Yes, as with the skin and face, you can offer your scalp and hair completely natural care. I have operated a hair salon for 19 years. Located in a small village in Estrie, my living room and my home are surrounded by untouched and preserved nature. Is it this exceptional environment that pushed me to change my vision of hairdressing over the years? Probably. Several years ago, after adopting new natural lifestyle habits, I realized that my job as a hairdresser was in contradiction with my way of living. So, I turned to other hair health products and treatments. I have invested energy and time in high-end and long-term training in order to be able to offer my customers natural hair care. Today, I can affirm that it is possible to completely eliminate, in salons and at home, the pollution caused by the use of products dangerous to ecosystems and human health.
Hair is the barometer of our interior. They reflect our emotions, our state of health, our diet, our lifestyle. To achieve a healthy scalp and hair, one must make certain changes. I suggest taking it step by step, one step at a time, and starting with the products most used on a daily basis: shampoos and conditioners.
It is very annoying to find your way through the ocean of products sold in this area. This market alone was worth USD 30.09 billion in 2020. Don’t panic! To begin, let's get to know the ingredients that appear on the labels. Even if it is a slight headache at first, we must succeed in demystifying the false advertising on the packaging and clearly identify the harmful products that we inflict on our hair.
First, we ban shampoos from our lives that contain sulfates, salts, parabens, artificial perfumes and, above all, silicones. The latter is a plastic. Over time, silicones make hair dull, heavy and brittle. We recognize these products by their suffixes: -cone, -conol, -one or -oxane. For example, the most common are dimethicone, cyclohexasiloxane and hexamethyldisloxane. Some mass market shampoos contain detergents that are so harsh on the scalp that they eventually lead to a ph imbalance, and ultimately, dryness, itching and dandruff. As incredible as it seems, blood vessels 25,000 kilometers long irrigate our scalp. This shows to what extent this highway represents a wide open gateway for harmful products.
Finally, a good choice is to opt for 100% biodegradable shampoos that contain natural fragrances such as eucalyptus or citrus or, why not, fragrance-free. Some shampoos are sold in liquid and bulk (which is a nice saving for the wallet). Others are offered as a solid bar. Either way, read labels carefully and opt for products with the shortest ingredient lists possible. Your shampoo should be as gentle on you as it is on the planet.
Using a good product is one thing, shampooing well is another. Here are a few tips. Wet your hair. Then exert pressure on the hair to remove excess water. To avoid breakage, do not twist or twist the hair. Then, apply the equivalent of a pump of shampoo to your hand and work it into a lather before spreading it over your head. Two shampoos are necessary. The first removes dirt while the second works the hair deeply. Leave this second shampoo on for a few minutes to give it time to do its job. I recommend shampooing every other day on average, as there is no problem washing them often if you opt for a premium natural shampoo.
We want soft hair!
After shampoo, the second most used product remains conditioner. Follow the same recommendations as for shampoo to choose your conditioner. I highly recommend its use and here's why. The shampoo has the effect of opening the hair scales a little while the conditioner seals them. We therefore use it to avoid dry, brittle or rough hair. After your two shampoos, wring your hair again to remove excess water. Place a little conditioner in your hand and apply it to the lengths only, never to the roots of the hair. For what ? Because the scalp produces sebum. The hair located near the scalp is, therefore, naturally hydrated. Finally, leave the conditioner on for two minutes before rinsing your hair.
Soon we will celebrate Mother's Day. Why not treat your mom to a quality, natural shampoo and conditioner that gives off her favorite floral scent? We bet that your mother will thank you for taking care of her scalp and hair gently and thus contributing to her health.