HAIR
Spring Hair Detox 101
WORDS: Peter Minkoff PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied
As with regular detox, hair detox helps us get rid of all chemicals and toxins found in all haircare products: from shampoos and conditioners to styling products down to hair dyes. You, including myself, are guilty of at least one of these types of products.
If you notice your hair becomes dull, dry and frizzy, the possible reason behind this may be product build-up. All chemicals you apply on hair are trapped in the hair shaft and the shampoo (which also contains chemicals) won’t take it off. Hair detox can include using home-made recipes, special shampoos and conditioners and laying off the heat and styling products.
Trimming
Before any detox, trimming your hair is a must. Regular haircuts at your local hair salon are extremely important in order to keep our hair healthy-looking. Hair should be trimmed every 8 to 12 weeks, or every three months. If you are growing your hair out, cutting it a half an inch, or less off the ends is usually recommended.
DIY detox products
There are a variety of natural detox products and shampoos. Best is to use bentonite clay and a home-made shampoo made with liquid soap and coconut milk. If you consider a detox with baking soda, avoid using a shampoo containing baking soda, as well, since it can strip your hair of natural oils. Apart from essential oils, you can also use castor oil, or Argan oil and apply them after you washed your hair. These oils will condition and heal your hair.
Instructions
- Mix ½ cup of bentonite clay, ½ cup of Aloe Vera gel and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. Apply the mixture on the hair, put on a shower cap and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and then apply a shampoo.
- Dry your hair with a towel.
- Apply a few drops of castor, or Argan oil on your hair. Use a high-quality brush/comb, like a good brush to distribute the oil evenly through the hair.
- Air-dry it.
Overcounter products
There are also special over-the-counter products which can remove product build-up. Detox shampoos are special shampoos which are gentle and protect the hair during the process. A scalp exfoliator is also commonly used. You apply it on the scalp, massage it with circular motions and rinse it with water. After a scalp exfoliator, you should wash your hair again with a detox shampoo. Finally, you apply a natural conditioner to moisture hair follicles.
Laying off the heat and styling products
You should avoid using any styling products during a detox process. Otherwise, your detox will not have the desired results. Perfecting your hair with a hair dryer, a flat iron, or a curling wand is also not the option. Give your hair a break and opt for pomegranate seed oil, Argan oil, shea butter, or jojoba oil to style your hair. For curly hair, apply a styling oil on damp hair, wrap strands around self-adhesive rollers and air-dry it. For waves, apply a styling oil and braid your hair before you go to bed and unravel the braids in the morning.
Usually detoxing your hair three or four times a year would be a great thing. A detox session usually lasts around 7 to 10 days. Try to rely on home-made detox products from the above 2 to 3 times a week. After every detox, your hair should looks healthy, sleek and beautiful. You can continue using a lot of styling products after a detox, but less is more if you ask me. The less styling products you use on a daily basis, the shorter your detox process will be.
