Hair Care

The 5 Best Hair Dryers for Frizzy Hair and Hairdresser’s Tips for Smooth Blowouts

Written by Andrea Haynes

Chances are you felt the struggle of taming frizz. Maybe you fought that dry, dead winter air. You know, the kind that leaves your hair feeling like hollow straw. And it’s such a trap, isn’t it? You put in all that effort to get your hair looking good, only to throw on a beanie to cover that hay up.

Or maybe you’ve finally completed a perfect blowout, your arms are sore but you’re happy. Then, within seconds of stepping out into the summer humidity, poof! Your hair plumps up like a birthday balloon.

The frustration with frizz is a real concern for anyone wanting to maintain a certain style throughout the day. Brides come to mind right away given their styles need to last through thick and thin weather conditions, and on that special day, it needs to be for better not for worse. 

A young girl drying her frizzy hair

So what is one of the best ways to decrease frizz during styling? Starting with a solid foundation is the best place to begin. This means working with the right styling tool. Once you get this down, the rest follows including healthy, bouncy, shiny hair that lasts.

You might be wondering which tool can help fight frizz the most. It’s your blow dryer. If you want strong, healthy hair without spending hundreds on expensive side products, it’s time to throw out your old one or finally get the quality one your hair deserves.

What is Frizzy Hair and Why Do You Get It?

Frizzy hair is the result of a few different things. The most common culprit is dryness. Dry hair is the direct result of a lack of moisture which normally makes the hair supple, shiny, and even strong.

Your sebaceous glands are rooted in your scalp and produce a natural oil that acts as an elixir, coating your hair. Good natural oils, mean minimal frizz.

But as your body produces the oil it needs, there are natural and unnatural factors that strip your hair of these oils, causing dryness. A few of these factors include humid climate, harsh shampoos, hot water, bleaching, and permanent hair dyes (which lift the cuticle to deposit color molecules).

Frizz happens when you are over-styling with hot tools and not using a heat protectant EVERY time you heat style.

Finally, BAD BLOW DRYERS can be the main cause of frizzy hair. 

The Best Hair Dryers to Reduce Frizz

So if you want to give yourself an advantage over dry, frizzy hair, it’s time to look at some blow dryer brands that blow the competition away. Here is a list of brands that come highly recommended for avoiding that brittle dryness that can result in frizz.

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1. Dyson Supersonic Blow Dryer

If you were enamored with their ads, you’ll be even more in love with the actual product. This blow dryer has come along to revolutionize the hair industry and how you experience your hair. The design has been modified in a few ways that impact dryness. The motor has been placed in the handle instead of the head, keeping the weight distribution balanced. So you have more control over how close you hold the nozzle to the actual hair.

Then there’s the force of its wind power which drives the drying process. Instead of using heat that can split the cuticle, it uses the force of the wind to get it dry. The technology is innovative and new and it makes this dryer stand out when it comes to decreasing frizz with its “ceramic core.”

2. SRI Salon Dry Pro Hair Dryer

What’s special about this dryer is its use of red-light therapy or Infrared technology. Essentially what this means is that by using this type of light, you can heat/dry the hair from the inside out vs. the outside in. Blasting the hair cuticle with a regular dryer means the heat/air hits from the outside and can hurt the cuticle, which is why infrared technology is so beneficial.

It also uses ionic technology which means you get small molecules that are attracted to the charges on water molecules. When they connect, they make the water evaporate, meaning the hair will dry faster and with less damage.

3. The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Portofino Dryer

This tiny but mighty device will leave your hair frizz-free and shiny due to its ionic technology. It sports a powerful motor to increase the dry time without compromising the integrity of your hair. This brand is trusted by professionals at large for its ability to decrease frizz and make hair look beautiful.

4. The Dyson Airwrap

The allure of the Airwrap is its detachable components that allow you to create volumized, symmetrical, frizz-free curls without getting confused while looking in the mirror. How many times have you wanted to create gorgeous waves, only to find it impossible to achieve with a regular hair dryer and round brush? The mechanics are physically complicated with normal dryers so the Dyson Airwrap gives you an advantage for silky smooth curls.

5. The Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Hair Dryer

As the name implies, this hair dryer uses Ceramic and ionic technology to keep frizz at bay. The ceramic element helps to lock in moisture, so your hair stays supple. And the ionic part means the water molecules get evaporated more quickly.

The Types of Hair Dryers You Should Avoid

For those of us who have experienced the dreaded hotel room blow dryer, you know exactly what it means when a blow dryer is “bad.” Your hair is not only full of static or “fluffy” once the job is complete, but it feels dry for days after. Hotel blow dryers can be some of the worst out there to use. So be careful and make sure if the dryer in the hotel is not named brand, avoid using it.

So why does this happen? Typically, it’s because these incredibly cheap dryers do not use ionic, infrared, or ceramic technology. Instead, they use sheer heat that has an effect like sandpaper when it comes in contact with your cuticles.

You may have also noticed a faint burning smell when using a blow dryer that damages the hair. It could be related to an electrical issue, or it could be that it’s actually too hot on your hair. Either way, time to get a new dryer.

How to Protect Your Hair from Frizz and Dryness in the Blow-Drying Process

Hairdresser applying styling spray to client's hair

Naturally, blow-drying your hair with a quality tool has everything to do with the health of your hair. But to increase your chances of having a good hair day,  both products and good techniques come into play.

1. Use a quality heat protectant

There are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind with your product usage. The first is to always use a cream-based or spray-on heat protectant to keep your frizz at ease.

What’s the difference between the two? Cream-based heat protectants are going to provide full-coverage protection during the blow-dry. It’s very similar to the way a full-coverage foundation works when you apply makeup vs. a partial one. For people with highlighted hair or very damaged hair, these work best. My all-time favorite cream-based heat protectant is the “Resistance” by Kerastase. It smells divine and truly makes a difference to your hair.

But for people with relatively healthy hair who want volume, a spray heat protectant might be better. Oribe sells one that refreshes and revitalizes hair. It’s lightweight with all-natural ingredients and smells so good, that you can double it as a body spray.

2. Use a lightweight hair oil

In partnership with your heat protectant, you’ll want to use an oil with fast absorption properties. The best one on the market is the Elixir Ultime by Kerastase. This oil can be used on dry or wet hair and coats the cuticles without creating excess oil. If you’ve never used a heat protectant and oil together just before you blow-dry, get ready for a life-changing experience.

3. Use anti-frizz styling products

One more unique product that can help with frizz is the Impermeable Anti-humidity Spray by Oribe. There’s no other product like it on the market. It’s a de-frizzing agent that lasts for hours in your hair even while you face the outdoor elements. It’s one purpose? Simply defrizzes your locks and creates a barrier so that more humidity can’t enter.

4. Get a keratin treatment

Another great tip for faster blow-dry time and a decrease in frizz is to get regular Express Keratins by Keratin Complex. They are amazing at replenishing depleted keratin from the root to the tip of every single hair strand. It creates this weighted, plumped-up hair that responds better to the blow-drying process and leaves your strands frizz-free.

Step-by-Step DIY Blow Drying Techniques

There are many ways to go about blow-drying your hair, but which one is most effective in decreasing frizz? Remember, no matter how good your technique is, if your blow dryer is low quality, it will damage your hair. That’s the first thing to get right in these steps. Next is your methodology.

Follow these 2 methods for blow-drying to decrease frizz and increase volume, bounce, and shine. 

1. The Victoria’s Secret Blowout: Advanced Blow-drying technique

You’ll need Velcro rollers, a quality blow dryer, moisturizing products, clips for parting the hair, a 1 and ¼’ curling iron, and a 2” round brush.

This method gives you ultimate volume, gorgeous beach waves, and absolutely no frizz.

  1. The first step is to apply a heat protectant, a very small amount of oil, and some volumizing mousse by Kerastase while your hair is damp. Then flip your head over and place the nozzle of your dryer near the roots. Allow the dryer to move over the entire head so the heat is distributed evenly.
  2. Stop after a few minutes or the roots feel dry, then flip your head upright again. Take your comb and part a 2” mohawk section along the top of your head. Part out the left and right sides of the head.
  3. Take a round brush and grab a small section at the front of your forehead where your bangs would be. The section should be about the width of your round brush or slightly smaller. Begin by placing the round brush at the base of your scalp behind the first section of hair with the blow dryer pushing the air at the root in the front. Move the brush and the dryer together up the length of the hair.
  4. Then detach the brush and move it back down to the base of the hair and repeat this movement until the section is dried.
  5. When the section is dry, quickly take your large Velcro roller, and starting from the ends of the hair, roll your section down to the root. Continue this along the length of the mohawk section then move to the sides of the head. For the back of the hair, simply blow dry with the round brush, no need to set it with rollers.
  6. Once you’ve set all rollers, let your hair cool off for 10-15 minutes or until it’s cool to the touch, then remove the rollers.
  7. Apply a cream heat protectant and wave your hair with your favorite curling iron.
  8. Finish with Oribe’s Impermeable Anti-humidity spray.

2. The Quick Wave Blowout Method

You’ll need a quality blow dryer, a paddle brush, moisturizing products, and a 1-2” barrel curling iron.

  1. Begin by prepping your hair with the right products according to their directions. Use a quality heat protectant, a small amount of Elixir Ultime Oil, and a volumizing agent (either a mousse or a root lift spray).
  2. Flip your head upside down and tousle it dry. Begin from the roots and use your fingers to gently stretch the hair upwards while directing the blow dryer’s heat and wind power to the area in your fingers. Do this all over your scalp.
  3. Next, flip back up and take your paddle brush, and gently stroke a section of hair from root to tip as your direct the air over it. Do this motion until all parts of the hair are dry.
  4. Then apply more heat protectant and curl your hair with your favorite curling iron using the twist and pull method, so you get an incredibly beachy effect.  
A woman with frizz-free hair and perfect blowout wearing elegant white suits

Why and How to Do a Protein Treatment on Natural Hair

Written by Vera Aduongo

Here’s the Full Low-Down on Why Protein Treatments for Natural Hair

Your hair is made up of many things, and one of them is protein. In fact, 95% of your hair is made out of a protein called keratin. So to say that protein is important for your hair is an understatement. It is absolutely crucial! The protein in your diet gets processed to make keratin, which makes your hair grow longer and stay strong.

