I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. I dare say most people do, however I feel like my hair is just difficult to manage. Maybe it’s an age thing but I’m finding that treating, maintaining and styling my hair has become a time consuming task that I don’t necessarily enjoy. Having said that, when I style my hair (and it when it cooperates) I fall in love with it all over again. On a side note: perimenopause often can affect/change your hair texture, among other things. Perhaps the main reason why I have difficulty styling and managing it as of late.
MY HAIR TYPE
My hair falls into a myriad of categories. It is naturally curly which means that any time humidity hits, it turns into a massive frizz ball. And no, there isn’t a product in the market that can tame the frizz, believe me, I’ve tried them all! My hair happens to be somewhere between medium and fine, but the curly texture gives the impression of full thick hair (not a bad thing!). Most fine hair is often naturally silky and smooth, and like mine it is delicate and prone to damage compared to coarser hair types.
And finally, I have a lot of grays coming in, mostly in the crown area, the back of my head is still naturally full-on black. There is also a spot on my right frontal area that has been gray for almost 10 years now, and I mean white gray or is it silver?.. anyway if I were to let it be I’d have a very large streak of white hair down my right side, a la Pepé Le Pew!
ON GOING GRAY
Let me start off by saying, if you have grays and you love them, more power to you! Personally, I hate it. IMO, unless you are completely silver with a fabulous cut, and I’ve seen women with full-on silver look stunning, the process of turning gray is the most ugliest ever. I don’t care what anybody says, you couldn’t ever convince me that gray hair looks good, especially on women of a younger age. Gray hair ages you dramatically, period!
HAIR COLOR
I’ve been coloring my hair for as long as I can remember, probably since right after high school. I retouch the roots every 4-6 weeks, and while I hate having to do it, I must in order to keep those pesky grays at bay. Just recently I got highlights done and I really love how it looks! The color match is fantastic but I mostly love the fact they blend away the grays really well. But as you can imagine, coloring and bleaching dark hair (or any hair) can take a toll on the health of the hair.
BEST HAIR TREATMENTS & PRODUCTS FOR COLORED HAIR
When styling medium to fine hair, it’s essential to consider its fragility, especially if color treated. Try to avoid products that can weigh down your hair, and instead choose products specifically designed for your hair type. For color treated hair it’s imperative to select products that can make all the difference in achieving and maintaining healthy hair. Today I’m excited to share a curated collection of my personal favorite hair products tailored for medium to fine color treated hair. These offer solutions to enhance volume while strengthening your hair.
Moroccanoil
Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
If you’re concerned about hair brassiness, damage, split ends, and breakage, then this is your solution. This is a sulfate-free, tone-correcting shampoo to fight brassiness in blonde, lightened brunette, and grey hair. Follow with the Purple Conditioner. And never mind that they smell divine!
Marc Anthony Grow Long Leave-in Conditioner
This spray is formulated to be gentle on your tresses, It’s free from sulfates and parabens, with caffeine, ginseng, and Vitamin E. It helps to detangle after washing and smooths frizz while reducing dullness, split ends and breakage. I alternate between this and the Marc Anthony Repair Bond leave-in treatment.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask For Dry or Damaged Hair
I use this treatment about once a month. It works at the innermost layer of the hair, resulting in strong, smooth hair. The leave-in formula works in just 4 minutes, with no extra rinse needed, perfect for travel!
Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer
I really love this hair primer! Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer’s multi-tasking formula gives hair its daily dose of vitamins and nutrients, with 10 benefits in one bottle. Among them my favorites are heat protection, detangles, adds shine, smooths and the UV protection.
Moroccanoil
Protect & Prevent Spray
This is the hair product that started the obsession for me! It’s a lightweight hair protectant to help prevent color fade and brassiness. I spray it on after a wash and then blow out. It leaves my hair the most smoothest ever and really keeps frizziness at bay! I can’t say enough about this product.
