How to detox your hair
4 steps to healthy, luscious locks
Detox is a buzz word we often hear...be it a diet, relationship or beauty detox, it signifies a fresh start
Iona Young speaks to Al’chemy in-house botanical chemist, Annabelle Personeni, and learns some top tips for a simple hair detox.
1. CUT OUT THE SILICONES
“Silicones are like fast food to the hair, a quick fix with immediate results. Often found in hairstyling serums, silicone based products don’t actually treat or nourish the hair. Used long term, product can build up, weighing hair down. Opt for products that offer nutrients to your hair, so it can shine naturally without the help of silicones,” says Personeni.
Note: Silicones can be found in most nourishing shampoos, in almost every conditioner and serum. Products containing silicone may also be listed under its synonyms (i.e. dimeticone and cyclopentasiloxane). If there is a 'cone' or 'silane' at the end of an ingredient, it is likely to contain silicones.
2. INVEST IN A QUALITY SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
To nourish the hair and scalp, switch your silicone-based conditioner to a natural conditioner. Using a natural conditioner will re-boost your hair with the nutrients and proteins it needs to look shiny and healthy. A deep-cleansing shampoo will aid in removing product build-up.
TRY: Al’chemy Lemongrass Shampoo, $14.95 for 225ml, $26.95 for 500ml
If it is too difficult to part with your current styling regime, try reducing the use of silicones by choosing a natural-based shampoo and conditioner, and keep your silicone-based serum for a while. Then, slowly reduce the use of the serum and switch to a leave in natural hair conditioner.
3. MAKE GOOD USE OF THE BASICS
Break the habit of over-washing. “Wash hair with a gentle shampoo once every few days as using shampoo daily can strip hair of its natural oils while overstimulating the production of sebum. Those who perspire a lot from physical activity or weather may still rinse hair daily if necessary as perspiration is freely washed off with pure water,” advises Personeni.
To get the most out of your conditioner, Personeni suggests rinsing it out in two steps as it enhances the deposition of natural conditioning ingredients. “Apply conditioner as usual, but rinse with only half a cup of water first, followed by a full rinse. Doing so will break down the emulsions, releasing more nutrients to the hair.”
4. READ YOUR LABELS
Healthy hair will benefit from products that are free from harsh chemicals, including parabens, sulphates, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours. If you come across an unfamiliar ingredient, sites like www.skindeep.org are a great resource for ingredient profiles and its safety ratings.
Al’chemy products are made with a selection of active botanic ingredients, carefully extracted with care to retain its purest form. Al’chemy products are ingredient-rich, vegan, 100% natural and formulated without parabens, sulfates, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, parabens, propylene glycol, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours, animal ingredients or animal testing.
Find out the top 10 foods for healthy hair or share your own beauty tips on our Facebook page!
