Hello, I am so excited to be sharing my first blog post with you! I decided, as well as uploading videos on my social media explaining my tips tricks and knowledge I’ve acquired through my struggles and experience - to be typing it up here for you with a little more detail, as it is hard to fit all of this into short clips sometimes, as well as breaking it down in the most simple words and summarised to make it super easy to retain.
I have tried countless things to help grow back my severe hair loss and bald spots. Hair loss was really emotional for me and made me feel insecure. I would throw money on any advertisements or recommendations I see online. However, none of them worked, in fact some even made my hair dryer and gave me dandruff for the first time.
I will be teaching you how to make your own effective product, using natural organic hair products. I am not trying to sell you a specific brand or get sponsored to push products on you, what and where you purchase from is completely up to you. Its not just about what you are using - it’s the way you treat your hair physically. It all adds up! Even if you constantly bleach and style your hair, I strongly believe you can maintain lush healthy and fuller looking hair, with all the knowledge below.
I will be teaching you a few things to change your hair journey forever:
How to make your own hair oiling product yourself
How to know what your hair porosity is
What oil you will need to use depending on your specific hair porosity (everyone is different)
Tips on stopping hair breakage that hairdressers won’t tell you
How to properly wash your hair in the shower
Let’s get right into it!
Why was my hair falling out to begin with?
Before we go ahead and get sucked into those adds online about caffeine shampoo to grow your hair, ridiculous masks that don’t work and overpriced oils with basic cheap ingredients. Have you addressed why your hair is falling out.
For me it was a factor of things that all added up once I concluded. It was all these factors… having a baby .. I didn’t have any good post-natal vitamins my diet wasn’t nutrient dense and I hadn’t yet begun to hair oil or even know what it was. Best advice I can give to expecting mamas is if you are taking a really good pregnancy vitamin don’t stop once you give birth keep on taking it as well as adding sea moss supplement to your daily routine it is incredible for your hair, skin, gut health inflammation etc. the sad truth is even if you eat super clean and well the soil in which our food grows in is no longer rich in minerals.
Our body is made up from minerals and not lacking in minerals and nutrients has a domino effect on everything even our hair. I also did a blood test and saw my iron was on 14 which is crazy low and that it had been like this for a whole 7 months even though I was taking iron pills and beef liver tablets there was a underlying problem that didn’t allow it to budge, there fore I made the decision to get an iron infusion which shot my iron right up again.
The reason I mentioned this is because low iron greatly affects the hair with excessive shedding when brushing or washing hair, noticeable thinning across the scalp and brittle or weak hair that breaks easily. I also came to the realisation that I was living in a home that was contaminated with black mould for 9 months which has immense side effects of hormone imbalances and other factors that lead to hair loss, a one of exposure wont do this but long term exposure leads to increasing baldness. I also went into shock and suffered from Shock hair loss, which a real thing believe it or not, is a temporary condition where hair sheds excessively due to a disruption in the hair growth cycle.
Normally, hair grows in cycles: anagen (growth phase), catagen (transitional phase), and telogen (resting phase). When the body undergoes stress, a significant number of hair follicles can prematurely enter the telogen phase, leading to increased shedding.
According to my personal experience this one affected me more than post partum hair loss the amount of bald spots where crazy. I was grieving and in immense grief of the sudden loss of a loved one and had constant stress and anxiety for months its crazy how these things affect us.
Shock hair loss can be triggered by various factors, including:
Physical Trauma: Surgery, injuries, or significant physical trauma can induce shock hair loss.
Emotional Stress: Severe emotional stress or anxiety can disrupt the hair growth cycle.
Medical Conditions: Illnesses such as thyroid disorders, severe infections, or chronic diseases.
Medications: Certain medications, including those for cancer, blood pressure, and depression, can cause hair shedding.
Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and hormonal imbalances can trigger hair loss.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and proteins can affect hair health.
I mention these things because you could be doing all you possibly can to be trying to grow your hair back and everything right too ! however it may not be the miracle treatment you hoped as there may also be a underlying problem which you will need to address first.
Before we get into hair oiling which most likely the main reason you are here. I'm going to share a super interesting fact about hair that was quite interesting to me and I feel you should be aware of if you’re trying to better your hair health and grow it.
Our hair growing out long is apart of or referred to ‘ the Angen Phase’ and this all comes down to our DNA meaning sometimes its out of our control. Ever wonder why you’re doing everything right and your hair is taking ages to grow long it might be lush and healthy again but still growing slow and you feel as though you’re making mistakes but really you are not.
