Jump Start Aug: Holiday Prep Week: Day 5
Today is all about giving your hair a bit of extra care. Sunshine, swimming, colouring, straightening and blow-drying can all harm your hair, and a bit of deep conditioning can help to make it look and feel better.
Now, you could go to the hairdresser for a deep conditioning treatment, but this can be very expensive and you might as well do it at home yourself as these treatments are just ‘smooth on, rinse off’ ones where no special equipment or skills are needed. If you want to use premium salon treatments, try a branch of Sally Ltd or visit another hairdressing supplies shop, and you’ll get the same products for a whole lot less.
Or you can go a couple of steps cheaper still. Your main options are buying a cheap deep conditioning treatment or henna wax from a discount chemist (or pound shop), or leaving an ordinary conditioner on your hair for a lot longer than usual.
The steps are very simple:
- Wash your hair as usual, and carefully blot it dry
- Apply a generous amount of hair product, paying special attention to the ends of your hair as they tend to be dryer/more porous
- Put a plastic shower cap over your hair, or improvise by trying a plastic bag over it
- Wrap hair in a towel or hair turban to increase warmth
- Leave the product on for a few minutes, or even overnight if it’s in need of more care.
If you have a tendency to get breakouts or allergies, make sure you don’t get too much of the conditioner on your scalp, and wipe your hairline clean.
I was told once by a hairdresser that protein/keratin products are better for deep conditioning most hair than oils are, so maybe look for that when you’re buying your product. For this reason, I would not recommend the home recipes where you rub almond or olive oil into your hair either.
Some frugal websites suggest that you use mayonnaise or egg as a hair mask, but frankly it’s messy and it leaves a really nasty smell behind, so I’d say don’t bother and have an omelette instead.
Do you have any favourite deep conditioner for your hair?