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What is ‘Hair Rehab’, and what does it mean to practice cleaner hair care habits?

New Year’s resolutions are all about working on our bodies and our minds, making better choices and living an overall healthier lifestyle. Many of us start looking for ways to do more with less, which often means de-cluttering in multiple areas of our lives. So, let’s say you’re cleaning out your closet, ridding the kitchen of junk food and maybe even cutting out a toxic relationship. Have you thought of doing the same with your shampoo?

Cut the Junk & Get Clean with Hair Rehab

Now it might seem like a bit of a leap to get from one to the other, but hear me out. Your current shampoo could be doing to your hair what junk food does to your body, or what a bad relationship does to your heart. It might promise to solve your problems, but in the end it causes more issues than it fixes. Problems like dull hair, brittle ends, scalp build-up and many more hair care woes.

Conventional shampoos are loaded with chemicals that are BAD NEWS for your hair, scalp and body. They can cause allergies and sensitivities, or they can simply leave your hair over-processed and weighed down. When I say “less is more”, I really mean it. The less harsh ingredients you’re lathering on your hair every day, the brighter your crown will shine.

Do You Have a Hair Care Addiction?

Are you the type that simply “can’t live” without products like these?

  • Silicone-based styling products
  • Bleach, peroxide and chemical colours
  • Flat irons & heat styling tools
  • Brazilian blow dries
  • Chemical relaxers and perms

These are all common “hair care addictions” that do more damage than good in the long run. Going through Hair Rehab means distancing yourself from the potentially self-defeating habits and giving your hair space to return to its true nature.

Five Simple Steps to Detox your Hair

My book, WTF Happened to My Hair?, explores my full Hair Rehab programme in detail. Here is a basic breakdown of the steps involved.

1. AWARENESS: First you need to become aware of how many chemicals you come into contact with every day. Grab all your “go-to” goodies from the shower, your make-up bag and your purse. Pile it onto your bed or kitchen counter, and read through the ingredient lists. You’ll be shocked by how many unpronounceable chemicals have made their way into the products you allow onto your skin and hair daily. It’s time to kick those “baddies” to the curb!

My book WTF Happened to my Hair goes into detail about the worst culprits found in conventional hair care products. I’ll also be shining a light on these nasty ingredients in future blog posts, so keep a lookout for those.

2. DEEP CLEANSE: If you’ve been using conventional shampoo and styling products, chances are your hair will have a lot of build-up that leaves it heavy and dull. The right clarifying shampoo will work to remove the coating left by all those silicones, exposing what’s really going on underneath. Now you’re ready to start fresh.

WATCH THIS SPACE for more info on clarifying shampoo!

3. DEEP NOURISHMENT: With the hair properly cleansed, we now need to work on strengthening the two building blocks of good hair condition: elasticity and porosity.

Start using some luscious natural nourishing treatments – think botanical oils, masks and conditioners – and pamper your hair until it starts feeling really loved and cared for. Make sure you use top grade natural and organic oils that are not loaded with additives and fragrances. That means pure oils only.

Hint: If an oil turns solid when you put it in the fridge, it’s a good indicator of quality.

My favourite oils to use in the salon are:

Jojoba oil:

  • A rich but non-greasy moisturiser
  • Reduces breakage and split ends
  • Has a similar composition to sebum, the skin’s natural oil
  • Clears away excess sebum, balances the scalp
  • Clears away product build-up
  • A great remedy for dandruff
  • Stimulates growth

Almond oil:

  • Naturally high in vitamin E
  • Prevents moisture loss
  • Relieves inflammation in the scalp
  • Protects against oxidative stress and damage
  • Strengthens brittle hair
  • Adds shine
  • Encourages healthy growth

4. CLOSE THE CUTICLE: Even if you have a finer hair type, you do need to use a conditioner to close your hair’s cuticle. Sealing the cuticle locks in moisture and protects the keratin from exposure. It keeps hair healthy, and prolongs colour results too.

5. LIMIT CHEMICAL EXPOSURE: Once you’ve been through Hair Rehab, you need to be careful not to fall off the wagon! Just as you (hopefully) wouldn’t go running back to that no-good ex after finally ditching them, you need to keep the chemicals you use to a minimum after you’ve detoxed. Don’t go back to that cheap old shampoo, and don’t lapse into excessive styling habits – save the flat iron for special occasions.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve been through the process of healing your hair, you might be inspired to detox other areas of your home. Start thinking about the most commonly used products in your skincare regime, or your home cleaning arsenal. If they contain ingredients like SLS, ammonia, parabens, silicones and so on – you know it’s time to get rid of them too.

Most importantly, be aware that “cleaning up your act” is a big commitment, and it’s likely to take you some time. Recovery is not a straight road, and your hair might feel a bit worse (drier, greasier or less manageable) during Hair Rehab, before it starts feeling better. Change takes time and consistent effort, so hold yourself to realistic standards, and don’t judge yourself too harshly. Just try a little more kindness (and a little less chemical kak!) each day.

Get in touch with Gentle Approach for free expert advice on Hair Rehab and natural hair products.