By Olivia Munson
Whether your hair is long or short, straight or curly, oily or dry, maintaining it can be a pain. With all the expensive products on the market, giving up may seem like the easiest solution.
But have no fear, here are some tips and tricks for healthy hair on a budget!
Feeling Good from the Inside Out
Think back to when you were little and you were told eating your vitamins would help you grow taller and stronger. The same principles go for your hair.
The top six vitamins for hair growth and strength are fish oil, zinc, B-complex vitamin, vitamin C, iron and vitamin D. These vitamins can be found in a lot of common foods you eat, so there is no need to rush to grocery store and buy all these supplements.
Fish oil, or omega-3 fats, nourishes hair and supports thickening, as well as reduces inflammation that can lead to hair loss. This vitamin can be found in foods like salmon, white fish, tuna and walnuts.
B-complex vitamin is specifically biotin and vitamin B5. These two work together to help rebuild damaged hair from over-shampooing, sun exposure and heat tool use. Vitamin B5 rich foods include eggs, chicken and avocado.
Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Integrate a scalp massage into your shampooing routine. By adding this simple tool, you can cleanse your scalp more thoroughly. A scalp brush can help promote blood circulation and stimulation, maximize lather, and get rid of remaining dead skin cells.
Check out this brush on Amazon
Don’t: Over-shampoo your hair. By doing this, you strip your hair of its natural oils. Many may think shampooing every day can get rid of greasiness, but instead you are stimulating extra oil product. Your hair will continue to reproduce oil to make up for the ones lost. If you have oily hair to begin with, like myself, invest in a good dry shampoo and wash your hair every other day. My favorite dry shampoo is Batiste because it is affordable and does the job just as well as other pricier brands.
Check out this dry shampoo on Amazon
Do: Apply conditioner to the bottom two-thirds of your hair. Start conditioning your ends and then work your way up. Stop about halfway and avoid putting conditioner near your roots. If you condition your roots, oils are prone to concentrate in that area of hair growth. This may cause your hair to look oily and feel itchy and heavy.
Don’t: Shampoo then condition. Instead, condition then shampoo. It may sound weird but hear me out. I have oily hair and I tried almost everything to prevent it — or so I thought. Once I started to reverse-shampoo, I saw a difference the more I continued to do it. Reverse-shampooing promotes healthier hair by moisturizing it the right way. The shampoo’s cleaning properties work on the hair and scalp without build-up that is usually left after conditioning.
To Dye or Not to Dye?
If you are like me, you love to dye your hair. I have been dying my hair since 6th grade and I feel like there is not a color I have not tried or thought about trying. With the help of some friends, you can dye your own hair without breaking budget at a high-end salon.
L’Oréal dye is one of my favorite store brands. Their semi-permanent hair colors do not require bleach and are ammonia and peroxide-free. They also have a vegan-based formula!
My roommate was going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disneyland but she did not want to wear a wig for her costume. She also did not want to permanently dye her hair. So, for her, I used the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color For Brunettes in Red. The color really stuck on her, especially in her highlights. Colorista fades in about 4-10 washes so there is no need for color commitment.
Check out this semi-permanent hair dye on Amazon
If you want a more permanent look, I would go for the L’Oréal-Feria dyes or Arctic Fox. These dyes are never dull and the color usually stays for about six weeks. I am more impartial to Arctic Fox dyes but recently, I dyed my friend’s hair with the L’Oréal Paris Feria Permanent Hair Color in V38 Violet Noir and I was pleasantly surprised. The color shows really nicely in the sunlight and attaches to the roots well.
Check out this permanent hair dye on Amazon
Preserving color is as hard as it seems. The L’Oréal Everpure shampoos and
conditioners are reasonably priced and comparable to big brands like Bed Head and John Frida. They are sulfate-free, light-weight and each product has its own special mission, like “Repair & Defend” or “Keratin Caring.” I have been using the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Blonde shampoo and conditioner for as long as I have dying my hair. It combats brassiness but still deeply hydrates my hair.
Hair care may be daunting but with my tips and tricks, you will be taking care of yours like a pro!
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