Often learning how to achieve healthy hair and addressing your scalp and hair problems is all about adjusting your haircare routine, adding new hair products and finding out which hair tips you need to implement. But instead, I’m going to share with you the five things I did NOT do in my haircare journey to achieve my healthiest scalp and hair.
Hello! I’m Isabella, the founder of Sozo Australia and several years ago, I experienced very poor hair health and significant hair loss, which left me with thin, limp, spiny, unhealthy hair that was impossible to style! Here are just two photos of my hair when it was at its worst.
Now, after years of caring for my scalp and hair, I’ve never had hair as thick, shiny, repaired, healthy or voluminous. I know many of us experience different hair health challenges but at the end of the day, we all want healthy hair that looks and feels amazing, and I want to help you achieve this! So, here are the five things I did not do to transform my scalp and hair health.
1. I did not use hair products formulated with silicones to achieve silky, soft feeling hair
I’m sure you’ve heard at least once the types haircare ingredients that you should be avoiding. But do you really know why you need to be avoiding the harsh chemicals so many hair products contain?
Haircare formulated with ingredients like silicones can absolutely give you the feeling of instantly healthy, silky hair which is one reason why they are so commonly used in the haircare world. However, what you might not know is that this feeling silicones leave is created by coating your hair. With long term use, this coating and build up can stop your hair from completely absorbing all the other nourishing ingredients you need in order to experience strong, healthy hair in years to come.
Instead of relying on silicone-based products for that short term silky feeling but long term damage, it is essential you utilise haircare formulated with all-natural ingredients that are proven to condition, repair and protect for a healthy scalp and hair that is genuinely shiny and healthy.
Not only did I stop using products with silicones, but I also avoided sulphates, parabens, phthalates, PEGs and perfumes. Investing in all-natural haircare is one of the greatest and most effective hair tips you can implement at the start of your hair health journey.
2. I did not use more than 3 haircare products
Often, there is a misconception that you must have a haircare routine filled with many different products to achieve healthy hair. But when you invest in the right, all-natural products, you can simplify your routine and maximise your results. I, personally, have been able to transform my hair health with only our all-natural Sozo Hair Health Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask.
Our Sozo Hair Health Shampoo contains sulphate free surfactants to provide a rich lather and cleaning experience without stripping and drying out your scalp and hair. Formulated with aloe barbadensis leaf juice, finger lime, hyaluronic acid and many other natural ingredients, our shampoo has been created to not only clean your scalp but also nourish your hair.
Designed to be nourishing while remaining lightweight, our Hair Health Conditioner hydrates, moisturises, strengthens, repairs and protects, helping you to achieve a nourished scalp and hair.
Finally, our Hair Health Mask is an intense treatment used in place of conditioner at least once a week to actively treat your scalp and hair. Not only does it repair, protect, increase shine, strengthen and eliminate frizz, our all-natural hair mask is formulated to soothe scalp irritations and improve your overall scalp health, which is vital because healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
Your haircare routine does not have to be complicated in order for it to be effective. So, if a 3-step routine made up of our shampoo, conditioner and hair mask is what you know you can consistently commit to, then that's what is going to give you your very best results (because consistency is key). However, if you are also looking to ensure your hair is being cared for out of the shower, then our Scalp & Hair Health Serum, Detangling Hairbrush and Bamboo Microfibre Hair Towel, that we've introduced into our range since launching Sozo Australia, are also wonderful additions in your routine. Although my complete hair transformation did come as a result of only using our shampoo, conditioner and hair mask, ensuring that I now practice healthy hair habits out of the shower with these additional products is also essential for helping me to maintain my healthiest scalp and hair.
3️. I did NOT use dry shampoo or excessive amounts of leave in, chemical based styling products
As we’ve already established addressing your scalp health is an essential part of your hair journey. But unfortunately, products that have been designed for convenience, like dry shampoo, can often contain chemicals and ingredients that can interfere with our scalp health and natural sebum (oil) flow when we rely too heavily on these types of products.
Our scalp’s oil needs to be released naturally in order to maintain a normal, regulated sebum flow and, ultimately, healthy hair. We all agree that no one likes oily hair but maintaining a clean scalp with regular washes instead of always reapplying the dry shampoo will be extremely beneficial in the long term because our hair needs that natural oil to remain healthy.
4️. I did NOT cut my hair because I HAD to... I cut it because I WANT to!
We’ve all heard that an important hair tip and habit for growth is to get regular trims. Yes, absolutely trims are a great way to keep your ends feeling thick and healthy, but when you’re using high quality haircare and practicing good hair habits, you should not have to cut your hair significantly on a regular basis to manage damaged ends.
Our Hair Health Mask plays an important role in repairing & protecting my hair and ends to reduce and eliminate damage, which means I get my hair cut when I want to, not because I have to get rid of lots of damage and split ends.
Once again, be sure to avoid hair masks and treatments containing silicones that will give you the illusion your hair is healthy and free from any damage, while actually stopping other ingredients from being completely absorbed into your hair.
Limiting your exposure to heated styling tools, as well as starting at your ends when brushing, are both effective hair tips to keep your ends healthy and, therefore, reduce the amount of length you need to cut from your hair.
5️. I did NOT stop colouring my hair
It’s safe to say that many of us colour our hair on a regular basis or have at least coloured our hair at some point in our lives. This means we know the damage colouring can potentially have on our hair. But if you work with a hairdresser you trust, you avoid dramatic colour changes and you’re very intentional and careful about what you do with your hair, you can enjoy healthy hair that is also coloured.
If you do colour your hair consistently, it is particularly important for you to invest in haircare formulated with ingredients like argan oil and beetroot extract that help to repair damage caused by colour, as well as help to enhance colour uptake, retention and maintenance. Our Sozo Hair Health products have been formulated with these and many more natural ingredients to help you get the most from your hair even when coloured.
There are endless hair tips within the world of haircare, so it is vital for you to remember that what we don’t do is also as important as what we do for our scalp and hair. Achieving healthy hair doesn’t need to be difficult or time consuming, and you don’t have to sacrifice entirely the things you enjoy like colouring and heat styling your hair. But with small, intentional changes and good hair habits you can experience your dream hair.
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