Do You Heat Use Hair Products and Heat Every Day? Because If So…
Get ready, you guys, because we’re about to announce our third (third!!) annual Summer Hair Challenge, in which we ask you to forgo leave-ins and heat for a day and then send us a snap from your phone.
You can take a look at our two previous galleries of product-free, air-dried hair here and here to see what we’re talking about. Last year we got well over 100 photos sent to us, and we were over the moon. This year we want even more, so consider this your early mental-preparation warning.
Couple things:
First, we’re not against using leave-ins as long as they’re clean (and if they’re not clean, we’re not against that either—do your thing!) but we have a dorky maxim about cosmetics in general that goes like this: “More products, more problems.”
What we mean by that is, most conventional products—and especially ones for hair—create problems even as they try to “fix” others, which then necessitates more products. Think of silicone-based leave-ins that coat the hair, then need to be stripped off with harsh shampoo, which then requires a fistful of conditioner, a defrizzer, and maybe a finishing gloss, too.
Second, we’re not against heat styling, either. When it’s cold out, I use heat almost every single day. Whenever I can get away with it, though, I leave my hair alone, and here’s why: When I first started doing this regularly, I didn’t even recognize my own hair. Here’s what I said at the time:
I used to wake up, hop in the shower, use Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine shampoo and conditioner, or if I was feeling rich I’d use Rene Furterer’s stuff. Then I’d load Phytodefrisant onto my wet hair, and once blow-dried (and sometimes also ironed), I would use one or two finishing serums that probably had silicone or some other garbage in it.
My hair looked how I wanted it to look, but do the math: That’s expensive, and a pain. I was also unwittingly exposing myself to 11 of the 20 ingredients on the Black List in our book—daily. (For more on what’s in shampoo, check this out.)
Anyway, eventually I realized the unmanageable nature of my hair was squarely the fault of the products I was using, and when I made the switch, my hair chilled out.
So that was neat.
But this challenge isn’t really about all that. It isn’t about what’s bad or what’s good. The reason we like the Summer Hair Challenge so much is in part seeing pictures of all of you, but also hearing your stories. Some people had gone years without knowing what their hair looked like air-dried. How cool is it that they tried? And for those of you who do this every day, God bless! We’re going to want your pictures, too.
So in preparation, we want to know: Do you use leave-ins every day? What about heat? And how excited (or pissed) will you be when we ask you to stop both for a day? Have at it.
I’ve been heat free for about two months now, and have also entirely switched my Haircare to organic products. I can’t believe the difference! I used to battle with frizz every morning, now my bad hair days are far less, and it takes no time at all in the morning to do my hair.
I really like my flexible routine. Sometimes I wash, sometimes just condition, sometimes don’t get it wet for days, sometimes a leave-in of various sorts, sometimes heat and sometimes not. All products I use are absolutely clean – and better than that, they actually do something good for me (like oils, for example). Years ago I was set on an absolute routine of wash, heat, and products every day. It feels much better to go with my mood or specific needs on that particular day. My hair has never been happier. I feel pretty neutral about a challenge of this sort. If the challenge fits in to what I would normally want on a given day, I would do it. But if not, no reason to mess with a good thing.
I have long hair. I don’t use any leave-ins on it at all and when I wash my hair I let it always ‘air-dry’. No hair dryer, no flat iron, nothing. I am lucky I guess, because my hair is straight, so I don’t even need flat iron. I used it for my bangs, but I decided to stop using it, because heat damages the hair.
I have to tell you I don’t wash my hair every day. If it’s winter, then I wash my hair when I know I won’t go anywhere on that day (let’s say on the weekend), so I can let my hair dry itself.
If I want some curl, or wave in my hair, I wash it (or just wet it) and I braid it. Let it dry like that, I even sleep like this (oh, in the summer it’s such a good feeling) and the next day I have nice curls or waves for 2-3 days.
This works for me and my hair is much healthier. :)
I haven’t ever been a fan of leave-ins, my hair is lacking in volume enough and I’ve always felt they weighed my hair down without actually doing anything good (like moisturizing, de-frizzing or adding volume). I haven’t used them for years. After reading your book, I started to use an all-natural aloe vera gel for shine and smoothing fly-aways but a) I HAD to blow-dry otherwise it acted like a styling gel and b) I started using the Alaffia conditioner you (one of you) reviewed and it enabled me to air-dry and to stop using the aloe vera (I resented having to blow-dry everyday, I’m too low-maintenance for that). ANYWAY (lol), I blow dry occasionally but only when I feel like it so let me know when to send in a pic and I’ll!! :)
I have curly/wavy hair so it gets to air dry almost every day. I use Intelligent Nutrients Leave-In Conditioner and two drops of argan oil as leave-ins. I have also found, over the past couple of weeks, that a vinegar rinse (20% vinegar, 80% water) gives my hair more volume and makes it so soft…it’s my new favorite conditioner for summer. :)
Does leaving in the conditioner I use in the shower count as a leave-in? Or can I take a pass for that? It does prevent me from having to use any other products on my extremely frizzy, gross, curly hair. It’s also less work because I’m not rinsing my hair.
