Low-effort, high-style is the name of the game when it comes to our haircare routines. With many of us still working at home and juggling multiple responsibilities, the idea of simplifying our haircare routine seems more appealing than ever. And lucky for you, building a no-fuss haircare routine could be as simple as signing up for a subscription or replacing your chemical-laden conditioner with a highly-concentrated hair conditioner bar like one found at TheEarthlingCo.com. Keep reading for expert tips on simplifying your haircare routine and making your daily ’do as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Declutter your existing haircare products
The first step to simplifying your haircare routine is taking stock of the products you already have and figuring out which ones are actually worth keeping around. Think about it: do you really need three moisturizing conditioners to give your strands luster and shine, or will one suffice? Do you use that bottle of styling cream on a regular basis, or is it just taking up space in your bathroom cabinet?
To cut back on haircare products, consider separating them into three categories:
- Daily Favorites: These are haircare products you love and use daily. Obviously, you want to keep these!
- Special Favorites: This category includes haircare products you love, but don’t use every day. If you use them semi-frequently and they work for you, consider keeping a few of them around.
- Forgot-I-Had-These: These are haircare products you purchased a long time ago and hardly ever use. If you forgot you even had them, you definitely don’t need them.
Before you toss any unwanted products in the trash, consider donating them if they’re more than halfway full and still in relatively good condition (read: not expired). If they’re gross or nearly empty, rinse them out and recycle the bottles.
Switch to plant-based haircare
Parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde — oh my! The number of harmful ingredients lurking in drugstore haircare products these days is downright alarming. Instead of memorizing an ever-growing list of toxic haircare ingredients to avoid, why not make things simpler by switching to plant-based haircare? Unlike synthetic formulas, which aren’t good for your hair or the environment, plant-based haircare products tend to have a shorter list of ingredients and boast nourishing vitamins for your hair.
Case in point: plant-based shampoo bars. Scented with fresh essential oils (as opposed to artificial fragrances), these highly-concentrated bars smell great and are often loaded with good-for-hair ingredients that come from naturally-derived sources. They’re also travel-friendly, plastic-free and suitable for all hair types. You can also round out your routine with a moisturizing conditioner bar and you’ll never go back to the bottled stuff again!
Embrace your natural texture
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that nobody is ever satisfied with their natural hair texture. If you have wavy hair, you probably want it to be smooth and straight. If you have pin-straight locks, you no doubt long for bouncy curls. No matter what hair texture you were born with, one thing is certain: fighting against your natural hair texture is doing you no favors.
When you flat-iron your gorgeous waves or curl your silky-straight hair every day, it breaks down the chemical bonds in your hair and causes long-lasting damage to your strands. Why not embrace the hair you were born with? Take it upon yourself to learn more about your hair type and how to work with it rather than against it.
Prioritize hair health above all else
More often than not, our haircare routines include products that only serve to make our hair look good temporarily. For instance, silicones will make your hair look shiny and smooth, but over time, they can build up on your scalp and form a barrier that keeps moisture and vital ingredients from penetrating the hair shaft. This can make your hair frizzy, spurring you to buy even more silicone-based products.
To break this vicious cycle, choose haircare products based on what they can do for your hair in the long-term rather than the short-term. For example, instead of relying on silicone-based smoothing creams to tame your frizz, reach for hydrating hair oils, like argan oil or jojoba oil, that hydrate and moisturize your hair naturally. By putting the health of your hair first, you can eliminate the need for additional products and achieve healthier, stronger strands in the long run.
Sign up for subscription haircare
Every day, it seems like more and more haircare brands are moving towards a subscription model — and for good reason. Why make yourself schlep to the store for shampoo or conditioner when you can get all your haircare essentials sent right to your door? These monthly haircare services do all the hard work for you, ensuring that you never run out of product again.
Not only are haircare subscriptions undeniably convenient, but they’re also good for your wallet. Many beauty companies give their subscribers special discounts that don’t apply to one-time purchases, allowing you to streamline your haircare routine while saving tons of money in the long-term. Sounds like a win-win to us!
Unfollow beauty influencers
We’ve all done it — some beauty influencer with gorgeous hair starts hawking a company’s beauty products on Instagram, and the next thing you know, you’re hitting “add to cart.” A few months later, that very same product is collecting dust in your bathroom cabinet because it didn’t yield the desired results.
The reality is that many beauty influencers don’t use the products they promote (not on a regular basis, anyway). Even if they do use the product regularly, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for your hair.
To avoid temptation, unfollow or mute the majority of beauty influencers on your newsfeed. Your wallet and your hair will thank you for it.
Less Is More
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an overly-complicated haircare routine to achieve picture-perfect hair. With these tips, you can simplify your haircare and enjoy good hair days every day.