I know I KNOW! I've written almost more posts about my favorite hair products than I have birth stories but - I'm always trying new things and discovering different techniques and if I could corner you to talk it all out for many more minutes than you were comfortable with -- I WOULD. But, I'll write a, "reading optional, skimming required" post instead. I don't have great hair and I know that and I don't want you to think that I think that I do. My hair is very fine and flat and does not hold curl well at all. I can't go 98 days in between washes like the rest of the free world. On a decent day it looks like this and on every other day it's just up in a disaster of a haphazard bun. I use the majority of these products once or twice a week and rarely have to replenish or replace for that reason which is nice. My favorite hair guru is Kate because she has the best BEST hair as does Julie and her curling technique has been a big game changer in terms of time it takes to curl my hair and how long the waves/curls hold.
Alright, alright. Here we go.
1. hair dryer - nothing special. It has the different temperature settings and while my hair is really fine - there is a lot of it and if I don't dry it at least partially - it can stay wet for 24+ hours which is fun so I always blow dry it when it's damp. I use a round brush if Bosco hasn't run off with it (often) but right out of the shower I use a tangle teezer (people like wet brushes too - both are great for tangled kids hair too).
2. uplifting foam - I use a tiny bit on my damp roots before I blow dry and the bottle I bought a year ago is still going strong. I highly recommend it!!!
3. hairspray - this really is the best hairspray. It doesn't make your hair stiff or sticky but a light misting pre curl helps my hair to stay curled(ish) for much longer than if I hadn't used it. I also use it after I curl my hair and before I've kind of broken up the curls with my fingers.
4. curling iron - I was a wand lady for a few years but Julie brought me back to the iron fold. It works on my hair so much better and don't need anything crazy expensive to get the job done. I use a one inch curling iron because I've found anything bigger just gives me big waves that stay put for about 12 minutes - not worth it.
5. hair powder - I won't say I'll request to be buried clutching a bottle of this stuff but I do really, really love and swear by it. It's really important to only use a tiny, tiny bit and I only use it every few days or after I've curled it (which I do about once a week - if that).
6. hair oil - Again, a tiny bit goes a long way and helps tame frizz and fly aways. I personally wouldn't douse my roots in this ever but my hair will forever be an oil faucet so -- you might want to.
7. dry volume blast - I put some of this on my roots at night and then up in a super high bun in a scrunchy (a rubberband leaves a mark - usually). I like it more than any other dry shampoo that I ever ever tried.
8. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo - For the past few kids I haven't dealt with postpartum hair loss but instead excessively oily hair (it even got bad after my miscarriage so I'm fairly certain it was hormones on fire and not an issue with hair products). I tried the no shampoo method, baking soda, vinegar, a zillion shampoos and finally this anti-residue shampoo. I use it before I wash my hair with whatever we have in the shower (I really love the Foxbrim Shampoo and this shampoo for blondes) and it's the only thing that truly helps and gets my hair really clean. I can wear my hair down a couple days longer than if I didn't use it. I can go a week between hair washings but I hate doing that and actually like clean hair. I'd say on average I wash my hair every 3-4 days?
I can't believe I didn't get up to double digits here but that's pretty much it! So, SO simple - I know. I know. If you have any conditioners/masks or other products you love and swear by - I'd be much obliged! Please and thank you!!
Alright, alright. Here we go.
1. hair dryer - nothing special. It has the different temperature settings and while my hair is really fine - there is a lot of it and if I don't dry it at least partially - it can stay wet for 24+ hours which is fun so I always blow dry it when it's damp. I use a round brush if Bosco hasn't run off with it (often) but right out of the shower I use a tangle teezer (people like wet brushes too - both are great for tangled kids hair too).
2. uplifting foam - I use a tiny bit on my damp roots before I blow dry and the bottle I bought a year ago is still going strong. I highly recommend it!!!
3. hairspray - this really is the best hairspray. It doesn't make your hair stiff or sticky but a light misting pre curl helps my hair to stay curled(ish) for much longer than if I hadn't used it. I also use it after I curl my hair and before I've kind of broken up the curls with my fingers.
4. curling iron - I was a wand lady for a few years but Julie brought me back to the iron fold. It works on my hair so much better and don't need anything crazy expensive to get the job done. I use a one inch curling iron because I've found anything bigger just gives me big waves that stay put for about 12 minutes - not worth it.
5. hair powder - I won't say I'll request to be buried clutching a bottle of this stuff but I do really, really love and swear by it. It's really important to only use a tiny, tiny bit and I only use it every few days or after I've curled it (which I do about once a week - if that).
6. hair oil - Again, a tiny bit goes a long way and helps tame frizz and fly aways. I personally wouldn't douse my roots in this ever but my hair will forever be an oil faucet so -- you might want to.
7. dry volume blast - I put some of this on my roots at night and then up in a super high bun in a scrunchy (a rubberband leaves a mark - usually). I like it more than any other dry shampoo that I ever ever tried.
8. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo - For the past few kids I haven't dealt with postpartum hair loss but instead excessively oily hair (it even got bad after my miscarriage so I'm fairly certain it was hormones on fire and not an issue with hair products). I tried the no shampoo method, baking soda, vinegar, a zillion shampoos and finally this anti-residue shampoo. I use it before I wash my hair with whatever we have in the shower (I really love the Foxbrim Shampoo and this shampoo for blondes) and it's the only thing that truly helps and gets my hair really clean. I can wear my hair down a couple days longer than if I didn't use it. I can go a week between hair washings but I hate doing that and actually like clean hair. I'd say on average I wash my hair every 3-4 days?
I can't believe I didn't get up to double digits here but that's pretty much it! So, SO simple - I know. I know. If you have any conditioners/masks or other products you love and swear by - I'd be much obliged! Please and thank you!!
I swear by Kevin Murphy products. Kinda pricey, but they last forever. I swear I have a bottle of my texturizer that I got two years ago, still holding on. The Resort Spray is great, as are all of their dry shampoos. The rest of my taste is wayyyyyyy more drug store than yours (cheapskate alert!), but I love the whole Not Your Mother's line (dry shampoo, texturizing spray, beach wave spray) and I use John Freida lightening blond shampoo every time I was, and never makes my hair flat. I don't condition in the shower ever because it just makes my hair look greasy, but I deep condition once a week with the Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioner. It smells like Lip Smackers!
ReplyDeleteoh gosh I love drugstore stuff! esp in the makeup dept! I just get sick of trying things that weigh my picky hair down and it feeling like a waste of money. I love the way Kevin Murphy stuff smells! Need to try their texturizer!!!
DeleteI love posts like these! And I own almost all of these products, probably because I have read all your other hair posts! ha! But I am going to pick up that Neutrogena shampoo because my hair needs a good cleanse in between all the dry shampooing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! Many a hairdresser (stylist?) has told me I have fine hair and a lot of it- and pretty certain they don't mean it as a compliment. :) These posts are super helpful for that hard to style hair!
ReplyDeleteI have you beat in the oil producing department, I can only go about 36 hours without a hair washing because of the oil content of my scalp, it looks like i pour oil directly on my head, gross! But I am intrigued enough to try the shampoo you listed to see if that gains me a few extra hours!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNice list! Another clean hair product that I've been loving (first introduced to me in a birch or glossy box) is this Lemon Rinse product. I love the smoothing effect it has and I think it really keeps my hair cleaner longer. I assumed it was going to be super pricey but it's SO cheap and since I only use it once a week or so, it lasts me at least 6 months. https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Nutrition-Gentle-Clarifying-Treatment/dp/B00M7VB1IU
ReplyDeleteThank you for acknowledging the hair that won't curl situation, I have it as well, and I agree, the trick seems to be high heat, tight curl and product before curling. I also needed help with a purifying shampoo and the Christophe Robin Lavender Sea Salt Lemon scrub sounded heavenly and great to spur growth because of the granular action for those of us with oil abundance. Alas, the $40 (price for Christophe) was not burning a hole in my pocket so back to the youtube drawing board I went to hunt down a DIY version. I came up with this: a moisturizing Tresseme shampoo I had in the cupboard in a bowl mixed with a liberal dump of white sugar stirred in until it formed a thick paste. Took the bowl in into the shower and gently but throughly massaged my whole scalp. Kept on top of brushing at night followed by a loose braid for bedtime tossing and turning protection and my hair is getting back on track. Makes a nice scrub shampoo. But I agree on the purifying shampoo, its always good to keep one available for if the oil or product use got out of hand and your hair just needs a clean slate. I love Neutrogena T-Gel for when dandruff needs clearing up, much softer hair after than Head and Shoulders and only a couple bucks more. Thanks G:))
ReplyDeleteThank you for acknowledging the hair that won't curl situation, I have it as well, and I agree, the trick seems to be high heat, tight curl and product before curling. I also needed help with a purifying shampoo and the Christophe Robin Lavender Sea Salt Lemon scrub sounded heavenly and great to spur growth because of the granular action for those of us with oil abundance. Alas, the $40 (price for Christophe) was not burning a hole in my pocket so back to the youtube drawing board I went to hunt down a DIY version. I came up with this: a moisturizing Tresseme shampoo I had in the cupboard in a bowl mixed with a liberal dump of white sugar stirred in until it formed a thick paste. Took the bowl in into the shower and gently but throughly massaged my whole scalp. Kept on top of brushing at night followed by a loose braid for bedtime tossing and turning protection and my hair is getting back on track. Makes a nice scrub shampoo. But I agree on the purifying shampoo, its always good to keep one available for if the oil or product use got out of hand and your hair just needs a clean slate. I love Neutrogena T-Gel for when dandruff needs clearing up, much softer hair after than Head and Shoulders and only a couple bucks more. Thanks G:))
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! First off, I love your blog. You're such an inspiration as a mother! I was wondering, when you do the dry shampoo trick at night, do you exercise at all the next morning? Or do you only use that trick when you know you won't be exercising/sweating the next day? I've heard a few bloggers mention this trick and am so curious to know if it still works either way. This whole post is great, I am a flat, limp-haired sister! Thank you!!
ReplyDelete