New Year, New Hair (Routine)

I’m sure by now that we’ve all made a thousand new year’s resolutions about what we’re going to do different this new year. But what about your hair? What resolution did you make for your hair with regards to the new year? Or maybe you forgot that your hair is an integral part of your body and also deserves a change along with other aspects of your life.

Your hair is one of the first things that people notice about you and most times you probably get a lot of compliments on your hair from friends and colleagues. Having a good hair care routine is not just vital to your looks but also to your overall hygiene.

So, when was the last time you created a new hair care routine? Or have you been on the same hair routine? Or it’s been all about re-touching and rinsing with shampoo?

This blog post will help you identify and create a new hair care routine that is perfectly suited for your hair type.

But then, first things first.

Why Should You Start a Good Hair Routine?

Similar to what a healthy diet does for your body, a healthy hair routine does your hair good. So, you want to begin that new hair routine for the great good of your hair. A good hair routine leaves your hair healthy, well-cared for, and the object of admiration of the whole town.

On the other hand, when your hair lacks regular cleaning, for example, dandruff and other potential hair conditions won't be very far off. And when you have oil and a host of different hair products clogging your hair pores, nutrients won't be able to find their way into your follicles. Lastly, a lack of moisture leaves your hair as frizzy as an electrolyte ball. Frizzy hair is absolutely not something you'd be happy to deal with.

What’s Next?

It does not suffice to simply know why you need a new hair routine. You need to also understand your hair type and the routine steps it may or may not need. But do not fret. Figuring out what hair type you have is no big deal at all.

The following explanation will help you identify your hair type. Afterwards, you'll be able to carefully select the best methods, tools and products for your routine.

Hair Types

Generally, there are four different hair types, recognized by the pattern of your hair's curls. Your genetics also play an active role in determining the nature of your hair follicles, which in turn determines how much curl your hair has.

Type 1: Straight hair

If your hair is not in any way bent or curly but falls flat from its root to the tip after washing, then your hair is straight. Straight hair takes full advantage of the natural oil produced from the scalp (sebum) to maintain its straightness. And it can be fine, coarse, medium-textured or thick.

PS: When you give your straight hair some TLC, you'll find that it stays glossy and shiny most of the time.

Type 2: Wavy hair

Wavy hair has a loose S-shape and is about the most accessible hair type to manipulate during styling. It sits somewhere between the straight hair type and the curly hair type.

If you have wavy hair, it is because your hair follicles have a semi-oval shape. Your wavy mane could also be fine, coarse, medium-textured or thick.

Type 3: Curly hair

This hair type is characterized by prominent curls from the roots down. More often than not, it quickly gets dry and becomes frizzy compared to the straight and wavy hair types. Like other hair types, curly hair can be fine, coarse, medium-textured or thick, depending on its density.

Type 4: Coily hair

You may have heard people call a type 4 hair kinky-curly, natural, or zigzag. This hair type is usually dry and fragile and has a dense nature. It is prone to breakage due to lack of moisture. These shapes hinder sebum (the natural oil produced by the follicles) from doing its due diligence on them.

Also, coily hair cuticles are fewer than is obtainable in other hair types. You'll find that your hair may shrink down to 1/3 of its standard length and volume whenever it comes in contact with water.

Know What Your Mane Needs

Feeling your hair is the fundamental way to tell what your hair needs. By stretching it, you can observe if it is flaccid or has difficulty returning to its initial state (low elasticity). You can also check how your hair tangles and determine its moisturizing needs by observing its dryness rate.

No matter what your hair type or hair goals are, it’s important to invest in high quality products - this goes for both hot tools and hair care. What you use on your hair makes a difference in the overall health of your hair.

Things to consider in your routine

You may add to this list if you wish, but the following are a few things to include in your hair care routine:

Washing

Washing is often considered as a direct routine form of self-hair-care. Hydration is good you’re your hair, however, you may distort the balance in your hair's condition if you wash your hair carelessly. You need to pay attention to your hair type to know the products to use, how you should clean, and how often you should.

Always opt for warm water instead of steamy hot water, which exposes your hair to high temperatures that can leave them dry and lifeless. On the other hand, warm water helps to open up your hair cuticles for easy moisturizer penetration.

If you’re unsure how often you should wash your hair then check out this blog. When it comes to washing your hair, look for products that align with your hair goals. Hydration and moisture should always be at the top of this list. Look for shampoos that gently clean the hair without overstripping it. We recommend our Vegan Tourmaline Shampoo for this. 

Moisturizing and sealing 

Regardless of your hair type, you need to moisturize it. The scalp contains a sebaceous gland that produces natural oil to keep the hair moisturized. Moisturizing your hair is simply supplementing your natural hair oil to your hair from dryness.

Moisturizers are best applied after washing (which strips your scalp of natural oil). Always go for products that can penetrate your hair follicles, and remember to rinse with cold water to seal up the cuticles.

Look for products that are designed to add moisture back into the hair. This can be in the form of conditioner, hair masks, or even serums. Our Sleeky In A Bottle Serum, Rise and Prime Hair Primer, and White Truffle Serum are great for adding nutrients to the hair and locking in moisture.

Detangling

Detangling your hair can be a lot easier when you use organic detangling creams or a water-based moisturizer. The moisture in these products keeps you from pulling your hair too hard when removing tangles.