However, certain hairstyling practices can damage our hair by interfering with the proteins in our hair. Bleaching, dyeing, excessive heat styling, relaxing and texturizing are all practices that can weaken the hair. There’s also the general wear-and-tear that can happen to our ends as our hair ages. Luckily, you can use protein treatments to help you remedy these situations temporarily.

So today, we’re going to talk about protein treatments: how they work, how to do them, and give you some recommendations on the best treatment products you can try on your hair.

Beautiful Smiling Black Woman With naturally curly hair

How Does a Protein Treatment Work?

This can get really technical, really quick, so allow us to use an analogy to explain. Let’s say you have a brick wall, and a storm comes around and damages sections of the brick wall so that some of the bricks are missing. How would you repair that wall? If the damage isn’t too bad, you’d have someone come and replace the bricks that fell out with some new ones. The wall wouldn’t be as good as new, but it would be smoother and stronger, allowing it to do a better job of protecting your property.

Got it? Now, let’s relate this to hair. The brick wall is the outermost layer of your hair called your cuticle. Your cuticle has many sections that overlap just like shingles on a roof do, and these protect the inner structure of your hair from external damage. Just like the damaged brick wall, when the cuticle is damaged, it doesn’t do a good job at protecting what’s inside, and it’s easier for things, including moisture, to easily slip in and out of the inner parts of your hair strand.

A protein treatment is the equivalent of putting in new bricks to replace the ones that were lost. Protein treatments work by temporarily filling the gaps that are present in the cuticles of damaged hair.

What Are the Benefits of Protein Treatments for Natural Hair?

Girl! There are so many benefits of protein treatments for natural hair! Protein treatments reduce breakage, which aids in length and volume retention. They can help restore elasticity. They can improve shine, reduce tangling & split ends, and make the hair smoother and more manageable.

Who doesn’t want that?!

So How Do You Know When to Do Protein Treatment on Your Natural Hair?

Generally, there are 2 ways to use protein: for periodic maintenance or repair of some damage.

If you’re looking to incorporate this into your routine to maintain your hair and not for any repair, then you don’t need to look out for any signs. Just use a low-strength protein treatment according to the instructions on the package and repeat as needed.

If you’re looking to add protein treatments into your regimen to help you make damaged hair more manageable, then you need to look out for a few things. You should consider doing a protein treatment if your hair:

  • Is brittle and is experiencing more breakage than usual
  • Is way more frizzy than usual
  • Isn’t holding the curl pattern (for curly and wavy hair types) and now looks limp
  • Is dry and struggles to retain moisture
  • Is tangling a lot more than usual and has become a lot harder to detangle
  • Feels a bit rough to the touch

You should also consider doing a protein treatment if you:

  • You have bleached or dyed your hair recently
  • Have texturized or relaxed your hair recently
  • Use heat tools such as blow dryers or flat irons frequently
  • Are transitioning from relaxed to natural
  • Have been handling your hair roughly and have noticed that your ends are damaged
dark skinned girl making selfie

What Are the Types of Protein Treatments, and How Do I Choose the Best Protein Treatment for Me?

What type of protein treatment you should use depends on whether you want to maintain your protein-moisture balance or you want to repair damaged hair.

Maintenance

For this, you’ll want to use a light protein. So opt for something with words, such as strengthening or treatments that mention keratin. These are usually light protein treatments – read the instructions to make sure.

You can get away with using these treatments every few weeks alongside having a good deep conditioning and moisturizing routine.

Tip: If you’re not sure you want to use a protein treatment at all, opt for a strengthening mask such as a henna mask. Henna molecules aren’t small enough to penetrate the hair, so they just sit on the hair, forming a protective layer around it. This layer will help reduce breakage as long as you maintain a good moisturizing routine.

Repair

Here’s where we bring out the big guns, okay? Often, for these types of protein treatments, you will have to leave the product in your hair for more than 5-10 minutes, and they’ll often require some form of heat. You’ll also know it’s a high-strength treatment because the instructions for use will tell you not to use this treatment more than once in 2 months.

Most salons will have high-strength protein treatments at their disposal, so you could always go to the salon and have a professional help you out with them.

Please note: Even if your hair is really damaged, please don’t use these protein treatments more than once in 6-8 weeks. Be patient. Your hair may get better after a couple of uses. If it doesn’t improve, your hair may be too far gone, and you just have to cut it off. And don’t skip deep conditioning and moisturizing steps either.

What Are the Best Protein Treatments for Natural Hair?

A good rule of thumb is to look for something with hydrolyzed protein. Hydrolyzed simply means that the proteins in the product are small enough that they can easily penetrate the hair strand. This means that almost all the DIY protein masks we make actually aren’t protein treatments because their molecules are too big. They may be strengthening masks, but they’re definitely not protein masks.

Best DIY Protein Treatment for Maintenance: Gelatin.

Yes, one of your fave kitchen ingredients for dessert is a great DIY option for a protein treatment. The best part? It’s a hydrolyzed protein for cheap! Mix it the same way you would if you were baking, wait until it gets warm, and apply it to your hair.

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Best Storebought Protein Treatment for Maintenance: Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

This is an everybody and their mama type of product (2000 5-star reviews) because it just works! It doesn’t take long to do, doesn’t require any heat, and is light enough that it can be used frequently with a good deep conditioner and not completely mess up your hair. Apply it to freshly shampooed and conditioned hair, rinse out when done, and follow up with a deep conditioning treatment.

Best Storebought One-Step Protein + Moisture Treatment for Maintenance: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein Treatment.

If you’re looking to fit protein treatments into your routine in the most efficient way, then a 2-in-1 like this is your best option. You get all your hydration and strengthening at a go!

Beautiful African Woman with protein-treated hair

Best At-Home Protein Treatment for Repairing Damaged Hair: Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair

Aphogee just knows what they’re doing when it comes to protein! This intensive protein treatment should be reserved for when your hair is really damaged, and you want something stronger to jumpstart your recovery process. Apply to freshly shampooed and conditioned hair, sit under a hooded dryer for up to 10 minutes and rinse out when done. Please don’t manipulate your hair after the treatment has started to harden. Follow up with Step 2 and rinse that out when done.

But Wait, You Need to Be Careful with Protein Treatments

If your hair is healthy and not damaged, you need to be mindful of how often you use a protein treatment. If you do it too frequently or use something too strong, your hair might move into a state called protein overload.

You’ll know that you’re suffering from protein overload because even after washing out the protein treatment and using a moisturizing deep conditioner, your hair will still feel dry and rough. Over the next few wash days after that, you’ll notice that your hair breaks more than usual, tangles more than usual, and doesn’t stay moisturized.

So please do not use protein treatments more than recommended by the product or your hairstylist.

Another thing that can help you avoid protein overload is making sure to start with light-strength treatments. So, for example, you can opt for strengthening treatments rather than protein treatments that penetrate the strands. A slight step up from that can be using a product that is both a protein and moisturizing conditioner. These can often be used a lot more, and both of those options are great for people who are just looking to maintain healthy hair.

You should only look to strong protein treatments when your hair is damaged, and even then, do not use them more frequently than recommended because they might end up doing more harm than good.

Lastly, when your hair starts to feel healthy again, please stop using the protein treatments altogether. Wait a couple of weeks and see how your hair is doing. Only use your protein treatment again when your hair has started to feel off again.

Any other questions you have about protein treatments that we haven’t covered? Please let us know in the comments below, and we’ll be sure to get back to you!

beautiful woman with protein nourished natural hair

6 Heated Caps for Deep Conditioning Hair Treatments

Struggling with dry, frizzy, and rough hair. Plus, the ends of your hair tend to split after years of heat styling. To make things worse, regular conditioning treatments are no longer doing the trick.

A thermal cap for deep hair conditioning is the solution for people dealing with lackluster, dried-out locks. This cap can boost the efficiency of treatments you apply to combat dryness and brittleness, especially if you have stubborn, low-porosity strands.

What is a Heated Hair Cap?

A heat cap is a reusable conditioning cap that helps you maximize the benefits of deep conditioning hair treatments. The principle is simple: the heat helps to open the cuticle, allowing moisture and hair products to penetrate deeper. Without the heat, products just sit on top of your hair rather than penetrating the hair shaft.

A heating hair cap brings your deep conditioning routine to a higher level without hurting your pocket like a salon treatment would. It works great for hair masks and hot oil treatments.

Deep conditioning caps will accommodate any hair type and texture. Plus, they are so easy to use and are much more convenient than sitting under the dryer.

a worried woman checking her damaged hair

Types of Heated Caps

There are two main types of thermal hair caps: cordless/microwavable and electric. Which type is right for you depends on several factors, including your personal preferences. Let’s take a closer look at these two heat cap types and at some related products.

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Cordless Heat Cap for Deep Conditioning

This hands-free deep conditioning cap is designed to produce gentle heat for up to 30-45 minutes. The cap is filled with flaxseed or a kind of gel that can hold heat for a while. You need to warm up the cap in the microwave for a minute or two before placing it on the hair. As the name says, you don’t have to struggle with an electrical cord or stay near an electrical outlet during the treatment session. Instead, you can freely move around and continue with your duties.

Deep Conditioning Microwavable Heat Cap by ThermalHairCare

Available at Etsy

When it comes to deep conditioning cordless heat caps, Hot Head is the biggest name in the game. This is a high-quality cap created by a professional stylist to give you access to salon treatments in your home. Hot Head heat caps are made using only all-natural materials and are environmentally friendly products. They are filled with flaxseed and will retain the heat for up to 30 minutes. Additional pluses are that these thermal caps are reversible, soft to the touch, and very easy to use.  

2. Deep Conditioning Thermal Cordless Heat Cap by Glow by Daye

Super comfortable and lightweight, the “Grape” cordless deep conditioning heat cap is an easy runner-up option for all hair types. It’s designed with comfort and effectiveness in mind, allowing for up to 30 minutes of top-notch treatments. Flaxseed inside each bonnet ensures that heat radiates through the cap evenly and gently.

3. Flaxseed Deep Conditioning Heat Cap by Boloye

This microwave heating cap is made of soft and comfortable microfiber cotton fabric and has an interior filled with flaxseed. Flaxseed ensures even heat distribution through the entire cap.

Boloye Heat Cap has adjustable elastics to accommodate most head sizes and hair lengths.

The packaging includes several plastic disposable shower caps and a nice soft pouch for traveling and storing.

The main downside is that it cools quite quickly. It stays hot for about 15 minutes, so you may have to reheat it to finish your treatment.

