My tips, tricks and non-negotiables for healthy hair
Talking hair is so easy for me, I was a hairstylist (in what feels like a past life at this point) when I first got licensed. I get asked about my hair care routine almost daily. Disclaimer: I am a natural blonde with super healthy hair so don’t hate me. I feel like the fact that I have wavy/curly hair that has never been colored is a main contributing factor to this easy breezy hair of mine, but let's get started.
THE MOST COMMON QUESTION: “WHY WON’T MY HAIR GET THAT LONG? IT GETS TO A CERTAIN LENGTH AND STOPS GROWING”
The short answer: Yes, it's true that hair tends to reach a certain length and then seems to stop growing. Unfortunately, I don’t make the rules! The science is quite simple: each person's hair has a different lifespan. If your hair remains in its follicle for a long time before falling out, you can achieve length similar to mine. If it falls out sooner, new growth begins, limiting how long your hair can get. Unfortunately, mine will never reach my ankles!
ANOTHER COMMON QUESTION: “HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR SO LONG?”
I TRULY ONLY CUT MY HAIR ONCE A YEAR AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WAIT TWO! If you really want to grow out your hair, I always suggest you stop cutting it for at least a year to see what kind of growth you can actually get. Then you can make your decision (if you make it that far).
GO-TO SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
I have been using Maria Nila Heal shampoo and conditioner twice a week for the past couple years now. My flaky scalp has improved and the hair is out to play. This became my go-to after trialing so many all-natural options that were not cutting it. however, recently i have begun trialing all-natural options again and so far i am obsessed with the unscented Viori SHampoo and conditioner bars. my hair feels strong, soft, clean but not stripped and by day 3 i don’t even need to use any dry shampoo! the balance these bars have brought to my scalp is insane! no flakes and no build-up in sight. the perk of basically no packaging is also a huge bonus for me. hello environmentally friendly!
GO-TO DRY SHAMPOO: JUST INGREDIENTS
Now I will not pretend it isn’t hard for me on these in-between days when I am feeling the weight settle in. I feel like my hair looks dark and gross. Insert dry shampoo. But ew! I hate dry shampoo and always have, what do you mean put a bunch of shit on my already heavy dirty hair?! Not to mention how (no pun intended) drying it is for my scalp! I am trying to heal my scalp after all. But I have your back and I am here to tell you I have found the solution: Just Ingredients all-natural dry shampoo. It doesn't feel thick and cakey, it doesn’t dry out my scalp at all and it smells good (vanilla mint mmm). I have come to find myself finally understanding the dry shampoo craze.
WEEKLY TREATMENT: OLIVE OIL
Sounds crazy but trust me. There are so many hair treatments and deep conditioning treatments out there and most of them are filled with chemicals and ingredients that actually do the opposite of what they’re advertising. Keep it simple and keep it clean. Olive oil is so nutrient dense it's packed with beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants that can help to nourish and protect your hair. You can use it as a scalp treatment, as a leave-in conditioner, and even as a styling product to whisk away that frizz.
There you have it, the complete guide to the Tanna Rae hair care routine. a few easy products and low to no maintenance. If you have curly/wavy hair like mine I would also recommend you skip daily brushing. Nobody wants puffy waves. I ONLY BRUSH RIGHT BEFORE I’M ABOUT TO WASH WITH A WET BRUSH. Oh and, heat style as little as possible and always air dry.