Our hair has up to 7 years to grow long before it naturally falls out, some people have 3 years before it falls out this is why some people can’t get it very long. The average is said to be 3-5 years, generally its longer for people of Asian decent as they have genetic growth cycle that lasts the 7 years! Such a blessing. I have to say I feel as though I am genetically blessed and my hair does grow long quite fast even though I chop it off frequently and I’ve notice it in my daughter who is 3.5 years old and her hair now reaches her hips. Even though my hair too grows fast I don’t really feel I’ve seen its results past few years as my hair has been balding and thinning constantly. I hope by not being lazy and being consistent with my hair oiling I will see results of my hair growing faster again as its well-nourished ( this is how much I believe hair oiling works).
Slowing down on cutting your hair can actually make your hair grow. Try stopping for
6 months while doing the oiling techniques and using the right care care. Focus hair oiling on your ends as well as your scalp people tend to neglect the ends. They’ve been on your head the longest making them the weakest and oldest part and need the most care and love. It sounds silly but trimming your hair freshly isn’t always the best solution as you’ve now cut of those sealed ends and essentially created a hole and that hole makes the hair really exposed to becoming more dry. No heat styling got the first two weeks and if you do use heat give your hair at least 3 days rest before using heat again. Using leave in conditioners is important you need both a conditioner in the shower to seal your ends and one after to prevent the hair from drying out on you.
Wash Your Hair Correctly
Don’t over wash!
80% of women were not taught properly how to wash their hair.
Your mids and end of your hair do not produce oil there fore you don’t need to shampoo it this will further strip and lead to hair dullness, breakage, and dryness. Separate your hair into two the roots (top of the head) and the mids to ends. Aim to only wash the roots, pro tip is don’t lather the shampoo on your hands then go in for the wash that is a big waste of product. Instead pump the shampoo out on the tips of your fingers and slap that directly to the scalp followed by a scalp massage with your fingers gently pushing own and into your roots rather than just letting it bubble on top which doesn’t clean your hair properly.
You also want to pull your hair apart to allow the shampoo to hit all 4 spots of your head which includes the top, the crown (which is usually the dirtiest, the sides and the bottom. Using your finger tips with pressure and getting your fingers in there washes off the oil the best. A single wash never gets everything completely out therefore you need to shampoo the same way a second time usually when there’s no more oil or build up your shampoo will start producing lots of bubbles if this doesn’t happen (usually when hair is unwashed for more than a week) you may need a third wash.
Do not apply conditioner on your upper roots some people feel because they have a dry scalp this will benefit them This is false. Your scalp naturally produces oil please do not condition it. If your hair is not short you need to use enough conditioner to coat your hair from under your ear lobes to your end. A lot of people apply this on the outer layer and the very ends however you need to be applying it all the way through.
Hair Oiling
YAY its time !
First I will tell you the steps to hair oiling then in the next section I will break down how to identify which oil you need to use for your specific hair and you’re all set.
Either hair oil the night before or on hair wash day. Getting over night absorption is longer and really good especially since your body repairs its self as we sleep. I don’t always manage to do this, if so I do it the morning of hair washing day and I wash it off at night. Sometimes I only manage to have it on 2-4 hours which is still better than nothing at all.
Scalp stimulation. Don’t over complicate it before applying the oil treatment its important we give our selves a 3-5 minute scalp massage using your fingers to stimulate blood flow I thoroughly enjoy this step haha of course its not a satisfying as someone else doing it for you.
Begin to section off the hair and apply the hair oil evenly on your entire scalp as well as using it on your ends.
Now that the hair is oiled. I like to go back with a hair tool (below) and massage it again for a few more minutes to re-stimulate blood flow with the oil on it. Your scalp skin is a lot easier to irritate than the rest of your body if the massage or hair tool feels uncomfortable or hurts stop it shouldn’t. You also shouldn’t go red and over doing can actually cause your skin to temporary inflame which what we want to avoid.
Softly clip the hair back or place in into a soft plait and allow the oil to do its thing. If you pull your hair tight it puts pressure on the hair close to the edge of the hair line and over time will contribute to hair loss.
If you have low porosity hair (you will know if you do in the next section). Like myself, I wrap my husbands XL cotton tee around my hair and secure like a turban and run the hair dryer over it with a medium heat as the heat helps low porosity hair absorb the oil better. If I am staying home I'll leave the shirt on my head, which will help it retain the heat.