Electric Heating Caps for Hair

Electric heating caps must be connected to an electrical outlet to work. Once you plug the unit in, it will start to produce heat. The benefit of going the electric route is that the temperature will remain constant for much longer than when you use cordless options. Plus, they are quiet and comfortable and don’t burn your skin.

4. VICARKO Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap

Although labeled as a steamer, this electric heat cap doesn’t produce steam. Instead, the VICARKO heating cap provides consistent heat and distributes it evenly. The heat lifts the hair cuticle, dramatically improving the results of your hair treatment. The VICARKO heat cup reaches 45℃ at the low-temperature setting and 65℃ at the high setting, allowing you to select the comfortable temperature for your hair type.

A wide and deep design ensures that you will easily cover all areas of your head. It is still compact enough to find a place in your cabinet and carry while traveling. Although this cap comes only in one universal size, an adjustable head strap allows it to fit different head sizes.

The most convenient feature is the built-in attemperator. This means that the unit will shut off once it reaches the desired temperature to prevent overheating. It will turn back on after the temperature drops. You can set one of two available temperature options and relax or work on your laptop.

5. Luxebell Hair Steamer Deep Conditioning Heat Cap

Luxebel heat cap is designed with a high front and low back to easily cover your head. This heat cap does not put out steam but with the conditioner you use and a plastic cap over the hair, it works like a steamer. It gets hot quickly and distributes heat evenly.

The unit has two levels of heat control 113- and 149 degrees F. When the temperature reaches 149 degrees, the heat will turn off by itself to prevent overheating. When the temperature drops below 25 degrees, the cap will automatically turn on and continue to produce heat.

The unit is compact, foldable, and doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage.

6. Tyche Pro Professional Heat Cap

The Tyche Pro Professional Heat cap is another choice for those looking for an electric option. This heat cap comes with three heat modes to adjust settings for fine, normal, or thick hair. It does a good job of allowing the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft.

However, there are many reports about heat not being evenly distributed through the cap.

The Benefits of Deep Conditioning Caps

  1. Helps hydrate dry strands: With a heat cap, you can make deep conditioning treatments much more effective. The heat opens the hair cuticle, which maximizes the effects of your hair products. This helps to hydrate dry strands, reverses the effects of damage, and restores softness and shine.
  2. Easy to use and budget-friendly: When your hair needs a moisture boost but you can’t afford a professional salon treatment, heat caps are a good alternative. They are an achievable option for any budget. They are easy to use and much more comfortable than sitting under a hooded dryer.
  3. Improve hair elasticity: Using heating caps is an efficient way to reduce hair breakage and avoid split ends on your hair. They can straighten both curly and straight hair. Deep conditioning with the heat cap may be the only thing standing between you and gorgeous curls with incredible elasticity and bounce.
  4. Promotes blood circulation in the scalp: Heat improves blood circulation in the scalp area for better oxygen and nutrient supply. Enhanced blood circulation in the scalp area creates an optimal environment for faster hair growth.
hairdresser putting a thermal cap on clients hair

How to Use a Heat Cap to Deep Condition your Hair

Whether you’ve opted for the cordless or electric option, using a heat cap for deep conditioning is really simple.

  1. Wash your hair as normal and gently pat dry to remove excess moisture.
  2. Apply a moisturizing hair treatment of choice to your hair.
  3. Put a shower cap underneath the heat cap to keep the heated cap clean and prevent burning your scalp.
  4. For the cordless heat cap: place it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Turn the cap over and microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Flip it once more and heat it for the final 30 seconds.
  5. For the electric heat cap: Plug the heat cap in and set the heat that matches your hair type.
  6. Place the heat cap over your hair saturated with the conditioning product.
  7. Continue the treatment but no longer than 30 minutes per time.
  8. Once completed, rinse the conditioner out with cool water to close the cuticle and lock in moisture inside your hair.
  9. Style hair as normal and enjoy your silky, hydrated locks.

Final Words

A heat cap is a convenient alternative to sitting under a dryer and an easy, inexpensive way to improve the health and hydration of your hair. Whether you opt for a cordless or electric model, you can achieve professional deep conditioning results without expensive trips to the hair salon. You can be sure that your hair will effectively absorb moisture and your favorite hair products for improved softness, and manageability.

a happy woman after using a heated cap

How to Keep Hair Straight Overnight to Save Time in the Morning

6 easy ways to maintain sleek styles while you slumber 

Straight hair isn’t all that easy to come by these days. With all the blow-drying, flat ironing, pressing, and fussing, it’s no wonder why women are ready to pull their hair out at the slightest sight of one frizzy strand. And if it wasn’t hard enough to achieve that pin-straight style during the day after all the blood, sweat, and tears it took to get that sleek look, then how on earth are you supposed to salvage your style for the next day?

Well, you don’t have to worry because we are going to dive into the top five methods of keeping your hair nice and straight while you sleep so that your mane is the last thing on your mind in the morning.

1) It’s All in the Preparation

woman in bed wearing a sleeping mask

First things first, getting straight hair to last through the night begins by making sure your hair has been properly straightened, to begin with. Think about this…if you don’t start with the smoothest results possible, then don’t expect silky tresses that will last you until the following morning.

For hair as straight as it can be, invest in a good blow-dryer brush that not only effectively dries your hair, but smooths it at the same time. What an ingenious concept, right?! The best part about this two-in-one magical gadget is that it completely eliminates the cumbersome task of having to use two hands to blow-dry your hair. And the end results are just as fabulous!

Bonus tip: Finish your blow-drying session with cool air to close your hair strand’s cuticles for a glassy, silken effect.

2) Create an Invisible Shield with an Anti-Frizz Serum

If drier temperatures are a straight-haired girl’s best friend, then high humidity must be her worst enemy. Nothing is more frustrating than perfecting that bone-straight, crinkle-free hairstyle just before leaving the house, only to step one foot out the door and feel your locks frizzing up due to all that moisture in the air.

Instead of swearing off the outdoors in the summertime for the rest of your life, there’s a simpler, less dramatic solution to giving your hair a fighting chance in the war against humidity. Using a silicone-based serum will create an invisible barrier between your hair strands and the atmosphere, which will discourage frizz by blocking water molecules from absorbing into your hair shaft, giving you all the freedom to frolic outside, even when the dew point is high.

Bonus tip: Use a good clarifying shampoo to thoroughly remove any buildup caused by the frequent use of products containing silicones.

3) An Idea You Can Wrap Your Head Around

Wrapping your hair around your head and securing it with a satin or silk headscarf is a great way to keep your hair straight. This technique may take a little practice, so you may want to watch a couple of tutorials on YouTube to perfect the method, but once you do, you will marvel at the results.

This method works by using your head like one gigantic roller. Just brush your hair flatly around your head, pinning it down as you go until no hair is left hanging. Finish by tying your hair in a silk or satin scarf to keep everything in place.

Bonus tip: Using a soft, boar-bristle brush will give you smoother results while helping to guide each strand around your head easily.

4) Pineapples Aren’t Just a Tasty Treat 

Keeping your hair stretched and straight overnight is as simple as putting it into a pineapple. Just gather all your hair up into a high ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie or a band made of fabric. Keep your hair tie nice and loose, only wrapping it around once to avoid creating dents and creases. Remember, we’re going for ultimate smoothness here.

a girl with a pineapple hairstyle

And to maximize the protection factor, don’t forget to wrap your head in a slippery silk or satin scarf to prevent moisture loss and avoid breakage from the friction caused by harsher fabrics.

5) Use Straightening Shampoo and Conditioner

The process of creating sleek hairstyles actually begins with your shampoo and conditioner. With the right shampoo and conditioner, it is also easier to keep your hair straight after styling. There is a type of hair shampoo advertised as straightening shampoo. These shampoos are not formulated to make hair sleek, but they do make hair more manageable and easier to straighten by using a flatiron. Straightening shampoos have moisturizing, detangling, and smoothening properties. They help smooth out frizz, add shine, and cut your styling time in the morning.

Bonus tip: Use silicone-free smoothing shampoos or make sure to clarify your hair periodically to prevent buildup from silicones that do not dissolve in water.

6) Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase

Cotton pillowcases tend to absorb moisture from the hair and create friction. Increased friction leads to tangles, frizz, and an increased risk of hair breakage. Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase may ruin the sleek finish of your flat-ironed hair, creating bad hair days.

To protect your straight hairstyle while sleeping, you need to replace your cotton pillowcase with a silk one. Silk is especially beneficial for curly hair that has a problem with retaining moisture. Silk doesn’t steal moisture from your hair, nor create friction that makes your hair messy and tangled. Silk helps to retain the freshness of your straight hairstyle overnight, making styling in the morning a lot easier.

dark-skinned girl sleeping on a silk-pillowcase

Bonus tip: Satin pillowcases provide the same benefits to your hair while they are more affordable than silk ones. You can also consider a bamboo pillowcase as a vegan alternative to a silk one.

Final Thoughts

When you spend a lot of time striving to achieve silky straight tresses, you want those results to last for more than just an afternoon. With some good prep work, helpful styling tools, and effective techniques you can do with ease, you’ll be on your way to having sleek hair for days on end.

How to Protect Your Hair from Sweat During Exercise

It is no secret that working out does wonders for your body. Not only does it help to reduce stress and the risk of chronic health conditions, but it also has the amazing ability to encourage hair growth by increasing blood flow to your scalp.

But as beneficial as exercise can be for your physical form, sweaty buildup accumulating in your scalp during exercise can potentially do damage to your precious tresses. So, before you head out and hit the gym for your next Zumba or spin class, let’s get you prepped with six ways to protect your mane while working out.

1. Tie Up Your Hair to Prevent It from Sweating

girl with a protective hairstyle having a break in the gym

This may sound like common sense to most avid gym-goers, but you’d be surprised by the number of women who work out wearing their hair down. I know, it’s mind-boggling. Keeping hair pulled up in a high bun or ponytail not only keeps your hair clean by keeping it off your face as you sweat, but it also prevents your hair from getting accidentally pulled or tugged, or even worse; possibly snagged in a piece of gym equipment! Ouch! But stranger things have happened.

You also want to make sure that you leave your hair tied up after your workout to allow time for the sweat to evaporate. This is essential for those who may not immediately shower right after a workout as you don’t want to unleash those tresses onto a sweaty neck and shoulders. In the meantime, put a towel over your holders to absorb the sweat.

