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At ANTIDOTE, hair care is self care.
To break it all down, we've organized our favorite hair care tips that are also self care – each one based in research. After all, a good hair care routine should help your well-being, too.Here we'll break these down into one self-care tip for each day of the week. Our goal with each day is to reinforce one healthy hair habit that we hope will be part of your ongoing routine. That’s how you’ll get the biggest benefit.
At the heart of this is the recognition that healthy hair isn’t just about the products you use. Sure, products are important. Ingredients that nourish the scalp and strengthen hair are better for you and the planet. Cheap ingredients are known to irritate and weaken hair. At ANTIDOTE our mission is to raise the bar in professional hair care with salon quality hair care that's also good for you and the planet.
Healthy hair is also part of a system. This includes what you eat, how you take care of yourself, and how much you sleep.
We look forward to hearing more about your experiences. Please share your favorite hair care/ self care tips!
Day 1: Shampoo right.
One of the first steps to healthy hair is a good cleansing. Shampoo properly by choosing a gentle cleanser. You’re not degreasing your kitchen pipes, so avoid harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens, or phthalates. Embrace plant-based products that are rich in nutrients meant to soothe your skin, fortify your hair follicles, and encourage growth.
The way you shampoo matters, too. Make sure your hair is saturated with water. This will allow the shampoo to lather and spread more evenly. Start at your scalp and focus on your roots. If you are using a gentle sulfate free shampoo like ANTIDOTE, you can let your shampoo sit on your scalp for one minute before rinsing.
Which shampoo is right for you?
We always recommend starting with a clean slate. Any professional stylist will tell you that removing environmental dirt and product build-up are the first step to great hair. We designed Rosemary Detox Shampoo for this. While how often you detox your hair does depend on your hair type and overall needs. A good rule of thumb is to use a detox shampoo once a week. Detoxing the hair is a good way to give your hair and scalp a clean slate from artificial products you may have been using – along with any dirt, impurities, and dead skin cells that can build up on your scalp. The Rosemary shampoo is formulated with organic Rosemary and Nettles that are rich in amino acids providing the hair with essential nutrients to the hair follicles. The Rosemary Shampoo is gentle enough to use every day. For those looking for more volume or to manage a scalp that tends to be more oily, ANTIDOTE Rosemary Shampoo is a great choice for everyday use. Of course, we usually recommend only shampooing every few days.
For most daily use, match your shampoo to what your hair needs.
For insight into what your hair needs, wet your hair and take a strand of hair and gently pull.
Healthy hair: If your hair strand stretches a little and bounces back to its original length without breaking. For healthy hair, we recommend:
Too much protein and not enough moisture:The strand stretches more than usual and then breaks. Your hair may feel dry, stiff, and brittle. If this matches your need, we recommend:
Don’t skimp on bottom-shelf products with ingredients you don’t recognize. These products contain ingredients that strip your hair of everything it needs to grow strong and healthy. They irritate your scalp and hair follicles, causing dryness and itchiness. Instead of helping, these cheap ingredients weaken your hair, making it dull and fragile. These products only benefit is that they cost less to you and make more money for manufacturers.
Learn more about proper hair washing from professional stylists at “Wash your hair right”
Day 2: Eat a hair-healthy diet. It’s never too late to start eating well. Nurture your body throughout your whole life and you’ll thank yourself when you’re older. Eat plenty of leafy greens, seafood, whole grains, and legumes.
Iron and proper protein, vitamins D, C, and B, iron, zinc, and folic acid are essential to your inner and outer beauty. Antioxidants also play an important role in antiaging. They prevent free radicals from doing damage to your hair and skin.
Grilled chicken, almond butter, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, guava, berries, and bell peppers are all hair healthy foods.
Cut back on the alcohol and sugar.Sugar hinders the absorption of protein. And protein is essential to your hair’s health, as it’s basically made up entirely of different proteins. And alcohol lowers the zinc levels in your body, another essential mineral.
Day 3: Add some stress management techniques to your routine.
Life is stressful. Make sure you have the tools you need to take life on gracefully: with gratitude, peace, and wisdom. Stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, journaling, breathing techniques, and talk therapy can help.
Our favorite stress management technique might be the easiest? Time outside.
Did you know that a walk in the woods is proven to improve your health? In Japan, it’s called “forest bathing” and is as simple as taking a walk along woodland path or sitting under a tree. No cellphones, no conversation, just be in the moment. While winter might feel like time to stay indoors, think the opposite! Getting outside is proven to reduce stress and improve health. Since we are from Wisconsin, we know all about being outside in the winter. Invest in a good set of long johns and don’t forget a neck gaitor.
While you are outside more:
Day 4: Pamper yourself with a hair mask.Hair masks lock in moisture that it needs to stay strong. It deeply hydrates your hair, keeping it clean and shiny. And while you’re at it, do a face mask and get in the tub! Create your own personal resting phase; your hair will thank you.
What to look for in a hair mask?
A good hair mask strengthens your hair from within. Ditch those silicone conditioners – they dry out the hair strand, making it more prone to breakage. Instead, look for natural and essential oil-based products. These penetrate the strand, making it stronger and more flexible. Oils protect hair from the extreme cold and heat cycle common this time of year.
Try ANTIDOTE highly concentrated Jojoba Hair Mast to restore and repair shine in just 20 minutes.
If you don't have 20 minutes, ANTIDOTE conditioners are full of natural shea butter and avocado oil, powerful moisturizers that protect against environmental stress factors and is great for your scalp, too!
Day 5: Scalp massage!
Here are 3 reasons why you should give yourself a scalp massage.
"According to research, scalp massage increases hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles. This, in turn, stimulates the follicles to produce thicker hair. It’s also thought that a scalp massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin, thereby encouraging hair growth," Healthline.
There are 2 main types of scalp massage: dry and wet. Learn more about these in our post “3 REASONS TO GIVE YOURSELF A SCALP MASSAGE TODAY.”
Day 6: Get more sleep… at least 8 hours every day.
In The Truth About Beauty Sleep, WebMD’s Stephanie Jacob’s reports, “sleep may be the closest thing there is to a fountain of youth. Your body repairs itself and recovers while you snooze, and that leads to a long list of benefits for your looks.”
A study published in the British Medical Journal, Beauty sleep: experimental study on the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep deprived people showed that well rested individuals were more attractive.
Board certified Sleep specialist, Dr. Michael Breus says that getting less than 6 hours of sleep will likely affect how you look and that getting an extra 1-3 hours can show an improvement in just a few weeks.
Sleep matters for healthier, fuller hair. “Hair loss, breakage, damage, and even growth can all be affected by lack of sleep”, Breus says. “Hair follicles (where hair growth begins) gain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from blood flow. Since blood flow decreases when we’re short on shut-eye, hair gets less food, it weakens, and it has difficulty growing.”
A lack of sleep can lead to more stress, which is no good for how we feel and look.
Learn more about sleep in our blog post “Looking for the fountain of youth.“
Day 7: Repeat
Our 7-day healthy hair challenge is all about reminding ourselves that healthy, beautiful hair is more than just one thing. It’s about looking good and feeling good, from the inside out. For sure, the products we use and how we use them make a difference for sure. Also, our diet, stress, and sleep all affect our hair.
Let us know your favorite hair care/ self care tips.
Abigail + David
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