I’d like to begin with a friendly and kind-intentioned reality check.

Hair is dead.

LITERALLY like, not alive.

We all know that, right?

Okay, now that I got that out in the open, we can proceed & I can breath. (LOL.)

If I may, I’d like to explain into more depth.

Hair is made up of protein called keratin.

A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin.

Inside the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow. These cells that grow, eventually build the hair shaft.

Blood vessels nourish the cells in the hair bulb, and deliver hormones that will modify and change structure at different times of our lives.

I won’t bore you with more scientific hair nerd stuff, but this is how hair works. I had to bore you a little bit because I am a science nerd, and I thrive off knowing this stuff.

All in all, it’s not alive. It’s dead body waste. Doesn’t sound so glam when I put it that way, eh?

So, since we have the general run-down of how the science behind hair works…

Why do we continue that darn saying “My hair feels so dead.” I know it’s just an expression, But stay with me.

Even though it is not alive, it still goes through many changes that can leave it feeling less than perfect.

When your hair lacks luster or sheen, that’s usually a cry for extra moisture (maybe internally, maybe externally) or a lifestyle change.

Now, if you are a serial hair color-er (defenitely not a word, lol.) like me, then you REALLY know the importance of taking extra care for your hair.

Let’s break it down and get to the ROOT of the dry hair problem. Pun intended, get it. Hair root. Okay, I’ll stop.

I’m going to sound like a broken record on this one, but hear me out for a second.

Here is the #1 question that you know I’m going to ask.

*Pause for that split second where you debate lying to your new hairdresser, because you are ashamed of how long it’s been.*

When was the last time you got a trim or haircut?

The importance of trims is beyond vast, babes!

There is strait-up no cream, serum or mask that can *permanently* repair split ends and blown out hair shafts.

There really isn’t. We’re not lying when we say that. Hairdressers, that is.

BUT, temporarily, you can fill the microscopic holes in your hair with a great mask or conditioner.

Yes, I said temporary.

I know, I know… it’s honestly tragic, I feel you. I hear you. I’m so with you.

Although temporary, a mask or treatment is still really great to do. These products mimic a structure change to your hair and protects the strands more. Think of it like glue.

You should be on a routine with your stylist with consistent trims and hair masks. For the record, I’m not taking about coconut oil… because although it coats your hair, there have been tests that have shown it slides right off when you rinse. Invest in a salon-grade product so that it doesn’t coat your hair with the wrong ingredients & fade your color. Keep the coconut oil for baking muffins and shit like that.

Attention all coastal babes… Sea salt will roughen up the surface of your hair, leaving the cuticle open, dull, and porous. All of which could lead to color fading and straw-like texture. The combination of sea salt and sun will also make your color fade very quickly. Hats & treatments are our best friends in this case of coastal living.

Here’s another thing… Check what’s IN your products.

Mixtures that contain harsh parabens can buildup on the hair and cause dryness- even if its “soft and shiny” right out of the shower.

Although these drugstore brands feel great and smell great at first, in the long run these residues can build up, block hair follicles and interrupt new hair growth…leading to thinning and hair loss. We already battle that enough biologically, why do more damage? Now, with that being said, I totally understand not being able to afford salon grade products. I promise. So, here are some things to look out for no matter what you buy.

Look out for: Sulfates, Pearling agents & Silicones. The bottle will not say “silicones and pearling agents” in the ingredients… they will usually be long chemical names for such ingredients, since there are so many different molecular forms.

The coating from silicone also seals moisture inside the hair, and makes it shiny and easier to comb. That’s how it feels so good after the shower, but chemically, it’s not doing good things to your hair. Some silicones, like dimethicone, can also cause heavy buildup that leaves strands limp and dull.

There are a ton of chemicals to research and look out for. I won’t bore you with more science.Google what’s in your stuff. There’s also several amazing apps and websites that can research products for you and break down how many chemicals and allergy risks are inside.

Besides googling what’s in your products, you can always ask your salon professional for more info.

Your at-home hair routine is SO important.

Here’s a myth-buster… using more shampoo than needed won’t give your hair an extra push or shine.

Quite contrary, using too much will cause overstimulation of the scalp. This could lead to hair fall, hair breakage and worse, dandruff!

There is only so much we can do in one appointment. If you are battling what we do at the salon by using opposite products at home, it makes it a little tougher to help you treat an issue. You feel me?

Okay, lastly… Let’s talk HEAT.

You’ve heard your stylist ask if you use a heat protectant, right? Here comes the redundant train. But, for real… Why aren’t you? Maybe another product you can’t spend money on? Or, perhaps you have so many products already, you don’t realistically have time or energy to utilize them all? Allow me to paint a perspective of the importance.

You’re using sun screen on your face, right? (If you aren’t, stop what you are doing and please put some on.)

That’s what heat protectants do for your hair, same effect as sunscreen. It’s not JUST protecting you against flat irons and blowdryers, it’s helping your strands not get UV burns which lead to color fading & that dry hay-like texture. Ew, right?

If I hit the nail on the head with my guesses on why you may not be using a heat protectant, I can offer a few suggestions.

Find a product that does multiple things. A great example of this would be a leave-in conditioner that also has a built-in heat protectant. Another product would be a blowout spray that smooths and also protects. That way, you are condensing your products into one bottle and one less item to have sitting in your medicine cabinet. And, this will also help aid in the cost of purchasing a whole bag of products from the salon, taking baby steps and finding one that does a couple things will mean it’s less expensive than buying 3 bottles to treat 3 separate hair issues. You know?

If I would have written this in order of importance, Heat protectant would have been number one on this list.

Have you ever burned yourself on a hot stove or curling iron? It’s freaking painful, right?

So why are we using that high, high temperature of heat on our hair? Make sure your tools at home have temperature gage so you can monitor that just like you would a pan on the stove. The PH level of hair and skin is between 4.5-5.5 on the PH scale. So, if your skin feels that heat as a burn, why wouldn’t your hair? Turn down those tools, babes!

Hoping that you took away a little fact or a reminder from this little blog.

Drop a comment if you have any questions for me!

Be kind to each other, but also to your hair.

Wishing you all shiny, moisturized locks.

Click here to book a reservation or consultation with me at Jayden Presleigh, The Salon.

Outfits + Photos by & for Jayden P Boutique @jaydenpboutique.

All Photos on this blog are by Lauren Turori. Hair/Makeup&Styling by Anastasia Renee

My hair feels so dry! (A sentence from 75% of the population)