Hair loss, hair thinning, hair growth, hair health. Thanksgiving 2021 is when i first recognized that my once thick and volumous hair was suddenly dull and thin. Kinda freaked out. These were issues I never thought about let alone struggled with, so it was all new territory. I’m not a huge fan of social media- it can be so addicting with the constant scrolling, not realizing you’ve been staring down at a screen for 2+ hours when there’s so many other things you could be doing. However- I am grateful for Instagram and Youtube because it taught me SO much about this problem and what I can do to fix it.
We’re all busy and I’m currently knocking this blog out as my toddler naps next to me so I’m going to get right into it. Here’s what I did to slowly but surely transform my hair. But before I start I will say, you have to be PATIENT. Hair growth takes time. I’m still not where I want to be with my hair BUT it is SO much better than it was a year ago. Just keep going and acknowledge the little (still significant) milestones!
- The first thing I did was reduce HEAT on my hair. I tried going cold turkey- air drying but that look was not it for me and only led to me constantly messing with my hair and creating a whole lot of frizz. If air drying works for you, go for it. Instead, I air dry my hair about 80%, then gently go through it with the hair dryer brush and finish it off with hot rollers.
I used to straighten my hair EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Hence the hair damage I’m now working to repair. After experimenting with different methods (air drying, heatless curls, curly girl method, wavy girl method, etc.) I’ve found that the hot rollers work best for me right now. Based on what I’ve read, it is less damaging compared to a curling or straightening iron, and the curls/volume really last! So I’m all for it, but to each their own. - Hair Oiling. Going on 6 months of oiling my hair 1-2 times a week and it really has made a difference in the growth and shine of my hair. Below is what I use to stimulate hair growth:
- Rosemary Oil
- Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Clove Oil
- Amla Oil
- Castor Oil
What I do is mix these oils together in a bowl, and evenly distribute it on my scalp with a dropper. Massage the oils into my scalp for a couple of minutes to help further stimulate hair growth and leave on for 1 1/2-3 hours. You can also put a cap on your head to protect it from dirt and other environmental factors, or even warm up a microfiber towel to wrap on your head to have a little extra heat for the oils. Based on what I’ve read, it is NOT recommended to sleep overnight with oils in your head.
Once it’s time, rinse the oils out and follow your typical shampooing hair care routine. These days I’ve been shampooing 2x to ensure I’ve gotten most of the oil out, then proceed to use a clarifying shampoo. Right now I’m using an Apple Cider Vinegar based one and it has been amazing! I move onto using a moisturizing hair mask for about 10 minutes, then it’s onto conditioning and ending with a leave in conditioner.
I still follow the wavy girl method from time to time, but until my hair thickens out more I’ll mostly be using the rollers. Can share the wavy girl method and products I’ve followed and used later on if anyone is interested.
3. Nutrition and overall health is another thing I’m constantly making a priority. Being a busy mom it can be hard for us to take care of ourselves, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Taking vitamins, going to the doctor to get bloodwork to see if there are any deficiencies, eating whole, nutritious foods, staying hydrated, and also making sure our mental health is doing well is so important. Stress and anxiety can be factors in hair loss as well and I don’t know about you but keeping up with these kids can definitely be stressful sometimes! Keeping that in check will not only benefit our overall health but will also make us feel better.
4. The final thing I’ve changed to help in better caring for my hair is how I sleep. Every night I make sure I’m sleeping on a silk pillowcase as it helps in reducing frizz and hair damage. You can also wrap your hair in a silk scarf, bonnet, or tie it up in a loose bun or ponytail to help with frizz control and such.
I hope this was helpful, I felt very lost in the beginning of my hair journey but have learned so much through researching what works, hearing other peoples stories, and trying for myself to see what works for my hair and what doesn’t! It’s a journey, stay patient, it will get better.
