Hair Repair Tips feat. OUAI

I don’t usually do hair related posts, but I’ve been trying some different products and treatments lately which really helped repair and improve the condition of my hair.

So I thought I’d share my hair-repair journey in case any of you are experiencing hair problems or simply need a good boost.

The star of this post is Ouai Haircare – the Repair range to be exact, but read on as I’ll be listing everything else I’ve been doing in between…

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Hair repair tips featuring Ouai Haircare

I always had long hair. I’m talking anywhere between half way down my back to my waist. I have naturally wavy hair (similar to the above picture) but my strands are quite thin so I struggle with keeping it voluminous.

Over the years, I’ve learnt to appreciate my hair in its natural state and pretty much gave up using hot tools and too many styling products (except on occasions).

In the past 6 months, I’ve started noticing that my hair was looking dull and lifeless and I also had a lot of breakage which caused some thinning. Giving up my daily multi-vitamins, losing extra hair due to seasonal changes, and tying my hair back too often (which can cause breakage) certainly didn’t help the situation.

Regardless of the reasons, my hair was looking pretty “sad”, to say the least. I knew I had to flick the switch to total repair mode…and fast.

STEPS TO HAIR REPAIR

My first point of attack was changing my shampoo and conditioner. In all my previous experiences of using repair shampoos and conditioners, I always ended up with flat hair as they were too heavy for my thin strands. So I needed something that would repair my hair, but also wouldn’t weigh it down.

I spent hours online and visited many hair salons in search for the perfect repair range. From drugstore to high end products, I went through countless reviews and testimonials and always came back to celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin’s Ouai Haircare line.

I already have some styling products from Ouai, and being free of chemicals and harmful ingredients, I really enjoy them – especially in line with the natural state I prefer to leave my hair in.

So I purchased Ouai Repair Shampoo/Conditioner. I don’t know what kind of magic Jen Atkin put into these bottles but the results were amazing even after first use. My hair felt like silk, looked shiny, smelt amazing, but wait for it: it gave me incredible volume, which is so rare for repair shampoo/conditioners.

Ouai Haircare Repair Shampoo + Conditioner

Being so pleased with the results, I also purchased the Ouai Treatment Masque. The pack contains 8 sachets and you can use it once a week (or as needed) to give your hair some extra love. As with the shampoo and conditioner, the treatment mask provides plenty of moisture and shine, without weighing the hair down.

My only issue with the mask is the amount in each sachet. Having such long hair, one sachet was only enough to cover the crown of my hair so I had to use a second to run it through to the ends. Given they’re not the cheapest item on the hair menu, it’s a bit challenging to keep up with 2-sachets per week. But of course I have another solution…

Ouai Haircare – Treatment Masque

DIY HAIR GROWTH MASK

Prior to purchasing the Ouai Treatment Masque, I was also making a DIY concoction to apply as a mask once a week. Now that I know the Ouai mask is a bit expensive to maintain, I’m alternating between Ouai and my DIY mask. And it’s been working a treat!

RECIPE: Mix 1 part organic cold pressed Castor Oil + 1 part organic cold pressed Sweet Almond Oil

I massage this mixture into the roots of my hair and run the remaining amount through to the ends. I then put my hair up in a bun, wrap some cling/saran wrap around my hair and let it sit for about 1-2hrs. I then shampoo and condition as I normally would.

Castor Oil – organic cold pressed

Castor oil is renowned for its properties to nourish and strengthen hair follicles. Sweet almond oil is a great carrier for the thick consistency of the castor oil and it also provides moisture and shine to the hair. This concoction is also my go-to for brow and lash growth.

I find this DIY mask really helps bring life back to my locks. This kind of mask is also great for all hair types including oily hair (or hair that holds onto product residue). As weird as it may sound to put oil on oily hair, “oil breaks down oil” so it actually cleanses the hair much better than just doing the traditional shampoo/conditioner routine.

BUT WAIT…OF COURSE THERE’S MORE!

But of course, me being me, I had to go further. Given that I also wondered whether my hair lost its ‘mojo’ because I stopped taking multi-vitamins, I decided to get back on the supplement bandwagon.

So, again, I did plenty of research and decided to try organic Spirulina powder which has so many amazing benefits for our health.

Spirulina is a nutrient rich blue-green algae which contains protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants. Spirulina is great in promoting healthy cell growth specifically for hair, skin and nails. It also keeps the body at a balanced PH level which is imperative to the immune system.

Organic Spirulina Powder

The powder version of spirulina is the most effective as it’s the closest to its natural form. 1 teaspoon is recommended daily for adults, whether you mix it into water or juices.

I must admit, it smells and tastes terrible. I mix mine into half a glass of water with some lemon or lime juice, hold my breath and skull it. It’s only been 3 weeks since I started taking spirulina so I can’t report on the benefits to my hair as yet, however my nails have definitely gotten stronger and I feel more energetic in general. If that’s any indication, I’m pretty confident my hair will benefit greatly too.

Note: There are many different brands of spirulina in health shops and markets. Please make sure you know where the spirulina is sourced from. I’ve read plenty of warnings along my research that spirulina sourced from China and India have been found to contain high levels of lead and harmful minerals. If you google search “best spirulina powders”, you’ll see plenty of sites which offer top rated brands at different price points.

And here we are beauties! With a little bit of research, the right products and a sprinkle of TLC, my hair seems to be back on track.

Ouai Haircare caters for all different hair types/needs so check out their full range of shampoos, conditioners and styling products HERE

What are some of your healthy hair tips? Share them in the comments below :)