Winter can take its toll on your hair. Although you might not be worrying as much about the drying effect of the sun, the bitter winds and icy temperatures can lead to a lack of moisture resulting in brittle ends, static build-up and all-around lackluster locks.
For those of you who are trying to grow your hair or just keep it in tip-top condition, the winter weather can set you back. But can the conditions – whether rain or shine – be combated as easily as switching to a natural shampoo?
We think so!
While we don’t have control over the elements, we do have control over what we use on our hair.
Picking up and using whatever shampoo you have to hand isn’t going to cut it if you’re serious about looking after your tresses.
Why go natural?
Genuine all-natural shampoo (choose certified organic too ensure it’s truly natural) should be absent from synthetic ingredients used in conventional hair products. While many traditional hair products appear to give a desirable result, like volume and shine, it may not be worth it. The ingredients that boost volume and glossiness often mask the problem and only create the appearance of healthy hair.
Common ingredients used in synthetic shampoos are not ideal for sensitive skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), for example, is known to cause irritation to the skin(1) and is linked to hair loss(2)… clearly not a favourite of Rapunzel!
So how do you know what to avoid?
Learning to recognise ingredients labeled on the product will always be useful, but there are easier ways.
Make sure to look for organic shampoo certified independently (look for a genuine logo on the packaging). These are products that have been pre-screened for ingredients and formulations that might be toxic or environmentally damaging, although unfortunately not all sulphates are banned by organic standards.
(1) Löffler H, Happle R. Profile of irritant patch testing with detergents: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and alkyl polyglucoside. Contact Dermatitis. 2003 Jan;48(1):26-32.
(2) Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Final report on the safety assessment of sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate. Int J Toxicol. 1983;2(7):127–81. more likely to be full of ingredients that are going encourage hair growth.
Buying organic means that there will be minimal residue from chemicals (such as pesticides) sitting in your shampoo, or later, on your hair! It also increases the likelihood that hair-nourishing ingredients are present in the product since many companies who independently certify their goods are generally (as a rule of thumb) more health conscious.
Odylique’s Gentle Herb Shampoo is packed with botanicals that will encourage hair growth, like coconut oil and horsetail extract. The unique properties of coconut oil means it can penetrate the hair and protect it from damage and protein loss – especially in comparison to synthetic counterparts like mineral oil(3). Horsetail extract also has a powerful effect on the hair, proving to significantly increase hair growth in women who have noticed hair thinning(4).
If you want your hair to grow in thicker and healthier, feeding it with what it needs through a herbal shampoo is a great place to start.
Synthetic shampoos often use silicone to coat the hair, making it appear shiny and easy to manage, but the effect is far from natural.
The silicone builds up over time and before you know it, you’re not dealing with your hair anymore, just a plastic coating!
Odylique’s silicone free shampoo range will cleanse any product build-up that could be weighing your hair down – hello volume!
For those of you dealing with scalp issues and fungal infections like dandruff, you can target the problem directly, immediately!
These conditions could be interfering with how fast your hair is growing. You can combat this by using an organic tea-tree shampoo to effortlessly utilise the many benefits of tea tree oil, including its antifungal properties (it’s also good for nits for those of you with children!)
But hair care should also be about pampering yourself.
If you don’t already treat yourself to a hair mask every week, we highly suggest it. By leaving a product on overnight, or for a number of hours, it can deeply nourish and ensure you utilise the benefits of the ingredients and helps you wake up with soft, conditioned hair.
Odylique’s Ultra Rich Balm might be just what the doctor ordered – especially for those split ends! Generously apply to the hair and scalp and leave in as an overnight treatment before washing it out thoroughly in the morning.
(3) Rele AS1, Mohile RB. Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. J Cosmet Sci. 2003 Mar-Apr;54(2):175-92.
(4) Ablon Glynis, MD, FAAD. A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of an Oral Supplement in Women with Self-perceived Thinning Hair. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012 Nov; 5(11): 28–34.)
If you want extra protection during the day, apply a small amount of balm to your hands, rubbing them together to get a thin oily coating, before lightly brushing your fingers through the ends of your hair. As well as taming unruly ends, this locks moisture in and protects your hair throughout the day.
We think that growing your hair is best achieved when it’s done au-natural! When you know you’re doing your hair and scalp good, you can rest assured that you’ll see results in no time.
