The Summer Hair Challenge—Join Us! (There’s a Prize)
Oh, hi! How’s your summer going? Grossed out by the August weather? Us too. Hair misbehaving as usual, hey? We feel ya. And actually, we have a theory about that—which you all probably know by now—and we want to re-prove it.
Last summer we announced the Summer Hair Challenge this same week and the results blew our freaking minds. You all looked smoking, and, well, it’s that time of year again. And since everyone is sick of the heat and wrestling with their hair, we decided to bring it back.
Some time in the next week, when you get up in the morning, shower, shampoo and condition your hair using nontoxic natural products, comb it when you get out of the shower, and that’s it. No leave-ins, no heat. Once it’s dry, send us a pic.
This year we’re offering some extra incentive too: A brain-meltingly good haircare basket courtesy of NuboNau. The winner—who will be chosen at random—will get products from Rahua, John Masters, and Intelligent Nutrients. Worth the price of admission, wouldn’t you agree?
Some rules: No sneaking in a little blast from the dryer on your roots, no irons, no natural leave-ins, and certainly no toxic ones. Naked hair, air-dried.
Instructions: As we said above, you have to get it wet, whether you use shampoo and conditioner or both or neither is up to you. You can use a brush or a pick, obviously. Once your hair is dry, take a pic with your phone or computer or whatever and send it to us at nomoredirtylooks (at) gmail (dot) com with HAIR CHALLENGE in the subject line.
Please include your first name and where you live—don’t forget that part! We like to know where you live! If you feel like telling us what shampoo and conditioner you used for the challenge, include that too! Email us by the end of the day Sunday, August 21st. Once we’ve compiled them all, we’ll publish them on our site.
Special favor: Help us make sure this is not one of those embarrassing challenges no one actually does. Tell your friends on Twitter, Facebook, at the gym or at the bar. Friend us, follow us, and then RT us, or whatever. Spread the word!
The reason for the challenge: We all wage war with our hair on a semiregular basis trying to make it look some other way than it does naturally, and hey, nothing wrong with that. We do it too. But we also want to see what happens when we switch to nontoxic, nonstripping products, and then leave our manes alone. We already did the challenge—those are our pics up top—and we want you all with us. One day! Please?
Let’s go!
Ladies, I don’t see your pictures. Maybe my computer is wonkers. I love the challenge though; will definitely participate.
What perfect timing! I’ve been using clean hair products for about 6 months now…and have yet to find a styling product (or product combo) that I like. (I feel like I’ve tried everything: the reco’s from your book, from this blog, from people’s comments, from other blogs…) So–today I didn’t put anything in! (A first in decades.) I figured, if my hair is going to end up in a pony anyway, why not leave it alone while it dries (ie, don’t put in any product)? So my hair is going au naturel today. But I’ll do it more deliberately some time over the next week and take a picture to send in to you guys for the challenge (because I did end up putting some argan oil on my ends, just for “hair health” (I know, the hair’s dead, but I like my illusions)).
Anyway, I appreciate the solidarity and encouragement to discover what our hair looks like–and what it does–on its own. Scary–but I’m hoping the results won’t be so bad! (My hair is still wet, so I don’t know yet.) We’ll see! :) Thank for the challenge.
I’ll do it! I missed out last time :( I’m going to try it out on a weekend though bc my hair is so unpredictable & my workplace likes a “polished” look.
I’ll blog about it too to spread the word!
Haha. This is the extent of “doing my hair.” I’m fairly useless beyond this.
Great challenge, and I’d love to participate, but I have a question: NuboNau doesn’t ship to APOs (not sure why not, since it costs the same as shipping domestically, but I digress…), so does this make us APO gals exempt from winning the prize?
On a related note: do any of the clean-products online stores you gals recommend here on your blog ship to APOs? Right now I’m running on the small selection of clean stuff at places like drugstore.com, but it’s just such a downer to read all your lovely reviews of lovely, luxurious clean products and not really have a way to get them.
Anyway, love the site and the book! Keep it up!
From another Elizabeth, I’d love to participate, but as a fine-haired lady, I don’t think I could endure a whole day of this! I require heavy-duty blowdrying, volumizing products, velcro rollers, hairspray, curling iron–the works! Good luck to everyone, I will be cheering you on from the sidelines :)
The hardest part of the challenge is actually getting my hair to dry. Luckily the heat has let up some, so I can leave my hair down/looser so it’ll dry in the days between washings. Unlike teh middle of the hot humid days when I wash and throw it in a bun, and sweat, and wash again, and back in a bun, to the point where I can go a week+ without ever reaching bone dry hair…. I’m guessing that’s not too healthy.
I have fine hair but have thinking of trying this. You have inspired me to try it out for a day. I am attached to my hairdryer so this should be a real kick.
