Maximize Hair Repair with this Day & Night Regimen
If you've started to notice dry, brittle, lackluster hair, you might be seeing the first signs of damaged hair. But before you speed dial your hairdresser for a bob, there are lots of ways to kick-start repair. With a little time, commitment, and advice from our experts, you can get back to optimal hair health. The first step to achieving your hair goals? It's time to give your usual wash day regimen a glow-up, with day to night hair care that nourishes your natural hair back to its crowning glory.
Your Wash Day Hair Regimen
1. Start with the Scalp
The root of healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Make cleansing hair with a gentle shampoo step one in your hair care regimen to nourish a dry scalp and support a healthy hair cycle.
ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is a luxe, creamy cleanser that gently yet effectively removes impurities and pollutant particles, without stripping away essential moisture. Massage scalp and hair with shampoo using fingertips or a scalp massager. This can help to remove dead skin cells, boost blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles.
Pro Tip: Avoid hot water in the shower when washing your hair. This can strip away natural hair oils, making the hair cuticle feel even more dry and brittle. Opt for lukewarm water instead to help lock in natural moisture and keep hair healthy.
2. Nourish Tangled Knots
For your next step, deep conditioners can help to support the hair repair process by moisturizing brittle ends, preventing knots, tangles and further hair damage. Intensely nourishing formulas also help to disguise split ends by smoothing rough hair texture, leaving your hair soft with a glossier finish.
For an extra dose of moisture, work ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner through clean, wet hair from mid-lengths to ends, then leave it in for around three minutes This rich, creamy conditioner is packed with AHAs and Omega-9, which work together to repair and condition hair from the inside out. For hair that is very dry and is easily tangled, use a wide-tooth comb to tease out stubborn knots while hair is covered in conditioner, helping glide through tangled ends with ease.
3. Treat with a Hair Mask
Regular hair treatments, like a nourishing hair mask, can help to boost hair strength by providing extra hydration and reparative benefits to damaged strands. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask goes a step further, with smart conditioning agents which detect and treat the areas in need of the most care. It makes sense, as uneven hair damage is common – we apply more heat or use hair-snagging ties in different areas. This smart formula delivers a targeted approach to protect hair from breakage in areas that need it most. Add it to your weekly hair regimen to start seeing the difference.
4. Try a Microfiber Towel
Once you've stepped out of the shower, swap your usual towel for a microfiber hair wrap or towel. The soft microfibers are gentler on wet hair and avoid tugging and pulling, which can weaken individual strands. Gently squeeze out excess water, then blot wet hair using the microfiber towel before wrapping it around your head. Avoid rubbing hair too vigorously to towel-dry – the friction between hair and the traditional textured cotton fabric can cause knots, tugging and further breakage. Microfiber towels also help to cut down drying time, so styling hair with a blow dryer is much faster than usual, meaning you save time and reduce heat exposure.
5. Don't Skip Heat Protection
A common misconception about damaged hair is that heated styling tools are the main offenders. But, did you know, letting hair air dry can actually be more damaging than blow-drying? When wet, the hair cuticle swells, so the longer it's wet, the more it swells up and can cause hair breakage. Our experts say it's actually better to blow-dry hair prepped with a heat protectant like ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In, than hang around for hours waiting for wet hair to dry. This delicate cream veils hair to protect against frizz, breakage and UV rays, while preventing mechanical and heat damage.
For very dry, damaged hair that's really in need of TLC, ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue is your new hair hero. It's proven to leave hair 12x smoother*, with 99% less breakage**, and repairs hair damage in 90 seconds***. Simply mist this lightweight leave-in treatment through clean, damp hair, waiting a full 90 seconds before blow-drying or using heat tools.
Your Night-Time Hair Regimen
A few extra steps in your hair care regimen the night before can save precious minutes the next morning, wherever you're headed.
1. Apply a Night Serum for Your Hair
Not just for your skin, your hair can also benefit from a nourishing, overnight serum to help wake up to glossier locks by morning. If your hair is looking a bit lacklustre between washes, smooth 1-3 drops of ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum through mid - lengths to ends (avoid roots to prevent hair being weighed down). Like a night cream for your hair, this silky formula is packed with skincare ingredients: AHAs to rebuild hair's natural bonds, plus Omega-9 fatty acids to create a protective barrier. Reinforcing hair strength on the inside while replenishing moisture and shine on the outside. No rinse needed in the AM, just style and go.
2. Try Heatless Curls
Our favourite hair hack of the moment: heatless curls. They’re perfect if you love a voluminous, curly hair look but want to avoid daily heat styling. After washing hair the night before, apply EIMI Extra Volume firm-hold mousse to damp hair through roots, mid-lengths and ends. Blow-dry as usual, then wrap sections of hair into your heatless curling rod (or the bathrobe belt hair trick – if you know, you know). In the morning, remove the curling rod and comb through hair with fingertips. For added shine, light spray mid-lengths and ends with EIMI Glam Mist. Morning hair regimen, done.
3. Upgrade Your Pillow Case
Make your beauty sleep a little more luxe. Some experts believe that traditional cotton pillowcases can cause friction, which may weaken hair and lead to damage and frizz. Great for all hair types, silk and satin pillowcases are softer and smoother, allowing hair to glide over the luxurious material. For curly or coily hair types, a silk wrap or bonnet provides even more protection against hair damage while you sleep, helping keep your style intact between hair wash days.
Bonus: Satin pillowcases are also said to be brilliant for your skin, with the same no-friction effect. So, you can wake up to silky hair and a glowing complexion every morning.
4. Give Hair an Overnight Volume Boost
For those who love a bouncy blow-dry, keep the volume going another day with this easy hack. Take a spiral hair tie or silk scrunchie, then loosely tie hair into a top knot or ponytail before bed. Gathering hair at the root helps avoid the pull of gravity (the cause of flat roots!) while you sleep, without leaving a kink in hair. In the AM, simply ruffle roots with fingertips plus a small spritz of dry shampoo for an extra volume boost.
Your Morning Hair Regimen
Just because you're in between hair wash days doesn't mean you can't keep your hair repair journey going. Keep these two protective tips in mind for everyday care…
1. Don't Tie Hair Too Tight
If you're opting for an updo in between wash days, avoid tying hair too tight. Tight hairstyles tug on roots and hair follicles, causing strands to snag and break. They’ve even been linked to hair loss. Keep your style comfortably loose, or switch your usual elastic for a different type. Spiral hair ties are more gentle, as their clever coil shape won't pull or snag hair, preventing damage. A silk scrunchie is another option which is much softer against hair to prevent friction and breakage. An easy quick fix for your in-between styling regimen.
2. Shield from the Sun
Bright sunshine might be good for your latest Insta Story, but not so good for your hair health. All skincare fans know sun protection is the most important step in your daily regimen, and it's a similar story for your hair. On hot days, shield from harmful UV rays by applying ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In and wearing your favourite hat to cover up. Luckily for us, hats are trending this season...
Unsure what damaged hair looks like? Here are the 5 signs to watch out for.
* Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.