When we switch to a natural hair routine, the automatism that we often have is to think of vegetable oils, the famous oil baths. They have such a good reputation. We find them everywhere, even in the commercials of major brands of products with an unclear composition. It is true that they are brilliant, their interest is in no way questioned but what we discover when we do the autopsy of her hair is that very often, it is not only them whose they need.

What is a malnourished hair?

We often read that the hair needs to "eat" for the supply of vitamins, minerals... nay! All this is provided by a healthy and balanced diet. Nourish your hair is to bring them fat. Just like the sebum naturally produced by the scalp, the fat helps to form a protective barrier, to smooth the hair scales and to sheathe it.

How to recognize a hair in lack of nutrition?

If you have the impression that your hair is stagnating and no longer growing, that's clearly a bad impression. All hair grows without exception. If this false idea germinates in your head it is because of the breakage. A glaring sign of a lack of nutrition. Especially when the hair has been damaged by chemical straightening or bleaching. Other typical signs are hair lacking in nutrition, split ends or hair that gets tangled easily.

Why moisturize your hair and avoid exposure to high heat?

A dehydrated hair is a less strong hair, at the mercy of the slightest aggression. The worst are the heating devices that remove all the water and open the scales of the hair. Over time they become more porous, in other words no longer retain water. The hydration allows to have hair in full vitality.

How to recognize dehydrated hair?

Hair that lacks moisture is prone to frizz. They are electric and swell on contact with humidity. To the touch they feel dry as straw and rough, often due to external aggressions such as straighteners or hair dryers. They lack vitality and are dull.

Nourish or hydrate, how to go about it?

Generally the hair needs more hydration than nutrition. So I recommend that you set up simple routines by alternating between nourishing and moisturizing treatments. I do not recommend making 2 in 1 masks because the oily phase will prevent the moisturizing active ingredients from penetrating the hair fiber well. It is possible to buy ready-made nourishing or moisturizing masks. But I have a slight preference for homemade. Indeed, in addition to being simple and quick to make, they only contain active ingredients.

Nourishing Agent:

• Vegetal oils

• Vegetable butters

• Coconut milk/banana/avocado

Moisturizing Agent:

Aloe Vera
Vegetal glycerine
Honey/agave syrup/molasses
Oat cream ( here ) / linseed gel ( here ) / cornstarch cream

Frequency and application of a nourishing mask

Nourishing masks are oily by nature. They therefore arise before shampooing so as not to leave the hair sticky. The application is done on the scalp with a small massage in circular movements then stretched on the lengths and ends. The exposure time is from a minimum of 30 minutes to several hours. Nourishing care should be done once or twice a month so as not to weigh down the hair. To protect against breakage, you can regularly apply a few drops of vegetable oil heated beforehand in the palm of your hands on lengths and ends.

Frequency and application of a moisturizing mask

Moisturizing masks are applied after shampooing, otherwise the risk is to lose the benefits of the treatment. It's like moisturizers for the body, they apply after the shower^^. However, rinsing with clean water is essential. The recommended exposure time is 30 minutes. This type of treatment should be done once a week. Your hair will never have enough! Moisturizers are to be provided at will. Just like for our body fond of hydration.

How to protect your hair during treatment?

We abandon the typical cellophane and opt for durable and healthy alternatives for the scalp.

The care cap

• Reinforces the effectiveness of the treatment by acting as a thermal insulator.
• Covers hair without worrying about getting anything dirty.
• Hand or machine washable.

The heated cap

• Reduces treatment time
• Improves the effectiveness of treatments thanks to the diffused heat which makes the treatment penetrate deeply by opening the scales of the hair

The secret to healthy hair is alternating between nourishing and moisturizing care. Setting regular routines is the guarantee of convincing results. And then last thing, a fork cannot be repaired but cut!