By Jeannie D
Remember when I was the poster girl for good hair? It’s true, I’ve twice been selected as a hair model for Garnier Nutrisse home hair colour. Well, times have changed, alas, as I’ve fallen into an endless cycle of heat damage and over styling. My poor hair has borne the brunt of that punishment but thanks to TikTok’s relentless algorithm (for once, I’m grateful), I’ve been inundated with haircare tips that are helping me slowly reclaim my crown.
1. The Silk Lady Silk Sleeping Bonnet 2. Natroceutics Wild Alaskan Fortified Omega 3 3. Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Strengthening Oil 4. Niomi Bamboo Scalp Brush 5. Sleep Zen Luxury Silk Pillowcase 6. GHD Chronos Max 7. Kevin Murphy Young Again Treatment 8. Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’Original 100ml
- EMBRACE THE 🐠 OMEGAS: I take 1000mg of Omega 3 fish oils every day and think this supplement should be an essential part of everybody’s balanced diet because it helps improve hair growth and strength from the inside out. Although I’m not going to lie, if you take them without eating first, the fishy burps are decidedly yuk.
- OIL YOUR SCALP: Imagine you’re planting a new vineyard and your scalp is the soil – you need to nourish it with nutrients to create the best environment for goodness to grow. I give mine some love at least twice a week with Mielle Rosemary Mint Oil. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes (or more) before washing it out for soft, luscious locks.
- MASSAGE YOUR SCALP: There’s nothing more relaxing than a good head massage and the bonus is that it’s excellent for your scalp health too. But I recommend doing this every time your oil your scalp and ends, so instead of living at the spa, rather buy a handheld scalp massager like this cute Niomi Bamboo Scalp Brush and do it yourself at home.
- OIL YOUR ENDS: After washing and drying your hair, prevent split ends by oiling the ends with a silky, non-oily product like Kevin Murphy Young Again or – and this one is absolute gold! – Kerastase Elixir Ultime. Both are ultra lightweight and deliver extra shine on even the wildest of mops.
- SLEEP IN SILK: Sleeping in a silk bonnet is not sexy but wow, it works! Since donning the doek and also sleeping on a silk pillowcase every night, I’ve noticed a massive improvement in the quality, strength, and hydration of my hair. No more dry, brittle strands or straw-like texture – just soft, healthy hair that actually holds onto moisture.
- GET EXTENSIONS: A couple of years ago, I chopped my long locks into a lob… A catastrophic decision for someone with porous, frizzy, dry Portuguese curls. I immediately booked an emergency appointment at Palladium in De Waterkant for Easihair Pro extensions. Even though I’ve grown the evil lob out, I’ve kept the extensions because I love the extra length and volume they add.
- GET HELP AT HOME: Recently I discovered the GHD Chronos Max which offers heat control so you don’t burn your hair to a crisp. Even better, it’s supersized plates (85% bigger than normal) are a time-saving game changer for women like me who don’t want to spend hours straightening their thick, long, curls.
- GET A PROFESSIONAL BLOWDRY: When I can’t face styling my own hair (which, let’s face it, is most of the time), I get a professional blow-dry. It’s a lovely little self-care pick-me-up and to be honest, the alternative is looking like I was raised in the jungle.
I hope these tips help you reclaim your crown and give it the royal treatment it deserves. DM me on Instagram with any other beauty concerns you may have and want more information on.
