Hello lovely readers! How was your summer? If you were lucky enough to get away this year, hopefully our August blog helped you fight the frizz during your summer break. Every season has its own unique set of hair challenges, so if you’ve recently returned from your summer holiday, you’re probably dealing with the aftermath of the heat, sun, salt water and chlorine.

As we head into autumn, it’s back to business, the school run or studies and you’ll want to be on your A-game with hair to match. If your hair has been ravaged by the effects of fun in the sun, then read on for our 7-step system for achieving an awesome autumnal aura!

1. Prep

Preparation is always key. Post-holiday hair treatments are a great way to promote hair growth, but you need to ensure you’re well prepped. Just as the skin suffers from the effects of sun exposure, so too can your scalp, particularly if you have fine or chemically-treated hair. To eliminate those dead skin cells and prep your scalp to receive a growth-enhancing treatment, you’ll want to use a scalp exfoliator. Choose one with a gentle, natural formula and very fine grains, as your scalp will be extra-sensitive following sun exposure. For a fuss-free application, first wet your hair, then distribute the product over the scalp. Gently exfoliate using your fingertips, then rinse thoroughly.

2. Cleanse

To ensure the products you use work effectively, deep-cleanse your hair and scalp before using any hair tools or treatments. Hair can endure a lot of damageduring the summer holidays, suffering build-up from products such as SPF hair treatments and sunscreen, not to mention salt water and chlorine. This can leave you with dull and lifeless hair, or that strange tacky yet fluffy feel. After exfoliating your scalp, cleanse using a shampoo that’s especially designed to remove product build-up. Then smooth and detangle using a lightweight conditioner, and rinse.

3. Dry

If you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun, hair can be very brittle and therefore easily damaged. Try to avoid heat-drying for a few weeks after you return from a break in the sun, as this will only exacerbate any damage. To prevent further damage, towel dry your hair first by gently patting off the excess water. Don’t be tempted to rub, as this could lead to breakage or split ends. Once your hair is dry or nearly dry, detangle using a wide-toothed comb. Please don’t brush it!

4. Apply hair oil

Once you’ve removed the excess water from your hair, it’s time to apply your hair oil. Hair oil is best applied to slightly damp or dry hair. Never apply it when your hair is soaking wet, as the oil will end up on your towel, instead of your scalp, which is where it works its magic. Wet hair is also more likely to stretch and suffer breakage when massaging with oil. Add the desired amount of oil in the palm of your hand (depending on the length and thickness of your hair) and warm gently between both hands. Then apply from root to tip, concentrating on the scalp and on the ends, to help prevent spilt ends.

There are a variety of different natural oils you may have in your kitchen to use on your hair, from avocadoto chia and olive oil (always make sure they’re in date)! Obviously, I’m going to recommend you use Nosheen Hair Oil. Our 100% natural, vegan-friendly recipe has been refined over generations and isspecially formulated to repair damaged hair and promote new hair growth. It contains 10 natural oils, including vitamin E, lavender, rosemary, coconut, black seed, argan, cedarwood, ginger, almond and castor oils. But don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself in the Client Progress section of our website! 

5. Massage

Hair oil is one side of the magic formula for encouraging new hair growth, but to boost the effects of your chosen hair oil, you’ll want to use a massaging action over your entire scalp. There have been of studies conducted on the effects of scalp massage on promoting new hair growth. According to clinical research, scalp stimulation boosts the thickness of hair by stretching the cells of hair follicles. In turn, thisencourages the hair follicles to produce thicker hair. It’s also believed that scalp massage may help to dilate blood vessels beneath the skin, thus promotingnew hair growth.

Once you have dispersed the oil evenly over your hair and scalp, it’s time to get massaging! Use your fingertips or a dedicated scalp massage tool, such as our Bamboo Silicon Scalp Massager. To obtain the full benefits, massage the oil into your scalp and hair for around 15 minutes. This is the time cited in the vast majority of clinical studies on scalp massage.

6. Relax

Once you’ve finished massaging your scalp, it’s best to leave the hair oil to soak in overnight, so the targeted ingredients have a chance to penetrate your scalp and hair. Not only will it help to repair your hair and seal in moisture, your hair will be super soft and smell divine! To keep your pillows clean and dry, and promote optimal product absorption, use our Microfibre Towel Hair Wrap. Its soft microfibre fabric will ensure you get a restful night’s sleep and wake up with luscious locks.

7. Rinse and repeat!

Rise and shine, it’s time to rinse your hair oil off! Make sure you use a deep-cleansing shampoo to eliminate all traces of oil, then follow with a nourishing conditioner to lock in all that moisture.

Repeat as often as you can for a few weeks after your holiday, then aim for 2-3 times a week thereafter. If you’re suffering from alopecia or telogen effluvium, you want to be aiming to massage at least once a day for up to 24 weeks. In a clinical study conducted in Japan, participants received 4 minutes of standardised scalp massage a day over a 24-week period, using a scalp massage device. The result?Increased hair thickness. Stretching the cells of hair follicles using standardised scalp massage with a mechanical device works. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about our 7-step system for achieving great hair. Follow it and your tresses with be the envy of all! As always, I’d love to hear how you get on, so keep sending those pics in!

Love Nosheen xxx