Are your grays peeking through? Split ends increasingly noticeable? Times are hard right now during the quarantine and limited access to your favorite hair-care is not making it any easier. Rest assured, staying at home doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things we can do to maintain hair normalcy. Continue reading to get creative from home to fortify strong and healthy quarantine hair.
4 Tips for Stay-At-Home Haircare
Embrace Your Natural Hair
It’s time to adopt a more hands-off approach to your locks. Since you’re going to have more movie nights and dine-in dates, you can cool it on the heat styling. Heat strips your hair of its natural oils that keep it moisturized and smooth. It removes keratin at the follicle level, which can result in thin and coarse hair. Take this opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and try new hairstyles.
In addition to embracing your natural texture, you can appreciate your natural hair color. Take advantage of the break from color-styling damage to replenish and strengthen your aging hair.
Stay Hydrated
Since you are steps away from your fridge, there are no excuses for not drinking enough water. Drinking an adequate amount of water helps your body regulate your circulatory system, which stimulates hair growth and keeps hair strong and shiny. Additionally, a hydrated scalp reduces hair fall, which will result in fuller looking hair.
Get Creative with Items in Your Pantry
Believe it or not, there are nutrient-rich items found in your kitchen that are commonly used as ingredients in hair serums and conditioning masks. Boost your hair’s hydration with these natural at-home recipes:
Avocado & Olive Oil Mask
Avocado and olive oil act like a natural conditioner as they both harbor hydrating and strengthening benefits. Avocado contains healthy fatty acids that help promote smoothness and calm frizziness. Mash up one avocado and add a few drops of olive oil, and mix together. After shampooing, spread the avocado mask from your roots to your ends. Let your hair soak up the nutrients for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse thoroughly and condition as normal.
Coconut Oil or Olive Oil Treatment
Not only does coconut oil smell good, but it is also incredibly hydrating. Massage a small amount through your hair when it’s dry, focusing primarily on your ends as opposed to your root. Another great option is olive oil — put a few drops in your hand and run through damp hair to seal moisture in your strands.
Only Wash 2-3 Times a Week
When you over wash your hair, your oil glands over-compensate for the loss of oils stripped by your shampoo. This may result in dry and brittle hair. Instead, you have to train the glands to not over-produce oil, thus washing your hair less. You may be concerned about greasy and unclean appearing hair. However, there is no better place, than in the comfort of your own home, to train your hair. Greasy hair is much more acceptable on the couch than it is on a night out on the town.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2021.
