DIY Dry Shampoo & Why Yours Shouldn’t Contain Baking Soda

When I decided to put some fashion colours in my hair and have some pretty pink, purple, and teal ombre highlights I learned a lot more about hair products and hair pH than I ever could have bargained for.  I’ll write-up a more detailed post soon about the importance of pH balanced hair care, but the main summary point is that highly alkaline shampoo products (I’m looking at you, baking soda) can really strip your hair of hair colour and can even break down the protein in the hair itself!  So, if you have colour in your hair, especially fashion colours that are more prone to washing out to being with, if you stay away from products containing baking soda your colour will last much longer!  Not only will it allow you to go for longer between washes, you won’t have to worry about losing some of the colour because of your dry shampoo washing down the length of your hair.

So many of the dry shampoos available on both the green beauty and traditional beauty markets contain baking soda to help soak up excess oil.  So, naturally, I resigned myself to making my own.

Yarok Feed Your Hold Hairspray Review

Although I do like Intelligent Nutrient’s Hairspray for when I need ultra-mega hold for something like an up-do, it is really to crispy for when my hair is down.  Plus, I have a cow-lick on one side of my bangs so I use product there to help keep things going the right direction and the Intelligent Nutrient’s Hairspray was just too much.  I haven’t tried too many of Yarok’s hair products, but I like their leave-in spray so it made sense for me to try their Feed Your Hold Hairspray.

Live Clean Age Resist Miracle Nutrition Oil Review

I am always looking for ways to protect my hair as I want to grow it out to be nice and long.  This oil by Live Clean Professional is a pre-shower treatment which you leave on your hair for about five minutes prior to showering.  Think of it as a quick deep conditioning treatment that you can do anytime you wash your hair.  

Curlformers – The best way to air dry your hair!

I don’t know about any of you guys, but foam/velcro/hot rollers just don’t work for me.  Either my hair doesn’t curl well and whatever curls doesn’t last long – I’m looking at you hot rollers – or it never, ever dries on the inside.

I had resigned myself to the fact that if I wanted to achieve gorgeous curls with my hair it would take lots of time, heat, and patience to curl my hair with an iron.  But then one day I was browsing on the most deadliest of all sites, pinterest, and found something called curlformers.  They are amazing!   Who doesn’t want to have perfect curls without damaging their hair in the slightest?

John Masters Organics Sea Mist Spray Review

I have been wanting to try a few sea salt sprays since they became popular a few years back, but I only got around to it recently when I discovered John Masters Organics.  After the first use of this product I knew that we would be friends forever!

My Hair Care Routine

It has been a bit of a journey, but I think I’ve finally found a good balance of hair care products that work well for my hair and have honestly given me the best hair I’ve had in my adult life.  I never thought I’d say this, but my hair feels softer, healthier and looks more smooth and has better shine than it ever did with conventional products or even the expensive salon-grade products.  Even though I have dyed my hair repeatedly for years, and have gone from very light blonde to very dark brown and back again several times, my hair now air-dries without any frizz.  I definitely couldn’t boast about that with my salon brands.

The transition from salon to natural products wasn’t pretty.  I nearly quit to go back to salon products so many times I can’t even count.  But now that I’m on the flip side (nearly two months later) I can honestly say I’d never go back.  I no longer expect my shampoo to lather like crazy, and understand that my hair can be just as clean without the stripping sulfate ingredients.  Like I’ve said, my hair has never been healthier.  Why would I go back?

Chagrin Valley Butter Bar Conditioner Review

I love the idea of shampoo bars for travelling because you aren’t carrying around the extra weight in water, plus you don’t have to worry about it leaking everywhere all over your bag.  I have yet to find something that will work as a solid conditioner.  Coconut oil on it’s own is far too heavy for me, and cocoa butter, shea butter and mango butter on their own leave my hair a solid, greasy mess.  When I saw this bar on the Chagrin Valley website I wanted to give it a try.

John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor Review

If you’ve read my previous post on reviewing the Rose Milk Hair Treatment by Lavera you’ll know that I’m a big advocate for hair masks.  There is so much out in the skin care industry to support proper skin care with masks, serums, creams, oils, scrubs, you name it but when it comes to hair products, most people stick to shampoos and conditioners.  You spend that time cleansing, protecting and moisturizing your skin, you owe it to your hair to do the same!

Although I do like the Lavera hair mask, I am always looking for new products to try.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt to do a hair treatment more than once a week, right?  So long as it doesn’t weigh your hair down too much, I suppose.  When I found a natural beauty store an easy five minute bicycle ride from my house I was thrilled, and then when I discovered it carried John Masters Organics….well, let’s just say it made me very happy.  I purchased the Citrus and Neroli Detangler (review) because it works so well for my hair and is worth the price, and the Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor.  

Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner Review

I am slowly accepting that I will never have my hair feel the same way that it did when I coated it in silicones with my salon level conditioner.  But can’t a girl have silky soft hair even if she dyes it occasionally?  Am I really asking for the moon, here?

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner Review

It’s been a long haul trying to find the right balance of moisture in a conditioner to go along with my shampoo bar from Chagrin Valley. Not wanting to have to rely on online ordering a more expensive brand, (even though I do love you John Masters Organics) I decided to try and give my locally available brands a try.  Up for review this time is the Smooth as Silk conditioner by Giovanni.