My Hair Care Favorites - June 2014

The most popular compliment I ever receive from people is about my hair. Whether I have it curled, straight, or up in a bun, people are always commenting on how shiny it is, how soft it is, and how healthy it looks. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, but I think a lot of that relates back to the way I care for my hair and the products I use. Today I am going to round up some of my favorite hair care products and a few "rules" that I follow when caring for my hair. I attached a date to this title because my hair care favorites are always changing. There are a few products that I religiously use and repurchase, but for the most part I love to switch up my hair care products. This is what I'm loving currently!

My "Rules" for my hair care!

Rule #1 - I always rotate my shampoo and conditioner every few washes. I usually have 2-3 different sets on hand that I like to rotate between. Your hair, just like your skin, can get familiar with certain products and they will stop working the way they are meant to work. 

Rule #2 - I only shampoo my hair every 3-4 days. This might sound crazy, or even disgusting, if you are a daily shampooer, but I promise that is the reason my hair is so healthy. I try to go as long as I possibly can without shampooing and it totally makes a difference in my hair. If I need a little touch up then I will use dry shampoo which I will talk about down below! 

Rule #3 - I always shampoo my hair at night. I do this so that I can avoid having to blow dry my hair. I know this isn't always possible for everyone, but I'm just sharing what works for me. I maybe blow dry my hair once every three months. That is when there is a weird circumstance that I have to wash my hair in the morning and be somewhere quickly. This reduces the heat damage I do to my hair, since I heat style my hair often I try to reduce the amount I blow dry it by letting it air dry always. 

Rule #4 - Always use a heat protectant when heat styling my hair! Always! This is a good habit to get in if you heat style your hair often. 

Rule #5 - Sleep with it up in a bun, but with a soft hair tie instead of a tight one. This reduces the friction caused when you sleep with your hair all the way down from tossing and turning! I also sometimes sleep with it in a braid and I can wake up with nice wavy hair! 

Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo and Conditioner are two things that I always switch up. I always use shampoo and conditioner from the drugstore, I know a lot of people have their opinions on using salon brand shampoos instead of drugstore, but I use so much shampoo with all of my hair that I couldn't afford to keep purchasing high end shampoos even if I wanted to! 

1. Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

This is my "simple" shampoo and conditioner. It is what I always fall back on because it is just simple and I know it will get the job done. I try to stay away from any type of shampoo that offers "moisture" because that tends to make my hair oily and greasy. 

2. Organix Shampoo and Conditioner

This brand is my all time favorite shampoo and conditioner. I am currently using the "Acai Berry Avacado" shampoo and conditioner. It smells amazing, and works equally amazing. My hair always feels extra soft after using this brand and you can find it at the drugstore. I would recommend purchasing from a Rite Aid or Walgreens when they are on sale, every so often they will be Buy 1 Get 1 Free! This brand also has SO many different scents, my favorite is the Macadamia Oil set.

3. Loreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo, Conditioner, and Balm.

This is a set that I would recommend to anybody trying to get their hair back to the healthy side of things. It is a repairing shampoo and conditioner, and I can totally feel the results when I use this. My hair feels so luxurious and soft after using this set that every time I use it I remind myself how awesome it is for the price! This line also has a "damage erasing balm" which is my favorite product from the line. It comes in a jar, and I apply it just like I would normal conditioner, from about my ears down to the ends of my hair. I let it sit on my hair for about 5 minutes in the shower before I rinse it out. It will leave your hair feeling so soft and healthy! 

After-Shower Treatments

After the shower, I apply the same things every time. I don't experiment much in this department just because I have found products that work amazing for my hair. 

1. Healthy Sexy Hair : Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

This is a product that I will continue to repurchase over and over because it works wonders for my hair. After showering, I tie my hair up in a microfiber towel wrap for a while and once I take that down, I spray this all throughout my hair and then brush it. This acts as a great detangler, but offers so many great benefits to my hair. I know a lot of people love the Its A 10 leave in treatment, which is around $16 for 4 oz, and this product here is around $17 for 8.5 oz. You get double the product for the same price and I think this does the job just fine! 

2. The Wet Brush

I received this in a PopSugar box a long time ago, and I actually really love it! I will admit, I don't think I ever would have purchased this on my own, but now that I have it, I would repurchase it if something happened to it! I don't really know how to explain why it's so great, but it brushes through my wet hair better than any other brush, doesn't pull or tug at my scalp, and cuts my brushing time in half! 

3. Moroccan Oil

This stuff is the best. This is the "original" moroccan oil, but so many brands now have their own hair oils out now that this stuff got so popular. This isn't cheap, it retails for $43, but worth every penny in my opinion. When my hair is about 70% air dried, I will put a pump of this between my hands and run it throughout my hair. I avoid my scalp during this process just because my scalp doesn't really need oil put directly on it. I run it over the ends of my hair, it smells amazing, and does miraculous things for my hair. This is what really helps my curls last for 3-4 days, and helps my hair stay shiny for multiple days. 

Dry Shampoo

Like I said above, I only shampoo my hair every 3-4 days, which requires a good dry shampoo. I have tried SO many dry shampoos, and they all have their ups and downs. It truly is a process of elimination. I have about 6 right now and I only continue to reach for one and one only. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Yes, you're seeing the picture correctly, I'm only recommending one dry shampoo. Like I said, it is all personal preference so I am sure there are people out there that hate this brand. I wouldn't feel honest or loyal to my blog if I started recommending all of the ones I've tried because honestly, nothing compares to this. Batiste is the best brand for dry shampoo in my opinion. I use the one all the way on the right in the picture, for dark and deep brown hair. The only difference in this one is that it is a grayish brown tint to it so it isn't so white. It absorbs oil so much better than any other brand I've tried, smells fine (some smell horrid), and is so affordable. As you can see above, they truly have something for everyone whether you're blonde, brunette, looking for volume, or looking for extreme clean. I find mine at Ulta, or Walgreens, and I will continue to repurchase this one and this one only!

Styling Products

I don't use a ton of styling products because I don't like to load my hair up with product. My hair does a fairly good job of holding a style so I just use the basics.

1.  Garnier Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hair Spray

This is my favorite hair spray. I can usually find it on a good deal at Rite Aid. It smells delicious, and it does the job. It doesn't leave my hair crunchy or stiff, but it still holds my style. It is my favorite hair spray I've tried and it is the one I will continue to purchase. 

2. Straight Sexy Hair Smooth & Seal Shine Spray

This is what I use when I straighten my hair instead of hair spray. My hair doesn't need a hair spray when straightened but it needs a little something to seal it all together and tone down the frizz if I have it. I like this stuff, it just doesn't smell the greatest. I'm open to trying a different smoothing spray once this one runs out if anyone has a recommendation! It does the job though and leaves my hair SO shiny! 

3. Paul Mitchell Hot Off The Press Thermal Spray

This stuff is the best heat protectant I have ever tried. A staple from the drugstore is the Tresseme one in the black and red bottle. Most thermal protectants come in a spray bottle that sprays out too much product at once, but this is in an aerosol can so it sprays the perfect amount and doesn't leave my hair wet from product. I love this stuff, I just don't love the price tag! 

Well, there you have it! Here are my favorite hair care products that I will continue to purchase. What is one of your holy grail hair products? Share down below in the comments!


As always, thanks for reading.
xoxo, Jaimie