Wash your hair (refer to my hair washing tips previously mentioned). Use a shampoo and conditioner that is sulphate and paraben free. Most shampoos are not and these ingredients lead to hair loss. I like to opt for a natural non toxic shampoo as all toxins are hormone disruptors and having a hormone imbalance leads to hair thinning and balding. I personally like switching up my shampoo and conditioner every few times for no particular reason. I just like to try new things at the moment I am using the one that I've been using for years, it doesn’t leave my hair dry and is a higher quality shampoo even though I try new things I always come crawling back to this brand ha-ha my hair dresser got me onto it. I have to say, the leave in hair mask was the best one I’ve ever used same brand as the shampoo I've just talked about, ill also link it below. Ive also linked the hair oil I have used for years which I I put in my ends after waving my hair it doesn’t weigh it down and smells amazing however you can also use the same hair oil you’re going to make to be more budget friendly. I just like having options.
After washing your hair use a leave in conditioner. Just because we are oiling doesn’t mean we stop all hair care this can be an option for you to stop if you want the more organic option you can use pure shea butter as your leave in which I will link below in case that’s fitting to you however I still appreciate a good leave in well made product. When it comes to leave in conditioners the reason why its important is by day 3 after washing your hair you start to loose that fresh hair wash and it starts to dry out a but on the ends, a leave in will keep it feeling freshly washed and nourished for longer sometimes by day 3-4 I will wet my ends in the sink and add the leave in. these are my 3 holy grail leave ins that make my hair feel incredible and never let me down. One again you don’t need all 3, I like to have options and alternate.
The Artego replenish serum is not thick and doesn't weigh on the hair. I love it as my leave in hair treatment - sometimes I layer it with the Schwarzkopf professional peptide repair rescue leave in, when my hair really needs extra love and sometimes I only use the Schwarzkopf leave in cream (a thicker consistency), on its own this is a more affordable option. It was recommended by a hair stylist to me years ago and I keep repurchasing it since! Comparing it to other brands, it’s a stand out.
K-18 this please keep in mind to read the instructions before using as this particular product says to only use it every 4 hair washes. It is expensive and sometimes sells out.
After you’ve applied a leave in serum you can go back and use your hair oiling mix in your ends again just a couple of drops its not something you need to visibly see in your hair. I like to do this with the lighter oils that are easy to absorb if I'm styling my hair. If you have high porosity hair the thicker one will do you better in the ends. How will you know which oils are lighter/heavier? I will break that down in the next section.
Hair Porosity
What is yours?
Let's find out with a simple at home experiment.
There is high porosity, Normal porosity (which is the healthiest) and low porosity.
The perfect ph. for hair is 3.7 so our hair is actually more acidic. Your hair is more shinny, flowy and frizz free with the perfect PH.
How to find out your hair type?
Let's do the Float Test
For the float test to work you have to use clean and dry hair that you’ve shampooed with no conditioner or else the conditioner can manipulate the results. Grab some strands of hair for all over your head front back etc.. then get a vase or jug and fill it up with water. With the hair you have removed dunk the hair strand under the surface of the water to break the surface tension ( sometimes just placing it on top isn’t as accurate). If you have high porosity hair the results are more accurate Because it will sink immediately. Normal porosity hair will sink to about half way and low porosity hair stays floating on top. To see these results wait at least 10 minutes just to confirm the hair isn’t sinking.
I found this test to work well for me and others however some can argue it isn’t 100% accurate so lets just discuss some extra signs to confirm your hair porosity.
If it’s low porosity it pretty much means the cuticles are really tight which is why it can’t absorb the water and floats. Signs of low porosity is your hair takes a really long time to get wet into the shower, and once your hair is wet it’ll take a long time to air dry. You will notice that deep conditioners just sit on top of your hair in the shower if you’re not using heat or warm water, and it seems as though you need to leave it on a lot longer. Your hair absorbs product well only on damp hair not dry hair or soaking wet hair. Your hair doesn’t like heavy butters or heavy oils. Your hair doesn’t like coconut oil on its own. With out mixing it with other oils.
Hair oiling is meant to support hair growth. Your hair porosity affects how your hair responds to products and treatments therefore it’s vital to select the right products for you. Low porosity hair is very resistant to moisture absorption and not every hair oil can penetrate through its tightly packed critical layer. For hair oil to work effectively it must be absorbed and not sit on top to create a greasy layer. We need oils that are lighter in molecular weight, doesn’t clog pores and to be over flowing with essential fatty acids that can navigate through compact cuticles. And not only deliver moister but lock it in!
Using the wrong hair oils can clog pores and lead to dandruff and poor results.
