brushing it would hurt) so a shampoo brush was too aggressive for me – but having now healed my scalp, I find that gentle brushing works a charm. LATHER ME UP My shampoo and conditioner of choice has been Noughty’s Get set, Grow! complete with the hair tonic. This product’s natural ingredients are there to stimulate new hair growth and to hydrate what’s already there – a double whammy. I’ve found that my hair has been noticeably thicker and the duo has caused a quick uptick in the number of new hair strands I have. The smell is also divine, so extra points for being delicious. The debate on whether you should rinse and repeat your shampoo is an everlasting one and, perhaps controversially, I sit on the side of rinse and repeat. The logic is there – the first wash gets rid of the dirt and the second actually cleans. But do with that what you will, and shampoo as often as you see fit. The key to make the shampoo do its job, is to lather before you apply to your hair and to give your scalp a jolly good rub when applying it. Don’t be afraid to really get in there and give your scalp a hearty massage. Follow this with a decent dose of the conditioner to rung out hair and apply to mid-lengths to ends (avoiding your scalp). Applying too much conditioner or adding it to your scalp will weigh your hair down and mean you’ll have to wash your hair sooner. Like the rosemary oil, you want to leave your conditioner in as long as possible to get the best results – I leave mine in while I do my shower routine. When it comes to rinsing out your conditioner, you want to do this with cold water, as hot water opens the hair cuticles and means you lose all of the moisture you just added. You also want to ensure you rinse your back after the conditioner is all out, so you don’t get any clogged pores leading to back-acne. POST-SHOWER RITUALS Now your hair is clean, it’s time to start the final phase of your hair care routine. Do not use your body towel to dry your hair, especially if it’s a scratchy one. Invest in some microfibre towels and dry your hair with this instead. Do not rub your hair too hard as this causes friction – instead, squeeze out extra water before getting out of the shower, so it doesn’t require as much drying and won’t get your towel too damp. Brush your hair from the bottom up and do not pull too hard on wet hair – it is surprisingly more fragile than dry hair and will break if pulled. Once your hair has been fully brushed through, I apply the tonic from the Get Set, Grow kit I mentioned earlier. This is applied to various points on your scalp and is then rubbed in; you don’t have to use heat to dry your hair after this, as it can dry with your hair. If you don’t want to use this, then I also have used and recommend The Ordinary Multi-Peptide serum. Once your tonic or serum has been applied to your scalp and has been massaged in, you’ll want to move onto hair oil. This is different to the oil we used earlier and goes on the ends of your hair instead of the root. I absolutely adore the Arkive Hybrid Oil and have seen such a difference in my frizzy hair since getting this. I have been an avid hair oil user for years and I’ve lost count of how many bottles of this I have gone through. Get your oil rubbed in and let this sit for around 10 mins; after which, I apply a UV and heat protectant (I do still use a hairdryer in my routine, so heat protectant is a must but I am slowly phasing this out). If you are choosing to go cold turkey on using heat, then drying your hair won’t be a concern, however, you should still implement a UV protection. Our hair is as susceptible to UV rays as our skin, so needs protection. Finish with a hair dryer or let it dry naturally, and you have just completed your new haircare routine! Tips for looking after your hair going forward is to sleep in non-harmful hairstyles such as plaits or a bun (held in with a claw clip on the top of your head) – or even heatless curls if you’re feeling brave! Next up, what pillowcase are you sleeping on? Run-of-the-mill pillowcases you get in bedding sets are breeding grounds for bacteria and cause lots of friction on your precious hair. Swap this for a satin/ silk one (depending on your budget) and make sure you clean it regularly – both your skin and your hair will thank you for it. This journey is a long one and will take a year or so before you see major differences, but it is worth every drop of oil, shampoo, massage and purchase for you to feel confident in being you! HAIR 59
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