Like many of you out there I have color treated hair, unlike many of you however, my hair is as straight as a pin with minor waves at the end of my layers, has very little, to no volume and gets damaged quite easily. Though my hair is very low maintenance, it seems like I was dealt the shorter end of the stick when it comes to properly caring for my straight locks. Curly haired people, hear me out. Because my hair is super straight it always gets tangled, like easily tangled, I’m talking about if I walk by a fan it’ll get tangled. Some of the other not-so-fun things I deal with are

• Breakage due to color treatments and bleach
• Oily scalp
• Dandruff (especially during winter months)
• Hair won’t hold a curl, bobby pin, hair pin or any style because it is so sleek

What’s a girl to do?

Like any other millennial, I obviously scoured the internet and gathered the best hair care tips I could find to help care for my daily damaged mane. We all know the basics when it comes to hair care; deep condition, don’t wash your hair everyday, don’t apply too much heat, however, did you know that using a T-shirt to dry your hair is considered a better alternative than using a plain ‘ol towel. Crazy right? Well, according to professionals, when hair is wet it becomes weakened therefore it’s easier to break. Who would have thought!

Let me explain, by using a regular towel, the grooves of the fabric can become aggressors to hair cuticles causing more harm than good to the hair. On the contrary, a T-shirt is softer and helps absorb excess water from your hair without absorbing the actual moisture which helps keep hair from frizzing.

Is your mind as blown as mine is right now?

Interesting stuff, right?  Lucky for you, I have 5 more mind blowing tips to share, some not so mind blowing but helpful nonetheless.

1. Blast Your Dry Shampoo

Now, I don’t mean blast a whole bunch of dry shampoo into your hair, instead, use your blow dryer to help blast unwanted residue out of your scalp. This technique also helps distribute the product away from the scalp getting the dry shampoo into areas you may have missed.

Need volume? Blasting your dry shampoo ALSO helps with that! By heating the roots and distributing the product into the mid-lengths of your hair, your hair becomes more voluminous and full, something my hair needs for sure.

*pro tip* if you blast your hair with quick few blast on your blow dryers cold setting, you can add some additional shine.

2. Avoid Applying Conditioner to Your Scalp

Did you know your scalp naturally produces essential oils that keep it properly hydrated? Because of these natural oils, when you apply conditioner to your scalp you end up weighing down the hair causing a flat, almost greasy look even if you have just showered. In an interview with InStyle, hair stylist Mark Townsend said, you should apply conditioner three to four inches away from your scalp. This reduces the chances of you weighing down your hair and and ensures that your hair is getting the best results out of your favorite conditioner.

A simple, yet informative piece of information as I was always taught to start at the root and condition down.

3. Get Rid of Dandruff with Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Along with the T-shirt tip, this particular hair hack blew my mind. I know that apple cider vinegar holds many health benefits, however, I had no idea that it could be topically used on hair to help relieve dandruff. Sounds crazy, right? What’s even crazier is that this information has been out there for years and I’m just finding out!

How exactly does this work you may ask? Well, according to  Miami based dermatologist, Martha H. Viera, M.D. she explained to Cosmopolitan that apple cider vinegar holds natural acidity levels that adjust pH balance in the skin. What this means is that because of apple cider vinegar’s ability to adjust pH levels on the skin, any yeast-like fungus causing dandruff gets killed off.

If you’re curious and want to know how to properly attempt this, simply use a mix of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water in the shower. It is recommended to shampoo and rinse as regular and the rinse with the apple cider vinegar mix.

I suggest doing this at night but if you decide to do it during the day,maybe doing one more pass with shampoo is a good idea if you don’t want to go about your day smelling like apple cider vinegar.

4. Use A Hair Mask During Your Workout

Part of the reason my hair is so dry and damaged is because I tend to wash it more often than I should. I try to use dry shampoo post workout as much as possible but sometimes I just feel gross and need to wash all that sweat out of my hair. Especially on those days when I do high intensity workouts so when I found this tip I was so happy I could kill two birds with one stone.

I’m all about saving time and multitasking and working out WHILE deep conditioning is the best hack I have ever came across!

To take full advantage of your hair mask, you simply apply it to dry hair before you work out. As your body (and head) begin to heat up by the exercise, the cuticles in your hair begin to naturally open. This allows for the hair mask to penetrate deeper into your locks leaving you with healthy shiny hair once rinsed.

Since I go to the gym almost daily I tried this little trick and my god did I see a difference. Not only am I not lasting 15-20 extra minutes in the shower waiting for the mask to soak in (which my boyfriend hates) but my hair immediately felt sofer after rinsing the mask off. I would even go as far as saying it definitely worked better than just a plain ‘ol 15 minute shower mask. Probably because I kept it in for 30 minutes of HIIT cardio but hey, two birds with one stone!