When I started hair oiling following social media advice I would have to shampoo my hair about 7 times for the greasy layer to completely come off and didn’t see much results and felt like using a simple leave in conditioner was doing much for me when it shouldn’t be the case I should be reaping the benefits of both it was disheartening going through the effort of hair oiling and seeing no results. Product, oils and water all contribute to throwing the PH balance off.
High porosity hair It’s basically absorbing so much water that’s why it sinks to the bottom. The cuticles are generally too opened and the aim is to hydrate and shrink them. Things to avoid with high porosity hair and if you have high porosity hair then you suffer from dryness. Products that have a high PH balance anything between 0-6 is quite acidic and going to help close the cuticles of your hair. Using chemical semi permanent or permanent dies as they have a high ph. level and make your porosity levels worse going to make your hair even more dry which just means you’re going to have to put a lot more work in to keeping your hair moisturised.
Hair relaxants and texturises can also have high ph. levels
Our shampoos conditioners also have a PH balance but it’s hard to know this Because most don’t write that it is on the bottles so searching for a brand that does display this will help. Or another option is buy those little Ph strips online and place some of your product on it.
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For High porosity hair avoid using hot water when washing your hair it’ll open up your cuticles even more which may leave you feeling more dry after the shower. Use lukewarm water and then after conditioning do a cold hair rinse which is prevent it from being raised. Avoid using excessive high heat in your hair. Use low to medium setting with hair drying and straighteners. Also use regular protein treatments to help strengthen your hair.
Ok so here’s the thing you can either do what I initially did and buy a ready made hair oil for $130 for 30 mils.. let’s not go there it did noting for me it was a tiny bottle and promised to penetrate the scalp all I felt after a wash a the driest hair I’ve ever had that I actually got dandruff for the first time. Trust me make your own it may seem like a over whelming amount of oils but they will last so long and save you money in the long term and your oil bottles (that you are using to make your personal one) can be stored in a cool dark cupboard and will last years if you don’t go through them immediately.
When you determine your hair porosity and see the list of oils for you. Don’t feel you need to buy them all right away even if you start with a few and slowly add you will still see results. Remember when buying oils make sure its virgin, not diluted with a carrier oil, its cold pressed and organic, in a dark glass bottle this makes a difference to the quality of the product. I will help by linking a good product of every oil for you.
To begin you will need one of these! I like to mix all the oils in one vile and in the second mix in the oils without mint and rosemary sometimes I like like 3 oils in the second vile to put in my ends after a shower.
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OILS for High Porosity Hair
Click titles, for links to the product.
Helps with dry and itchy scalp, supports the nerve tissue and supports growth factor.
Supports circulation and and prevents hair follicles from dying off.
Antibacterial properties reduces dandruff. Boosts hair growth and stimulates hair
circulation to the hair follicles.
Contains vitamin A, D&E also rich in acid a squalene, Making it a great moisturiser
for high porosity hair. Penetrates hair shaft and preserves moister which helps soften
the hair and can help remove dandruff.
Good for damaged hair as it has a high amount of vitamin E and has anti-
inflammatory properties. Avocado oil is lighter than olive and coconut oil there fore it absorbs into the hair shaft filling the gaps in the cuticle.
A rich source or saturated fats also contains vitamins and serval anti-oxidants. Which prevents keratin loss and protects split ends and prevents frizz.
Oils for Low porosity Hair
Click titles, for links to the product.
Helps with dry and itchy scalp, supports the nerve tissue and supports growth factor. Support circulation and and prevents hair follicles from dying off.
Antibacterial properties reduces dandruff. Boosts hair growth and stimulates hair circulation to the hair follicles.
High concentration of fatty and olec acid.
Similar to our natural scalp sebum its not pore clogging and leaves non greasy residue.
Good carrier for essential oil. Great source of vitamin E Potassium and zinc. It easily penetrates into the scalp and hair helping retain moisture, as well as adding shine.
Easy absorption, great for preventing hair loss, adding shine.
Strengthens the hair, and adds a beautiful shine.
Rich in emollient good for detangling and hair breakage
Makes the hair soft and frizz free and a good carrier oil to mix in with essential oils.
Promotes hair growth, Helps prevent moisture loss and removes toxins on the scalp that inhibit hair growth. This is quite a thick oil adding it last works best for most. For low porosity sometimes less is more.
If you made it this far I assume you’re quite keen and interested in making changes in bettering the quality of your hair health. Or maybe you’re like me and are sick of being ripped off and constantly seeing fake ads… or you just love me so you read it all. Either way thanks for reading, follow me on TikTok as I plan on filming videos based on my information in the next upcoming months.
Much love,
ZF
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