Hi today I’m sharing my hair care routine for long hair. I am giving you info on the products that I use on my long thick hair including my recent colour change and my routine.
I usually perform this whole routine every 2 days or longer if I can stretch it out another day.
My Haircare Routine For Long Hair
I have always had very thick coarse and dry hair. I also have an extremely sensitive scalp so over the years have tried most of the shampoos out there marketed at sensitive scalp. Conditioners seem to be less of a problem, as I do not apply them directly to my scalp. I have finally found products that work for me and I will be sticking with them for a long time.
Before I start I brush my hair through with my Macadamia no tangle brush. This ensures that my hair is tangle free before I wash it, preventing further tangles when washing. I love this brush, it’s ultra gentle on the hair and easy to hold as it has a great shape with a curved handle.
I then wash my hair with Kérastase Specifique Dermo-Calm Bain Riche shampoo. I have been using this shampoo now for around 18 months and my scalp has never felt better. It’s ultra concentrated so you only need a small amount. It lathers up feeling very luxurious and rinses out very easily. The first couple of weeks of using this shampoo, I didn’t see any difference in my scalp, but then as if by magic, all of my issues disappeared, and I was left with a very calm feeling scalp.
After shampooing, I then squeeze all of the excess water from my hair and add Kérastase Cristalliste Lait Cristal Luminous Perfecting Conditioner to the mid lengths and ends. I then leave it on for around 3 minutes before rinsing. Again this is super concentrated so you don’t need a lot and I find it does condition well and does not leave my hair feeling weighed down or greasy.
In my last order of shampoo and conditioner, I got a sample size tub of the Kérastase Elixir Ultime Cataplasme Masque. I have used this twice now (once a week) in place of conditioner, as it’s a treatment masque and would be too heavy to use every wash. After shampooing, I towel dried my hair and left it on for around 20 minutes. I tell no lies it left my hair shining and glistening like nothing I have tried before. I will definitely be buying the full sized product when I have used the sample. Again this is super concentrated so you don’t need much. It’s expensive but will last a long time.
After shampoo and condition, I usually use a heat protect treatment either Kerastase Chroma thermique leave in heat protect which is hard to get hold of so I’m making it last, or Macadamia natural healing oil and add this to damp towel dried hair. I then either rough dry my hair with a GHD air hair dryer or let it dry naturally if I have time. The GHD air hairdryer that I purchased around 1 year ago has greatly improved my styling routine. It has halved the time it takes to dry my hair and seems to make it much easier to work with leaving a smooth finish.
When my hair is fully dry, I curl it with straighteners and use Aussie miracle hold and shine hairspray to hold the curl.
As stated before, I usually do this every two days. If I know I will be at home and not seeing anyone, I leave out the curling and just blow dry my hair straight. Again using the heat protect or oil before drying and finishing with this Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment to smooth and nourish.
On a final note. For anyone who has been reading my blog for the last few weeks you may notice I changed my hair colour. I went from an ombre look which I created myself using L’Oreal casting creme gloss sunkiss jelly. This is a gradual lightener which you add freehand to your hair and build up until you have the desired effect.
Before
I had had this look for a while and fancied a change so I then coloured my hair back to a colour closer to my natural shade. Again I did this at home and used L’Oreal casting creme gloss 613 in iced mocha. For anyone looking to colour their hair at home, I can not stress enough to do an allergy test 48 hours before colouring. The instructions are always on the box and on the step by step instructions.
After
As you can see it’s not too much of a change. It has just blended my roots, and in bright light still gives the ombre effect just in a very subtle way.
I hope this has been useful for anyone who has the same hair as me and that you have enjoyed reading my routine for long hair. If you do have long dry course hair, you may find these products useful. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Gemma xx
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