Check our these hair masque's from Aunt Jackie's new range which have been tried and tested by our staff!
Issue: I want to reverse and prevent hair shedding
Recommendation: Aunt Jackie's Magic Mend Acai & Honey Hair Masque
Our favourite ingredient in this hair masque is Acai which has been used throughout the ages to help with help with hair growth and restoring moisture balance. This hair masque also contains honey, grapeseed, almond and mongongo oils which help to strengthen, add shine, smooth and reconstruct dull brittle hair. it doesn't hurt that it smells fantastic too!
Issue: My hair is dry and difficult to detangle
Recommendation: Aunt Jackie's Not Your Average Curl Bamboo & Avocado Hair Masque
This hair masque is effective at deep conditioning your hair, with the help of bamboo extract and and avocado which add moisture and help to detangle. The blend of coconut oil, shea butter and extra virgin oil add further to sealing the moisture in and strengthening the hair for growth. And if that wasn't enough, the rice protein and quinoa also help to promote healthier regrowth. We're sold!
Issue: My scalp is dry and itchy
Recommendation: Aunt Jackie's Sooth Operator with Macadamia & Mint Dry Scalp Conditioning Hair Masque
The blend of mint and aloe vera mean that you can feel this hair masque working straight away. These ingredients penetrate and soothe your scalp. The macadamia, jojoba and mongongo oils help to re-hydrate and nourish your hair and scalp. This is a must have product for the winter when the dry air causes havoc on your scalp!
One of the best things about these hair masque's is that they are free of the drying alcohols that rob hair of moisture, mineral oil and petrolatum that can clog pores and weigh your hair down.
Don't delay, try one of these hair masque's today before they sell out!
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Cardi B swears by this recipe and now that we have tried it we can see why. Here are the ingredients and steps for you to follow so you can give it a try too. What are you waiting for?
Hair mask ingredients
Recipe
Tips
This treatment is great for those with curly hair! It will bring out your curl pattern.
Score 8/10
This treatment left my hair feeling soft and moisturised. It only lost points because it can be quite messy so keep your worktops covered!
]]>TIP 1 - Don't over do it
Do not relax your hair more than necessary! We advise relaxing your hair when you can see a minimum of two inches of new growth which is around the 15-16 week mark. This will help to prevent both overlapping and over processing which is very damaging to your hair. When you do relax your hair, use a relaxer that has added benefits, like Dark & Lovely Moisture Plus which has added Shea Butter extract.
TIP 2 - You are what you eat
Eat the right things to promote hair growth and strength. Include lots of dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli in your diet. These are a great source of Vitamins A and C, which helps in the formation of sebum, which is a natural hair conditioner.
TIP 3 - Maintenance is key
Do not be afraid to trim your ends! Contrary to what people often think, trimming your ends regularly promotes healthy hair. It stops any split ends from travelling up and damaging your healthy hair. We advise trimming your hair with each relaxer, that way you will never go too long without relaxing your hair.
TIP 4 - Little to no heat
Limit your heat passes! We advise that you don't use heat in your hair at all, but if you want to for styling/lifestyle purposes it is best to only use it once a week to avoid damage. When you use heat in your hair always use a heat protector before you do so. We recommend Cantu Thermal Shield heat protect.
TIP 5 - Damage control
Invest in a good quality wide tooth comb. When combing through your hair use a comb that has a smooth finish that will not pull or snag your hair. You want to reduce the opportunity for damage at all stages of your hair care regime.
What is your favorite hair care tip?
Don't miss the opportunity to win a free product by asking us a question about how to care for your hair in our Instagram competition this week.
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1 - My hair care regime
I wash my hair once a week where possible. The most time I let pass between washes is two weeks and only when life gets really busy.
On wash day I assess how my hair feels i.e. does it need more protein? Does it need more moisture? Is it too weighed down with product build-up and in need of a cleanse? These questions help to determine what products I will use.
On this occasion, I decided that my hair needed a clarifying wash.
2 - Preparation
To prepare my hair for the clarification shampoo, which can be drying for the hair, I pre-poo my hair using coconut oil. I also add a few essential oils that I have to hand, which vary from lavender oil to peppermint oil. I warm the oils up in my colouring bowl and apply to my hair in sections using my colouring brush making I apply from the roots to the ends.
I then cover my hair with a shower cap and put my microwaveable heat cap on to allow my hair to better absorb the benefits of the oils. I leave it in for an hour or two.
3 - Shampoo
I shampoo my hair using a clarifying shampoo, I use ORS creamy aloe shampoo. I apply a small amount of the shampoo and lather before rinsing. I then use a moisturising shampoo to help to replenish the moisture lost with the clarifying shampoo. I use Motions moisture lavish shampoo. I apply a small amount and lather before rinsing.
4 - Condition
I follow the shampoo with a reconstructing protein conditioner, which I allow to sit on my hair for 2 minutes before rinsing. This helps to my strengthen hair.
I allow my hair to t-shirt dry and then I apply a moisturising conditioner. I add a tablespoon of coconut oil to the moisturising conditioner to help to seal in the moisture. I use As I Am Hydration Elation which leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturised as well as smelling great. I cover with a shower cap and put my microwaveable heat cap on or sit under a hooded dryer for the time specified on the product. I then rinse out the conditioner.
I t-shirt dry my hair to protect my ends and then I apply Creme of Nature leave-in conditioner all over my hair in sections. This is one of my favourite products and has been a staple in my hair care routine for years. It always leaves my hair smelling amazing. I then apply Cantu Thermal Shield Protect which stops my hair from frizzing whilst I let it dry.
