My Healthy Hair Routine: What I Finally Found That Genuinely Works For My Curly Frizzy Unmanageable Hair.

It sounds so simple, right?

But why couldn't I get it down?

I literally praised the girls who had perfect, silky, flawless hair because with all of the efforts I've tried and STILL no luck - IT'S NOT EASY!!! What's their secret?

I looked on Google endlessly for hair products that will actually benefit and nourish my hair, and in the end, I'd just end up with a bathroom full of hair care products I'll probably never use - and definitely never buy again!

Just ask my husband - hehe!

But in all seriousness, some shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments or hair masks that promised to fix things like frizz and split ends or damaged dry hair made my hair feel:

1. Oily - hate that feeling.
2. Like no change was made - even when the bottles were practically empty.
3. Fantastic and very convincing for the first week - until my hair started looking back to it's normal self. Dry, dull, damaged, brittle and anything but pretty or healthy.

To all of my girls with damaged hair, I know you've been there before. It's frustrating, exhausting and you feel maybe even a little bit hopeless.

What led up to my damaged hair?

Because of how curly my hair is, and how severely damaged it looked, I'd straighten my hair 5-6 tims a week. I will note that I keep my straighteners heat level at 375°. I refuse to go any higher. BUT - I'd straighten my hair in large chunks, thinking it would speed up the process. In turn, doing this made me only go over each section AT LEAST 7-8 times before I'd move on to a new section. Absolutely awful!

Thank God for heat protecting spray.

Another thing that I will admit to is how frequently I'd color my hair. I'd get my hair done every 4-6 months for a color of some sort, and that's the only time I would get a trim.

I read an article somewhere that said if you allow your hair to go any longer than 8 weeks without a trim, all of those split ends will slowly start to creep upon you and your hair and that's what causes that horrid dried, brittle look...

​I was so guilty when I read that blog post you guys!

I showered and washed my hair almost daily. With shampoo first, then conditioner, and just do this on repeat. I didn't think twice about it. I mean, I workout almost daily and after a really sweaty workout session the last thing I want is all of that buildup just sitting on my scalp all night.

And my very last mistake - not drinking enough water and poor nutrition. It's true what they say, good health really does start from the inside out. If you feed your body what it needs, it will thank you in beautiful ways.

So, what am I doing now?

I am doing a few things differently, and while I can't promise that they will transform your hair like they did mine, I'll say this... It's totally and 110% worth the try because everything that I am about to mention to you is SAFE and it can be so effective. I genuinely believe​ it could benefit everyone's hair types - but especially those dry and damaged girls.

So here it is, my top tricks and tips for healthier, silky, manageable hair :)

1. The very first thing I changed was HOW OFTEN I wash my hair. Everyday was way too much and apparently it does more harm than good. So, I have TWO hair days a week. No more, no less. Every Tuesday and Saturday ONLY. I'll start with a homemade olive oil hair treatment which I'll apply onto my hair and leave in for 45 minutes and then I'll shower and wash it out. Note: Be sure to wash out ALL of the olive oil before applying your shampoo and conditioner. But here's the next catch: Normally when we think of washing our hair, we think shampoo first, then conditioner. That's what I used to do too. But I've been reverse washing my hair: this means conditioner first, and then while the conditioner is still in, apply the shampoo. Really dig deep into your roots to make sure your scalp is clean and then wash it all out completely. I like to add a second, smaller sized amount of conditioner to lather over my hair after the first conditioner and shampoo but this step is optional. If you do proceed with this step, here's a few tips: it's best for if your hair still doesn't feel "clean", or needs a little extra something. This may pertain more to girls with thicker hair as opposed to thin because reverse washing isn't something you're scalp is used to and you have more hair to lather. You know your own hair better, so do what feels best. Also, I cannot stress SMALL amount for the second run through enough because here's the thing: if you do to much on your second run through, your hair may feel slightly greasy. Again, you know your hair best, so do whatever you feel it needs at that moment. I do this routine EVERY Tuesday and Saturday. I promise you'll notice immediate changes: softness, shine, silkiness and less frizz as soon as your first treatment is complete. :)​
2. I TRIM MY HAIR EVERY 8 WEEKS! I'll never miss trim again.
3. I went back to my natural hair color and I'm straying away from hair color for a long time (it's a little promise I made to myself).
4. I straighten my hair A LOT less! Now that my hair is manageable and so easy to work with, I straighten it ONLY on my hair wash days (Tuesdays and Saturdays). I also straighten my hair in SMALLER sections. This method always seemed counter intuitive but WOW! Not only does my hair look so straight and smooth after, but I go over each small section less (about 2-3 times compared to 7-8+ times), and I'm done SOONER! Holy cow, game changer.
5. When I workout, I use a headband to keep the hair out of my face and I tie it up in a high bun for less sweat. If I really feel like there is just too much sweat buildup, but it's not my hair wash day, I will only RINSE my hair with semi cold water. Nothing else. Just the water.
6. I eat better and I drink more water. I'll drink at least 8-9 glasses of water a day, and my diet consists of high protein, low carbs. Protein is great for your hair. Fiber, multivitamins, fruits and vegetables are all also a part of my daily diet.

