Winter air wreaks havoc on our hair, and this polar vortex that we’ve been suffering through is absolutely not helping.  People often ask us about our hair regimens during different times of the year.  Here’s a glimpse at Nirvana’s weekly regimen this 2013/2014 Winter season to keep her hair healthy and retain length:

Step 1: Scalp Treatment

-I recently started doing scalp treatments to keep my scalp healthy and promote hair growth.  The treatment includes applying full strength Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to my scalp and leaving on for a half hour to an hour before washing my hair.  For added stimulation to the hair around my temples (which are a CONSTANT struggle), I add 2 Tbsp of ACV mixed with a tiny pinch cayenne powder and rub in.

Step 2: Wash, Clarify and Deep Condition

-Depending on how much product I’ve used in my hair I’ll either wash with Design Essentials moisturizing shampoo or just co-wash with TRESemme Naturals “Nourishing Moisture Conditioner with Aloe Vera and Avocado”.

-To clarify my scalp and get rid of any build up, I also add 2 Tbsp of ACV to a cup of warm water,  pour over my entire head and let sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

-For my deep treatment I use a thick moisturizing conditioner (currently I’m rotating Ouidad 12 Minute Deep Treatment Intensive Conditioner and Design Essentials Deep Fortifying Treatment). I always add warm extra virgin olive oil to the conditioner and apply to my hair in 6 twisted sections.

-I sit under a hooded dryer with a plastic cap (or a plastic bag depending on what’s easily available in my house!) for 30 minutes.  If I’m lazy I just leave the deep treatment in overnight.

Step 3: Detangle

-First I finger detangle my hair with the deep treatment still in.

-Then I wet my hair again under the shower stream and add TONS of TRESemme Naturals for maximum slip.

-Next, I use my detangling comb to detangle each of my 6 sections individually.  After I detangle a section I re-twist it.

-Finally, I rinse out the conditioner.  If I’m not planning to flat iron my hair, I leave about 20-30% of the conditioner in my hair.  If I’m planning to flat iron, I rinse out all of the conditioner.

Step 4: Style

I’ve long discovered that my hair retains the most length when it’s stretched, since whenever I wear my natural curls I end up with the most tangles ever known to man.  As a result, I generally wear my hair in a twist-out.  Occasionally I get really brave and wear it flat-ironed.

For my twist outs, I:

–Moisturize -with Kinky Curly Knot Today as a leave-in conditioner.

–Seal – with shea butter or Jane Carter Nourish & Shine

–Protect– with whatever heat protectant I have on hand

–Twist – First I blow-dry each section using my Denman brush and a concentrator attachment to my blowdryer. Then with jojoba oil on my hands, I separate each section into two (for a total of 12 sections) and twist each section into one twist.  Sometimes I coil each of those sections into Bantu knots for a more textured look.  (The main picture to this post is the result of the Bantu knot method).  I keep my twists or Bantu knots in for as long as possible (like days if I don’t have to leave the house) or I sit under the dryer for 20 mins for them to set if I’m in a rush.

For my flat-ironed blowouts, I:

–Moisturize – with Design Essentials HcO leave-in spray

–Seal – with Morrocan Oil or whatever other hair serum I have around

–Protect – with whatever heat protectant I have on hand

–Straighten – First I blow-dry each section using my Denman brush and a concentrator attachment to my blowdryer.  Then I part each section into 3-4 sections and flat iron on a low heat setting.

After a about 3-5 of days in either of these styles, I usually pull my hair up into a top-knot to make it through the rest of the week!

XOXO,

Zyn Beauty