Cruelty-Free Haircare

Happy February 1st everybody! Yesterday's blog post was all about my current skincare routine. This, on the other hand, is dedicated to my haircare routine. Let's get into it—shall we?

Because I included a bit of background on my skin, I thought that I would do the same with my hair. Up until two years ago, I had never dyed my hair. It was so smooth, shiny, and healthy. And then, things went downhill, once I made the decision to start dying it (generally, once every three months or so). I've had light brown, dark brown, black, and platinum blonde highlights. Currently, I would describe my hair as strawberry blonde.

Because I've forced so many dramatic colour changes on my fine hair, it is dry, and it is damaged. And so, I would say that strengthening and smoothing are my two main concerns. That said, I'm also a bit of a shampoo snob—just because I can't stand the feeling of cakiness or build up on my scalp.

I most recently had my hair toned and highlighted on January 2nd of this year. Afterwards, as could be expected, my hair felt like straw. It was so, so, so dry. Now that I've been taking measures to hydrate and nourish it, however, I've seen a dramatic improvement. Below is a description of the products that I've been using (with links, of course).

Jason Natural, Pure Natural Shampoo, Smoothing Sea Kelp

Every night when I shower, I begin by coating my hair in this shampoo. I love it because it lathers up really well, and I feel like it gets rid of all of the gunk that accumulates throughout the day. Plus, in my opinion, it has a nice, light, non-offensive scent.

Jason Natural, Smoothing Sea Kelp Conditioner

In all honesty, there isn't anything particularly special about this conditioner. I'm just one of those people who likes to buy matching shampoo and conditioner (guilty). I simply focus this product on the ends of my hair and work it upwards. Then, I let it soak in for at least 3 minutes, while I wash my body and whatever else.

Luseta, Color Brightening Purple Conditioner

Because my hair is naturally light brown, and it's been lightened, I use this purple conditioner once a week. When I use it, I skip out on Jason Natural's conditioner; instead, I follow up my shampoo by slathering this product from root to tip and letting it sit about five minutes. Afterwards, my hair is a lot less brassy, and it always feels so soft and good. My only complaint about it is that it smells like men's shampoo; that's a price that I'm willing to pay, however.

Pacifica, Hairvana Leave-On Detangling Conditioner

Once a week, I'll use one of my two hair masks. With both, an hour or two before I plan on showering, I coat the length of my hair in a generous amount of product, before tying it up in a bun. And then, the first thing that I do in the shower is rinse the product out.

Marc Anthony, Deep Repair Aloe Vera Jasmine Conditioning Treatment

This is the other hair mask that I rotate alongside Pacifica's. Of the two, I prefer this one because it seems to be more moisturizing. Plus, it smells amazing.

Nature Love, Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-In Therapy

(I found this at Homesense/Winners and couldn't find any website that sells the product). I only started using this product in the last week or two, but it's a game-changer. Once I'm out of the shower, I spray this all over my hair and brush it out with a detangling brush. Oh. My. Gosh. It works wonders at taming any frizz, and it leaves my hair unrealistically soft. If you can get your hands on it, definitely give it a try!