keep regular 6-8 week haircuts so ends stay thick and less likely to split. Consider a shorter style no longer than chin level as the extra weight of longer hair can put delicate hair and follicles under strain.
Every day: Tip head down and gently brush through with a natural bristle brush run fingers through to loosen any fallen hairs so they are not trapped in your hair.
Once a month: Use diluted organic ACV apple cider vinegar as nature’s conditioner; it’s PH is balanced to skin and hair. This will also remove any build-up of product, grease or pollutants in your hair and great for many uses as well as washing and conditioning your hair and scalp. Can be used once a week or even in place of your shampoo. Suggestion: dilute 1 to 2 tablespoons in a jug of warm water and massage through scalp and hair and rinse out with fresh water. Most supermarkets now sell this, look for organic preferably.
Use oils on your hair and scalp; great for a deep conditioning treatment and to use sparingly for controlling wayward locks or frizzes: Coconut oil, virgin, organic is best. This is great for so many uses! As a hair conditioning treatment, a skin moisturizer or to remove make-up and if you eat it/ cook with it is supposed to raise metabolism. Also try Sweet Almond, Moroccan and Argan oils on the hair.
Oil as a styling product: a little goes a long way! Rub a couple of drops into your hands and distribute through the hair concentrating on the mid lengths and ends and keeping away from the roots where oil is produced naturally. Use as a deep conditioning treatment once a month and rub liberally into the hair and scalp massage with a massage brush, cover with cling film or a shower cap and a warm towel and relax for an hour. Wash off with shampoo and see how amazing your tresses feel.
Little one’s will smile through hair brushing time with the help of a shampoo brush and detangling oil spray and beards (plus their owners) love some beard oil to soften and condition and help with itchy chins!
Aim to use sulphate and paraben free products or go for organic which will be free from nasties and great quality.
To encourage great scalp health and hair growth; once a month use scalp exfoliating products which help to rid the scalp of clogging skin especially if you have overactive sebaceous glands that produce greasy hair. These often contain salt, for compromised scalps look for gentler alternatives that include fruit enzymes. Homemade alternatives with sugar or salt crystals mixed with conditioner. Avoid sugar if your scalp tends to get irritated.
Leave in spray-on conditioners also can be really helpful to avoid greasy roots whilst protecting your ends. A salt spray can help build beachy waves. Texturizing sprays give volume and body. A light conditioner won’t weigh down your hair or make it greasy. Finishing creams, serums and waxes are all useful for smoothing and shine whilst clay and putty products give texture to your style.
Shampoo massage brushes are great for wet hair, tangles and children’s hair and tangle teasing brushes are a must for curly and long hair. Natural bristle brushes are kinder to all hair types. Ceramic spiral brushes give volume and hold the heat which takes the hard work out of blow drying. Sphere or ball brushes are great for body, smoothing, lifting, curling, without getting tangled in long curly hair!
Velcro self grip rollers are fab for giving great volume and curl without damaging the hair along with innovative twisting curlers that you pull your hair through to get spiral curls.
Massaging and ‘lifting’ the scalp for a few minutes also tipping the head forwards all help to bring blood to the scalp and encourages good scalp and hair growth. Using a head massage prong is helpful too.
When drying your hair; aim to let it dry naturally, gently scrunching and pushing it into any waves your hair has. Alternatively twist sections whilst still wet and leave until dry and gently separate with fingers. This is better than using heat on wet hair and brushing at the same time as hair is very stretchy when wet and likely to break or damage. If you want a fuller look then when nearly dry, section hair with clips, use a big round brush and gentle heat from a hairdryer to lift and curl.
For a smoother look let it dry naturally whilst gently smoothing it down with your hands. When nearly dry; section hair with clips, use gentle heat blowing down in the direction of hair growth and your first and second fingers like straighteners smoothing all down the length of the hair sections
For optimum care with heat stylers aim to use the same heat as your hands can cope with. That way you know you are keeping damage to a minimum after all hair is really like skin in it’s makeup. When tying up your hair use material covered bands and not too tight. Avoid tight plaiting and try a spiral band that’s kinder on hair:
If your hair gets very long and tangled at night; take sections, twist gently and secure lightly with socks (who knew!) then it will brush out easily or if you lightly use fingers you’ll have beachy waves!
A satin or silk pillowcase or bonnet is also very helpful for hair that tangles easily or curly hair. Regular material can rough up the hair whilst you move.
Colouring Hair: Think about leaving out chemical colour as natural alternatives can give fab results and also promote hair and scalp health.
Hope this helps!
Best wishes
Wendy x
