Get More Beautiful Hair with Less Money

Ok, so the header of this post sounds a bit cheesy, but I’m keen for a bit of cheese right now. Haha. Apart from the fact that having my hair done is one of my all time favorite things to do, I do also believe that you can really have fabulous hair without breaking the bank. For me, sad hair really puts me in a foul mood.

Sadly, since the Covid19 pandemic & restrictions became our new ‘normal’, I’ve noticed how many people have lost all control of & inspiration with their hair. When I’m doing grocery shopping I am often amazed to see that many people no longer wash, brush, or colour hair! I’m all for going natural, but if it looks dirty, untidy or ungroomed, I’m not on board.

Colouring your hair is optional but brushing & washing, not so much. It is understandable that many think that wearing a mask & staying at home all day is no reason to fuss over hair. I noticed early on in the 2020 hard lockdown that if my hair looks neat & clean, I feel so much more positive & able to face the world. These days, even if I’m just at home, I try to make a little bit of effort with my hair. Clean hair, a hairband, scrunchie, hat, or simple style makes all the difference to my mood. Add a bit of lip colour (yes, even underneath the mask), some mascara & you feel like a new person.

That’s why I wanted to share some tips – from experts & myself – on how to have great hair. Even during a pandemic & even when money is tight(er).

Get Healthy Hair

The starting point is healthy hair. “The healthier your hair, the less you will have to visit the hairdresser or cut your hair, so you save money too,” explains David Gillson, my fabulous hairdresser of over a decade who is now a master stylist at Issy’s in Belgravia, London.

Choose the Right Hairstylist

I feel very strongly about this. If your hairstylist is not willing to listen to your needs, then it’s time for a new one. You have to be able to be open & honest about your budget & what you need. For instance, if you only want to colour your hair every six weeks, you can’t have a stylist who insists on colourful experiments & weird hairstyles with loads of maintenance. Similarly, if you love high fashion & want to experiment with your hair on a regular basis, find a trendy up-to-date stylist who will be able to execute unique styles without compromising the health of your hair.

Brush Your Hair

Obvious? Yes. As I mentioned, hair washing & hair brushing are no longer high on everyone’s to-do list these days. Did you know that when you do not brush your hair regularly, the roots will become more oily & buildup can begin to form on your scalp which can lead to further problems. Brush your hair & you spread the oils from your roots (which don’t need it that much) to the ends of your hair.  Regularly use a quality home conditioner or hair mask for your hair type. This process does not have to be another boring item on your list. You can find an overnight treatment that you can sleep with, says Reneé Potgieter, hair health activist and color chemist with 25 years of experience in the industry.

“Thankfully, natural oils are making a comeback, taking a note of inspiration from numerous ancient traditions… make sure you use top-grade pure oils such as jojoba, for moisture & almond, for a strengthening protein boost. These natural oils are so pure they become solid when you put them in the fridge which is a great indicator of quality.”

Massage Your Scalp

An invigorating scalp massage not only works wonders for your hair but also boosts your mood as it produces serotonin. Massaging your head increases the blood supply to your scalp & helps getting rid of dead cells & product build-up on the scalp that can potentially lead to irritation.

Choose a Hairstyle with Little Maintenance

Before 2020, bobs & one-length cuts were very fashionable, but these styles need a lot of maintenance. “Since Covid, layered looks & shaggy styles are spot on because they have a grown-out feel so they’ll last a lot longer,” says David.

It is true that those of us with straight hair often wish for curls & those curly girlies want straight hair. Reneé advises strongly against too much styling. Her advice is to work with your hair structure instead of working against it. The secret is to nourish your hair & get it as healthy as possible.

Says Reneé: “No heat styling is specifically the absence of artificial direct heat on the hair. For anybody that wants to restore health, vitality & strength to their hair it is an absolute must. The no-heat method works because your hair consists in part of hydrogen bonds & artificial heat manipulates the hair thereby controlling its shape.

“These temporary hydrogen bonds are radically responsive to moisture. So, while your hair may look fabulous just after styling, the moment steam, water or perspiration hits, your killer styling disappears in seconds. Temporary bonds are responsible for controlling the temporary shape of your hair; if you are manipulating them consistently with styling, long-term damage will happen to these bonds and your hair will suffer a sort of “memory loss”. 

“Constantly manipulating hair texture, like making your curls straight with frequent blow-drying & straightening, means that these bonds will eventually “forget” their true natural form and essentially, your hair goes into crisis turning into a mess.

The only way to prevent this is to work with your hair structure instead of against it. Enhancement and nourishment, in place of relentless manipulation, will bring out the best in your hair structure.”

Choose the Correct Color

Regrowth is absolutely no fun. The secret lies in choosing a colour where the difference between your natural colour & the chosen shade is minimal – no more than two shades.

“The biggest colour trends we are currently seeing are techniques like balayage & hand painting techniques that are very, very long-lasting. It’s really a no commitment option – you can do it every three to six months,” says David.

This type of color does not bind you like other techniques. You can do this every three to six months, David explains. David warns that home color can be more expensive in the long run. “Eventually you will probably have to stop by a hair salon for a complete color correction.”

He recommends that – if you want to play with color, you should use a color conditioner instead of one permanent color. Gray hair became high fashion during lockdown. For those who want to go gray, David recommends that you wait until your hair has grown out for four to six weeks. Then visit your hairdresser to insert gray stripes. “The hair is first bleached to get it as light as possible. After this a silver-gray tone is added. In this way, the line between the natural gray hair & the previously colored hair is masked. ” Otherwise you end up with a ‘train track’ on your head, he jokes. “The grayer you get, the lighter you have to color your hair. Do not strive for where you were 25 years ago. If you had black hair in your twenties & are still trying to get back to black hair, you will be at the hair salon every week! As you get older, your hair color should become lighter & lighter. It is more flattering, more economical & less time consuming,” says David.  For hair that is very gray, opt for a few baby light streaks near your face to disguise regrowth.

“The best anti-aging product is a great, natural-looking hair color, especially when you’re graying,” makeup artist & beauty expert, Bobbi Brown.

Top Home Color Tips

I love to have my hair colored in a salon, but it is not for everyone, so here are some great tips for doing your own color at home:

* Read, read & read the instructions. And follow it to a tee.

* Start by not washing your hair for two days.

* The color on the model on the box is misleading – use the diagram on the packaging to see how your hair color will turn out.

* Always choose a lighter color than what you think you need.

* Buy two boxes of color if your hair is shoulder length or longer.

* Consider your hair texture. Curly, frizzy or dry hair slurps color up faster. Choose a warm color (gold, copper, bronze) but in a lighter shade than your natural hair. Fine & straight hair ask for cooler shades (champagne, beige). Choose one that is slightly darker than your natural color.

Do you have any tips for keeping your hair looking fabulous on a budget? Let me know.

Here’s to many happy hair days!

Yolandi ♥

Images: Me – Picture Me & U. 

Additional sources: mangwanani.co.za, huffpost.com, allure.com