How to Look After Your Blonde Hair (Natural Tips for Fair Hair)
Do blondes really have more fun?
Well, not if their hair is dull, tired and straw-like.
So what’s a blonde got to do?
The easy way out is to douse your hair in tons of synthetic products that promise the world but may leave you disappointed. And not so simple route is to find the best natural ingredients to revive your hair. From chamomile and honey to coconut and rosewater, nature has provided us with pretty amazing conditioners that help to keep the hair light and bright. But just putting some random natural ingredient won’t result in fabulous hair. You got to know when to put what.
What Does Blonde Hair Really Want: Protein or Moisture
If you are fond of your blonde hair you need to understand its two vital needs: moisture and protein. Our hair is made of protein, so adding more protein may seem like the right thing to do. But it’s not. If you use too much protein on hair, it starts to build up, making hair stiffer and drier.
Protein needs to be balanced with moisture. In healthy conditions, our hair has a moisture content of 10 to 12 per cent. A well-moisturised hair feels soft to touch and appears shiny and lustrous. Also, it’s more elastic and flexible, which makes hair more manageable and less prone to breakage.
Yet, how to know when your hair needs moisture or protein?
Well, it’s straightforward. If your hair is soft, limp and over-elastic it means it’s over moisturised. So add more protein to your hair regime. And if it’s dry, brittle and stiff, it needs moisture. Protein gives hair its structure, and moisture gives hair elasticity and softness. And once you are able to decipher what your hair needs, conditioning and caring for your light hair won’t be a grey area.
Got that, Huh? Before we find out what natural ingredients you can use to create your dream hair, one more thing that needs to be told.
Understanding blonde hair: Did you know that ‘natural blonde’ is a rare breed.
While many people are born with blonde hair, it turns darker with age. And only 2-4 percent world population is naturally blonde. Which means the majority are chemically-treated bleached blonde.
Naturally blonde hair has a finer and softer texture than darker hair. Also, because of the lighter hair colour, it reflects more light as oppose to dark hair which absorbs it. This reflected light makes blonde hair appear shinier. But due to its finer structure, blonde hair can quickly become weak and limp and must be treated with care. It’s often necessary to work on adding volume and thickness to your hair, especially if it’s longer. You can achieve this by applying protein treatments such as egg and yogurt, which enhances texture and body and makes your hair appear fuller. Alternatively, what also works is coconut oil. Of course, coconut oil doesn’t contain any protein in it, but it helps your hair to retain protein and prevent protein loss from your hair. And this quality of coconut oil helps your hair get thicker and stronger.
What about colour-treated blondes?
Whereas natural blonde hair has fewer colour pigments, chemical-blonde hair is achieved when peroxide or bleach removes the dark colour pigments. And this allows the new colour to replace it. But doing so requires the outer layer of hair, the cuticle, to lift up so the original pigments are stripped off, and new hair colour is inserted into the core of the hair. The whole process of stripping the original colour and putting in the new colour can be taxing for your hair cuticles.
And the more you colour, the weaker and damaged the hair cuticles can become. Sadly, the damaged hair cuticles cause the moisture to leak out of the hair. Thus making the dry, brittle and lifeless. To help bring dry, dull hair back to life, I suggest coconut milk (not oil). An excellent deep conditioner, coconut milk will provide intense hydration for every strand of hair, reduce frizz and leave hair soft, shiny and well-defined.
But is it that straightforward? If your hair is naturally blonde, then add protein to hair and if it’s colour-treated blonde, apply moisturising treatments.
Well, no. Coloured hair can also benefit from protein treatment as it can help fill up gaps created by damaged cuticles. So your hair is better protected and appears healthier. And conversely naturally blonde hair can also get dry and will benefit from moisturising conditioner to get back shine and softness. In the end, it’s all about understanding what your hair wants. As you figure out when to condition with protein and when to moisturise, looking after your hair becomes a fun game.
Remember this rule,
Protein overload −> dry, stiff hair −> add moisture
Too much moisturise −> soft, mushy hair −> add protein
Next time we will see the list of natural conditioners to help keep your goldy locks looking healthy and vibrant.
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