Spraying water on your hair is also an excellent detangling technique. Afterwards, use your fingers to pick portions of your hair and comb them with a paddle brush or a wide-tooth comb. You can also detangle with your fingers alone before using a brush or comb.

After detangling a section of your hair, hold them with clips or hair bands. This is to prevent them from getting entangled with other parts of your hair during the detangling process.

Conditioning (and deep conditioning)

Hair conditioning keeps your hair smooth, hydrated, frizz-free and soft. And since you'd instead not move around with a dry mass of hair on your head, you don't want to skip conditioning your tresses.

Conditioning goes beyond simply rubbing some chemical-laden hair conditioners on your hair and washing them off with water. You need to add some extra care to the process.

Also, you should go for light formula products if you have fine hair, and frizz-fighting products will do you a lot of good if your hair is thick. The Vegan Tourmaline Conditioner and White Truffle Conditioner are both extremely nourishing and hydrating, making them the perfect addition to your hair routine.

If your hair is  in need of an extra deep condition, apply the Vegan Tourmaline Hair Mask  from the roots of your strands to the tips. Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb to evenly spread the formula. Then, cover your hair with a shower cap for some 20 to 40 minutes. Afterwards, rinse your hair with cold water to lock in moisture and close your cuticles.

Protein Treatment

Hair is is predominantly made up of protein, so if you are looking to improve your hair's health consider incorporating products that are rich in proteins and amino acids to help aid in this. The addition of protein treatments will strengthen your hair and retain its moisture, helping prevent breakage. Protein treatments also prevent your hair from becoming dull and lifeless. 

Our Vegan Tourmaline Hair Care Set comes with our Tourmaline Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Mask. The unique formulas are packed with tourmaline powder, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and nourishing oils to help restore hair's natural moisture, repair damage, strengthen, and add shine.

Protecting and styling

Before styling your hair, liberally spray hair with Watch Me Werk Thermal Heat Protectant prior to heat styling.

After styling your hair, use a hair spray to set the style in place. Hair spray also gives a finishing shine to your styled hair and protects it from the wind, ultraviolet rays and humidity. Try our Hottie Alert Shine Spray or Freeze Please Finishing Spray for this!

What equipment will you need?

If and when you decide to begin your hair care routine, using the wrong tools can quickly pour your efforts down the drain. In addition to your hair products, the following equipment will come handy during your routine:

1. A Microfiber Towel: This is about the best towel for your – irrespective of its type. It has up to 200,000 fibers per square inch and can quickly absorb moisture from your mane. The Noa Kirel Hair Towel is our go-to.

2. Wide-tooth Comb: If you have type 3 or type four hair, you wouldn't want to do anything without a wide-tooth comb. It comes very handy during detangling and ensures that your products are spread evenly. The Curl Comb is the perfect wide-tooth comb for both wet and dry hair!

3. Hair clips: Hair clips, especially the big ones, help hold your hair sections in place while you apply your hair products. Sectioning maximizes your products and saves you the menace of uneven application.

4. Shower Cap: Covering your hair with a waterproof shower cap during treatment allows your strands to maximally absorb moisture and nutrients properly.

5. Satin Bonnet: You read right! If you'll not be wasting your conditioners and moisturizers, a good satin hair bonnet shouldn't be missing from your hair tools.

6. Flat Iron: A flat iron should be an essential part of your hair care kit especially if you have fine or thin hair. It's the secret to giving your hair the sleek, frizz-free outlook that you desire so much. Our Megastar Flat Iron is designed with our proprietary infrared heat and negative ion conditioning technologies, plus has an added infrared light strip and negative ion booster!  

 

How Frequently Should Your Routine Be?

Hair experts agree that there is no hard-fixed time to do your hair routine. Of course not; there is no one-size-fits-all routine frequency because hair type and scalp nature differ from person to person.

To find out how frequently you should carry out your hair routine, you can begin by self-experimentation. For example, if you have type 4 hair, you wouldn't want to wash your hair as frequently as someone with type 1 hair. And if you have type 1 hair, you'd know that frequent conditioning will weigh down your strands and lead to breakage.

Constantly monitor each hair routine step's result on your strands to decide how often you should stay on it. You could also experiment with different hair products, but ensure they're high quality and do not contain chemicals that are bad for your hair.

Do You Need a Reminder

Do you think you may find it kind of hard to stay faithful to your hair routine? Or are you already skipping the routine the way you skipped your weight loss diet last summer?

A reminder won't be a bad idea!

You can either make good use of your Google calendar reminder; your alarm system. Better still, tell your BFF to remind you to perform your due diligence on your hair. You can also pair with a friend with whom you can carry out your hair routine together.

Take a Peek at Someone Else's Routine

Are you on the verge of getting overwhelmed by the task of finding your tresses a great routine? You can take a look at someone else's. Don't worry; you won't get sued for plagiarism.

Frankly speaking, one of the easiest ways to find a routine that suits your hair is finding someone in your shoes – someone with the same hair type as you. You can always steal a glance at their routine if you love the results they're getting.

First, looking at someone else's routine makes the whole routine hunt easier. It will also give you brilliant ideas on how you can introduce a variety of their routine steps to get results unique to your hair.

Bottom Line

No doubt, creating and establishing a perfect routine for your natural hair can quickly become overwhelming. But hey, you need to know that once you find that ideal regimen for your hair, there's no limit to the good you can do for it.

Now you've been armed with the knowledge of your hair type and the right choice of products, you can go ahead and give your mane the TLC it deserves.