As a child, I was blessed with great hair. I'd say it's 100% genetics, as both my mom and dad had really thick, full heads of hair.
So, it was one of those lucky occasions when two hairy people are having a baby.
It was quite thick and light when I was just born, but it turned into dark chocolaty brown color as I was growing up.
My hair was so dense and thick that my parents had to pay double the price for a cut because it was taking hours.
I obviously didn't do much with my hair during primary school, but I started experimenting at 14-15. The main reason why I did that was that the majority of my classmates were blondes, and I was that black sheep that stood out. And at that age, all I wanted was to blend in.
So, first, it was henna. It didn't change my color, it just turned a bit orangy, and it looked nice; I didn't do any damage, which was a good thing. But unfortunately, later, I still felt like it was not bright enough or, in my case, not light enough, so I started using store-bought hair dye and bleach. Trust me, it's never a good idea to dye your hair at home at the age of 15. God, what was I thinking?!
Because I had such dense and healthy hair, to begin with, some damage was done, yes, but it wasn't too bad. My hair took beating really well, but after dyeing it every second month, year after year, by the age of 27, approximately 50% of my hair was gone.
One day I went to the hairdresser for a cut, and for the first time ever, there were no compliments about the thickness, density, or quality of my hair, and that, my friends, was my wake-up call.
I made a plan.
As I got a few grey strands, I had to keep on dyeing my hair, but I switched to semi-permanent, oil-based, ammonia-free hair dye, which was very close to my natural color.
I installed the water filter in the shower.
I incorporated oil-based masks, salon treatments, salon bought masks.
I used only sulfate-free shampoos.
I completely eliminated styling devices.
I used a leave-in conditioner at all times.
I changed all hair ties to silk ones.
I wore a loose hair braid almost every day.
I had bloodwork done to check if some microelements were missing and "filled the gaps" accordingly.
And months later, it helped. I believe that the combination of all the steps mentioned above worked.
And months later, it helped. I believe that the combination of all the steps mentioned above worked.
But then I moved to China, and literally, everything I have accomplished was gone.
My first guess was that China's water was very harsh, my diet has changed, and in general, it was quite a stress for my body.
I tried to keep my hair treatments and looked for a hair salon, which wasn't easy.
When I finally found one with an English speaking specialist, my first treatment ended up being a total disaster.
I was offered to try a "Japanese hair treatment" that was supposed to protect, add shine, straighten, treat damages, etc. It's promised to be a miracle in a jar, but something went very wrong. As I was wearing a special cap, I didn't really know what was happing, but at some point, my scalp felt very itchy and hot;
I believe that the product that the hairdresser applied was way too potent for me. By the time when I was done, my hair turned blonde. Which obviously shocked me as much as my hairdresser. But that was not it. It also became so fragile that my hair was just breaking and falling off when I got a blowout. I was hysterical. I don't think any breakup made me cry harder than when I left that salon. I was utterly crashed.
My hair is such a big part of who I am, so I just felt lost; I was paralyzed.
Unlike, let's say, a broken nail, with hair, you know that it'd take years before you could grow back the lost locks.
The next day, I made the hard decision to chop it off. 30 minutes later, my hair was 30 centimeters shorter.
I think it took me 2,5 years before I healed and went to the salon to get balayage, but at that time, I already moved to the US.
Another two years in the States, I tried to go blonde again, this time willingly, but it didn't go well, so I ended up chopping another 30 cm.
I am trying to step out of this vicious circle where I damage, cut, heal, grow back, damage, cut, heal, grow back.
Long story short. I have short bob at the moment, and I am in the process of healing, growing...
I'll give an honorary mention to the products I'm currently using and very happy with, and also products I've been using in the past in my "treat and restore" phase.
Please keep in my mind it's my personal opinion, and it might or might not work for you. It's not the AD, 100% based on personal experience only.
Reverie Shampoo
Reverie Conditioner
Reverie CAKE Restorative Scalp Tonic
Reverie MILK Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment
Function of Beauty Shampoo
Function of Beauty Conditioner
Function of Beauty Mask
Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Cleanser
Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Conditioner
Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Mask
Davines Shampoo
Davines Oi Mask
Davines All in one milk
I would say that I have probably tried all existing brands over the years, anything from Dove to my current favorites. After everything my hair has been through (better to say - I put it through), these are the products that actually worked, at least for me.
I hope this post will be useful for younger girls going through "the experimenting phase" and for anyone who needs to show their hair some love.
Dear girls, please, please be delicate and gentle to your locks, "first do no harm," as Hippocrates said.
It's so much easier to prevent than restore; trust me, I've been there. Just look at my eyebrows changing through these years. It took me a couple of days to turn gorgeous thick brows into two threads and 10 plus years to get back to the width I am actually satisfied with.
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