Do you like your hair?
Even though I receive a lot of compliments, I still complain about mine!
My strands are stick-straight, don’t hold a curl, and are nowhere near as thick as my sister’s hair.
Then again, her hair takes 45 minutes to blow dry, while I can do mine in 3 minutes flat. And regardless of how straight my hair is, it does have one thing going for it: shine! It also grows super-fast:
I credit my healthy, shiny hair to three things: shampoo, babying, and diet.
How to get Shiny, Healthy Hair
1. Use a high-quality shampoo. I can’t say enough good things about Desert Essence coconut shampoo and conditioner.
Initially, I bought this because—well, hello! It’s coconut! But it truly is the best shampoo I’ve ever used. Prior to trying this, I would buy the cheapest shampoo (of the brands that don’t engage in animal testing). I have “normal” hair (not too dry, not too oily), so I wasn’t picky about brands.
This shampoo normally sells for about $8, but I buy in bulk at a grocery store called Sprouts, when they have a 20%-off-all-vitamins sale. That helps. Plus, sometimes quality products are well-worth the extra cost.
2. Don’t over-process your hair.
I only wash my hair on days I run (4-5 days a week), and my hair-care routine is pretty minimal (basically because I am lazy and don’t want to spend the time with a curling iron or round brush!) After washing, I spray in a detangler. (Long hair can get knotty!) Then I comb the knots out, blow dry it for three minutes (or less), and I’m done.
In the past, I’ve done highlights a few times, and I’ve had three perms (only one of which actually worked; the other two fell out!). But the last time I did anything chemical-y to my hair was in high school. I like my natural color, so why dry it out by adding highlights? (I’m not ruling out another perm, though. Being a curly-top is fun!)
3. Make sure you’re getting enough healthy fats in your diet. Low-fat diets might be good for calorie control, but they wreak havoc on hair and skin! I prescribe large doses of the following:
Ok, maybe not large doses… but seriously, if your hair and skin are super-dry, consider adding healthy vegetable-based fats (nuts, nut butters, olive oil, coconut, etc.) to your diet. Even in the dead of winter, my skin is still soft.
Step Four: Embrace your hair, whether curly or straight! (I need to remember to take my own advice on this one. Do as I say, not as I do!)
Do you like your hair?
And what’s your hair-care routine?
P.S. Click the link for a picture of me with permed hair.
🙂
Just thought I would let you know that I made a boatmeal yesterday (cinnamon one) and it was amazing! I am going to make these for a while for an afternoon snack 🙂
Aww Katherine, I am so excited you tried it!! 🙂
This so serendipitous — I totally posted on hair today too! Ha 🙂 Although, my title is a little less inviting than yours… 😉
I’m not going to lie, I’ve always loved my hair. It has always done what I’ve wanted it to do. Straight, curly – you name it, it will do it. I’ve come ot appreciate it over the years!
Gah! You lucky girl! Seriously, do you know how lucky you are???!
Katie you have beautiful hair. You have beautiful EVERYTHING, let’s be real 😉
I have a love-hate relationship with my locks and I adore coconut oil for my hair! Also healthy fats – in large doses 😀 haha!
Love!
Meg
Coming from you, sweet Meg, that’s a huge compliment… ’cause if I remember correctly, you were in 17!!!! I still think that’s so cool! Oh, and also, I saw a tweet from someone the other day that led to some sorta contest you’re in? Anyways, I voted for ya :).
I wish I had straight hair! Mine’s half-wavy, not-quite-curly… and pretty rubbish really 🙂
You look really cute with curly hair; but it’s lovely as it is and so shiny!
I can relate, I can’t hold a curl either!
For like the first time in my life I can say I’m totally happy with my hair!
I mean, it’s dyed, hairsprayed, and backcombed to high hell, but I’ll take what I can get 😀
Ive done tons of posts lately about hair! I love the brand of shampoo and conditioner called Unite. It’s sulfate free, it’s certified vegan, gluten free, free from just about anything. It’s the only “natural” shampoo ive ever used that smells great and WORKS. Some natural shampoos dont really leave my hair or scalp feeling truly clean, this one does. And it’s super gentle on my hair…
Which is processed. Color/highlights AND a Brazilian Blowout treatment. Be grateful for those stick straight uniform locks. Some of my hair is wavy, straight, kinky, frizzy, a real mishmash. The BB helps to make it all uniform.
I will try your shampoo/cond based on your recommendation! Thanks Katie and your hair IS gorgeous!
Just saw you on foodgawker! Looooooved your little toffee balls!
I love your hair SO much. Everytime you post a photo of yourself I want to reach out and stroke it on my computer screen. Sometimes I do, because I am a weirdo and your stalker 😉
I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. Probably if I washed it more and actually used a hairbrush every day then the relationship would be more loving! 😛
Honestly, could you get any cuter/more hilarious? I jut don’t think it’s possible!
I do like my hair because it’s versatile. I can wear it straight or curly. I like it much better when I have time to fix it, though. I wish I had wash-and-go hair but definitely do not.
Ohmygosh girl! I love this post!!!! I wash my hair, condition it (which makes my hair soo smooth!), and blow dry it with my round brush and some root boost. 🙂
Katie, you hair is absolutely gorgeous!!! And you are so right about the fats! When I used to restrict my fats, my hair and skin really struggled. Now, my skin and hair couldn’t be smoother! 😀
xoxox
Kathleen
I will have to try out that shampoo i’m almost out of mine!
My hair is pretty thin and oddly flat yet wavy… I can also blow dry it in 3 minutes flat haha
Your hair looks great both straight and with curl! I don’t know tons of people who’ve looked good with perms but your curly hair was so cute! Thanks for posting this, I am looking forward to trying this shampoo! Vegan AND gluten free?! YAY!
Oooh you shoulda seen my first perm… no, really you should be glad you didn’t ;). It didn’t “take” and pieces of hair started breaking off! Never get a perm at a cheap salon!!
i do like my hair, it’s wavy/curly 🙂 i only wash it 1x a week, 2x at most and this grosses people out but hey i like dry shampoo! i eat a ton of healthy fat and use organic shampoo/conditioner. i try to let it air dry instead of blowing it dry which works out much better in the summer since it isn’t so cold but hey i only have to do it 1-2x weekly so i suck it up!
Great tips and advice regarding healthy hair– everything you touched on is so true. People don’t realize diet plays a large factor on healthy hair. It’s made of protein and other vitamins and minerals, so it’s definitely a record of how your diet is!
Great, love it, Katie!
Your hair is beautiful. I’ve grown to embrace my locks over the years. They used to be poker straight and I wanted them curly….then they went wavy and I wanted them straight!! These days I just settle for the “just got out of bed frizz-bomb” look. It works well for me as this haircare regimen actually gives users a whole half an hour extra in bed each morning 🙂
I have curly hair. I generally like it but I feel like I can’t do many styles with it. I condition it every day but only wash with shampoo maybe twice a week.