Since going back to my natural hair color I have changed up my routine a little bit. I have thick hair with an extremely dry scalp (like rough patches that flake) and it gets greasy quickly. I wash my hair once a week and have very dry ends that I get trimmed about every three months. I wanted to make this post because this combination of products make my hair so soft!
Kristin Ess Curl Shampoo / Like I said, my scalp is SO dry but gets greasy quickly so I struggle a little bit in the shampoo & conditioner department. I’m so happy I tried this one! The nozzle tip is my favorite part for getting shampoo to the back of my head, but the formula is fabulous too. It’s moisturizing, but still gives a rich lather so my hair feels clean. Hair products created for curly hair seem to work really well for my naturally dry hair. This is the only Kristin Ess shampoo I have liked. I will definitely be repurchasing this shampoo, which isn’t something I say often! I also purchased the hair mask in the same curl range but haven’t tried it yet.
Conditioner / Currently I’m using a combination of Dae Conditioning Treatment Mask and Kirkland Moisture Conditioner. I’ve been using this conditioner for years (whenever I get the chance to do a Costco run) after hearing it was a dupe for the Pureology line. It’s hydrating and gives my hair shine. I use the Dae mask as a heavier conditioner too and really like it. It smells amazing and gives a boost of moisture to my dry ends. I have to admit though, that the packaging sucks and it’s hard to get out. It’s very aesthetically pleasing, but not very functional.
Kristin Ess Bittersweet Gloss / This post is NOT sponsored by Kristin Ess, even though I would love it to be! When I had highlights and was slowly transitioning to brunette, I used her gloss in Smokey Topaz to tone down the copper in my hair while keeping my blonde pieces light. These glosses are super fool proof- they just give off a slight tint, leaving your hair sleek and shiny. Now that my hair is darker I used Bittersweet to again tone down the red in my hair. I was concerned that it would be too dark so I messaged Kristin Ess with a picture of my hair. She responded (!!!) that it would be perfect. I highly recommend following @kristiness on Instagram, she has fabulous hair content. The Bittersweet gloss gave a subtle evened out tone to my color. These are great to use once a month.
Leave- ins / I use a few leave- in products post shower. I buy “Generic Value Products” at Sally Beauty and find that they’ve been just as good as the real thing. I start out by running Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum through my hair, then spraying It’s a 10. Sometimes I use Kristin Ess Weightless Shine spray too.
Hair Oil / I notice a huge difference in the health of my hair when I use this oil regularly. I comb it through my ends a couple times a week. There’s something magical in this that makes my hair soft and strong.
Hair Towel / If you haven’t tried a Turbie Twist, you’re missing out! My hair is super heavy when my hair is sopping wet. Securing it with a lightweight microfiber wrap gets it out of my way and dries it better than a bath towel.
Dry Shampoo / For the past few months I have been avoiding dry shampoo to give my scalp a break and let my hair benefit from the natural oils it produces. When I do use it, I love the Hask brand. They work well, smell great, and don’t dry out my hair. If you’re someone who freaks out at the slightest bit of oil in your roots, I want you to know that no one notices it but you. If you really don’t want to see the oil, cover it with a cute beanie or headband and go a couple more days. I wear it like this on those days.
Styling / 99% of the time my hair is in a low ponytail. I fully subscribe to the idea that pulling your hair up high and tight causes breakage and doesn’t let the natural oily flow down to the lengths. Switch your thrown up messy bun to a low Sofia Richie bun to soften tension on your roots. I only use styling tools on one off occasions, which isn’t often during these quarantine times. I’m still loving the no- heat bathrobe curls that I learned from TikTok. I also love to use my hot rollers to give volume and bounce to my hair when I am going somewhere fancier. I’ve been using the classic Tresemme heat protectant for years. Someone remind me to make a Tik Tok of my hot roller routine!
Comb / I can’t live without this comb. I keep one in every area of my life- living room, car, work bag, bathroom, shower, etc. The idea of yanking a brush through my hair causing breakage scares me. I buy them at Sally Beauty or Amazon. I’ve used the Wet Brush & this is 10000x better in my opinion.
I’ll add to this post if I think of anything else I need to suggest, but that’s it for now. Random but figured I would add, my weird pet peeve is when a hair part isn’t straight. I went way too long with having mine jagged- looking until I heard someone else mention it. Take any pointed object nearby and FIX IT. Once you realize, you can’t un-see it!
Find more of my hair blog posts here.
Instagram: kimandmakeup
-Kim
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