2. Wait to Wash for a While

If you had plans to wash your hair the night before or the morning of your workout, you may want to think twice. Freshly washed hair gets temporarily robbed of the protective oils that coat each strand. And as a result, it is in its most vulnerable state when having to deal with the elements. The moisture-stripping effect of the salt in sweat will dry out your luscious locks, making your hair prone to breakage, and we don’t want that, do we?

So, wait to wash your hair until right after doing that heart-pumping, sweat-inducing workout. That way, it gives your scalp time to reproduce sebum, which is the oily substance produced near your follicles that slides down the length of your strands to keep them lubricated.

A woman in hero pose wearing a protective hairstyle

3. Stock Up on the Dry Shampoo

One item you should definitely have in your gym bag at all times is your favorite dry shampoo. Interestingly, this product is marketed primarily as a styling option to refresh your hair and allow you to save time by skipping a wash day or two…or three.

But one of the best ways to use dry shampoo is before your gym routine. Think of it as a deodorant/antiperspirant for your hair. It will help to absorb all the excess oil and sweat from your scalp before it can gunk up your hair and clog your follicles. Plus, you will really appreciate the odor control it provides. Many dry shampoo formulas come in an array of light and fresh scents.

Make sure not to overuse dry shampoo as this can result in product buildup on your scalp and hair. Use a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo at least once a month and do scalp exfoliation treatment biweekly.

Cute young woman in the gym with dumbbells

4. Shorter Hair Doesn’t Mean Short on Care

Just because your hair isn’t long enough to caress your shoulders or even brush up against the back of your neck, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take similar measures as your longer-haired friends do before getting that good workout in. Short hair still needs the same protective care while at the gym to keep it healthy and thriving.

Use soft hair accessories to gently keep your hair off your face, like wide, non-slip, lightweight, headbands that prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes. Stay away from harsh fabrics that could potentially pull and snag around the perimeter of your hair. 

5. An Assortment of No-Hassle Hairstyles for the Gym

Although it may not seem all that important, choosing the right hairstyle for the gym is as crucial as the outfit you decide to wear. Try to stay away from any style that causes unnecessary pulling and tugging, especially around your fragile hairline. 

Braiding or twisting your hair up is a great way to add a little flair while keeping it out of the way. Styles like these that intertwine the strands increase your hair’s ability to withstand constant manipulation as opposed to just wearing loose hair pulled back in a ponytail. You can also do a French roll and use straight pins to hold it firmly in place. That way, the ends of your hair stay safely tucked within the style and out of harm’s way.

Afro American young strong sportswoman doing abs exercises

6. Deep Condition to Keep Tresses in Tip-Top Shape

We all know the enormous benefits deep conditioning has in reviving a dull, dry mane, which is restoring shine, increasing elasticity, and adding tremendous softness. And while your body requires sufficient rest in between workouts to maximize your results, your hair needs recovery time too in the form of deep conditioning.

After washing your hair with your favorite shampoo, opt for a deep conditioner over your regular, instant conditioner that you throw on and quickly rinse right out. Instead, go for a product that contains natural moisturizing ingredients, like glycerin, sea kelp, and fruit extracts, and leave it on under a warm towel for 30 minutes to allow your hair’s cuticles to slightly lift, letting the conditioner do its restoration work.

beautiful young woman near the net tennis court lying on the floor

7. Look for Workout-Friendly Accessories

To feel comfortable and stay focused on your workout, you need to use hair accessories that are comfortable to wear and stay put without slipping.

Snag-Free Hair Elastics: Ordinary hair elastics can pull hair and cause breakage. Use hair ties that have an ideal level of elasticity. Your hair ties should be made of a material that does not tangle or damage the hair.

Spiral hair ties: Thanks to their spiral shape and smooth surface, they put less pressure on your hair than traditional hair ties. This telephone cord-like hair tie can be easily removed from wet hair, which helps to minimize tangles and hair breakage.

Workout Headbands: This hair accessory works for all lengths of hair. Hairbands should be made of elastic and soft material that absorbs moisture and is easy to maintain.

Cute young woman boxing and wearing braids

Final Word

We spend a lot of time and money to make sure our hair looks as good as it can. So, don’t throw all that effort away by skimping on the preparation for getting your hair ready to endure a grueling workout at the gym. Taking the time to ensure that your mane continues to flourish while working out will only complement the results of what consistent exercise will do for your body, and you deserve to have both.

young woman is-preparing hair for workout

How to Deep Condition Hair and what Are The Benefits for Different Hair Types

What’s Deep Conditioner?

Young woman with long hair in bathroom

Like regular visits to the doctor, dentist, and auto shop, deep hair conditioning is a healthy habit that gives you peace of mind (and mane!). In fact, it’s a powerful hair-nourishing treatment that pampers your tresses with moisture and vital nutrients. Although innovative, damage-fighting hair products such as bond multipliers have entered the market in recent years, deep conditioning treatment is still used as a highly effective way to maintain healthy, bold, and beautiful hair.

Specifically, the active ingredients in the treatment are combined to suit the unique needs of different hair types and individualized concerns. Moisturizing deep conditioners contain ingredients such as hair oils, butter, glycerin, panthenol, and fatty alcohols that work to impart softness and shine. Deep conditioners designed to temporarily repair damaged hair, in addition to hydrating ingredients, include hydrolyzed proteins which can also add strength to damaged locks.

Beautiful young woman applying mask her hair

Regular Conditioners vs. Deep Conditioners: Pudding vs. Crème Brulee

So why can’t we get the same boosts from regular conditioners? The main difference between regular and deep conditioners is the depth of penetration inside the hair. The action from a regular conditioner merely takes place on the surface of the hair strands. Daily conditioners coat the hair, reducing the frizz-causing friction that makes it difficult to comb and style your hair.

Yet deep conditioners are meant to be left on the hair for longer than regular conditioners. They can lift the cuticle and go deep into the hair shaft, thus nourishing your hair from the inside out. Thanks to the deeper penetration, the treatment continues to work inside your hair even after rinsing it.

Plus, deep conditioners offer creamier textures and much thicker consistencies than regular conditioners. They’re available in jars or tubes, unlike regular conditioners that usually come in bottles.

DIY Deep Conditioners vs. Store Bought Deep Conditioners

The main advantage of using any homemade or DIY hair treatment is that you can customize the ingredients to fit your specific hair needs. Such treatments are also free of preservatives and other synthetic ingredients. However, you’ll need to learn about the functional properties of the ingredients you’ll use. If you prefer hassle-free deep conditioning, there are ready-made products available designed for various hair problems. In addition to providing the desired outcome, these store-bought products also save you the time you’d invest in preparing the treatment yourself.

A beautiful young woman applies deep conditioner after washing hair

Benefits of Deep Conditioning Hair Treatments: Stealth Health, Damage Buster, Tress Tamer, and More!

The ingredients in the deep conditioning treatment are selected to infuse thirsty and damaged hair with moisture and vital nutrients. Your hair will be healthier and more resistant to damage. All types of hair can benefit from deep conditioning. Below, we’ve listed some of the main benefits that deep conditioning treatments cater for different hair problems:

  1. Damaged hair: If you dye your hair frequently, your hair may become overly porous and may feel brittle, like straw. Bleach and chemicals in permanent dyes often leave hair dry, fragile, and prone to breakage. That’s why your processed hair needs some serious TLC. A deep conditioning treatment replenishes lost moisture and elasticity in bleached hair, thereby making it more resistant to breakage and splitting. It makes your hair feel soft and silky; besides, your color will last longer.
  2. Unmanageable hair: If your hair is coarse and unruly, you need to put a great deal of effort to keep it looking good. Fortunately, a well-composed deep conditioning treatment can restore softness and pliability to unmanageable hair. This makes combing and brushing easier and helps prepare your hair for styling. Tame those wild child tresses!
  3. Curly hair: Curly hair is by nature drier than straight hair, which makes it quite vulnerable to damage and breakage. Deep conditioning treatment gives the necessary moisture to curly hair, improves detangling, and makes the curls look healthier and shinier.
  4. Frizz-prone hair: If you live in an area where it’s humid in the summer, your hair may be subject to frizz. On the other hand, dry air in the winter may increase static electricity in your hair. Deep conditioning treatment helps to moisturize hair from the inside, balance hair porosity, and keep frizz and static under control.
Pretty young woman with damaged hair

How to Use a Deep Conditioner

For best results, apply the treatment to wet hair after shampooing. Leave it to work for 5-40 minutes or according to the instructions. Some people prefer to apply the treatment to dry hair, but wet hair makes it easier to evenly distribute products with a creamy texture. Then cover your hair with a plastic shower cap. After the recommended time has passed, rinse the treatment from your hair. You don’t need to use a regular conditioner.

Do You Need Heat for Deep Conditioning?

The application of heat will increase the effectiveness of deep conditioning treatments. Some ingredients in the treatment can penetrate the hair shaft without the application of heat. However, the heat opens the cuticle and encourages deeper penetration, enhancing the benefits of the treatment. The optimal heat, which is both comfortable and effective, is around 95 ° Fahrenheit.

The application of heat is especially important if you have low-porosity hair. Low-porosity hair has a tightly closed cuticle which tends to decrease the effectiveness of hair treatments.

How Often should you Apply Deep Conditioner?

If your hair is dry or colored, or you frequently use hot styling tools, you should deep condition it once a week. If your hair is in good shape, then deep conditioning treatment performed biweekly helps replenish moisture and prevent damage from brushing, styling, and damaging environmental factors. You can do this treatment whenever your hair needs extra care and moisture to stay healthy, bright, bold, and beautiful.

Are you ready to roll in the deep today?

Pretty young woman with deep conditioned hair

10 Lightweight Hair Oils and their Benefits for Hair

The centuries-old practice of using natural oils for beauty purposes is back in trend.  And for good reason: natural oils have many proven benefits in addition to simply moisturizing your hair. Using natural oils reduces exposure to harmful chemicals you can find in hair care products. Unrefined hair oils don’t contain artificial ingredients while retaining their nutritional value. Their natural ingredients don’t pose a risk to your health or harm the environment.

Hair oils can help compensate for the lack of natural oils that have been lost due to over-shampooing, chemical processing, and frequent heat styling.