My hair is crying at the moment, I live in North Carolina where humidity and curls just do not mix. But I will do this challenge just to prove I am not THAT vain about my hair. And because it sounds like fun. Sadly, Im trying to wean myself of color. And failing, sort of. I made the mistake of going black (I am naturally a blond/dirty blond) and am having trouble transitioning back to my regular color. In the process of going back Ive had my hair over processed and colored multiple times because a hair stylist screwed up. So now my hair is breaking like crazy and Im scared to process it anymore. And theres no way Im cutting it all off. :( But anyway, keep a look out for my picture! :D
Lydia, have you got a sympathetic mom/sister/in-law/friend you can ship to and have them reship it to you? I’ve seen my shipmate’s wives do that sometimes, when they can’t get something shipped to them overseas. It sucks to pay shipping twice, but it depends on what you deem “worth it.” As does much of life. >.>;
Steffie: I do, but it’s very difficult to justify that when I can get some clean brands from regular websites, which negates the need for double shipping. It’s just that sometimes I wish I could try some of the more luxurious brands! :-/
Okay, just did some sleuthing and figured out that Spirit Beauty Lounge DOES ship to APOs. Yay! But I’m still curious as to whether NuboNau’s shipping policy means that gals at APOs are void from winning this particular prize for this particular challenge. :) Thanks in advance!
I’m in! I love the challenges you ladies put together, always fun!
Sigh…okay, I did it. I’m so with you, @Samantha, now I’m putting argan oil on my ends! I am excited to see everyone’s pics : )
This \challenge\ is like my everyday routine :).
Am I allowed to enter if this really is my usual routine? I really want to!
@Lee – That’s ok, you should still do enter!
am I allowed to enter if I’m living in the southern hemisphere where it is currently winter?
This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time! My hair is disgusting! Falling out by the roots, oily, stringy…ugh! I literally just ordered Morocco Method last night to start my hair detox and saw this this morning! Woohoo! Wish me luck :)
OF COURSE!
egads. i am going to do it. honestly this is almost like my regular routine, except lately my hair is doing this really weird thing where only the very bottom where my layers have grown out gets wavy and it looks really, really dumb. so i either have to braid it to make the whole thing wavy or straighten it. but i will prevail. i will send in a picture of my weird hair… proooomisssse.
@the other Elizabeth and Therese: I am a fine-haired gal myself. Try it! I’ve been using natural bar soap on my hair lately. Nothing else. Sometimes I blow-dry, sometimes I don’t. Whether or not I do, I have more volume than ever–I’m getting better results than I had with thickeners and volumizers! Crazy but super cool.
Both you girls look gorgeous! I have to say, Alexandra, your hair is AWESOME!!! : )
Haha this is what I already do! I can’t fail!
Ladies- looking lovely!
@Lydia – Kahina Giving Beauty will ship to APOs!
I would just like to say I am so jealous of Alexandras hair. I have curly hair and have always loved it but alas it is no where near as curly as her hair. I am envious. Already sent in my picture!
Everyone who meets her is jealous of her hair! But yours is amazing too!
You guys look so beautiful! Alexandra, I love your curls!
I’m doing mine tomorrow, washing with clean products and taking a picture when I get home at night, and sending it right over! I figure I should do it when I’m actually out, and today is my day off so it won’t be as authentic.
See you soon!
Alexandra, I too have the same hair as yours, and use clean products (and I’m dirty), but my cut just doesn’t work. I need a good stylist ASAP!!! I live in Vancouver, BC. Is there any place I can check out to find a good stylist!?
Is it ok if you “finger comb” instead of a brush, comb or pick?
@ Swati Totally!
Thanks Siobhan! Im currently searching for the perfect curly regimine and at the moment, SERIOUSLY failing, but I ordered ctonics milk conditioner (something like that it was on your friday deal and i took advantage) and we will see how that fairs against NC weather. I was using pure aloe and spraying it in my hair but found that it tended to for some reason seperate my curls after a while? I also tried argan oil and while its A-MAZING for my face and ends when I (rarely) blow dry my hair it works wonders. Otherwise Im clueless as to what to try. I got a sample of rare elements in the mail and Im guessing I used too much because it was all oily and gross the next day. And seeing as how Ive been using various clean conditioners I dont think it was a transition problem. Though I dont want to buy it to try again just in case it doesnt work for me seeing how expensive it is. That, and since I “wash” my hair with conditioner and that conditioner was so thick I had trouble getting it distributed evenly through out my hair? So any suggestions as to what I should use would be greatly appreciated. I thought about trying aloe gel? But is it possible to find a clean version? I know the kind you find for burns at say walmart is filled with all sorts of dirty nastyness. Which Ill never understand, whats wrong with leaving dyes out of things? Are we really so shallow as to not realize that maybe this gel or that food isnt supposed to be that color? Whats wrong with its natural state? Does it look gross? And really, if it does “look gross” maybe our perseptions of whats gross needs to be changed yes? Anyway, pardon for the long ramble!
@Stephanie Hmmm- wish I had a good rec in BC! It’s tricky to find a good curly hair dresser… I haven’t had the best luck so I often just trim it on my own and cut some shorter pieces – one curl at a time – around the top and front so that it doesn’t do the triangle thing.
@Renee, try the aloe gel that is in the food aisle. I like Lily of the Desert brand.
I just sent in my photo! I am looking forward to seeing the hair of ladies that use homemade products…”no-poo” is it?