Recently I’ve received several compliments on my hair. “Natalie, your hair is so long!”, “Your hair looks so healthy!”, “What are you doing with your hair these days?” Ok maybe it’s only been like 3 people. Either way, it’s enough to inspire a blog post and incite hair euphoria because as many of you might know, it hasn’t always been like this. I’ve written about my hair countless times, most notably when it all fell out after I had a baby. The 80’s punk rock mullet was my reality. And having lived through that, I have a thing or two to say.
As a reminder, here is where I was just a few years ago.
Annnnd here I am today!
At Disney…
From family photos taken back in May 2022…
And before I get into this, of course, a disclaimer.
I have to give credit where credit is due. And for this, credit is undeniably due to the sudden surge in popularity of the 90’s blowout. Not sure about you, but I for one, am SO ready to hang up the curling wand in favor of a good ol’ 1.75″ classic Conair curling iron. I am tired of beachy waves, the perfectly imperfect tousled-ness, and wrapping 1-inch sections of hair around that GD wand, while burning my wrists and being ever-so-careful to leave out the bottom 2 inches to achieve the “Utah mom” look. Give me a classic, wide, bouncy curl! Give me layers! Give me BODY.
A few months ago while scrolling TikTok, I happened upon a new-to-me overnight curling method that promised to deliver the perfect 90’s blowout sans heat and guys – it actually works. I will link it here for your viewing pleasure. You’ll also need 2 insanely cheap Amazon products to achieve this (curling rods and a satin bonnet). You’ll also need 2-3 individual crew socks.
Here I am in all my closed-mouth-smile, bonneted glory:
Essentially, you wrap large sections of hair around the sock filled with curling rods. Then you place the bonnet over those sections and sleep on it. These were my results after the first time I tried it.
YAAAS Queen! Lovely, full, bouncy ass curls with NO heat damage. I feel like this style makes hair appear longer and healthier – smoke and mirrors baby! So with all of this being said, I attribute about 50% of the current lovely state of my hair to embracing this style and curling method.
What else have I been doing? I’m glad you asked!
- Only washing my hair 2-3 times a week. We all know about this by now – washing your hair every day or even every other day is not good. Get dirty and reap the benefits.
- Drinking 8 Greens (see below)
- Using the lowest heat setting when I blow dry. No-brainer.
And then of course, your gonna need you some products. The following have been GAME CHANGERS for me. Life-altering, earth-shattering, ride-or-die necessities for long, luscious locks.
The VOLO Hair Towel is an Allure Award Winner in 2021 and a serious must-have. I mentioned it a few months ago and I feel like this towel and the pillowcase mentioned below have made the most difference in terms of hair breakage and loss. This towel is ultra-absorbent, yet insanely soft. My hair is nearly halfway dry after only about 5-10 minutes in this towel. Worth every penny.
Mulberry Silk Pillowcase and Hairties
By now we should all know the benefits of sleeping on a silk pillowcase. Not only is it better for your hair, but it is also way better for your skin! Silk pillowcases do not absorb as much moisture as cotton or other materials, keeping expensive skincare products where they belong – on your face! They’re also better for temperature regulation, wrinkle prevention, and cause less breakage in hair. This one from Celestial Silk in vintage pink has been absolutely wonderful. It is a super high-quality pillowcase with a very strong, hidden zipper, has held up amazingly in the wash, and is ridiculously soft.
8 greens have quite literally been a lifesaver for me. My Aunt Sandi introduced these wonderful, fizzing, dietary supplement tablets to me years ago and I am hooked. They help out m’blood counts and deliver several benefits you’d get from actual greens. Perfect for a girl on a Gushers and Cheez-It diet.
I have been using the Ghost Oil from Verb for a few months now and I do understand the hype. It lives up to the “weightless” claim, does not feel heavy in my thin hair, and makes my ends look and feel healthier. I use it on damp, towel-dried hair but have also used it on dry ends that are lookin’ a little sorry. One pump goes a long way so this 2 oz. bottle is going to last a good long while!
I’ve always had a soft spot for Kenra – something about the smell. This blow dry, thermal protectant is no exception as it smells amazing but more importantly, protects my hair without weighing it down or making it feel greasy. It is SO imperative to find products that work well together and don’t weigh it down, especially when you have thinner hair. I find the combination of the Ghost Oil with the Kenra spray is a perfect duo.
That’s it from me and my hair! xoxo
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