You can use hair oils as an overnight mask, hot oil treatment, pre-shampoo treatment, or as a leave-in conditioner. You can also add them to your shampoo, conditioner, or styling creme for an added boost of moisture.

woman applying hair oil to dry ends

Light Oils vs. Heavy Oils

Lightweight hair oils penetrate the hair shaft quickly without leaving your hair feeling greasy or weighed down. Due to their small molecular structure, those light oils penetrate the hair more deeply, while heavy oils just sit on the top of your hair.

Lighter oils work great for any hair type, but they are especially suitable if you have fine hair that lacks volume and bounce.

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1. Argan Oil for Damage-Free Hair

Argan oil, also known as Moroccan oil, is derived from nuts contained in the fruit of the Argania Spinosa tree. Known as “liquid gold,” this oil is rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A and E, which work together to keep your locks healthy. 

Hair types that may benefit from the use of argan oil:

Weak and damaged hair: Studies have shown that argan oil can decrease damage caused to the hair shaft by using permanent dyes. With regular use, argan oil helps to heal damaged hair and reduce breakage and split ends. As a pre-shampoo treatment, leave argan oil in the hair for at least one hour before shampooing.

Frizzy, coarse hair: Argan oil coats the hair shaft, which helps prevent frizz and static and adds a mirror-like shine. This oil improves hair softness and manageability and is a favorite hair oil for people with frizzy, coarse, and unmanageable hair. It especially helps with detangling curly hair and makes the curls shiny and bouncy. After a shower, rub a few drops of oil into the palms of your hands, then run your fingers through your hair and massage the oil into your scalp.

Dry scalp and dry hair: This oil is the perfect moisturizer for dry, processed, and damaged hair. Argan oil seals in the cuticles to increase moisture retention inside the hair. It adds a nice shine to lackluster hair without leaving it feeling oily. To reduce frizz and tame flyaway hair, apply a couple of drops to the ends of your hair.

bottles of argan oil

Argan oil conditions a dry scalp and helps decrease inflammation and oxidative stress. It helps reduce flaking caused by dry scalp conditions and is gentle enough to be used on sensitive scalps. 

2. Jojoba Oil: Closest to the Human Sebum

Jojoba oil is extracted from the seed kernels of the jojoba plant. This golden-yellow liquid has similar properties to human sebum. It is rich in monounsaturated liquid wax esters, vitamins E and B, and minerals that prevent oxidative stress and keep the skin and hair healthy.

What Hair types will benefit from the use of jojoba oil?

Dry hair: This lightweight oil improves hydration, which makes it a great treatment for dry hair. It minimizes frizz and adds shine to lackluster hair without weighing it down.

Oily scalp and dry hair: Due to its sebum-balancing properties, jojoba oil has beneficial effects on both dry and oily hair. It hydrates dry ends while, at the same time, dissolving any excess sebum and inhibiting hyperactive oil glands.

Damaged hair: Jojoba oil fill in the cracks in the hair shaft to prevent further damage and split ends. It strengthens your strands, mends split ends and stops excessive hair breakage.

Dandruff-prone hair:  Antimicrobial and healing properties of jojoba oil reduce scalp inflammation. In addition, it helps clear clogged pores, soothes a dry, flaky scalp, and keeps dandruff under control.

3. Grapeseed Oil: The Lightest Hair Oil

Grapeseed oil is extracted from grape seeds, the byproduct of the wine-making process. This oil is loaded with beneficial fatty acids, vitamins A, E, K, B6, and antioxidants that keep hair healthy. Just make sure to store it away from light and heat!

Hair types that will benefit from the use of grapeseed oil:

Dry, frizzy hair: Natural conditioning agents in grapeseed oil moisturize and condition dry strands, making hair stronger, healthier, and shinier. If you have fine hair that lacks moisture, this lightweight oil will deliver it without weighing your locks down. It will also help prevent frizz and split ends.

Dandruff-prone hair: Hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties make this oil a great scalp conditioner and effective remedy for dandruff caused by dry scalps.

Extract of grape oil in a small jar

Thinning hair: Grapeseed oil can decrease the production of DHT, a hormone that causes hair loss. It also helps boost blood circulation in the scalp area, which may positively affect the functionality of hair follicles. This light hair oil won’t make thinning hair look too heavy.

4. Rosehip Seed Oil: Best Anti-Aging Moisturizer

Rosehip oil is extracted from the crushed seeds of wild rose bushes. Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E, and Lycopene, this oil has potent antioxidant and regenerative properties.

What Hair types will benefit from the use of rosehip oil?

Dry hair: Rosehip oil keeps hair hydrated and prevents damage to hair associated with the loss of natural oils. It nourishes the hair cuticle, tames frizziness, and leaves hair soft and silky.

Dry scalp: Absorbed almost immediately, rosehip oil moisturizes the scalp to prevent scalp flaking and dandruff.

Rose hips (rosa canina fruits) with leaves

Thinning hair: Rosehip oil dissolves the excess build-up on your scalp, unclogs hair follicles, and revitalizes scalp tissue, promoting the growth of healthy hair.

5. Japanese Camellia Seed Oil: Amazing Source of Nourishment

Japanese Camellia flower

Camellia oil, also known as Tsubaki oil, is obtained from the seeds of the Camellia Japonica tree, which is native to southern Japan. It contains high amounts of fatty acids, vitamin E, and anti-aging polyphenol antioxidants.

Hair types that will benefit from the use of camellia oil:

Dry, lackluster hair: Camellia oil helps to seal moisture into dry strands, making hair softer and more manageable. Its non-greasy formula restores natural shine to hair without leaving an oily layer. This helps your hair look bouncier than when using most other oils.

Unmanageable hair: Camelia oil seals the cuticle and decreases the roughness and excessive porosity that causes friction. This not only makes hair easier to comb and style, but also minimizes the appearance of frizz.

Thinning hair: Camellia oil moisturizes the scalp and strengthens the hair follicles, encouraging hair growth. It also balances sebum secretion, soothes irritation, and keeps dandruff at bay.

6. Marula Oil for Youthful-Looking Glow

Marula oil is extracted from the nuts and kernels found in marula fruit trees. This African oil is rich in fatty acids, vitamins C and E, and flavonoids responsible for healthy and youthful hair.

What Hair types may benefit from the use of marula oil?

Dry, frizzy, or brittle hair: Marula oil assists in moisture retention and boosts hair elasticity, resulting in less breakage. It also heals and smooths damaged cuticles and helps control frizz.

Aging hair: Marula oil can enrich the hair follicles and supply them with oxygen and vitamin C.  This stimulates collagen synthesis inside the cells and slows down hair aging processes.

Scalp problems: The antimicrobial properties of marula oil can keep the scalp healthy. Massaging the scalp with marula oil soothes dry, irritated skin, and reduces dandruff.

7. Sweet Almond Oil: Head to Toe Nourishment

Sweet almond oil is derived from crushed seeds of edible almonds that come from the Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis tree. Sweet almond oil is a good source of oleic acid and vitamins A, B, D, and E. It has emollient, regenerating, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hair types and scalp conditions that may benefit from the use of sweet almond oil?

Dry hair and dry scalp: As a lightweight oil, it can be used to fight dryness without weighing hair down. It seals moisture, boosts hair elasticity, and prevents breakage and splitting. It conditions scalp tissues and relieves dryness, itching, and dandruff.

Dull, lifeless hair: Sweet almond oil helps bring overprocessed hair back to life, soften the texture, and restore its natural shine and beauty.

Thinning hair: Massaging your scalp with almond oil 3-4 times per week improves blood circulation and infuses cells with biotin, promoting stronger, thicker, healthier hair.

8. Avocado Oil: A Versatile Gift from Nature

Unlike other oils that are derived from seeds, avocado oil is extracted by pressing the pulp of an avocado. This oil is rich in healthy fatty acids, vitamin D, and magnesium. Its lightweight formula rapidly absorbs into the skin and hair.

What hair types will benefit from the use of avocado oil?

Fragile, dry hair: Avocado oil helps to seal moisture inside the hair.  It conditions and strengthens dry, brittle, and damaged strands, reducing hair breakage and enhancing shine.

Thinning hair: Magnesium present in avocado oil penetrates deep into scalp pores and stimulates hair follicles, encouraging healthy hair growth.

Dry, flaky scalps: The healing and antimicrobial properties of avocado oil help combat inflammation and dryness, keeping the scalp healthy.

9. Moringa Oil for Long-Lasting Color

Moringa oil is obtained from the seeds of the Moringa Oleifera tree through a cold-pressing process. The chemical composition includes fatty acids, vitamins E, B, and C, and antioxidants with skin- and hair-rejuvenating properties.

What hair types will benefit from the use of moringa oil?

  • Dry, dull hair: Moringa oil helps to keep keratin and moisture inside the hair, fights split ends, and promotes smoothness and shine.
  • Color-treated hair: Rich in antioxidants, this oil can protect the hair from harmful UV rays and prevent color fading.
  • Flaking scalp: Antimicrobial and moisturizing properties of Moringa oil work to relieve dry and inflamed scalps and fight dandruff and flaking.

10. Baobab Oil: Moisturizer from the Tree of Life

Baobab oil is derived from the kernel of the baobab fruit. The baobab tree often called a “Tree of life” grows in dry climate locations throughout Africa. Rich in vitamin E, Vitamin A, fatty acids, and antioxidants, this non-greasy oil is a wonderful moisturizer for both hair and skin.

What Hair types will benefit from the use of baobab oil?

Dry, brittle hair: When used as a hair mask, baobab oil helps improve moisture retention in hair that is prone to dryness and improves the elasticity of weak, brittle strands.

Damaged hair: This oil penetrates the hair strands to prevent and repair the damage, making your hair feel soft and silky. It also adds volume and gives a healthy shine to hair.

Dry scalp: Baobab oil absorbs deeply into the scalp. When used as a hot oil treatment, it conditions the scalp and relieves dandruff and itchiness.

baobab fruit tree
Baobab fruit tree

Hyaluronic Acid for Hair: Benefits, How to Apply, and Products

Today we are going to talk about one of the biggest cosmetic advancements of the past 30 years – hyaluronic acid. If you have dry, porous hair that is prone to frizz, you might want to know more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid for hair and how to apply it to your hair.

Though it was discovered almost 90 years ago in the 1930s, its benefits are so extensive that we didn’t discover its most popular application, skin and hair health, and beauty, until the 1990s. The benefits of hyaluronic acid in skincare are obvious to most, but why are we putting it in our hair?