I currently use: Monday SMOOTH Shampoo and Conditioner. I am in no way a brand ambassador for their company, but they do have a really great product that my hair genuinely loves, plus it comes in the cutest pink bottles that you can find at Target or on Amazon for a reasonable price. 

How do I do the olive oil treatment step by step?

It's super easy, and once complete, you'll be on your way to beautiful, flawless hair. So let's get into it.

• Step 1: Grab your supplies. For this hair treatment you'll need the following: Organic Olive Oil (make sure it's organic seriously. I found that just any old olive oil doesn't do the same job. Organic Olive Oil is magic I swear. Next, you'll need gloves, a plastic bag, a microfiber towel and a microwave safe bowl.
• Step 2: In your microwave safe bowl, pour half a cup olive oil and place into the microwave for 15 seconds. *Note when the olive oil is done, it should NOT be hot, only luke warm. If this feels too hot, or if you are uncomfortable with this step it is optional and can be skipped. (Warm olive oil has the same effect as room temperature - but the warm olive oil may feel more soothing or relaxing - especially if you've had a long day.
• Step 3: Put your gloves on. I forgot to mention that you may want to put on an old t-shirt, because doing this treatment, especially the first few times can get a little messy. But even if you're a pro, OLD T-SHIRT! Side tip: Standing in or bending over your bathtub or shower makes cleanup a little easier. Just be sure to have your plastic bag and microfiber towel within reach and close to you once the treatment is applied.
• Step 4: With your gloves on, dip your hands into the bowl that is filled with olive oil. Generously coat it ALL over your hair making sure that root to tips are evenly distributed and soaked. Think "wet hair after just getting out of the shower". If the treatment resembles that appearance, you're on the right track!
• Step 5: Next you'll want to grab your plastic bag and wrap it around the hair you just worked on. The easiest way to do this is by leaning all the way forward with your hair facing down to the ground in front of you. Wrap tbe plastic bag tight and then secure it with one hand. With your other hand, quickly grab your microfiber towel and wrap that around the plastic bag. Make sure it's in place and allow to sit for 45 minutes.
• Step 6: After 45 minutes, throw away the plastic bag and rinse out the olive oil COMPLETELY in warm (NOT HOT) water. Do your reverse wash and second conditioner (optional).
• Step 7: Comb hair to remove tangles

And Boom! It's that easy. Soon, you'll be obsessed with your healthy new locks and I'll be cheering you on. You go girl! :)

And what does your hair look like now? 

It's been YEARS since I've been proud of or accepted the way my hair looked and felt. But now with so much confidence, here I am preaching in one of my first few blogs about the massive progress and transformation my hair has made and I am so proud. And I know that if I cam feel this way (the one aho had that horrid hair up above) you can too! Nothing happens overnight. God if things did, wouldn't life be so much easier. But I promise you'll notice small changes like, how your hair looks in a ponytail or how defined your natural curls are... things that you used to pick at before will soon become your new favorites if you stick to this hair care routine.

Ater years of hating my hair and trying to make it better,

I went from this:

To this...