//HAIR WITHOUT A CARE – HOW TO DETOX & REPAIR YOUR MANE

HOW TO DETOX & REPAIR YOUR MANE

While many of us feel the need to detox our body and skin periodically throughout the year, we tend to forget to do the same for our hair. Over-styling, exposure to heat and environmental aggressors and product build-up calls for a hair detox, while dehydration, breakage, split ends and damage calls for repair. More often than not, detox and repair go hand-in-hand, with some repair needed once the detox is complete. Here’s how to perfect both processes at home.

DETOX Cleanse Hair from Build-Up

Everyday hair care products like conditioner, hair masks, styling aids and heat protection mists can build-up if you don’t use a shampoo specifically designed to deeply cleanse and clarify. A detox shampoo ensures oil, dirt, impurities and product build-up are swiftly removed. Here are a few of our favourites:

• Marc Anthony Hair & Scalp Detox Purify and Refresh Shampoo (from R159.95) is infused with willow bark and black pepper to deeply cleanse your hair and scalp.

• Hask Tea Tree Oil Invigorating Shampoo (from R179.95) cleanses your hair while leaving it scented with aromatherapy oils. Smelling of fresh bergamot, basil and sandalwood, your hair will be soothed and restored, leaving it feeling soft and refreshed.

Embrace the Power of Charcoal

Charcoal is a brilliant detoxifier. For stubborn build-up, try charcoal-infused shampoos and conditioners:

• OGX Purifying Charcoal Detox Shampoo (from R199.95) offers a deep clean detox. This clarifying blend infused with activated coconut charcoal and kaolin clay will help bust through build-up, letting clean strands shine through.

• Renpure Detoxifying Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner (from R149.95 each) is a fantastic plant-based duo that uses natural charcoal to remove impurities and deeply cleanse hair without stripping it of moisture.

Refresh Your Scalp

It’s not just the lengths of your hair that may require a detox – our scalps deserve some TLC too. Pay close attention to your scalp: is it excessively oily, dry and flaky, or maybe itchy and irritable? A healthy scalp is the first step to healthy hair, so when you’re detoxing your hair, invest in a scalp treatment to restore and soothe the skin. • Marc Anthony Hair & Scalp Detox Instant Cooling Scalp Treatment (R179.99) provides instant cooling relief for a dry and irritated scalp.This scalp treatment contains peppermint oil and witch hazel, which will leave your scalp feeling refreshed.

REPAIR Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

There are many ways to restore the condition of your hair, but almost all of them require hydration. Like our skin, our hair contains moisture naturally, but this moisture is depleted when we heat style, over-wash or when our hair gets exposed to the elements. It is essential to replenish lost moisture through your hair care routine. Select products that are specifically designed to hydrate and boost moisture levels:

• The new Marc Anthony Hydralock range consists of a Hydrating Shampoo (from R159.95), Hydrating Conditioner (from R159.95), Moisture Recharge Hair Mist (from R169.95) and Hydra shot Conditioning Treatment (R64.95) and offers maximum hydration while maintaining a lightweight texture.

• If you’re looking for a plant-based alternative, Renpure’s Keratin and Argan Shampoo (from R149.95) and Conditioner (R149.95) are a great option. Restorative argan oil helps nourish and moisturise while keratin smooths hair cuticles.

Get Your Hair Mask On

A weekly or bi-weekly hair mask is the step you need to add to your regime to speed up the repair process. Whether you prefer a leave-in oil, a regular hair mask or a conditioning treatment, this extra step makes all the difference and is also an opportunity for you to take time out and practice some selfcare.We recommend:

• Provoke Intensive Conditioner for Blondes (from R119.95). This rich and luxurious formula improves your hair’s condition after just one treatment. It contains

restorative proteins, which intensively target dry, damaged and coloured hair, leaving it feeling smooth and moisturised. • OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Hair Mask Extra Strength (from R179.95) helps revive your senses and your strands.This rich oil helps calm frizz and tame flyaways, leaving hair silky soft and shiny while adding plenty of moisture and nourishment.

• Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment (from R74.99) gets to work on dry and damaged hair to restore lost moisture and prevent breakage. This intense conditioner also nourishes hair and keeps it looking healthy and shiny. If you like an oil texture, try Hask Argan Oil Healing Shine Hair Treatment (from R74.99). This weightless and intense conditioning treatment helps repair and smooth out hair using nourishing argan oil and keratin.

Don’t Shampoo Every Day

It’s tempting to shampoo your hair every day in summer when it’s hot, but it’s good to give your hair a break and opt for every second or third day if possible. Shampooing too regularly can cause dehydration of the scalp and hair. COLAB Sheer & Invisible Dry Shampoos (From R79.95) are a lifesaver on those in-between days.They do not leave any white residue, they smell fantastic, and they work wonders when it comes to hiding greasy roots.

Be Gentle

There are so many ways your hair can get damaged that it’s easy to forget that mechanical damage is also one of the main culprits. By mechanical, we mean vigorous towel-drying, brushing and pulling.

Whether you’re trying to repair your hair or prevent it from getting damaged, it’s important to gently pat wet hair down with a towel (or cotton t-shirt) rather than rubbing it. You should also brush or comb hair gently – especially when it is knotted. Specially formulated with IntelliFlex bristles, the Wet Brush eliminates all tugging, tearing, pulling and ripping of the hair to reduce split ends or hair loss while providing healthy brushing and detangling. The flexible bristles enable protective and pain-free detangling so that you can brush your hair without any risk of causing further damage. We love the design of the limited edition Turquoise Skies Wet Brush (from R175). For those who are after an eco-friendly solution, the Wet Brush Go Green Detangler (from R280) is made from natural biodegradable plant starch that will naturally break down in a landfill within five years.