After a long summer of fun in the sun, our hair can take quite a hit. Whether you’ve been swimming every day or hanging out in the sun, you may have noticed that your hair has acquired some damage. Even catching some rays can have a significant effect on your hair. Below are a few tips and tricks that can help you revive dry, damaged hair.

THIS ARTICLE HAS NO GENDER; FOR EVERY KIND OF HAIR.

I am not a professional, these are just tricks that work for me, and research I have acquired on my own.

What kind of hair do I have?

I have thick and wavy hair. My natural hair color is dark brown, and I have been lightening it with bleach for a little over a year. I have been dying it and playing with it since I was about 13, however, thanks to my hair care routine, my hair is still healthy and wavy.

For starters, using paraben and sulfate free shampoo and conditioner helps keep the wave in my hair while thoroughly washing all the product and dirt from from my hair. Sulfates are used to make shampoo lather, but they can have a severe drying effect on the hair. Studies show that parabens artificially mimic estrogens in the body, which could lead to additional fat storage, male breast growth, metabolic, developmental, hormonal and neurological disorders, as well as various cancers. A local dermatologist confirmed this to be true to her knowledge: “The more products that you use containing parabens, the higher risk for these things [above] to occur.”

Recommended shampoo and conditioner: Garnier Whole blends (I really like the milk and honey one) and OGX (Organics) shampoo and conditioner. Each brand has a series of scents and added ingredients that you can choose from. Each bottle contains information on what certain ingredients can help with, such as moisture, curls or frizz. I tend to avoid the products that have the phrase ‘creates the appearance of’ on the bottle, because I don’t want my hair to just look healthy, I want it to truly be healthy and radiant.

1.      Breakfast hair mask

Egg yolk (or egg yolks, depending on how much hair you have), plain yogurt (enough to make the mixture a creamy texture) and 2 teaspoons raw honey for every five inches of hair.

I use this mask before and after I bleach it to add the proteins that I need to keep my hair from breaking. I also use this mask when I’ve been flat ironing it or swimming a lot. This mask never fails to add the bounce and shine back to my hair which is why it’s the first mask I recommend!

2.      Washing the brittle away

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a dollop of your shampoo and scrub your scalp; wash out then add two spoonful’s of coconut oil to your daily dollop of conditioner, leave in 10 minutes then rinse with cooler water.

3.      Vinegar wash

Fill an empty 16 ounce water bottle a quarter of the way with apple cider vinegar. Add distilled water to dilute the vinegar, then tilt your head back and have someone slowly pour the mixture onto your roots, starting at your forehead, let sit for two or three minutes, then wash out with shampoo and condition as usual. Vinegar helps seal the cuticle of the hair, helping color last longer and making it look shiny.

4.      Less stress hair mask

If your hair is thinning due to stress, rosemary has been proven to be very effective at restoring hair follicles and stimulating regrowth. I add 10-15 drops of pure rosemary oil to my shampoo and conditioner bottles. ALWAYS PATCH TEST NEW PRODUCTS ON YOUR HAND BEFORE YOUR SCALP! Combine ¼ cup of coconut oil, two drops of rosemary oil and two drops of lavender oil into the same bowl. Mix well then apply to your hair, focusing on the scalp. If you want extra moisture, you can thoroughly mash an avocado and mix it in as well, focusing the avocado on the tips. Drench your hair in the mask before wrapping it with a warm towel (the warm towel opens your hair cuticles and allows the mask to soak in). Rinse out after 10-15 minutes.

BLEACH BLONDES:

A little tip I found useful for those who bleach their hair! All these products and masks tend to strip my hair of toner, leaving my hair brassy and orange-colored. I have an alternative solution to toning my hair that hasn’t caused damage the way that normal toner does.

I mix a few hefty drops of GENTIAN VIOLET in with conditioner and mix it until I reach the desired color. Play around with a test strand before your entire head; the goal is to cancel out golden tones to leave your lighter strands a shade of blonde instead of orange. Because this mixture works rapidly, try to work it into your hair as quickly as possible. It will begin to work within 2-10 minutes, depending on the brassiness of your hair. Then wash and condition as usual. Please keep in mind that, though I have been playing with my hair for six to seven years, I am not a professional. I have accidentally turned my hair purple by using too much of this product, so do make sure to test it first. If your hair does turn purple, try not to worry, one or two of these masks, a night of coconut oil in your hair and two to three washes will return your hair back to bleached blonde.

I hope you guys found this article useful, there is a photo provided of all of the products in the article! Feel free to leave feedback below!