Updated haircare routine (incl. mini reviews)

It’s been almost 2 years since I wrote about my haircare routine on this space. I’m not much of a haircare kind of girl, but ever since I had my hair cut in September I’ve been trying out a few things. By now, I not only know how to blow dry my hair (revelation no. 1), I also know how to blow dry it straight (revelation no. 2) or wavy (revelation no. 3) and I’ve even dabbled around with curling my hair (revelation no. 4).  For each style I use different products. Some of those products I’ve been using for a while, others are new to the routing. This post will include all products I use on my hair: from cleaning to nourishing to styling. If you care to see the products I used to use, you can find my old post by clicking here.

All products together

Step 1: Cleanse

Lush Squeaky Green shampoo bar & Aussie Miracle Moist conditioner

To clean my hair I use the Lush Squeaky Green shampoor bar. You can find a full review of this product here. I was using an Anatomicals shampoo before but that did no good for my scalp: it became super dry and itchy. So I started using this shampoo bar again. It worked wonders last time my scalp reacted to a shampoo it didn’t like and it’s been doing the same thing this time. My favorite conditioners are by Aussie. The bubblegum scent doesn’t bother me much and I have come to prefer the Miracle Moist variation the best. If there is one thing my hair needs, especially during winter time, it’s moisture. I decided to try this and I’ve been loving it. My hair doesn’t feel dry and brittle after taking a shower. Oh and I still do what I’ve been doing for years: shampoo on my scalp, conditioner in my lengths. Still works a charm.

Step 2: nourish – hair mask

RedKen All Soft Heavy Cream Super Treatment for dry/ brittle hair

I bought this hair mask as recommended by my hairdresser. They always use the RedKen All Soft line on my hair when I’m there, so I decided to give this a whirl. It is an expensive product, but it does the job. I use this every two weeks and my hair definitely feels moisturized and soft after I use this. The only downside: you’re supposed to use this on clean & washed hair. And I’m just a lazy person who doesn’t like to get in the shower, wash my hair and then put this in and wash my hair again. So, I apply this to dry hair and leave it in a little longer and I find it still works fine. I like it, but don’t love it. I used to have the Lush Fluff Eaze hair mask and I will be purchasing that when I run out of this one, as it’s a tad cheaper and worked wonders for my hair.

Step 3: nourish – the basics

Gliss Kur Hair Repair Oil Nutrive Wonder-Serum-Spray for long hair with liquid keratin

RedKen All Soft Argan Oil for dry/ brittle hair

Then two leave-in products that I use without fail. A hair mask is all fine and dandy, but my hair needs a little bit extra on a more regular basis. That’s why, I use these two products every time I wash my hair. I use the Gliss Kur Hair Repair Oil to nourish my hair, but also to help with combing out knots. I simply spray it generously all over my damp hair and then take my hair brush and brush my hair. The RedKen Argan Oil I use sparingly and has lasted me more than a year. I use 2 – 3 pumps of this stuff and no matter what I do I use this product at the end of every hairstyle I create in the ends of my hair. By using these two products I find my hair is less dry and feels and looks a lot healthier. The argan oil is almost out and I plan on using a different hair oil (which you’ll see below) as its replacement.

Step 4: style – blow dry

L’Oreal Studio Line Hot Liss Straightening spray and 230 C heat protection

John Frieda Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray

When I do a ‘lazy’ blow dry, i.e. I blow dry by hanging upside down and not really caring about the end result, I tend to use two products regularly. I always use the L’Oreal Studio Line heat protector to protect my hair against the heat of the dryer. I simply spray it in all over and I use a brush or a comb to spread it more evenly throughout my hair. The John Frieda lightening spray is used more sparingly. If I overuse that my hair tends to turn a bit yellow, which is not what I want. I just spray this on my roots, maybe once a week, and then the blowdrying of my hair will lead to instant results. Bye bye roots and hello blonde hair. And just in case: no, my hair is not dyed. I am a natural blonde, but my winter and summer color differ so much that I get roots from my own hair color. Go figure!

Step 5: style – straight

L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil for colored hair

Kérastase Nutrive Lumier Nutri-Sculpt cream for extra shine (dry & sensitive hair)

Sometimes I feel like making an effort and I choose to straighten my hair. Since my hair is naturally wavy, this does take some effort, but it’s worth it. I use the products from Step 4. The only thing that’s different is that I now use a brush and section off my hair and use the dryer to straighten my hair. I cannot get my hair fully straightened that way though, so while my straightener is heating up after blow drying my hair in the general shape I wish to establish, I use the L’Oreal Elvive oil throughout my hair. I find this helps protect my hair from the heat a little bit extra, plus my hair comes out looking straight and, rather than straight and crunchy. I then straighten my hair all over. To finish off the hairstyle, smooth out any fly aways and to make sure my hair stays straight, I use the Kérastate Nutri-Sculpt.

Step 6: style – messy waves/ curls/ big hair

Andrelon Get the volume mousse

Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray for Texture & Body

Kérastase Nutrive Oléo-Curl Curl Protect curl definition cream for curly hair

My hair is naturally wavy, but the effect is clearest when my hair is still damp. As my hair dries, the waves start to sag and get weighed down and parts of my hair will become straight. So I’ve found that blow drying my hair into a wavy hairstyle helps to maintain an overall wavy look for a few days. It also helps to create volume. I again start with Step 4, but this time I just put everything in and then use a volume or curly hair mousse to add some texture to my hair. I’m not too picky about the mousse I use. This is just the one I’m currently using. I then use an extension to my blow dyer that allows my curls to sit on top of the hot air. I go around my hair blow drying it like that. I then use the Toni & Guy texturising spray to mess things up a bit more and add more texture. To define the waves/ curls I use the Kérastase Oléo-Curl. The smell of this stuff is so good and I will be very sad once it runs out.

Step 7: Second day hair

L’Oreal Studio Line Volume Texturizing spray for texture and volume

Syoss Volume Lift Dry shampoo for volume and freshness

To spruce up my second or third day hair, I use two different products. I swear by Syoss dry shampoo. I love how this really gives some extra volume. I find that most dry shampoos only give your hair a less greasy look, but this one does add a bit more oomph. However, my hair loses volumes so easily that I sometimes need a bit extra on top of that. Enter the L’Oreal Volume Texturizing Spray. I can use this to spruce up waves as it provides texture (If find using more of the sea salt spray dries out my hair too much), but I can also spray this in my roots, give my hair a squeeze and BAM: volume. So whether I straightened, curled, went with messy waves, or just let my hair be: this product is my miracle worker. It makes any second day hair style look more alive and less limp.

There you have it: my haircare routine. What haircare products do you use?