First of All, What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

Also known as hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid is a biopolymer that’s naturally produced by your body. It has long been established that this polymer is essential to cell metabolism and healing.

Beautiful girl with dry hair

Our bodies love this stuff. We each have about 15 grams of it in us at any given time, with about 5 grams being refreshed every single day. Your cartilage is coated in it, it’s embedded in your fascia, and it helps your muscles slide against each other painlessly. But its most common role is as a major component of skin. Your hair grows out of your skin, so this is important to note.

During the last decades, hyaluronic acid has found its way into our hair care products. When applied to the scalp and hair, it offers the same incredible benefits that it does for the rest of your skin, resulting in that hair you think only exists in shampoo commercials.

If you don’t see hyaluronic acid listed on the product label, look for the term “sodium hyaluronate”. Sodium hyaluronate is a water-soluble salt form of hyaluronic acid developed to provide the same benefits as Hyaluronic Acid but also to ensure greater penetration into the skin. This is possible because it has a smaller molecular weight than hyaluronic acid.

Beautiful girl with hair nourished by hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic Acid Benefits for Hair and Scalp

1. Moisture Miracle

The number one most important benefit of hyaluronic acid for skin (scalp) and hair is its ability to replenish moisture. This stuff doesn’t just deliver moisture to your cells. No, this stuff is a hydration miracle. Two words – moisture retention.

What’s the worst thing about your hair moisturizing products? I’m willing to bet it’s either the weight, causing your hair to lose volume or look oily, or the fact that it feels great for ten minutes and then vanishes like a thief in the night. A thief who steals your hair’s good looks and silky texture. These undesirable features exist for two reasons: it takes a lot of product to deliver the moisture you want and they deliver moisture, but won’t help your hair and scalp hold on to it.

Hyaluronic acid is the gold standard for moisturization. It can absorb 1000 times its weight in water. It’s not just sitting on the surface like a lot of other products. It’s bringing intense moisture into the cells and keeping them there.

2. Thicker and Healthier Hair

Beautiful girl with moisturized healthy hair

As mentioned, hyaluronic acid plays a significant role in the health and healing of your skin. That means it’s necessary for all of your skin’s natural processes, including the growth of hair. Keeping your scalp healthy and moisturized is a crucial part of keeping your hair healthy and growing. Healthier skin promotes the growth phase of more follicles. Having more hairs on your head in the growth phase means denser hair. Growth phases that last longer mean longer hair.

Now here’s something you might not have expected from this brilliant little polymer: it can actually increase the diameter of each strand of hair, so you get a thicker, fuller head of healthy hair that looks and feels great.

3. Superior Frizz Control

If you have particularly frizzy or dry hair, you will benefit from using hair products formulated with hyaluronic acid. Dry, damaged hair does not easily retain water but hyaluronic acid helps boost hair’s ability to trap the water inside the hair shaft and minimize moisture loss. This also prevents unwanted moisture from entering the strands causing swelling and frizz. As a result, you may notice that your hair is smooth, shiny, and frizz-free.

4. Soft Manageable Hair

Bleaching and frequent hot styling can leave hair porous and fried. Hyaluronic acid in your hair products can make a big difference. It will make your dull hair look smoother, softer, and shinier. The texture and manageability of your locks may be noticeably improved.

a young woman with hyaluronic acid serum in her hair

How to Get Hyaluronic Acid into Your Hair

The simplest way to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your hair care routine is to use products that contain this ingredient. By using hair products enriched with hyaluronic acid, you’ll see a significant improvement in the health and appearance of your hair and scalp.

Since hyaluronic acid attracts water, it would be best to apply it right after the shower while your hair is still wet or damp. This way this hydrating ingredient helps to lock in moisture and banishes frizz.

1. Hyaluronic Acid Hair Serums

The best way to get hyaluronic acid into your hair is with a leave-in product like a serum. Unlike many other leave-in products, a serum containing hyaluronic acid will be lightweight and long-lasting, not to mention highly effective. Leaving it in your hair will allow more of the product to be absorbed into the strands where you want the moisture to be delivered and retained. Apply the serum on wet or damp hair, before drying. Focus on the areas that need extra protection and care.

Styling products infused with hyaluronic acid include Hair Density Serum by Grow Gorgeous, Blond Absolu Cicaplasme Hair Heat-Protecting Serum by KERASTASE, and Power Drops Hydration & Anti-Pollution Booster by ORIBE.

young woman with hair nourished with hyaluronic acid products

2. Hyaluronic Acid Shampoos and Conditioners

A leave-in serum is a great delivery method, but it’s also a good idea to think about your shampoo and conditioner. A lot of shampoos (drug store and grocery store products) are actually damaging to your hair, but a well-formulated shampoo with hyaluronic acid will clean your hair and scalp while delivering serious moisture from the follicle to the tip.

Conditioners have cationic charges and are designed to aid in moisture retention. When you’re choosing which conditioner to buy, your best bet is the one that’s going to deliver and retain the most moisture you can get: one with hyaluronic acid.

Popular shampoo brands enriched with hyaluronic acid include Vitamin Shampoo by Julien Farel, Hyaluronic Acid Light&Volume Filler Effect Shampoo by L’Erbolario Loti, Episilk Shampoo with Hyaluronic Acid by Hyalogic, and Moisturizing Shampoo with Aloe & Hyaluronic Acid by Apivita.

young woman with healthy hair

Silk Protein Benefits for Hair and Products with Silk Amino Acids

Silk is a natural protein created by silk-producing insects such as worms and spiders. Silk fibers are known for their incredible strength and glossy shine. In the past, silk was not only commonly used to produce fabrics but also to heal skin and make body powder.

In recent years silk protein has increasingly been used as an ingredient in beauty and personal care products. Silk has excellent moisture-binding properties, as well as the ability to strengthen damaged hair. . When incorporated into hair products, silk protein adds a softness and a velvety feel.

What is Hydrolyzed Silk Protein?

Silk protein needs to be hydrolyzed to make it readily absorbable by the hair. Molecular hydrolysis is the breakdown of a chemical into smaller pieces when it reacts with water. Hydrolysis breaks down proteins into very small molecules called amino acids. Thanks to their low molecular weight the silk amino acids can penetrate the hair shaft, thus nourishing and strengthening the hair from within.

Hydrolyzed Silk Protein can be purchased in beauty stores and then mixed with your shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, or hair serum. The product may come in either liquid or powder form. Both forms can be easily mixed with liquid hair products.

cute smilling girl with silky hair

The 6 Benefits of Hydrolyzed Silk Protein for Hair

When used as an additive in hair care products Hydrolyzed Silk can improve the health and appearance of your hair in several ways:

  1. Because of its low molecular weight silk amino acids can penetrate the hair shaft, rather than simply adhering to the hair surface. They moisturize the hair from within, making it less prone to frizz and more manageable.
  2. Hydrolyzed silk protein forms a protective film around the hair strands, allowing for the reflection of light. This protective barrier makes the hair smooth and soft and enhances its natural luster.
  3. Products with Silk protein keep the hair color looking vibrant for longer. A Silk Protein-enriched conditioner can block harmful UV rays and keep the color from fading.
  4. Silk fibers are the strongest natural fibers known to man. Silk amino acids lock in moisture inside the hair and improve elasticity, making hair more resistant to breakage.
  5. Hydrolyzed Silk has great water-attracting properties. It improves the softness of dry and damaged hair, making it feel silky, soft, and nourished. If you have a problem with dry, unruly hair, Hydrolyzed Silk will add more softness and silkiness than any other form of protein.
  6. Hydrolyzed silk reduces porosity which makes detangling easier. It tames flyaway hair and creates a silky-smooth feel.
Tanned brunette with shiny long hair

How to Add Hydrolyzed Silk to Your Hair Products

You can dissolve Hydrolyzed Silk Protein in distilled water and combine it with other proteins to form a protein mist. Use this mist to nourish and smooth damaged strands, and protect your hair from further damage. It will also tame frizz and keep your ends from splitting apart.

Spray the silk protein mist on dry hair from about 5 inches away and let your hair absorb it. Use once a week. Keep stored in the refrigerator.

You can add Hydrolyzed Silk Protein to your hair products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair balms, pomades, lotions, and creams. This ingredient will enhance the conditioning and softening properties of these products.

Hydrolyzed Silk should be added to hair products at a concentration level between 0.5 and 10%. Keep in mind that too much protein can lead to brittleness, and makes your hair difficult to style. Regular use of protein-enriched products is not the best option for everyone’s hair.

The following hair care products are enriched with hydrolyzed silk.

Hair Products Enriched with Silk Amino Acids

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Silk Amino Acid Shampoos and Conditioners

1. Biosilk Silk Therapy Duo Set Shampoo and Conditioner

This silk protein-enriched shampoo is ideal for dry, damaged, or unmanageable hair. Used in combination with accompanying conditioner it tames wild strands and leaves the hair with a brilliant shine. Gentle, non-sulfate cleansers remove all impurities without stripping the color.

2. It’s a 10 Haircare Silk Express Miracle Silk Shampoo

This sulfate-free shampoo nourishes hair to restore natural moisture balance, protects against heat damage, and increases strength and elasticity. This shampoo works great for dry, damaged, and over-processed hair. It makes combing and styling easier, improves softness, and seals the cuticle for instant silkiness and shine.

Miracle Silk Conditioner adds a weightless body, loosens tangles, and gives your hair silkiness and shine. It helps cut down your blow-dry time and enhances the vibrancy of your hair color.

3. Silk 18 Conditioner by Maple Holistics

This ultra-hydrating formula contains a special silk amino acid complex that penetrates hair strands to build stronger, more flexible, and softer hair. This helps prevent further breakage and split ends. Silk 18 Conditioner also replenishes hair with moisture, tames frizz, and adds a glossy shine.

Silk Leave-In Treatments

1. Goldwell Kerasilk Control Smoothing Fluid

This leave-in fluid is designed to tame unruly, frizzy, and unmanageable hair. The formula uses Keratin, Glyoxylic Acid, and Hydrolyzed Silk to protect hair against heat, calm down the frizz, and increase manageability. It helps align the cuticles, creating a silky feel, and a brilliant shine.

Use it on damp before blow-drying.

2. CHI Silk Infusion

This leave-in reconstructing treatment is infused with hydrolyzed silk along with hydrolyzed wheat and soy proteins to easily penetrate the hair shaft and help repair and strengthen damaged hair.

