Good morning everyone and happy Monday! I wanted to finally put this blog post out because I straightened & blow dried my hair for the first time in 13 months! And whoa!!!! It was so long & healthy when I straightened it. I definitely felt proud that I had "let it be" for so long.
Now, I do love how easy it is to manage my hair when it's straight so I'll be blow drying & straightening (flat iron) it sometimes but I for sure will not make it a routine because my hair suffered some major damage over the years from heat.
I just wanted to share the process with you all because some were asking & others would like to try it too.
The Background: so my hair has had a relaxer (7years ago), Keratin treatment many times (2 years ago), & I used just over the counter conditioner & shampoo. I also straightened my hair/blow dried 1-2x per week.
The process: I made a commitment to 1 year heat free. This meant no blow dryer of any kind, no curlers, no curling iron & no straightener. So what DID I do?
1. Washed & conditioned my hair 1x per week.
2. Never brushed my hair while it was dry.
3. Use minimal but nourishing products.
Before & After:
May 2014----
February 2015:
Spring 2015:
I was pregnant in 2014 & had cut my hair fairly short. The summers in Houston are hot & I didn't really want to have long hair. My hair was pretty healthy & chemical free, & grew quite a bit after the cut.
In 2015, after I had my son my hair suffered a lot. I did not put any chemicals or cut my hair but I suffered major hair loss. As you can see in one photo, the front of my hair was balding quite a bit. My hair would just fall out in chunks & it was so dis-heartening for me. I knew it was common during & after pregnancy to lose hair so I tried to remain positive.
In the summer of 2015 I started researching natural hair benefits, what heat can do to your hair, what chemicals & products have ingredients that are harmful, etc. I decided that I would spend 1 full year not putting any heat on my hair & see if it grew any or became healthier...and it did! Over the past year my hair has grown 8 inches & feels softer & stronger. Of course the hair loss subsided & that probably was a shift in hormones after pregnancy, but I know the growth & health was due to no heat & more natural products. So what do I use?
Products:
I wash my hair with the Deva Curl no poo condition cleanser. All DevaCurl products are 100% sulfate, paraben and silicone free. :) This really gets the "funk" out of my hair & leaves me with a nice peppermint smell & cleansed feel.
After washing, I brush with the wet brush immedietly & apply a little Argan oil throughout. I also put a small amount of coconut oil on the dry areas. For many, coconut oil is a great all around moisturizer & styler. For my hair, coconut oil really weighs down & over oils my hair (which is already oily).
I then twist my hair in several parts, roll it into a pineapple bun with a scrunchie hair tie, or braid my hair & sleep with a head wrap or let it air dry. I style it based on what I'll be doing. If I am going out I'll braid or do a fun style. If I'm just lounging I'll bun it! :)
My favorite styling products are the Deva Curl & Shea Moisture brands. Both of those really help bring out the curls in my hair & are soft & nourishing.
Less is for sure more when it comes to hair & products. After washing & styling, my curls would last a good 3 days with just little touch ups of product needed on my edges & tips of my hair. In between a week of washing, I would only do one full style with products & then touch ups probably 2-3 times during the week.
I really enjoyed my year of no heat & saw how much growth & strength my curls could have if I just left them alone! I also learned a lot about chemicals in certain products that were doing damage to my hair. I hope I helped answer any questions & maybe encouraged you to try for yourself.
*i do believe in routine haircuts, they are great for your hair. I just chose during this time to not cut my hair.
*i am not sponsored by any of these products, I just really love them all & know what a difference they made for me the past year.
Xo
-Morgan
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