There are so many factors that play into how your colour/style will maintain once you leave the studio. Your lifestyle choices have a direct correlation to your hair health. Now, what does this mean? We’re going to breakdown the most important steps in preserving your style that you may have overlooked.

1. Products

2. Routine

3. Exposure to elements

Products

You’ve probably heard us go on and on about the importance of good quality haircare products. That’s because we cannot stress this enough! The best thing you can do is check the ingredient list of your favourite products. You want to avoid products that use forms of ingredients such as;

- Sulphates

Essentially, sulphates are a chemical cleansing agent used commonly in shampoos, creating a thick lather. The association between lathering and cleaning is a common misconception. Sulphates are very drying, over time stripping away the hairs natural oils and thereby weakening the hair. Although your hair might feel “clean”, you are really damaging and breaking your hair.

- Parabens

These are preservatives used in products to prevent bacteria growth, prolonging the shelf-life. The consequence however, may affect your health. Studies have found accumulations of parabens in bodily tissue such as breast tissue, and the tumours of cancer patients. Additionally, they are said to act like oestrogen in high amounts in terms of the links to infertility and cancer development. You may do your own research to decide if this is a product you can live with.

- Silicones

You may have heard us mention that a lot of conditioning products just coat the hair with a waxy layer. This is because of silicones. It is used in products to act as a protective seal, however, sealing the hair cuticles will prevent moisture from entering and therefore drying out your hair over time.

- Denatured alcohols

Alcohols can be extremely drying to the hair and scalp when applied too often or in copious amounts. If you feel like no matter what you use on your hair it still always seems dry, try checking the ingredient lists of the products you’re using. If an alcohol is one of the first ingredients, it should be time to let it go.  

Hairaddictz believes in a natural approach to our beauty routines. All of our products are free of sulphates, parabens, and silicones. Instead, we use natural ingredients to nourish the hair. It all starts with a good base. Here are some ingredients we use and believe in;

• Abyssinian oil: improves manageability, shine, moisture, has anti-fungal properties, and is easily absorbed by the hair ​​​​
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• Castor oil: works to strengthen strands and nourish scalp, thereby promoting hair growth​​​​​​​​
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• Argan oil: moisturizes your hair from scalp to ends, and protects your hair from everyday damage​​​​​​​​
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• Macadamia oil: is lightweight and helps calm any frizz, tangles, and dullness​​​​​​​​
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• Jojoba oil: is rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish hair, such as vitamin C, E, and B vitamins, copper, and zinc, which can prevent hair loss and promote hair thickness​​​​​​​​

Routine

The way you treat your hair on a daily basis is undoubtedly going to affect the preservation of your style. Washing your hair too soon or too often can strip the pigment from your hair. We suggest washing your hair 1-2 times a week if you can, always making sure you are thoroughly rinsing the product from your hair. We recommend sectioning the hair when washing, brushing, or applying product, to ensure you are concentrating on the correct areas.

It is also very important to use moisturizing products, such as hydrating treatments/masks once a week, and using some form of a leave-in conditioner or hair serum after every wash. Keep a hair mask in the shower and make it a part of your weekly routine. You can also upkeep moisture in between washes by using a hair oil. If you have oily hair and are fearful of moisturizing products, try applying the product starting at the very ends of your hair and working up, sectioning as necessary.

When drying your hair, you should try to use a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt. Regular towels create too much friction causing your hair to frizz and/or break. You should never blow dry or heat style your hair right away, you should always try to let your hair air dry at least 80% if possible. Always make sure you dry your roots thoroughly.

It is important to not only brush your hair, but to use a good quality brush. We covered all things brushes and what to look for in our last blog post. READ HERE. Brush your hair frequently, and always start from bottom to top.

Lastly, touching back on the importance of the quality of products you use, avoid hair spray or styling products containing high alcohol contents (i.e. alcohol is high on the list of ingredients), as this will dry out your hair. If you are interested in learning more about alternatives to high alcohol content styling/finishing products, leave us a comment on our Instagram page. 

Environment

Hair is comprised of keratin fibers, consisting of mostly proteins and some lipids and other compounds. Proteins are the building blocks contributing to the overall strength of your hair. Your hair is structured in 3 layers- cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is the cuticle, which is a protective coat. This coat endures wear and tear everyday through various activities other than washing, brushing, or heat styling, such as pollution and UV exposure.

Sun exposure and UV radiation can penetrate the cuticle and cortex layers. This in turn causes a loss of some proteins, lipids, and melanin. UVA is associated with causing changes in the colour of your hair, where very light hair such as blonde or grey hair, has low melanin and is even more vulnerable to this damage. You can limit the amount and length of exposure to your hair in order to help preserve colour and prevent dryness. There are certain heat protectors that have some form of UV protection built-in, however it is still best to limit your exposure when you can.

It is very difficult to escape the effects of pollution and sun exposure on our hair, especially in the summer season, so try your best to find some shade when you can. Never spray sunscreen on your hair! Sunscreen will very likely react with blonde hair and create a peachy/orange tone in your hair, so avoid spraying near or contact with your hair when applying. If your planning on swimming this summer, there are a few things you can do to protect your hair. Firstly, you can rinse with freshwater and apply a leave-in conditioner before going in the pool or ocean. To prevent tangles, try braiding your hair before going in the water. After you’re done, try to shampoo and condition your hair as soon as possible.

Taking these steps will ensure that you are doing your best to preserve your style at home. Overtime your style will fade and grow out naturally, which is inevitable. However, creating routines and taking some precautions will allow you to control the amount of time in between your visits.