After quitting commercial hair products, I started a more natural approach to hair care. In this post I share my new routine, DIY products, and healthy habits.
My Hair Care Routine Changed
My hair care routine changed about a month ago. There are a few things that I do differently now: the products that I apply, the tools that I use, and some minor changes that I made to my diet. I want to share those things in this blog post.
There are some things that I have stopped doing and some things that I have started doing in order to help my hair grow. It has only been a month, and I haven’t seen any huge changes in my hair yet, but I am convinced that what I am doing now is much better than what I used to do before.
Things I Have Stopped Doing
I will start with the things that I have stopped doing.
No Shampoo Or Conditioner
I have stopped using shampoo and conditioner. I think everyone knows that commercial products — no matter how natural they are — cannot be shelf-stable without preservatives and additives. So I decided to quit using them completely.
No Styling Products
I also stopped using commercial styling products on my hair.
No Brushing
I have stopped brushing my hair with a plastic hairbrush. Nowadays we hear more and more about the damage that plastic can cause to our health, and our hair is no exception. So — no more plastic!
Things I Have Started Doing
What do I do instead?
Clay Washing
I started using clay to wash my hair. I use rhassoul clay diluted in water. It is not a paste texture — I make a flowing liquid and apply it to my scalp and hair with an application bottle. Then I rinse it off well.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses
Instead of conditioner, I use an apple cider vinegar spray, and then I rinse it out with water.
Oils
Instead of using styling products, I apply coconut oil and other oils to my wet hair.
Protective Hair Style
And for the last month, I have only been wearing protective hairstyles. I put my hair up in a bun or braid it. In order to help it grow longer, I want to protect it from breakage, which would definitely happen if I wore my hair loose all the time. In the future, I intend to wear my hair loose again, but for now I would like to protect it as much as possible and see if it makes any difference in my hair growth.
Finger Detangling And Massage
In the evening, I first massage my scalp and gently detangle my hair with my fingers. Then I use a wooden comb, and the final touch is brushing my hair with a boar bristle brush. This is a very enjoyable and relaxing routine that I recently started, and I love it.
Changes In My Diet
Concerning my diet, I have taken a few steps to improve it. I started eating a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds a day (I soak them in water overnight and add them to my salad or yogurt). I drink hibiscus tea. I also include more sweet potatoes in my weekly meals and try to eat 3–4 of them a week. In addition, I add 2–3 teaspoons of ghee to my meals every day.
What appeals to me the most about all the things that I listed above is that they are not supplements or heavily marketed products with questionable ingredients. They are real foods that will not harm you in any way, and they are full of goodness for your whole body as well as your hair.
Finding The Balance
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t see a lot of improvement in my hair yet, though I also haven’t experienced any negative results. Considering that I quit the most common modern hair products all at once, I don’t think my hair suffered much from it. However, I have to say that there is a little trick to finding the right balance of clay, apple cider vinegar, and oils for your hair. Since I haven’t been wearing my hair loose, it didn’t really matter that much. The main thing I had to make sure of was that my hair stayed well moisturized with oil.
I Intend To Keep Going
What I really love about my new approach to hair care is that it feels so natural and eliminates harmful products from my hair and skin. I truly enjoy making my own DIY products — it is so easy and fun. It has been about a month since I started this routine, and for now I will definitely continue doing it. I will keep you updated on how it goes on my blog.
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