I have really thick, wavy hair and used to use all kinds of crap, but after cutting off all my hair a year and a half ago I got used to not spending tons of time on my hair. It’s about shoulder length now, but I still rarely use any leave ins (yay!). I also find that when I do use products, my skin tends to break out….
Lately I’ve just been spritzing with john masters sea salt spray and using ouidad hair clips to help shape my waves. Sometimes I blast it with a blow dryer, but only when my hair is mostly dry. I’ll usually put a little argan oil in my hair before hand to help protect it from the heat. Mostly though I’ve just learned to work with the hair I have and try to keep it healthy.
Leave-in? Never. I don’t even use basic conditioner (I wash my hair every day, and every two days or so, I rinse with water and white vinegar to detangle). I use heat once in a while, but I mostly can’t be bothered to do it because it takes time which I don’t have haha.
I use BioNature cream soap on my hair. It’s natural, unbelievably cheap ($11.49 CDN, tax included, for 4 liters), and can be used to hair, body, hands, kitties & doggies, etc. No Name white vinegar for the rinse. When I use heat, it’s just the hair dryer and/or a flat iron. My hair looks tolerably good, so I’m happy. :)
I used to be a big fan of leave-ins, but have given them up. I hardly ever heat-style unless I’m in a huge rush to get ready and I’m way over the super-straight and sleek hair look. My hair thanks me for it!!
I don’t use this daily (because it’s a little drying plus I live in a top-knot) but this is my DIY recipe for beach spray. I think it’s pretty fabulous!
http://blog.starkskincare.com/2012/05/21/easiest-beauty-diy-in-the-history-of-beauty-diys/
I also leave coconut oil in my ends, and sometimes go full-oily and do a honey and coconut mask, which makes me look like a crazy person. I try not to go out on that particular day!
I do use leave-ins everytime I wash my hair (every 5-7 days). I have short, curly thick hair. I use Beautiful Curls Defining Gel by Alaffia, blow dry with a diffuser, and finish with an Aveda pomade. I’m not totally happy with my hair so would like to change my routine. However, if I don’t blow dry, my curls are flat with not enough volume at the roots. I’m scared to ditch the blow dryer! Any curly girls out there have some advice?
Since I don’t use any leave-ins, heat, or other products, this won’t be much of a challenge for me, but I’ll be happy to take part!
I normally only use natural shampoo (no conditioner needed). However, when I travel, my natural shampoo loses its mojo and I switch to non-clean options, which often require me to pile on a conditioner as well.
Has this happened to any of you? I tried to eat healthy even when away from home, so I am not sure what accounts for the renewed greasiness of my hair.
With curly hair, I’ve always been an air dryer. But I’ve stopped using all shampoos and conditioners and just do a baking soda rinse 1 or 2x a week and I couldn’t be happier. *my hair looks good too*
I have wavy/curly hair that is a bit on the thinner side and I swear by leave-ins! (though my “leave in” is technically a regular conditioner that I just don’t rinse out – John Masters Lavender and Avocado.)
Rather than weighing my hair down, a leave-in gives definition to my curls and helps tame my frizz. Heat, on the other hand, turns me into a complete frizz ball.
Lesley – if you want to try going dryer free, you might want to give this routine a shot:
1) turn your head upside down under the shower (unless your hair is so short that this doesn’t matter?)
2) get your hair SOAKING wet
3) put your product in your hair (leave-in, gel, whatever)
4) scrunch your hair with your fingers to distribute product and create curl
5) flip your head back over and when you get out of the shower DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR until it is completely dry. You may have to give your ends a quick squeeze with a towel and/or place a few stray curls as you want them to dry.
This routine changed the way my hair behaves completely – in a good way!
@el, the problem is likely the water when you travel. You must have good water where you live (or maybe you are using a filter). I’ve noticed the water quality makes a big difference in how my natural products work.
@Tamar, Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll try it.
My foray into more natural hair care was more from vanity than concern about chemicals. :) I wanted really long hair and I absolutely hate spending an hour (or more) blowdrying or styling my hair… which is what it takes. It is very thick and long. I haven’t blowdryed or heat styled it for over two years, the only leave in that goes in from time to time is coconut oil, and it’s still growing and pretty. People always ask me how I get my hair so long, and I give the five “so much” speech: don’t style it so much, don’t wash it so much, don’t touch it so much, don’t cut it so much, don’t put so much stuff in it. Leave it alone.
I actually rarely use leave-ins and/or heat-styling because I’m a little on the lazy side. This challenge is right up my alley! :)
I let my hair air dry basically everytime. I wash it with Aleppo soap every other day. I would like to wash it every 2-3 days, but I have quite some difficulties with my scalp. My hair gets greasy way to easy. It hasn’t always been like that and I’m pretty worried. The only thing that seems to work is the Aleppo soap. I swear by it.
I barely use heat, because I am too lazy to do so. I also don’t feel like it would change that much, I am an absolute beginner when it comes to styling your hair. I sometimes try to curl it, but it doesn’t hold curls at all. :(