I'm sorry, but what is today? Seriously. The days have blended together since we started social distancing. And honestly, it's a bummer. That's why we've been aaaaall about the self care to make this time a little better.
We're here to help you, too. This is the first post of many that we've crafted to help you take good care of yourself – and your hair – during these uncertain times.
When Was the Last Time You Went Natural?
The good news is that this is a great time to get to know your natural hair. If you've been applying heat every morning before work, take a break while you're working from home. Instead, let your hair do its thing and see what happens. Letting your hair dry on its own time will also give it a break from the near-daily blast from your hair dryer.
Investigate Your Curl Pattern
When you let your hair do it's own thing, you'll start to notice that it might curl up more than usual when you don't apply any heat. Learning how your hair curls will be helpful when choosing the right products to invest your natural curls. There are several curl types. You can find more helpful information on curls here.
Let's Talk Wash Cycles.
Does your hair get greasy after just a day or so? A lot of our clients complain about this and we always recommend the same strategy: adjust your wash schedule.
If you're washing your hair daily, stop now. Our advice? Use this time to train your hair to go longer between shampoos.
When you shampoo everyday, you are stripping the hair of its natural oils – causing it to become oily faster because it’s now trying to replenish the oils you washed out. Waiting 2-3 days if not longer helps keep the hair's oil in balance.
So... how do you achieve oil balance? We're not gonna lie. It's a process. BUT, you've got time. And trust us when we say it will be so worth it.
In between your wash days, opt for a dry shampoo. We recommend Kevin Murphy Fresh.Hair dry shampoo spray to get you by. Not only does it soak up uncomfy oil without impacting the health of your hair, it also gives your hair a ton of body and texture. Because of this, now is a great time to start experimenting with ponytails and buns.
If You're Hooked on Washing...
You can also alternate between using shampoo one wash and using Kevin Murphy Restore the next wash. Restore is a cleansing conditioner that is more gentle on the hair than shampoo but also cleanses the hair, making it the perfect alternative for someone who feels they need to shampoo everyday. One day you can shampoo, the next you can restore.
This is also a good alternative for people who sweat a lot when they work out. If your hair gets sweaty after a workout, instead of shampooing in the shower afterwards, try alternating between shampoo and restore. Restore should also be left in for 3-5 minutes like a treatment to get it’s repairing benefits.