In case you didn’t know, I’m huge on hair. Once I moved past the horrific hairstyles of my childhood, learned how to properly use a blowdryer and other hot tools IN COLLEGE (because mothers can’t teach you what they never knew), I really prided myself on my lovely lady locks. Then a few years ago, my hair totally turned to sh*t — thin, stringy, broken, and lackluster — and I decided to stop at nothing to get it back to its original roots (see what I did there LOLZ). These days, I feel like my tresses are at their best (but Lord help me when I find that first gray), and in honor of OGX Beauty’s National #BadAssHairDay (my kind of holiday), I want to share the official compilation of everything I’ve learned on this life journey to ensure every day is a #BadAssHairDay.
1. Blowdryer is key. If there is ONE thing I stress more than anything, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A QUALITY BLOWDRYER. Cheap blowdryers cause breakage. Period. If your hair is thin and broken (hints: flyaways, frizzies, fuller at the crown) and you’re using a $27 Conair from CVS, toss that trash and invest in a serious blow job (what?). I own the mother of them all (read about that here), but you can get a great one for around $80-$100. Babyliss is also a legit great brand (option 1, option 2).
2. Don’t wash your hair every day. I know you’ve heard it all before, but seriously. Ask the gals you know with the best hair how often they shampoo because it sure ain’t every day (for some, it ain’t even every week). Make dry shampoo and messy buns your besties and your hair will be healthier and happier. And the best trick if you’re a greasy gal (and one I use if I’m on day 3 or 4 since a wash): Just shampoo your bangs/front few chunks of your hair. Tip: Pretend you have a ‘90s prom updo, lift the pieces that would be slicked down in the front, wash and dry those, and VOILA–the illusion of a clean head of hair!
3. Clarify regularly to remove buildup. Especially if you’re loading your locks with dry shampoo, you need to remove that buildup. Use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks or so.
4. Tie it up for bedtime. Brush your hair then put it in a high pony with a soft hair tie (or let’s be real–old-school scrunchies are best) to wake up with tangle-free tresses. This also means less breakage while you snooze.
5. Have a go-to updo for days when your hair just won’t cooperate. Listen, just take a lazy Sunday to scour Pinterest and master a sleek ponytail, messy bun, loose braid, or something with a headband/scarf so can whip that up when you’re feeling like Monica from that Friends episode (YOU KNOW THE ONE) and still go out in public. Then treat yourself to a mimosa. You deserve it.
6. Don’t be scare of mousse (especially for curly haired girls). Why do some people still shy away from mousse like it’s going to make them look like Jessie Spano meets Flashdance meets Michael Bolton circa 1991? I use just a tad on my roots before I blowdry for extra volume, and most curly-haired girls know this product is the key to their tress success. (And speaking of curly girls: Try THIS.)
7. OIL OIL OIL. I can tell a major difference when I use oil on my hair before blowdrying/styling and when I don’t. There is no cream or spray that can do what oil can do when it comes to sleekness, softness, and heat protection. Try OGX’s Biotin and Collagen weightless healing oil mist, and if you have oily hair already, just smooth/spray a small amount on the outside layer and the ends, making sure you don’t rub it into the roots. (And check out the argan oil line as well, especially the miracle in-shower oil.)
8. Stop over-processing. I mean, you bleached blondes are gonna’ do what you’re wanna’ do and I can’t stop you, but I promise you’ll be just as beautiful with a more natural bronde or sombre (GOOGLE IT) and you won’t have to hit the salon every other day for touch-ups (OR LOOK LIKE KIM K). Find a hairdresser who knows what she’s doing and can tone you down while keeping your hair healthy. I’ve seen so many girls who bleached their locks for so many years, the hair just won’t grow like it used to and you don’t have Kim’s billions to fix that.
9. Battle bad water. Newsflash: If you live somewhere without stellar/soft water, it’s not doing your hair any favors (I WOULD KNOW). If you’re not bothered and you you don’t get out of the shower with hair that feels like you’ve been swimming in a chlorine pool or been massaging Vaseline into the roots, that’s awesome; but if you are experiencing an issue, the best and most affordable filter is the Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter. I installed it and it has made a world of difference. PS, if you live in NYC, you don’t have to worry about this because you have the best water ever and F right off.
10. The cold water rinse. That’s right, friends. My NUMBER ONE (and high-maintenance as hell) hair trick is to fill a pitcher with cold, filtered water from my fridge and basically give myself the #IceBucketChallenge right before I get out of the shower. I read about this trick in an XOJane article and now that I’ve started doing it, I’ll never stop. It rinses all the residue and sediment your shitty water leaves behind, and a cold rinse has long been known for giving major shine. If you don’t have a water filter at your house, you can pick up a gallon from the grocery store for like, 89 cents, and that should last you at least 3-4 rinses. Also, you don’t need to fill a whole pitcher. When I was home for the holidays, I filled a Big Gulp cup from my parent’s filter and that was plenty. Don’t ask why my parents have Big Gulp cups laying around. And yes, it’s cold, but I appreciate the jolt (especially on hungover/sleepy mornings,) and I know five seconds of a chilly head is worth days of lovely locks.
See? Gisele does it.
For more info on #BadAssHairDay, check the site, follow @OGXBeauty on Twitter for all the fun, and check the hashtag. And feel free to share your #BadAssHairTips below. I would LOVE to hear them!
LYLAS,
Ashley
Feature image from Pinterest
Disclaimer: OGX provided product and compensation. The opinions I have shared about the products are my own.