Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GlissHairRepair #CollectiveBias
When I first started growing my hair out, it was darn painful (not literally). You go through all those awkward phases of your hair and you’d do anything for it just to grow a little bit faster. Well, I’ve been growing out my hair for four years now and went from a bob with bangs (yes, the straight-across kind!) to mid-chest locks. People compliment me on my hair all the time, even though hairdressers shy away since I have so much. But, since my first chop in high school, I’ve taken really, really good care of my hair.
The good news is – if you’re looking to grow out your hair this summer – your hair does actually grow faster in the warm weather. But the bad news (or just slightly inconvenient news) is that you have to focus on the quality, not quantity, of your hair growth. The hard truth is that, if your hair is weak and brittle, it may grow quickly but break off before you can notice an increase in length.
Pick the right products.
Everyone’s hair is different. It’s important to pick products based on what your hair needs are. My hair is dry, so I go with a moisturizing line. Maybe your problems are split ends, or flat hair, or color-treated hair.
Right now, I’m using Gliss™ Hair Repair – a new-to-the-US-market hair care line focusing on hair repair. Gliss products are scientifically designed and tested to deliver proven, measurable results in repairing hair, whether the damage is from styling, coloring, activity, or the nature of the hair itself, so there’s really a product for every hair type. Currently, they have 5 sub-lines, each with a specific benefit in addition to hair repair:
- Ultimate Repair – 3x the amount of liquid keratin for extra strength repair
- Ultimate Moisture – for dry hair
- Oil Nutritive – for split ends
- Extra Volume – for added volume
- Color Guard – for protecting color
Gliss™ Hair Repair products are sold in these sublines and meant to be used in conjunction with each other, so the results are cumulative and best seen when all three products are used together.
What I’m currently using and why: I’m currently using Schwarzkopf Gliss™ Ultra Moisture Shampoo and Schwarzkopf Gliss™ Ultra Moisture Conditioner. I talk all the time about life in Arizona and it’s no secret that we have dry air here. The dryness and sheer heat of the day can cause my hair to dry out more than it normally would, especially on the ends. In the summer, it’s even worse.
I chose the Ultra Moisture line because of the dryness of my ends. While I leave my hair natural quite often, my hair is not immune to heat damage. I straighten my hair about once or twice a week and the Schwarzkopf Gliss™ Ultra Moisture Line helps keep the ends of my hair just and moisturized as the rest.
If you want to try Gliss Hair Repair for yourself, you can get $5 off two products with THIS COUPON HERE. These products can be found in the hair care aisle of your local Walmart.
Get trims regularly.
This is the one tip that everyone seems to forget about. Getting regular trims is essential to hair growth and stronger hair. Think of it this way: every time you to to get a “trim” you tell your hairdresser to “clean up the ends” if you’re anything like me. Now, if you clean up the split ends every four weeks, they’re going to be a lot smaller than if you get them trimmed every 8 weeks. If you need to cut off a quarter-inch every four weeks but your hair grows an inch a month, you come out with a quarter inch of hair growth. Now, if you have to cut off one-two inches after 8 weeks but your hair only grew an inch, you’re either breaking even or at a loss.
Don’t skip the conditioner.
Conditioner is one of the most important parts of a shower. I use extra and I use it every single time I shower (although if you have oily hair, you can use it every other day). After I shampoo, I use it all over my head but on my shampoo off-days, I only focus on the ends. Shampoo opens the hair cuticle, and conditioner seals it back up, which locks those nutrients in and keeps the pollutants out. Whether you have dry or oily hair, moisturizing is important to keep the dry strands and flyaways at bay.
Use a deep conditioner or mask once each week.
While I definitely would not recommend using a mask more than twice per week, they’re great for hair health. Personally, I use a hair mask twice per week to keep my hair feeling extra moisturized.
What I’m using: I’m currently using Schwarzkopf Gliss™ Ultra Moisture Anti-Breakage treatment. I use it twice each week on the days that I use shampoo.
Take a break from the shampoo.
I’ve continually talked about not shampooing every single day. Here’s why:
Shampoo is great for removing dirt and oil, leaving your locks squeaky clean, but it can also lead to damage. Every time you shampoo, you’re removing all the gunk from “dirty” hair. This may include oiliness, sweat, dandruff, you know, the dirty stuff, but it also removed everything else. So, not only is it removing the gross and dirty stuff, but it removes the healthy hair oils.
If you use shampoo every day, there’s a chance that your hair is oily at the end of each day too. This results with a which came first debate. More shampoo can cause your scalp to increase the oily secretions and end up oilier, faster than before. Try skipping the wash every other day to decrease the amount of natural oils in your hair.
Take it easy on the dry shampoo too.
Each time you use dry shampoo, you’re actually stripping your hair of its natural oil, similarly to regular shampoo. Continuous and repetitive use can leave your hair dry and brittle and more prone to breakage.
Don’t negate the impact of a cold shower.
Cold water helps lock in the moisture from a shower and leaves your hair super soft and shiny. While you don’t have to take an entire cold shower, try rinsing your hair with cold water after the conditioner.
Be gentle.
Your hair is most prone to breakage when it’s wet. I recommend patting your hair dry to remove excess water and letting it air dry before you brush it. Alternatively, gently use a comb to remove the tangles. Occassionally, I comb my hair in the shower after conditioning, when the hair is still smooth and soft, and brush it again when it’s dry.
Loosen up.
Loosen up on everything. I mean, skip the high and tight ponytail and opt for a loose braid. Instead of tightly wrapping a towel around your hair, try using a gentler microfiber hair wrap. Gentleness is key. Put the least amount of strain and stress on your hair and your hair will eventually thank you for it.
So, what are your hair care needs and your best hair care tips I may have missed?
