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Growing Long, Healthy Hair

February 3, 2020

This is a bit of a light weight post for us but I wanted to quickly share my “hair journey” as silly as that sounds because it was so ruined after having our first baby and it has taken me a few years to restore.    There are certain mistakes that I made/things that have brought me back on track and I would love to share those incase it’s helpful to you!! It also serves to remind me not to make the same mistakes again… 

I get a weird desire during pregnancy to have a makeover moment and chop off all my hair.   I did it last time and ended up looking like a grape on top of a watermelon so I’m not sure why I have been tempted to do it again (chalk it up to hormones) but my great friend Patrick who is also responsible for my hair health prevented me from doing it so, thank you Patrick —  I owe you one.

As many of you know, you tend to grow a lot of hair during pregnancy and then lose it after giving birth.    As mentioned, last time I chopped it off and then was coloring it every six weeks (why?!?!) after R was born. I ended up with fried, dry, straw like hair — a far cry from the desired results and a really tough cycle to break out of.   See below:

Patrick came along like a knight in shining armor, fixed the color, gave it a proper cut and then locked away all chemicals for the foreseeable future.   For the last three and a half years, I have only colored it max twice a year, and coupled vitamins and far less frequent shampoos, we’re in a much stronger position these days!   It is soft, and healthy!  I also deep condition it at least once every two weeks. Here are some mid-growth pics:

One of the best things that I have done is taken to less frequent washing. I know that this doesn’t work for everybody and applies best to those of us who run really dry. When I do wash my hair, I use this this mask, shampoo and conditioner — fit for fixing your hair and giving your bank manager a heart attack, I do want to say that it lasts a really long time!!! I detangle with this wooden brush and then let it air dry for as long as possible before smoothing it out…. If I don’t blow dry my hair, I have to wash it more frequently because it’s so curly it turns into a tangly mess.

Over Christmas, I discovered this new hair tool which has been life-changing — the first product I have had at home which allows me to achieve a “salon quality” blow out and so quickly and easily. Again, I let it air dry for as long as possible before using but it is miraculous!

When I am not taking pre-natal vitamins, and can remember to do so, I have loved the supplement Viviscal — obviously please talk to your doctor before doing anything; I haven’t taken it in a long time but it does help with growth. I also hear collagen is great.

I also have fallen in love with silk hair ties and clips and have gotten rid of my normal hair ties all together which I think has been very helpful!