For When Your Hair Needs Some TLC

Disclosure

A few years back, after a lot of frustration and some really damaged home-colored hair, I broke down and had my hair professionally colored. It was difficult for me because it’s a very expensive process and I was told that red hair doesn’t hold color as well. In other words, expect to need it ‘refreshed’ fairly often. Because I’m a frugal person, I wanted to make sure I didn’t do anything that would speed the process of needing to return to the salon.

As a result, I became more aware of the quality of the products I was putting in my hair. I also learned that just because a bottle says “Lather, rinse, repeat” doesn’t mean you should. In actuality, I learned from several hair care and beauty experts that it’s best to wash your hair as seldom as possible. As in… NOT EVERY DAY. One salon professional said wash your hair every other day. Another encouraged me to only wash it if I’ve been doing something such as exercising or working outside.

What I discovered is that my hair likes not being washed every day. For the most part, I’m able to keep my hair manageable by using a leave-in conditioner. I have also come to the realization that I need to give it a little extra love every once in a while to help control the rat’s nest.

Recently, I received a new hair mask by Old Wives Tail, a small company offering handmade organic hair care products. When the product arrived, I noticed a few things about it. It’s very simplistic. They don’t waste a lot of money on frilly packages. I’m sure this helps them control costs. The other thing that struck me was the scent. It’s very aromatic but not in a bad way. As someone who avoids high-fragrance products, it is a pleasant surprise to take a whiff and feel like someone is baking in my kitchen. Did I mention the one I received is “Almond & Cinnamon Organic Hair Mask”?

Just like the packaging, the instructions are very simple. Rub some in your hands to warm it. It’s a solid product but warmed in your hands, it becomes an oil. Massage it into your scalp to help stimulate the scalp and encourage growth. Smooth over your hair from root to end, repeating until all hair is covered. Leave the product on for an hour then shampoo and rinse.

Now here’s what kind of threw me. I didn’t know if I was supposed to wet my hair first or not. I applied it dry since the instructions didn’t say. I was also surprised it said to shampoo it all out. After using (and falling in love) with coconut oil, I just wanted to leave it in. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed the scent and it isn’t a heavy, gritty product.

Because I have long hair, I needed to use quite a bit of it. The container I received will only last me a few uses. It says you can use it up to twice weekly and leave it on overnight for badly damaged hair (which is what I should have done.) I left it on for just over an hour and felt that it provided my hair with a much-needed boost but would have been more effective had my hair not been so damaged.

I like that Old Wives Tail provides a variety of organic products including oil treatments and hair masks in a variety of scents. If you are looking for an organic hair care option, be sure to check out the Old Wives Tail website. For more information on them, follow their activities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What do you use to treat your hair?