The treatment makes thick, coarse hair softer and easier to straighten. It protects the hair from heat damage, helps tame frizz, and adds lustrous shine.

Apply to damp hair for easy detangling, heat protection, and silky-smooth results. Use this leave-in product on dry hair to eliminate frizz and flyaways and boost shine.

3. Biosilk Silk Therapy

This lightweight leave-in treatment helps repair split ends and seal the cuticle to impart smoothness and shine.

Works great before blow-drying and makes the hair easy to style. Biosilk Silk Therapy helps to control static and keeps hair from getting frizzy. It can be applied to either wet or dry hair.

Unfortunately, this popular hair care product is not paraben-free.

beautiful brunette with shiny healthy hair

Silk Hair Serums

1. ECRU New York Silk Nectar Serum

ECRU New York Silk Nectar Serum is a lightweight anti-frizz & shine serum that strengthens hair and makes it sleeker and more resistant to humidity. The formula uses Hydrolyzed Silk and emollients to seal the cuticles, improve manageability, and reveal natural shine.

Apply to towel-dried hair, focusing on the ends and comb through to prevent moisture loss, mend split ends, and add shine. Apply to dry hair to tame frizzies and flyaways.

2. Biosilk Silk 21 Repair & Shine Serum

This lightweight serum protects your hair against thermal damage and eliminates frizz, making your hair feel silky and smooth.

Apply to damp hair before styling to protect your hair from heat, take the frizz away, and create sleek, smooth styles. Apply to dry hair to seal split ends, keep flyaways under control, and add shine.

3. Silk Drops Repair and Shine Serum by DESIGNLINE

DESIGNLINE Silk Drops Repair and Silk Shine Serum uses a blend of proteins and silk amino acids to revitalize dry, frizzy, and brittle hair and transform it into smooth, manageable, and shiny locks.

Apply a small amount of the serum to damp hair and work through mid-lengths, and ends to smooth the frizz and create a sleek and glossy finish. When applying to dry hair, focus on the ends to avoid a greasy look.

Silk Amino Acids for Hair Smoothening

1. Brocato Supersilk Silk Amino Acid Smoothing Treatment

Brocato formula uses Silk Amino Acid Complex, with the key ingredient Sericin to offer a safer straightening method than traditional keratin straightening formulas. The processing time depends on the condition of your hair. The treatment is advertised to make hair smooth, shiny, and manageable for up to 12 weeks.

a cute brunette with friendly smile

Pre-Shampoo Treatments and Their Benefits

Pre-pooing, or pre-shampooing, is the process of applying a treatment of some kind to your hair before shampooing. Although this may seem like an unnecessary extra step, there are quite a few benefits to it.

Pre-shampooing is a kind of protective treatment that helps prepare your hair for washing to minimize the drying effect of hair shampoos. Pre-pooing forms a thin layer over your hair strands, which can prevent your hair from drying out after shampooing with a sulfate shampoo. Even if you’re not using a sulfate shampoo, you may want to pre-poo if your hair is damaged and feels brittle. Pre-wash treatments help flatten cuticles to lock in moisture, preserve healthy hair oils, and nourish your locks.

Pre-wash products are supposed to be used before each shampoo, or at least once a week, to keep your locks healthy and nourished. Most treatments are meant to be left on the hair for 5 to 30 minutes depending on the product and condition of your hair. You can even use these as overnight treatments to get the maximum benefits.

A woman with a pre-shampoo hair mask in the bathroom

Pre-shampoo treatments come in the form of hair oil, hair butter, hair masks, and conditioners. Just make sure to avoid products that are too thick, such as petroleum jelly which can form a thick layer that will be difficult to wash off of your hair.

Some of the pre-wash formulas are designed for particular hair types or to help with some scalp issues. When shopping for a pre-shampoo treatment, make sure to purchase the product that suits your specific needs.

What Are the Benefits of a Pre-Wash Hair Treatment?

Replenishes lost moisture: If your hair is overly dry and porous, it can’t retain its natural moisture and oils. Such hair may look dull, lifeless, and hard to manage. A pre-shampoo treatment soaks into dry hair and replenishes the moisture stripped away from bleaching, coloring, and heat styling. It gently smooths out rough cuticles to lock in moisture, leaving your hair silky soft, and bouncy

Nourished curls: People with naturally curly hair can benefit from adding this extra step to their regular hair care routine. Pre-shampoo treatments keep natural hair moisturized, tame frizz, and keep curls feeling smooth and nourished.

Prolongs the life of your color: If your hair has been abused by frequent coloring, bleaching, or other chemical treatments, it may become weak, dry, and prone to color fading. A pre-shampoo treatment protects and nourishes your hair before and after chemical treatments and seals the cuticle to help your color last longer. It maintains color vibrancy and longevity by preventing color fading due to washing, sun exposure, and heat styling

Reduces hair breakage: This treatment is exceptionally effective if you need to stop hair breakage. Tangled hair is one of the most common causes of excessive hair breakage.  Pre-shampooing flattens the cuticle and lubricates the hair shaft, making the strands smoother. This helps soften the hair before washing and keeps tangles at bay.

Protect swimmer’s hair: Before you go swimming in a pool or the ocean, you need to protect your hair from chlorine and salt water. As a protective measure, saturate your hair with the pre-shampoo treatment before swimming. By soaking your hair with a pre-shampoo product, you will minimize the damaging effects of chlorine and sea salt on your locks.

How to Pre-Poo

a young woman with wet nourished hair

Apply the pre-PO mixture to wet hair before washing.

  1. Massage 1–2 teaspoons of the treatment into wet hair and scalp.
  2. Use your fingers to distribute the mixture through the lengths of your hair to ensure maximum coverage. Concentrate on the thirsty ends. Then use a comb to evenly distribute the treatment.
  3. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave the treatment on for about 30 minutes or longer if your hair is ultra-dry and porous. You can apply heat to ensure better absorption.
  4. Rinse thoroughly. Shampoo and condition as normal.

 You can pre-poo 1 to 3 times a week or as often as needed.

Coconut Oil Pre-Shampoo Treatment

To get the most out of this pre-shampoo treatment, use virgin coconut oil.

Divide your hair into equal sections. For fine and thinner hair, four sections are enough. For thicker, longer, or dense hair, eight sections are better.

After dividing your hair, apply the pre-shampoo treatment. You want your hair to be completely saturated to take advantage of all the benefits of the treatment and the coconut oil. Completely coat the hair, starting at the roots, and making your way down to the ends. Once the hair is coated, comb through it with a wide tooth comb or your fingers to ensure that there are no tangles. Now, you wait.

When using pre-shampoo treatments, the longer you can leave it on, the better. You should leave the treatment in for at least thirty minutes, but to further take advantage of the benefits, you may want to leave it on for a few hours or even overnight.

When you are ready, thoroughly rinse out the pre-shampoo treatment and wash and condition your hair as normal. Your hair will feel moisturized and healthy.

DIY Pre-Poo with Castor Oil

Castor oil is used to treat hair fall and even stimulate hair growth. And castor oil is not only the magic ingredient of this recipe, but it’s also quite affordable!

What you need:

  • 1 tbsp Castor oil
  • 2-3 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • 10 drops of geranium essential oil
  • Shower cap

Directions:

  1. Mix everything and apply it to your scalp and hair.
  2. Cover with a shower cap.
  3. Wash off after 30 min.

Ready-Made Pre-Wash Treatments

While you can easily make your DIY pre-wash treatment, for those who prefer some ready-made products some great pre-poo products include Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre-Shampoo Treatment, Huile de Leonor Greyl Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment, and Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment by Living Proof.

A beautiful girl blow-drying freshly shampooed hair

Benefits of Hydrolyzed Proteins for Your Hair

Why Do Proteins Need to Be Broken Down?

The protein in your hair is vulnerable to damage from harsh cleansers, frequent chemical treatments, and heat styling, which can result in dryness, reduced elasticity, and excessive hair shedding.

Repairing this damage is more complicated than simply replacing the missing protein because the molecules are too big to penetrate the hair shaft and support the integrity of the hair.

To effectively repair this damage, proteins need to undergo a process called hydrolysis. That’s a chemical reaction that breaks protein molecules down into fragments with lower molecular weights that can be absorbed by the hair.

Happy girl touching the hair nourished with hydrolyzed proteins

These smaller protein pieces can penetrate the hair shaft, replace the lost protein, and strengthen the hair from the inside. Hydrolyzed proteins help improve moisture retention and elasticity while giving hair softness, shine, and bounce.

Hydrolysis also makes protein water-soluble, and suitable for use in cosmetic formulations.

How to Use Hydrolyzed Proteins on Your Hair

These protein products deserve your attention because unlike synthetic chemicals that can damage your hair and pose a health risk, hydrolyzed proteins are completely safe for use in personal care products.

If your hair is fine, damaged, dry, relaxed, or difficult to style, you should consider hydrolyzed proteins as part of your hair care regimen. As you do, you will notice your hair looking and feeling stronger, fuller, softer, and shinier.

Hydrolyzed proteins are not finished personal care products, but concentrated raw ingredients that are meant to be used for making cosmetics or adding directly to your store-bought hair care products. (Don’t use these raw ingredients directly on your hair—they are too strong to be used without diluting.)

Be careful to avoid protein overload, because too much protein can leave your hair looking greasy and feeling brittle, especially if your hair already has enough protein. If that happens, deep conditioning treatments and moisturizing products will help get the protein/moisture balance back, but you should lessen the amount of hydrolyzed proteins in your hair care products and reduce the frequency of using protein-rich products.

The advantage of adding hydrolyzed protein to your hair care product over buying products that already contain hydrolyzed protein is that you can customize the concentration of protein according to your needs. To enable you to get the desired strength easily, some hydrolyzed protein products come with a measuring pipet and a percentage chart.

The most common types of protein that are used for making hair care products are hydrolyzed wheat, hydrolyzed silk, and hydrolyzed keratin protein.

Let’s see how your hair can benefit from hydrolyzed proteins and how to incorporate them into your hair care routine.

Hydrolyzed Proteins for Hair

1. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

This protein product is an amber-colored liquid derived from wheat. Due to its low molecular weight, it can penetrate damaged cuticle layers and strengthen your hair from within. This product doesn’t contain gluten, so it can be used if you are gluten sensitive.

Hydrolyzed wheat protein will last up to a year without losing its effectiveness. Store it in the refrigerator after opening it to preserve its potency.