5. Protect Your Hair with the Right Tools and Products

This is a given. We only get one head of hair so why not do everything we can to maintain it. Yes, hair falls out and grows back but we should still try to take care of it by using the best products. With so many different hair type, you need to take your hair in consideration when selecting the proper products. From shampoo and conditioner to hair masks, hair sprays, hair gels, pomades, wax,  mousses and serums there is a product aimed to specifically comply with your hair type.

For best results, when selecting products it’s important to consciously select the products that will give your hair that extra oomph we all want. Obviously if I use a product aimed at kinky or coiled hair, I will not get the same results as my hair is straight and semi-thick.

Protecting your hair with  the right products not only benefits your hair, but it can help you save money on frequent haircuts or unnecessary products your hair doesn’t benefit from.

Since I happen to have bleached, colored treated hair, it is important for me to use only the best and beneficial products. Not only to keep  my hair healthy, but to also keep my hair color from fading seeing as I always have alternative hair colors. Currently I’m in a pink and purple phase so making these colors last as long as possible between salon visits is my ultimate goal, aside from keeping my hair healthy.

To accomplish this, I solely use a brand I was introduced to while shopping at my local mall, HerStyler.

Why HerStyler

I use HerStyler for many reasons. For one, they are more affordable than competitors (seriously, a $200 hair straightener?) When my straightener broke a few months back I was on a serious hunt for a new, innovative hair straightener and I did not want to spend any more than I had to. I went to Target, I went to Wal-Mart, I searched on amazon and I just wasn’t quite sold on any brand.

Then while at the mall I was approached by a salesperson at a kiosk, I usually avoid these people like the plague but let’s be real, I needed a straightener bad so I took the bait. While the sales person was showing me some products I was immediately intrigued by a straightening brush they had.

I want to preface this by saying my hair is straight for the most part with few waves at the bottom of my layers causing it to look more wavy than straight. Like mentioned before, I try to take care of my hair as much as possible so using a product that straightens but also protects my hair was a must.

I had the person assisting me demonstrate the Straight Brush Pro and immediately I fell in love. Finally something I could use that wasn’t  too damaging or too expensive. Since we know I’m a fan of killing two birds with one stone, this was definitely the straightener for me. Not only am I straightening my hair but I’m brushing it down at the same time you can definitely sign me up for that!

Below I want to share what goodies I ended up getting and why they are a must have in your daily hair care routine.

Straight Brush Pro

Pros:

• Suitable for all hair types
• Ceramic Surface
• Negative Ion Technology helps “seal” cuticle leaving hair with less frizz
• Heats up quickly
• Heat is evenly distributed
• Different heat levels
• Swivel cord

Cons:

• Can burn hair if you put heat to high
• If your hair is too kinky or curly it may take longer to straighten
• Difficult to straighten the root of your hair if you need to

Argan Oil Hair Mask

Pros:

• Helps prevent breakage
• Hair look shiny after use
• Leaves hair feeling extra soft
• Smells amazin

Cons:

• On the website the description says it will result in thicker hair and I have yet to experience that
• Does not repair split ends but it does smooth them out to look smoother
• If you use too much or put it on your scalp your hair can become greasy

Argan Oil Hair Serum

Pros:

• Eliminates frizz
• Helps control flyaways
• Gives hair shine
• Helps datangle if applied to wet hair

Cons:

• Once you use it you will be hooked
• Too much can cause hair to be too oily and looks greasy

Can you believe I ended up paying roughly $66 for all these products! Definitely beats a $200 purchase that may or may not have been just as effective.

To further protect my hair from the heat and following the new hair hack I found, I’ve been using the Argan oil hair mask before hitting the gym 1-2 times a week and have seen a huge difference in volume and shine.

As far as the serum goes, I either apply it right after I shower on damp, t-shirt dryed hair from about the mid section to my ends or I apply it strictly on my ends when my hair is dry. To eliminate frizz at  the top of my roots, I a very tiny amount of serum, rub it between my hands and smooth out the frizz.

I did want to mention that just because these products have worked for MY hair type they may not work for yours. For example, along with the Argan Oil Hair Serum HerStyler also offers a Marula Oil Hair Serum. I suggest looking into which serum is more beneficial for your hair type, same goes for the hair tools as well.

All in all I absolutely love this brand! Their products and prices definitely fit in any ones budget and make great birthday, holiday, anytime presents for anyone looking to maximize their hair game.