You ever have one of those mornings when your hair doesn’t cooperate? You add more product and maybe continue adding heat to the problem area, but nothing works. So, without a choice, you leave the house and start your day off on the wrong foot. We’ve all been there. Bad hair days can lead to bad days in general. But you can avoid this daily nightmare with a hair care routine that works with (not against) your hair type.
Photos by Riss Rahm
Know Your Hair
Fact: My hair doesn’t straighten easily but holds curl really well.
Why does this matter?
I remember as a teenager, straight hair was super trendy. I would spend so much time each morning trying to get my hair stick straight. This daily routine ended up damaging my hair because of too much heat and I still never loved the end result.
Over the years, I’ve gotten smarter. I’ve realized my hair does best when it air dries (leaving it wavy) or I blow dry and curl it. Learn from my mistakes. Stop fighting what you’ve naturally be given (the grass isn’t always greener!) and embrace a style that fits your hair type. For me, that’s long waves — keep reading for the hair care products and tools I use to get this everyday style.
Best Hair Care Products
Knowing which products will work for you starts with understanding your hair type. My hair is naturally wavy, thick but fine and can get quite frizzy. So, I look for products that…
A. Won’t weigh my hair down
B. Minimize frizz
And trust me, once I find a product that works, I stick with it! I’ve been using many of the products below for YEARS because they make my hair look and feel its best.
Shampoo & Conditioner: I am in love with the Hydrate line by Pureology — I use the shampoo and conditioner! Yes, it’s pricey. BUT in an attempt to spend less, I tried other shampoos and conditioners for about six months. I noticed a negative shift in the softness and shininess of my hair… So, back to the Pureology line I went! I don’t wash my hair every day, which means I don’t buy shampoo and conditioner as often as some people. So, that helps, right? ;)
Leave-In Treatment: Whether I’m letting my hair air dry or am blow drying it, I always add DermOrganic Leave-in Argan Oil Treatment. (A super small amount — a little goes a long way!) This helps reduce frizz plus adds a layer of heat protection before blow drying. I also love working a small amount of this through my ends once I’ve curled them.
Heat Protectant: This is such an important step that you CAN NOT SKIP if you’re using heat on your hair. A thermal protectant keeps your hair free of damage, helping it stay strong and healthy. My hair stylist always compliments how healthy my strands look — I credit that to heat protectant. This one by Tresemme is my favorite because it’s inexpensive and it works! I spray the product all over my dry hair before curling or straightening.
Hairspray: I only use a little bit of hairspray to tame flyaways, so I look for lightweight options. I love the Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray (smells like a dream) and Aveda Air Control (the perfect light hold).
Dry Shampoo: First of all, THANK YOU to whoever invented this stuff. ;) I rarely wash my hair every day, so dry shampoo is a lifesaver. I have two favorites! The Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo (shown above) and Lush No Drought. Both smell amazing and leave my hair looking fresh.
Volumizing Products: While I don’t use them regularly, I love the Aveda Pure Abundance and Thickening Tonic for when my hair needs a little extra oomph.
Favorite Hair Tools
Investing in quality hair care tools is essential to getting the results you want. A cheap hair dryer can cause more frizz. Using a curling iron not made with a gold barrel can result in your curls falling flat. Are these items an investment? Yes. But as with most investments, these tools will last longer than cheaper alternatives. (Plus give you a better end result!)
Blow Dryer: Oh, the days before I started using an amazing blow dryer… My hair used to take so long to dry and would end up a frizzy mess. But thanks to the Elchim 2001 (in pink, of course!), I can give myself a quick blowout at home. No matter which brand you choose, make sure it has a nozzle attachment to help you smooth hair in one direction.
Paddle Brush: The Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush is such a great tool to have when blow drying because it helps smooth out the hair. It’s also a great quality for the price. (I’ve had mine for almost two years!)
Curling Iron: I can’t get enough of the HotTools Gold Curling Iron (1 1/2 Inch) and love how well it works for creating soft, loose waves. After curling my hair, I use a wide-tooth comb to brush the curls out once they’ve cooled.
Questions?
I hope you find this post helpful! If you have hair care questions I didn’t answer, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram. And if you loved this post, make sure to check out my skin and makeup routines too!