OGX Renewing Morocco Elevated Finish Spray
I love all-in-one proucts and this hairspray is no exception. This provides all day hold and since it’s flash-dry it allows your hair to be totally brushable! Blended with exotic argan oil it provides the hold you need while smoothening, leaving you with soft, brushable layers. The NAVY HAIR Dry Texture Spray is another fabulous option!
Moroccanoil
Moroccanoil Treatment Light Hair Oil for Fine Hair
I absolutely love how this lightweight oil leaves my hair feeling sooo soft and shiny! I usually do two pumps into my hand and rub together well until warm and thinned out. Then I apply to my hair all over, concentrating on my ends for a nice finish. It helps smooth out frizz, detangles, protects against thermal damage, and increases shine!
TIPS AND TOOLS FOR CARING & STYLING
- PRODUCT SELECTION Look for shampoos and conditioners that provide hydration and volume without weighing down your locks. Opt for light oils, hairspray specially formulated for your hair, and treatments to restore your hair’s health.
- HEAT STYLING I don’t think there is any way to avoid heat styling without sacrificing good styling results. While heat styling tools can be your best friend, they can also be your worst enemy! Start by choosing the right tools and then just before using, always, always apply a heat protectant/primer (this is another great option) to your hair. I can’t express enough the importance of using a great primer/protectant to shield your hair from damage. If at all possible opt for lower heat settings and go for tools that utilize air technology instead of heat. I personally love using my Ionic Hair Dryer for a quick dry blast then I follow up with the T3 AireBrush Duo for a great blow-out. I also alternate between using a one inch barrel Curling Iron and my Cordless Titanium Flat Iron for creating defined texture without the frizz.
- IN BETWEEN WASH HAIRCARE I personally refrain from using dry shampoo. Contrary to popular believe, overusing dry shampoo can contribute to hair loss by creating an unhealthy scalp environment. If you already have thinning hair or poor scalp health, you’re more likely to see immediate negative effects when using dry shampoo. But if you must, Amika’s Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo is great because of its invisible formula, weightless feel, oil-absorbing capabilities, and volumizing effects. If you’re looking for an ultra-affordable option, Colab’s Original Dry Shampoo imparts a smooth look and touchable feel for just $10.
- CONDITIONING TREATMENTS While conditioners are essential for keeping good hair health, using too much will weigh your hair down. Apply conditioner from the midway point of your hair concentrating on the ends. The roots are ‘virgin hair’ and is usually the healthiest part, so avoid using conditioners in this area to avoid weighing it down and flattening. Additionally, always be sure to use a conditioner specifically formulated for your hair type. And when doing hair masks or deep treatment conditioning, I recommend no more than twice a month. The K18 Molecular Repair Mask is my absolute favorite next to this hair mask by OUAI.
- THE COLD RINSE METHOD The cold rinse treatment from old wive’s tales is a fact, I swear by it! After shampooing and conditioning, and at the very end before stepping out of your shower, finish rinsing your hair with a blast of cold water. The cold water helps to close the hair cuticle, thus making the hair smoother and shinier!
- OVERALL SCALP CARE Always cleanse your hair & scalp with sulfate-free shampoos, again, to avoid excessive oils that can weigh down hair. Consider incorporating scalp massages into your routine to stimulate blood flow, promoting hair health. Avoid heavy, oil-based hair products that can lead to buildup on the scalp.
- TO DETOX OR CLARIFY Lastly, which to use, a detox shampoo or clarifying shampoo? They both remove excess residue, minerals, and oils. The key difference lies in the active ingredients. Hair detox relies primarily on “natural” ingredients, while clarifying shampoos have more synthetic ingredients that can dry out your hair and strip color if you overuse them. Having said that, opt for a really good hair and scalp detox shampoo every two to three months to remove buildup.
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And as always, thank you so much for stopping by, I truly appreciate all of you! xoxo, rosa
