Continuing on with my recommendations for body/self care while in quarantine…here are some items that I consider hair care essentials.
- Silk Scarf- While many, if not most people prefer to wear a bonnet, I’m personally partial to a silk scarf. It’s slightly more indulgent, but when you find a good one it’s well worth the price. Real silk is actually a bit coarse so I find that they stay on better at night. Since I’m in the house and not seen for most of the day, I often wear them all day as well. Occasionally, I’ll tied one in a wide headband or other daytime appropriate style. I get my silk scarves from a lot of places- including discount stores (TK/TJ Maxx) and while travelling abroad. They make a nice useable souvenir and can be cheaper in markets. Look for a scarf that says 100% real silk. Satin or “silky” materials are polyester and will slip and slide off your head. I go for anything larger than 50 x 50 centimeters square. My favorites at the moment are 69cm (27.5 in) squared and I got them from a store while in Malaysia.
- Reusable Shower Cap– A shower cap is a must to preserve a hairstyle but they are also great for deep conditioning. Over the past 5 years at least, I have made an effort to cut down on my plastic consumption. A quick and easy way you can do this is by using a reusable shower cap instead of a one-time plastic cap for deep conditioning. I know lots of people use plastic bags from the grocery store. I take my own canvas bags for groceries, so I don’t have any plastic bags to reuse. Plus with Covid lurking, it’s best not to reuse anything that can’t be washed of contaminants. Many reusable shower caps are lined with a cloth like material. When showering, I use them with the cloth side touching my hair and while deep conditioning, I’ll use the plastic side down. After a few uses, I throw them in the washing machine with my clothes for a deep clean.
- Deep Conditioner– Speaking of deep conditioning, a great conditioner is obviously a must have. Now is great time to work through sample packs you may have lying around and find some new favorites. That goes for styling products as well. I’m not in the public regularly, so I don’t have to have my hair styled all the time. An off day from a failed experiment isn’t going to matter. Of course, you don’t have to try anything crazy. Stick to your tried and tested favorites if you want. Take the time to perfect your routine or get in some extra TLC. I’ve often turned my wash day into 2 days and deep conditioned overnight.
- Hair Skin Nail Vitamins- Health is currently of the utmost importance. One of the things, I’ve been trying to improve on is taking vitamins and mineral supplements regularly. I have a pill organizser that I fill up. I take a women’s once daily multivitamin and a few mega doses and holistic supplements. Now it’s an ideal time to get into the habit of taking a hair, skin, and nail vitamins. If you are taking multiple supplements at once, just be sure you aren’t going over the recommended daily intake of any one ingredient. HSN vitamins really improve my slower than average hair growth rate. Read my review of Hairfinity and Mane Choice vitamins by clicking on the links.
Lastly, this isn’t a product but now is great time to get some spring cleaning done. Go through your stash of products. Check the dates on everything. Get rid of anything that may be expired. Rediscover some favorites that were forgotten at the back of your cabinet. A few days ago, I found a huge bag of raw shea butter. I had some time for a DIY, so I whipped it up with some oil that I had in my stash. Now I use it a couple of times a week to seal my ends.
Why not attempt those hair recipes you’ve always wanted to try. It might be hard to get ahold of ingredients at the moment but if you’ve already got the items lying around, it’s a great time to whip something up.
I’ll link a few of the items mentioned that are available on Amazon. Always read reviews before ordering.
Deep ConditionersPlease share any hair care items or practices you’ve been doing while at home.