How to get the most out of that wash

Hey guys && happy Thursday!

The first impression you give your hair after a shampoo is really going to set the mood for how well your hair styles and shines the next few days. Whether you wash your hair every other day, every three days or once a week, how you prep your hair for the first day of a style is super important. I have learned that on day one, if I get too product happy, or put too heavy of products in my hair it doesn't last as long for me. I also find that if I air dry, I can not get more than two good hair days out of my wash, and in my opinion, the extra heat that the blow dry causes, outweighs the bad of shampooing more often.

Here is my break down of my step by step on what I do with my hair right out of the shower. (if you're wondering what shampoo I personally use, I cycle through three in my shower at once; olaplaex shampoo and conditioner, pulp riot purple shampoo and conditioner and R+Co cactus shampoo). 

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olaplex bond shampoo

olaplex bond conditioner

Toning Shampoo

toning conditioner

Texturizing Shampoo

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(step one)
I start with towel dried hair, hopefully microfiber towel dried hair. The benefit to starting this process with towel dried hair, or about 40 to 50 percent dry hair, is product retention. If your hair is still dripping wet when you are putting your products in, the product is probably going to cling to the water droplets instead of your hair, and you're going to end up with a lot of high quality products on your bathroom floor, and probably zero amount of heat protectant on your hair.

(step two)
I use my wet brush to detangle and prep my hair for product, getting rid of any amount of excess water in your hair.

(step three)
I use olaplaex bonding oil through my mids and ends, stay far far away from your roots. This product is way too potent to go on your roots. I usually use about 2-3 drops of this oil, it has a little spout on the bottle that helps you use this sparingly, because once again a little goes a verrrrrry long way. I love this product because it not only is working hair to multiply the bonds in the my hair (the fancy way of saying- fixing my color and heat treated hair) it also is a heat protectant up to 450 degrees. It also reduces frizz and adds shine in a very light way, compared to other serums or oils that sometimes seems to do more harm than good, especially when it comes to fine hair. I also love this product, because as always olaplaex is vegan, color-safe, alcohol free, and cruelty-free.  

bonding oil

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(step four)
I whip out my dallas thickening spray; the ultimate Texas-style big hair, i focus the product towards my roots and mids, because it brings hold, volume, and texture without any stiffness that sometimes comes with volume products. Not only does it bring lift and volume to my root, my hair forever smell delicious, and creates memory. (which ultimately means its going to remember to be big and awesome for more than 18 hours) Dallas Thickening spray contains Aloe leaf extract, which seals in moisture, and Pro Vitamin B5 that is a conditioning agent that thickens and builds volume. It also provides heat protection through amino acid complex. Feel like you could be a hair dresser with that knowledge drop now? Plus R+Co always delivers products that are formulated without parabens, sulfates, mineral oil and petrolatum. They are all vegetarian, cruelty-free, gluten-free and color-safe.

thickening spray

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(step five)
I spray a thin layer over all of my hair, of R+Co’s Grid Structure spray. Its kinda like a hybrid product, no matter what kind of hair you have it can totally work as a pre blow dry spray. I love it because it has 24 hour setting power, but its still soo light weight. It protects my hair of all the heat (up to 450 degrees) that I am going to put on it for the next few days. I am amazed how much it can smooth my hair while not adding any weight to my hair, which I am freak about adding more weight to my hair because I love volume and long lasting styles. Grid uses a ingredient called specialized polymers, to create a guard on your hair to block out all the element in our daily life (like humidity) to create that 24 hour setting. I can use it whether I decide to wear my hair curly or straight because it does it’s job no matter. Once again R+Co always delivers products that are formulated without parabens, sulfates, mineral oil and petrolatum. They are all vegetarian, cruelty-free, gluten-free and color-safe.

structural hold spray

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(step six)
Blow dry, either with a paddle brush or round brush, depending on my level of energy that morning!  I use the dyson blow-dry, because its superior. end of story. It also has this awesome technology to protect your hair from the high heat to dry your hair. It cuts down the time you need to blow-dry your hair ( which helps minimize the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat) Dyson increases shine and smoothes and completely decrease your flyways.

Dyson Hair Dryer

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My hair is fine, but dense, curly with a side of unruly. My step by step might need to be tweaked a little to fit your specific needs. The beauty of all the products I use day to day, usually don't just fit one type of hair, and that is why I think it will benefit you to check it out. If you want a more customized step by step I would love to do that with you, by either scheduling a consolation at Hair by Ellie & Co or emailing me a description of your hair and what your desired end result is! All in all, use a heat protectant girl.

xox Ellie