My Hair Care Routine

Considering the fact that I dye my hair quite often, and use hot tools frequently, it is almost unbelievable that my hair hasn't given upon me. In this entry, I talk about the hair care products I usually use. By the way, I have damaged hair with oily roots and dry ends; these products work for me, but I don't guarantee that they're ideal for you (disclaimer sometimes is necessary, isn't it?)

1. Shampoo
I found that most shampoos are not nourishing enough for me, such as Pantene and Garnier. I tried TreSemme too, but it's just ok. The best shampoo I've ever used and I'm still using is Olive Glossing Shampoo from the Body Shop.

When you use it, you'll see that the foam is pretty mild, which means that it's not washing away all the secretion on your scalp: because we need some to nourish our hair. It is the only shampoo that I can use without conditioner if I'm in a hurry. It is not saying that it doesn't clean your hair completely; it does clean your hair to an ideal degree. As for smell, it's very refreshing, almost minty. The biggest jar available retails for 15 dollars. Indeed, it's a bit expensive for shampoos, but the Body Shop always (literally, non-stop) has sales, and you get 10% off if you're a member.

2. Conditioner
Not surprisingly, I use the conditioner coming with the shampoo: Olive Glossing Conditioner from the Body Shop.

 The formula doesn't seem really rich, but it's very nourishing. It's especially amazing when it comes to my massive split ends. The trick is that you need to apply it generously. I mean, it achieves better effect if you use the same amount as you use the shampoo: after all, the jars are of the same size.

3. Hair Mask
My understanding is that hair mask is a kind of "ultra-conditioner." I use Pantene 5 Minute Strengthening Mask.

The instruction tells you that you only need to use it once or twice at most a week, but I use it every time I wash my hair especially when it's really dry for some reason. It won't hurt you if you use it quite often; in fact, it works really well for me, and it did rescue my hair. The instruction also asks you to dry the hair before applying the products, and then rinse your hair, which I find clumsy. I use it after I put on the normal conditioner, primarily focusing on the ends. Not bad.
 
4. Leave-in Conditioner
I only use it when I feel a need, but it's a good stuff worth trying: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Smoothing Creme.

 It gives your hair more shine and smoothness. I like using it before I curl my hair, and it makes my curls look sleek.

5. Heat Protection
TreSemme's Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray is the first and the only heat protection I've had. I've finished two bottles.

It smells divine!! It works amazingly too.
At first, I doubted its function, because I didn't understand why some liquid could protect my hair against heat. Anyone as cynical and skeptical as I am would say that it's just a new kind of advertisement. For this reason, I didn't buy a second bottle after finishing the first one. What I realize was that it became harder to dry my hair, and that the number of split ends increased. Therefore, I purchased another bottle, and these problems were solved. I mean, yes, I'm not a chemist who can explain how this thing functions, but I think it's effective according to my own experience. I tried to find alternatives, but many are more expensive, so that I just stick to it.

So, the items above are the hair products I usually use, and I hope it's helpful if you're wondering about these things.