ABOUT MY HAIR
Before I share all of my products and tips, I think it’s really important to preface that what may work on me – may not work for you. Everyone’s hair is different! I also truly believe that the best kind of hair is healthy hair, which is why I really pride myself in taking care of mine by using high-quality products, getting regular trims and going to a good stylist (aka – one that actually cares about your hair and would never doing anything to damage it). My hair is naturally blonde (like very blonde), is pretty thick and is a combination of straight/wavy. If I blow dry my hair, then it’s straight but if I just let it dry naturally, it’s definitely wavy and in the Houston humidity – it definitely has a frizzy side.
Also, when I say that I’m naturally blonde, I mean that I was so blonde that as a child, strangers would ask my mom if she bleached my it and it stayed that way pretty much my entire life until I turned 20. Around that time it started getting a little darker and while it was/is still blonde, I started getting highlights (and sometimes balayage) to lighten it!
FAVORITE PRODUCTS
Every Day Shampoo & Conditioner
I have three that I switch back and forth from!
- Living Proof Color Care Purple Shampoo & Conditioner (great for blondes!) <- currently using
- Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo & Conditioner (great for everyone!)
- Caviar Anti-Aging Body Building Shampoo & Conditioner.
- Moroccan Oil Volume Shampoo & Condition (while I love this brand, I do not recommend for blondes or for anyone that lightens their hair. It will cause your hair to bring out more of a yellow tone out)
I truly love all of these because they are sulfate-free, lightweight and contain a lot of nutrients for your hair! Currently using #1 The Living Proof Color Care Combo!
Toner
Toner is for blondes only and is used to help give your hair having a violet/ashy undertone, as opposed to a yellow one. I’ll use a toner 1-2 times a week in addition to my daily shampoo and conditioner.
This Kenra Brightening Treatment Toner is my favorite!
Detox Shampoos
So important for product build-up caused by everyday shampoo, hair spray, dry shampoo and. sweat! If I do not incorporate a Detox Shampoo into my routine, my hair tends to get greasy very easily. If you ever feel like you just “can’t get your hair clean” no matter how many times you wash it – that’s because you havee product build up and you need a good detox shampoo.
I use a detox shampoo once every other week in the place of my daily shampoo. <- currently using
- My favorite one is actually this Pantene one!<- currently using
- Then I also really love this one as well.
Hair Masks
This Hair Mask from Colleen Rothschild is the best thing I have ever put in my hair. I use it once a week as a mask and even as my regular conditioner majority of the time!! Never in my life have I had something that had made my hair SO SOFT.
Dry Shampoo
- Living Proof Dry Shampoo
- Dry Bar – Detox Dry Shampoo <– currently using!
Hair Spray
- Moroccan Oil Luminous Strong Hair Spray (forever favorite)
- Dry Bar – Money Maker Flexible Hold Hair Spray
- Caviar Working Hair Spray
- Living Proof Working Hair Spray <- currently using!
Heat Protectants & Other Products
Heat Protectant: Caviar Anti-Aging Leave-In Heat Spray
Humidity Spray: Wow Dream Coat
FAVORITE STYLING TOOLS
If you really want to invest in your hair, then I can’t recommend investing in a Dyson Hair Dryer enough (I found a ton for so much less on eBay!) My Dyson has completely transformed my hair!! If you’re looking for a more affordable option though, then I swear by both my Chi Blow-Dryer and Chi Straightener. When it comes to curling my hair, this curling wand is the only one I will use. I 100% stand behind this product because it changed my life forever. I was 22, a senior in college and my roommates were having to curl my hair for me. My sweet roomie Emily, introduced me to this wand and like I said, it changed my world. Also, life-changing, the Wet Brush. I never knew brushing my hair could be so easy and painless.
EVERYDAY TOOLS
- Favorite Brush: Wet Brush
- Hair Dryer: Dyson Hair Dryer
- For the best price and to save some $$$ buy refurbished on eBay!
- Straightener: Chi Temperature Control Hairstyling Iron
- Styling: Revlon One-Step Volumizer
- Tutorial Saved on IG Highlights
- Curling: Sultra 1″ Bombshell Curling Wand
- Big Waves: Hot Rollers
HAIR FAQ’S
How often do you wash and blow-dry your hair?
Honestly, it really depends – but I would say I wash my hair about 3x a week and use dry shampoo in between washes. The longest I can go is 3 days without washing it! While this may sound weird to some, I have to schedule my hair washing around my workouts and vise vera. While I can get away with not washing my hair after let’s say pilates – I can’t say the same for after spin! I
Also, I always blow dry my hair straight after every wash! It’s very rare that I let it dry naturally. As a child, I wasn’t allowed to go to bed with wet hair, so that’s something that has stuck with me.
Who does your hair in Houston?
