Let me start off with the caveat that I have always had thick and healthy hair. Some days this is a blessing, others it’s a curse. It can be a lot to manage and that’s why most days it ends up in a hun bun! Although I do make a conscious effort to keep it healthy, especially since I colour it, and so I wanted to share my tips with you.

Wash It Less

I wash it no more than 3 times a week. If you think about it, the purpose of shampoo is to cleanse, which as well as removing dirt, it removes the oils that are produced naturally. Over-washing will lead to dryness, which will cause your hair to become dull and frizzy.

Condition It More

When I don’t use conditioner, mine is impossible to brush. The knots have knots and I have no choice but to get rough with the brush! This obviously damages the hair which does be evident by the lumps of it in the brush afterwards.

To make sure it is thoroughly conditioned, I shampoo it as soon as I step into the shower and put the conditioner in as quickly as possible. I leave it on as a masque while I do everything else (face and body wash, shaving etc.) and by the time I’m finished,  it will have had plenty of time to absorb it. You can find some of my favourite products here.

Down the Hair Tools

I think everyone will agree that the GHD is one of the best inventions of our generation but it should be no surprise that, ironing your hair with 2 ceramic plates at 230 degrees celcius, is extremely damaging to your hair.

I’m not saying that you need to go around frizzy but you need to find alternative ways to style it without putting a straightener or curler to it every time you wash it (some tips below). I also use the hair drier as little as I can (mainly because I don’t have the time or energy to dry it every time).

Go Au Natural

I never straighten or curl my hair with heat during the week. This is how I style it:

1. When I finish washing, I wring as much water as possible out of it.
2. Then I wrap a towel around it, gently so as to not break any. I leave the towel on it for as long as I can (until my neck hurts!). I put on some body butter, a face mask, brush my teeth (basically everything I need to do before I have to start drying it). This means that all of the heavy wet is gone, without the use of any heat.
3. Next I put an oil through it (see below).
4. Then I start to dry it with the hair drier (on the lowest heat setting) using my hands (I don’t use a brush). Brushing often breaks it, creating split ends, so I try not to brush too much.
5. When it is nearly dry, but not completely (this helps with waves), I brush it through.
6. Most of the time, I put it in a side plait or a top knot and leave it overnight.
7. The next morning, I always have lovely waves in my hair (if you find it frizzy, put some mousse in it).

Get Regular Hair Cuts

My hair wasn’t always long, in fact, I had it cut up to my ears a few years ago, and when I was growing it, I only got it cut about twice a year. Although it’s said that cutting often stimulates growth, I had my own views! Now that mine is long and at a length that I’m happy with, I get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks to keep it healthy and free of split ends.

Use Hair Oil

I use an oil every single time I wash my hair. About 2 drops is all you need (1 for finer hair). I have 2 favourites, the Kardashian Blackseed Dry Oil and the L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil for Coloured Hair. Neither of them leave residue. They leave your hair looking and feeling silky and shiny rather than oily or greasy. They both protect against heat, and are as good as each other, but if I was to pick one it would be the Kardashian Blackseed Dry Oil because it smells divine! If you want to try it before you purchase the full size one (which lasts forever by the way!), you can buy a sample size here.

To summarise, wash it less, use conditioner, keep heat away from it, cut it regularly and use oil. There you have it, that’s exactly what I do to keep my hair healthy!

A.K.A Rapunzel.