Irinä's advices for Beauty issues : September 2017

Hello butterflies!

Finally a hair related topic is here!

Me in Barcelona, Spain, March 2019

Today, I am really really happy and excited that we're approaching my favourite part of the year! The
blog is refreshed and updated (as it needs to meet the season's mood) aaaand I couldn't think a better way to celebrate it than a requested article. I always get happy to receive your heartwarming messages and your questions/requests are a high motivational factor to boost my productivity to the top! So, let's go for it!❤

My brushed hair after some oil application
after a lomg (and hair stressful) summer

I was recently asked about my haircare routine and how do I maintain my hair long and healthy.

That is a pretty good question. 👀

My hair is really light blonde, naturally straight and long.

This is the number one triplet of fragile hair since most women bleach their hair (leading to a dehydrated/fried texture), straight hair tend to get INSTANTLY combed even right after brushing aaaaand long hair usually get split ends which move upwards and ruin the entire length after some time.

My haircare routine isn't as complex as you may imagine.

There are just some tiny habits I always do and some things I try to avoid as much as possible.

Wanna get a closer look?

Keep reading.

DOs

I NEVER use the combo shampoo-conditioner as it is. I wash my hair max twice a week following this routine:

1) Scalp massage before hair wash
2) I wash with shampoo twice, applying shampoo ONLY on the roots, rubbing my scalp, then rinse.
3) I use a hydrating hair mask (mids and lengths) and leave on for 3-5 min in steamy conditions while i wash my body.
4) I rinse the hair mask with cool water, then apply conditionair to mids-lengths (conditioner closes the pores) and rinse with cool water which retains the hair shine.
5) Apply some leave-in hair oil to my ends and let my hair AIR DRY a good 80% before brushing them.

Note: Hair is super fragile when wet, so you don't want to rub, drag or brush it before it's dry.

I dont' dye my hair. I ONLY get a root regrowth touch up once a while. If you're on the same place, a bold DO is to use OLAPLEX. I was really concerned before trying it but I can guarantee that It never caused any damage so far, which is the most important since the root hair need to be as strong and healthy as possible.

I ALWAYS rinse my hair with cool/cold water. It gives them a really glossy texture.

I try to wash them less frequently. I used to wash them everyday! Now I stick with 1-2 times per week MAXIMUM.

I use a wide brush, appropriate for straight hair. Look up the right type for your own hair needs.

Hair protection during sleep: I brush them and tie them on a loose ponytail or braid with a silky scrunchiebefore i sleep. I avoid the extra rubbing between my hair and the pillow either wearing a silky bonet or using a silky pillowcase so that I have a much easier frizz-free day the following morning ;)

OIL IS SALVATION! I have a lovely professional hair oil which repairs even the split ends. It can be applied both on dumb and dry hair so I use it instead of any other styling product. Some drops on the lengths and ends right after showering, before sleep or before going out, will do the trick.

*The oil i use is from Montibello - the Essential Oil with Tsubaki.
** Another one I used in the past and was lovely, was L'OREAL ELVIVE ExtraOrdinary Oil FOR NORMAL HAIR. I once tried the reddish one, for coloured hair and it was a crap.

I apologize for the poor quality of the picture. Instagram shot.

OIL IS LIFE, volume 2. Besides the leave-in oil stated above ( I use it almost everyday ), twice a month I apply coconut oil across my roots, lengths and ends, I give myself a good massage, brush my hair and catch them on a braid. I let the oil sit for 8 hours MINIMUM, as it needs a lot of time to get in the hair. Works perfectly If you try this before bedtime and wash your hair the following day ^_^

I take care of them INSIDE OUT. The goal here is to supply your organism with the best fuel to build strong and healthy hair meanwhile protecting them from breakage/damage. A diet rich in protein, vitamins, ferrum and all the necessary nutrients along with the proper water consumption will transform the pace of your hair growth and make your hair even stronger. I workout frequently, since I changed my nutrition I immediately noticed the difference on my hair :3

As for trimming, a Finnish friend of mine once told me to only trim my hair on October and February. I guess it has to do with the climate change and temperature variation that make these months more suitable for trimming as the possibility of the fresh cut ends to split is smaller. I used to trim them a little every month but since last year I followed this advice and indeed my hair didn't break in the meantime. Also my trimmed ends were sustained pretty good even months later.

Hair repair is essential after a summer full of sea dives, exposure to the sun/sweat, high temperature and humidity. If you're still on vacation or planning to visit the sea/pool PROTECT YOUR HAIR. Salt (and sun) can make them dry and ruin their colour. Use some UV protection and make sure to ALWAYS RINSE OUT the sea/pool water off your hair right after getting out. A personal life hack: If I'm about to go swimming I apply some of my hairmask on the midlengths and ends of my hair. This way, when my hair will come in contact with water the pores will open and the nutrients of the hairmask will be absorbed. Another tip especially for blonde or coloured red hair, avoid putting your head underwater while being in the pool. I had a terrible shock after some visits since my light blonde hair got GREEN (!!!) ends because of the clorine. You can also use a protective PVC cup.

DON'Ts

Avoid hot water, heating devices and blow dryers at all costs. If this is impossible, switch the blow dryer to the cool air mode and If the use of a heating device is necessary ALWAYS use a suitable oil/serum for heat protection.

Avoid harsh hair dyes. If you're about colouring your hair try to find a plant based hair dye or one that doesn't cause any significant damage. There are kits of oil and masks in the market, to protect your hair during the colouring process. Montibello's SILAPLEX kit is a good recommendation. As mentioned earlier, for the blond kitties, OLAPLEX is LOVE.

I maintain the beige tone on my hair by using silver shampoo. If you do so, DO NOT let it on for a long time. It causes serious dryness :( I got this lesson the hard way as i had periods of excessively dry hair unable to figure out why. I put it on, massage a little and wash out immediately.

*Tip: If you really need some toning, mix the silver shampoo with some conditioner or white hair mask to make sure your hair are staying hydrated.

Do not over wash/over brush or be harsh on your hair. Be gentle and don't rub the hell out with the towel.

Stop pulling your hair into super tight ponytails. That's something i literally never do, the scalp needs to breathe. If this has been a regular habit of yours, cut it down and brace yourself: The headaches and weak baby hair will belong to the past ;)

We do ALL relate. 😂

Don't overstress. *laughs* Psychological stress can contribute to weaken your hair, reduce their quality and even cause hairloss! This is something I am still working on as well , and If you're a friend of mine reading this paragraph, PLEASE stop laughing!

And the following two are an aftermath of my personal experience:

Working out? MAKE SURE to protect your hair from the evil sweat. Sweaty hair get super combed and dry.

Having shoulder hair or longer? Be super careful while you put on your backpack/bag. The straps tend to pull and eventually cut the front hair strands :/ #personalstruggle

Aaaaaand this is the end of my personal hair routine guide. I think I included all the tips I use on my own hair here but in case i missed anything, I'll make sure to update this post. Thank you so much for your time visiting my blog, your messages, requests and questions. May this month be a total cleanse for your hearts and light up the way for more loving moments and emotions! Come back soon for more updates. In the meantime you can always have an eye on my daily-updated Instagram and contact me using the information below. See you soon!❤

Hugs,

Irina