5 - Moisturise
Once my hair is dry I separate it into sections to comb through. I use a wide tooth comb to help to get rid of any tangles. I then apply ORS intense moisture creme to add to moisture lost during the wash. Lastly, I seal in the moisture with coconut oil.
Bonus - Tips and advice
It is quite an intense wash day and sometimes takes me up to 4 hours. However, my hair grew from a pixie cut to shoulder length in a year using variations of the above routine depending on what my hair needed on wash day.
My biggest tip is to be consistent. Create a routine and stick to it. Your hair will love you for it.
Competition
Get in touch with us to share your hair care routine and if we feature your blog you could WIN a product of your choice.
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1. What types of conditioners are there?
To start from the basics. You have moisturising conditioners and protein conditioners. Moisturising conditioners provide your hair with a boost of moisture, helping to create shine and giving your hair a healthy stretchiness that can help with manageability. Hair that snaps easily is often lacking moisture. Protein conditioners help to build strength, repair damage and help to prevent breakage.
Within those you have deep conditioners (which you wash out) and leave-in conditioners.
2. Do I need a protein or a moisturising conditioner?
The answer to this question depends on a number of things, the most important being what your hair needs. If your hair is constantly dry and struggling to retain moisture, you may need to use a moisturising conditioner. If your hair is shedding or breaking or feels damaged, you may need a protein conditioner. We recommend alternating on a weekly basis between a protein and a moisturising conditioner, this helps your hair to achieve a healthy balance of moisture and protein which helps your hair to thrive.
Tip: Assess your hair needs each week, if your hair is feeling dry but is scheduled for a protein condition, don't be afraid to break from your routine and use a moisturising conditioner. Give your hair what it needs.
3. How do I know if a conditioner is a moisturising conditioner or a protein conditioner?
Unfortunately it is not as obvious as the conditioner being labelled a moisturising conditioner or a protein conditioner. If only it was that simple.
Firstly, the ingredients on the conditioner should alert you to whether it is a moisturising conditioner or a protein conditioner.
Secondly, the key words on the label itself will be a giveaway for what type of conditioner it is.
To help you out we have organised our conditioners into collections so that you can easily differentiate between the two.
4. So what ingredients and key words should I be looking for in a moisturising conditioner?
Moisturising conditioners should contain water as the first ingredient, after all what is more hydrating then water. They should also contain glycerin which helps to draw moisture to your hair.
Moisturising conditioners will have keywords such as 'hydrating' and 'shine' on the label, so look out for those words. If you hair feels extremely dry, look for an 'intensive' moisturiser. Check out our As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive condtioner.
Coming soon: we will be doing a blog post analysing the ingredients in conditioners so subscribe to our mailing list to get it delivered straight to your inbox.
5. And what ingredients and key words should I be looking for in a protein conditioner?
Protein conditioners should contain, a type of protein (obvious right). There are a number of proteins and a blog post coming soon which will analyse them. In the meantime, look out for ingredients like 'hydrolyzed keratin', 'hydrolyzed silk', and 'Silk Amino'.
Protein conditioners will have keywords such as 'replenishing', 'revitalising', 'adding strength' and 'fortifying'.
5. How often should I condition my hair?
We would recommend that you condition your hair on a weekly basis. This gives your hair the best opportunity to reap the benefits from the conditioner. If it is moisture that you need then your moisturising conditioner provides your hair with that weekly moisture boost, to complement your daily moisturiser.
5. How do I use my deep conditioner?
We recommend that you follow the instructions on the product.
Step-by-step: We recommend that you put your conditioner in a bowl, part your hair into sections, and apply firstly to the roots using a colouring brush and then to the ends using your hands. Keep in your hair for the time stated on the label and then wash out as instructed.
Tip: Add a few drops of your favourite oil to your conditioner. We recommend black castor oil. This adds to and complements the benefits that you will get from your conditioner.
6. Is there anything else I can do to accelerate the benefits from my conditioner?
Yes, we would recommend applying heat directly to your conditioner, by warming it up in the microwave for 30 seconds or so (caution: be careful not to make it too hot). This will open up the cuticles and your hair shaft maximising the benefits that you can receive. Add a shower cap to your hair after applying and keep in your hair for the time stated on the pack before washing out.
7. Where in my haircare routine do I used my conditioner?
We think that conditioner works best on freshly washed hair. So we recommend that you apply your conditioner to your hair after shampooing. We have a blog on a recommended hair regime coming soon.
Tip: wring out excess water in your hair with a t-shirt and then apply the conditioner as directed above.
8. Should I use a deep conditioner or a leave-in conditioner?
We recommend that you use both. Use your leave-in conditioner at the end of your routine for lasting benefits. Conditioning doesn't have to stop once you have washed your deep conditioner out. If your hair needs both protein and moisture on your wash day, you could use a protein deep conditioner and a moisturising leave-in conditioner for example.
9. How can I tell if my conditioner is working?
Depending on the type of conditioner that you used, you should feel a change after you wash your conditioner out whether it is with manegability, softness, shine or stretchiness. Monitor your hair and don't be afraid to try a new conditioner if after a few uses you can tell that your conditioner is not working for you.
10. What conditioners do you recommend?
We have a range of conditioners. Check out range here.
Our favourite protein conditioner at the moment is Ors replenishing conditioner. It smells great and is a staple in our hair regimes.
Our favourite moisturising conditioner right now is As I Am hydration elation. It feels like it is working as you apply, penetrates the hair shaft well and has the added bonus that it smells like a sweet fruit tea.
Last but by no means least, our favourite leave-in conditioner is Creme of Nature Leave-in conditioner. It will take you to hair heaven and we don't make those statements lightly!
Is there something you would like us to write about? Fill in the contact form here.
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