5 Hacks for More 'Good Hair Days'
This post is sponsored by L'Oréal Paris, but as always, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.
Good Hair Days... I'm sure you're smiling along with me just thinking about them. They're one of those little things that make you hold your head a little higher & feel a bit more confident. I was actually born with pretty great hair (promise I'm not tooting my own horn, read on...), and had great hair days allll the time till about my Sophomore year in college. I wish I knew how lucky I was. But I didn't, so I didn't do anything to take care of my hair; I didn't use good products, sleep enough, care about what I was eating, and well, by the time I finished my masters my lucky, consistent good hair days were mostly over.
Thankfully I've wised up though, and realized just how impactful taking care of your hair can be! While my hair will never be what it was, I have a lot more good hair days than I did even a few years ago, thanks to some hacks I've made habits that help it look, feel, and be as healthy as possible.
1. Don't Underwash or Overwash
You often hear that overwashing your hair is bad, and it is. You can strip your hair of its natural oils, which keep it healthy and prevent it from becoming dry and brittle. But you don't hear as often to not under wash your hair. I didn't know this was a thing until I learned about scalp health last winter. I was trying to 'train' my hair to last longer and produce less oil between washes. What I didn't know was that our scalp has pores, and under washing leads to a buildup of dirt and dead skin cells... gross, and not great for a healthy scalp and healthy hair! Lately, I've been using the Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner by L'Oréal Paris. I love how they nourish but also leave my hair shiny and voluminous!
2. Don't Over-Do the Dry Shampoo
This follows closely from point #1... Not washing your hair enough often results in using lots and lots of dry shampoo to compensate. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver, but it's not a substitute for shampoo. Use when needed, but don't replace washes with it. Ever other day or every 2 days is perfectly fine for a washing schedule. Using dry shampoo to last longer than that is just going to clog your scalp's pores, which ultimately leads to faster hair loss. Yea, I cringed when I found that out too.
3. Use a Heat Protectant!
This is another hack I only started implementing the last year or two, which is really bad considering I use a curling iron to style my hair. While we're lucky enough to have hot tools that are getting more and more fancy, including technology that adapts the heat level to your hair type, styling with heat is still hard on hair. Lately, I've been using L'Oréal's new Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment. I love how it not only protects my hair up to 450º F, but it also repairs, conditions and nourishes, helping undo all the damage from using curling irons for years!
4. Use Products that Condition & Repair Hair
Following right on from point #3, it is SO important to use products that hydrate, nourish and repair. Leave-in conditioners are great for this, and I love that Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment doubles as a heat protectant and leave-in conditioner. You guys know I love and opt for products that pack a punch and save me extra steps, so this one is a must for my hair care routine. The Protein Recharge Leave-in Conditioner uses protein, what our hair is made of, along with almond to help battle the 5 signs of damage: Split Ends, Weakness, Roughness, Dullness, & Dehydration. I love how it leaves my hair soft, shiny, and nourished, but also strengthens my hair and fights so much of the negative effects of damage. I usually put some on after I get out of the shower and a bit more after I've finished styling, for some extra shine and hydration!
5. Hair Mask Regularly
I feel like this hack is one of my best! So many people underestimate the power of a hair mask, but they are total game-changers. Ideally, I try to do one overnight once a week, just using a shower cap over my hair so it doesn't make a mess. It leaves your hair looking almost as good as it does after a fresh trim, as it helps hydrate and mends split ends. Face masking regularly is a no-brainer, and I firmly believe hair making should as well! I love using L'Oréal's Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm. I see results using it for 5-10 minutes, but it really makes a huge difference when I use it overnight! It's powerful and effective, helping erase signs of damage while nourishing your hair! It also smells nice!
Hopefully, these hacks help you prevent the beating my hair took for years, or if you're in the same boat as me, helps you recover your beautiful hair quickly! Linking my favorite L'Oréal Elvive products I mentioned in the post below. If I missed any great hacks, or you have any questions, always feel free to share in the comments below!
Bisous,
Laurelle
