For the past two years, I’ve quietly done something I thought I could never do: I’ve grown my hair longer than it’s ever been, and I’ve also fought the almost irresistible urge to cut it all off as soon as it touches my collarbone.
That has been the case in the past.
That has been the case in the past. I have fine hair, but a lot of it, and there was a point when it all fell out. The length would grow, the ends would start to thin into that telltale rat’s tail-like wisp, and all of a sudden I’d be sitting in front of my hairstylist, Kate, and saying, “Maybe just above the shoulders?”
This time, though, it’s not the same.
This time, though, it’s not the same. Kate said that my hair was in the best shape she had ever seen it at a recent colour appointment. For the first time, the ends were as thick as the roots.
The changes I made were small but powerful.
Don’t jump to the conclusion that this amazing change meant I had to completely change how I care for my hair or buy a lot of new products. The changes I made were small but powerful. The first thing I did was wash my hair the right way, which was almost embarrassing. Not just a quick wash with soap and water, but a real cleaning. With all the dry shampoos, texture sprays, and other styling products we use all week (is it just me?), one shampoo doesn’t usually do the trick anymore. The double cleanse (washing twice) is amazing. The first wash gets rid of oil and product, and the second one cleans the scalp and hair.
After that, it’s time for treatment.
After that, it’s time for treatment. I’ve been using Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Treatment (€58 from lookfantastic.com) for the past two years. My hair has a nice shine to it, but since I started using this, it has become so shiny that it looks like a mirror. A coworker I hadn’t seen in a while asked me what I was using on my hair because it looked so shiny.
The best part about this treatment is that it also works as a conditioner, so you don’t need to buy anything extra or do anything extra. I shake the pointed applicator through the ends and lengths of my hair, leave it on for two minutes, and then rinse it out. My hair feels soft and silky after, and it doesn’t feel heavy either.
The next simple change I made that made a big difference was buying a wet brush that doesn’t pull or yank on my hair. I had been using a Tangle Teezer for years, but when I started using the wet brush, I noticed how often the Tangle Teezer got stuck in my hair. I chose the Oribe Flat Brush, which costs €112 at Space NK. It’s a big investment, but it’s worth it. I have more hair now, and it goes through easily without pulling. After I brush, there is a lot less hair stuck in the bristles.
Hair oil is the last thing you do before styling.
Hair oil is the last thing you do before styling. I used to put oil on my hair every now and then, when the ends looked really bad. I was using reactively instead of preventively. I now work a pump through the middle and ends of my hair right after I untangle it. My favourite right now is Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil, which costs €68 at Boots. It smooths my hair, locks in moisture, and keeps all the styling products that are sure to follow from getting to it. I do the same thing again on dry hair, but this time I focus on the ends to tame flyaways and make them shine more.
Sol de Janeiro’s Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream
Sol de Janeiro’s Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream is a new body cream that smells fresh, fruity, and delicious. It costs €21 for 75ml from Brown Thomas. It smells and looks like whipped marshmallow with hints of pink pepper, passionfruit, and amber. It deeply hydrates the skin and gives it a bright, glowing look.
| Product | Price | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Treatment | €58 | lookfantastic.com |
| Oribe Flat Brush | €112 | Space NK |
| Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil | €68 | Boots |
| Sol de Janeiro Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream | €21 (75ml) | Brown Thomas |