Properties & Benefits

  • Fine, porous, damaged, and chemically treated hair will get the most benefit from this protein. If your hair lacks protein, this will bring it back to life. You may see a noticeable difference after the first use.
  • Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein reduces hair’s porosity and strengthens it from within, making your hair healthier, shinier, and easier to style.
  • This protein increases your hair’s ability to receive and retain moisture.
  • It helps reduce breakage, eliminates frizz and tangles, and makes your hair appear fuller.

Applications

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein should be mixed with your moisturizing conditioner and used as a deep conditioner or protein treatment, depending on the porosity level of your hair. Make sure to follow the instructions that come with the product.

If your hair is overly porous and very damaged, you need to apply it as a protein treatment biweekly. If you have low porosity hair, use this protein product monthly as a deep conditioning treatment.

Try to avoid putting the mixture directly on your scalp because it can clog up your pores.

You can apply heat or just use a shower cap and towel for 30-45 minutes. Rinse thoroughly; otherwise, your hair may appear sticky or greasy.

2. Hydrolyzed Silk

Hydrolyzed Silk Protein is an amber, non-viscous liquid obtained from silk fibers. This water-soluble protein can be added to your hair care products at concentrations of 0.5 – 5% of the total amount of the product.

Properties & Benefits

  • When added to hair care products, Hydrolyzed Silk helps improve the elasticity of hair strands and adds luster and manageability to the hair.
  • Hydrolyzed Silk Protein fills in the gaps in the cuticle, giving more silkiness to your hair than any other hydrolyzed protein.
  • Its outstanding moisture-binding capacities help increase the hair’s ability to retain water, improving its elasticity.
  • When added to hair shampoos, it can reduce the irritating potential of harsh surfactants.

Applications

Hydrolyzed Silk Protein can be added to a hair shampoo or conditioner in concentrations of up to 5% of the total volume to increase the conditioning and softening properties of these products. Make sure that your shampoo or conditioner is rich in moisturizing ingredients to help keep the moisture/protein balance in your hair.

You can add Hydrolyzed Silk to your deep conditioner and apply it as a protein treatment every few weeks.

Beautiful smiling brunette girl with healthy looking hair

3. Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein

Hydrolyzed Keratin is a clear amber liquid with a strong odor. Its thin consistency makes it easy to mix with any water-based hair care product. Hydrolyzed keratin protein is usually derived from sheep’s wool.

Properties & Benefits

  • Hydrolyzed keratin is a protein fragment that not only coats but also penetrates the hair shaft to replace missing keratin in microscopic gaps along the hair shaft, resulting in smooth and shiny hair.
  • This product is not meant to be used for straightening your hair. It helps rebuild the hair’s natural protective layer, making it stronger and more elastic while reducing hair breakage and splitting.
  • Hydrolyzed keratin increases the diameter of hair fibers, giving a fuller appearance to fine and thin hair.
  • It also increases the hair’s ability to retain moisture and reduces frizz and flyaways caused by dryness.
  • If your expensive salon keratin treatment has started to wear off, adding hydrolyzed keratin to your shampoo, conditioner or leave-in conditioner could help extend the time between salon straightening services.

Applications

Hydrolyzed Keratin can be incorporated into all kinds of water-based hair care products. You can add it to your shampoo and conditioner at a concentration between 0.5%-3%. The optimum concentration may vary depending on the condition of your hair.  Make sure not to exceed the maximum concentration of up to 3%, because if you use too much of it, your hair may become stiff or look greasy.

You can also add hydrolyzed keratin to your deep conditioner and leave the mask in your hair under a shower cap for about an hour. Make sure to rinse hair thoroughly and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.

a woman with healthy hair conditioned with hydrolyzed proteins

Sweet Almond Oil: Benefits and Uses for Hair and Scalp

Chemical-based hair care products can bring you short-term benefits but may harm your hair in the long run. If you are concerned about chemicals in your hair products, consider incorporating natural oils into your hair care regimen. This way, you can reduce exposure to chemicals while enjoying the amazing benefits of natural hair oils.

Sweet almond oil is a versatile oil that can substitute several of your store-bought products such as hair lotion, shine enhancer, and leave-in conditioner. This light-feeling oil is completely safe to use, except for people with a nut allergy.

Types of Almond Oil

Almond oil in bottle

Almond oil is extracted from the seed of the almond fruit. Two main types of almonds come from different trees – bitter almonds and sweet almonds.

  1. Bitter almond oil is poisonous in its pure form. Thanks to the delightful almond scent, bitter almond seeds are used for producing essential oil. Bitter almond essential oil is used to add scent to cosmetics products that add scent to cosmetic products. This type of almond oil should be used only by professional therapists.
  • Sweet almond oil is extracted from pressed sweet almond seeds. The sweet almond tree (Prunus dulcis) produces edible almonds that can be used for culinary purposes and also for cosmetic applications. Sweet almond oil has a pale yellow color and a mild nutty scent. It is rich in vitamins A, B, and E, antioxidants, fatty acids, and minerals. Those bioactive compounds make sweet almond oil one of the key ingredients in cosmetic products for skin, hair, and nails.

Brands that are supposed to be used for hair: Sweet Almond Oil for Skin by Viva Naturals (natural and unscented), Organic Sweet Almond Oil For Hair Growth by Hair Thickness Maximizer (100% Pure Organic), Pure Sweet Almond Hair Oil by Hollywood Beauty (certified organic), All Natural Sweet Almond Oil by Nature’s Oil (100% pure, works well as a carrier oil), and Sweet Almond Oil by QUANE COSMETICS (organic, cold-pressed).

Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Almond oil gets absorbed quickly, without leaving your hair sticky or overly oily. This lightweight oil can greatly improve the look and overall health of your hair.

  1. Moisturizing and conditioning effects: Due to its ability to penetrate the hair shaft, sweet almond oil is used to seal in moisture and restore softness and natural luster to dry hair. The high content of fatty acids prevents hair from drying out and keeps it strong, pliable, and easy to manage. To keep your hair hydrated, apply oil to your damp hair and scalp 30 minutes before washing. Comb your hair gently to spread the oil evenly from the roots to the ends of your hair. Wrap your hair with a plastic shower cap and a hot towel to trap the heat inside or use a heated gel cap to increase the treatment effectiveness. For best results, do this treatment once or twice a week.
  2. Leave in conditioner: To seal in moisture inside the hair, put a few drops of sweet almond oil on your palms and rub them together to warm the oil. Run your fingers through the hair to spread the oil from the roots to the tips, focusing on the ends.
  3. Shine enhancer: Sweet almond oil can bring life back to hair that is damaged by bleaching or heat styling. This oil adds a nice sheen to dull hair and makes it manageable and tangle-free. To add a healthy shine to your hair, apply a pea-sized amount of oil to damp hair. You can also add a few drops of the oil to your regular conditioner.
  4. Curl enhancer: To make your naturally curly hair softer and more manageable, rub a few drops of almond oil on your palms and run your hands through the hair. This will make your curls smooth and well-defined.
  5. Smoother, silkier hair: For adding softness to hair, put a few drops of oil and gently massage the scalp, then work it through your hair. Allow the oil to absorb into your scalp and hair for 30 minutes before shampooing or leave it on as long as you like.
  6. Split ends tamer: High levels of protein in almond oil help make hair stronger and prevent the strands from splitting. Using almond oil as a deep conditioning treatment before shampooing helps minimize the drying effects of hair shampoos and reduces the appearance of split ends.
  7. Sun protector: Omega-3 fatty acids in almond oil help reflect harmful UV rays, protecting your hair and scalp from sun damage while improving hair elasticity and strength.
  8. Hot oil treatments: Mix sweet almond oil with other hair oils and use to apply hot oil treatments. This oil can penetrate the hair shaft and is popular among people with low-porosity hair.
Beautiful blonde girl holding almond nut

Almond Oil for a Healthy Scalp

Almond oil can improve the overall health of your scalp and prevent some scalp conditions.

Relieves itchy scalp: A scalp massage with almond oil helps calm the dry/itchy scalp. A hair mask containing almond oil helps moisturize your scalp and hair to prevent dryness during the cold winter months.

Dandruff control: The antibacterial and antifungal properties of sweet almond oil help soothe scalp inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of dandruff. The potent penetrating property of almond oil help to soften and remove dead skin cells from the scalp.

To fight dandruff, massage almond oil into your scalp. Let it sit for an hour before a bath or leave it overnight for maximum results. For best results, mix almond oil with tea tree, coconut, rosemary, and lavender oils.

Relief for eczema and psoriasis: Because of its moisturizing and mild antimicrobial properties, sweet almond oil is often used to soothe the dry and irritated scalp and alleviate the discomfort of eczema and psoriasis.

Is Almond Oil Good for Hair Growth?

Almond oil is rich in healthy hair-growing ingredients such as proteins, folic acid, vitamin E, zinc, and magnesium. It helps prevent thinning hair, strengthens hair fibers, and boosts hair elasticity.

Almond oil soaks into the scalp easily, without clogging pores, and keeps your scalp hydrated and clean. It efficiently dissolves dirt, oil, pollutants, and dead skin cells to unblock clogged hair follicles, allowing them to grow healthy hair.

To cleanse and nourish your scalp, apply almond oil a few hours before showering. Massage gently into the scalp in circular motions using your fingertips. Leave the oil overnight for the best results. Repeat twice a week.

Sweet almond oil is easy to combine with essential oils, such as rosemary, or lavender oil, for improved effectiveness in promoting hair growth.

How to Choose and Store Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Cold-pressed almond oil is made by mechanical procedures of pressing ripe seeds, without using heat or chemical solvents. The cold pressing method allows for better preservation of potent natural ingredients. Cold-pressed sweet almond oil is slightly darker and is more expensive than refined almond oil.

It’s important to read the label to ensure you are buying 100 percent pure, unscented, food-grade, sweet almond oil with no additives. Make sure the bottle says “sweet” almond oil. If the price is too low, check the list of ingredients to ensure you are buying a genuine product.

For people with sensitive skin, certified organic almond oil is a great alternative to chemical-laden skin care products.

Check the expiration date to ensure you are purchasing a fresh product. Properly stored almond oil will stay fresh and potent for up to a year. Make sure it is packaged in a tightly sealed dark glass bottle to prevent oxidation and preserve freshness. Keep it in a cool, dry place (it doesn’t need to be refrigerated) away from the light.

a cute girl holding almond nuts in her hands