Chris Kirkendall. He is currently at Salon Vive off of Memorial and Wescott. Chris has been doing my hair for almost 10 years and there is no one else I would trust! He specializes in blondes, balayage and cuts and is just the best. I have sent so many girls his way and every single one of them tell me he is the best hair dresser they have ever had.
Follow him on Instagram here @legitimatehairdresser
Call or text to make an appointment: 281-433-6185
What do you ask for at the hair salon?
Cut: Long Layers and I like the front to frame my face.
Color: Balayage in the fall/winter and full color in the spring/summer! Since blonde is already my base color, I just ask to make it look a little lighter and brighter. I don’t want it to be platinum, but I also don’t want it to have that yellow undertone. I want it to look so natural that people cannot tell if I color it or not.
How often do you get your hair done.
If you asked Chris (my hairdresser) – not often enough (lol).
If I am being good about it, I aim to get a haircut and colored every 3-4 months. I usually get my hair done on my birthday in February, at the beginning of the summer, at the beginning of fall and then right before the holidays. So basically, the beginning of every season – lol.
How did you grow your hair out long and healthy? Do you take supplements?
I’ll be honest, my hair has always grown really fast but with that being said, I can still immediately tell when my hair is not healthy or growing properly. Your hair can be long, but if it’s not healthy – then it doesn’t matter.
Two things come into play for growing long healthy hair: Diet & Hair Care.
DIET
I swear my hair is as healthy as it is because of my diet. I drink a lot of water, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and I stay away from processed food. No soda & no fast food either.
I also truly believe in taking daily supplements as well. Women need a daily vitamin no matter what, but I also think it’s important to add things like fish oil and collagen into your diet as well! I love this women’s daily vitamin!! It has fish oil already in it!
HAIR CARE
There are easy, every day things that you can do to keep your hair healthy.
Using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner is super important (both of the brands I listed above are great!!) and make sure you always use a heat protectant before styling your hair (I love this one!) I recommended using brushes that are easy on your hair, like the Wet Brush and getting your hair cut at least every 3 months.
In regards to not styling or refraining from stying your hair – I’m sure this helps (!!) but I do not have a personal experience to relate too. I still style my hair almost every day. I will say though, if I can go 2-3 days without washing my hair and just use dry shampoo, then there is a noticeable difference.
Also, trade out your cotton pillowcase for a silk one! I swear the difference you will see in your hair is incredible.
Have you ever had short hair?
Yes! I like completely chopped my hair for the first time, right after graduating from college (I called it my “quarter-life crises” – lol) and loved it! You can see a pic of it here! It was like a long-bob and it was so cute and fun. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that I missed my long curls and I hated the in-between period of growing it back out again.
Do you have, have you ever had or would you ever get hair extensions?
Nope! Nope! And I want to say nope to the last one, but I also feel like I can never say never. At this point in my life and in the past, I have never needed them. I’m happy with my hair and I personally feel like they can ruin your hair… They are expensive and are definitely something you have to keep up with! Strangely enough, in certain areas, I’m a very low maintenance person and I like my hair to be as low maintenance as possible and that does not include extensions…. The only time I can see me getting extensions is if I ever cut all of my hair off again. But even then, I can only see myself maybe using clip-in extensions for a special occasion or something as opposed to getting them actually sewn into my hair.
That being said – No, I’m not against extensions! I have so many friends that have them, love them and they look beautiful on them. There is no denying that!! It’s just not for me.
How do you curl your hair and what products do you use?
First, I always start off with blowdrying my hair straight first! After washing my hair, I’ll brush it with my wet brush, use this heat protector and then dry it straight with this dryer. Once it’s dry, I curl it with this 1″ Sultra Curling Wand. To hold the curls, I spray it with this flexible hairspray ( if your hair has a really hard time holding a curl then this is the best hairspray and then I let the curls sit until I am just about to walk out the door.
If it’s really humid out, I’ll spray a little bit of dry shampoo at my roots to keep it from getting frizzy or greasier faster.
I need to make and updated one, but here is a hair curling tutorial I did last Christmas!
How often do you curl your hair?
If I curl my hair right after showering, I will curl it every day until my next shower! In the mornings I’ll wake up, brush through the curls softly with my wet brush and then re-curl my hair. Spray a little bit of dry shampoo at the roots and move on with my day! Since it’s already wavy at this point, it only takes me around 5 minutes to re-curl it.
How do you beat the Houston Humidity?
I stay inside… lol. Just kidding – but not really….;)
If it just rained and I walk outside, my hair will fall and go flat in about 10 seconds. Like if it’s super humid, I won’t even try to curl my hair but I have found that if I add just a little bit of dry shampoo and flexible hair spray to my hair (even when it’s not curled) it really helps! Other than that…… I’m a big fan of high ponytails. I wish I had a better answer but I am fighting it every day too!
Alrighty, well I hope I answered everyone’s questions!!
If I forgot anything, please let me know!!
xo,
Lauren