When I got engaged last December, I knew I wanted long, strong, healthy-looking hair for my wedding. Shortly after Scott asked me to marry him, we had an appointment at a venue on the Chesapeake Bay – I had gone to a wedding there once before and always knew I wanted to be married there. So when they said they had July 19th available – I jumped on the date. Hell, it was the only available date this summer!
But that left me with a short seven months to strengthen and grow out my dry, damaged, brittle hair. In October and November, my hair started breaking off at the ends. I mean serious breakage, the hair on the right side of my head is much shorter than the left. It just…broke. I didn’t know why – I was using my organic shampoo and conditioner, but even so, the shampoo was too harsh for my hair, as 99.9% of shampoos are. It stripped my scalp of natural oil, and it left my hair a freakin’ mess. I switched brands (didn’t work), tried the no ‘poo method (only helped a little bit) and stopped washing my hair so much.
The issue is that shampoos – even organic brands – strip the hair of its natural oil and leave a buildup on the scalp. Removing the natural oil weakens the hair, causing damage. The buildup retards hair growth.
So what can you do, when even the most “all natural” brands contributed to the problem? Well, nothing really worked until I was introduced to Morrocco Method. Their products are raw, vegan, organic and 100% natural. You know how people use the word natural and it means nothing? Morrocco Method is the real deal when it comes to natural hair care – their ingredients are grown in the ground, not made in a lab. Using these products helps hair grow faster and stronger.
Whether you’re looking to lengthen, strengthen, beautify or thicken your hair, MM has a detailed outline on how to do it. They have a nifty chart for the best days to cut hair to promote growth as well as the best days to retard hair growth (good for plucking, waxing, and shaving). The best shampoos for lengthening and strengthening are Sea Essence and Pine Shale. While a bit more expensive, they last for months. Because the shampoo is so concentrated, you actually have to dilute it. You do this by mixing a small amount of shampoo with equal amounts water. You can watch a quick video on shampoo tips and tricks HERE.
Sea Essence is the most conditioning of the shampoos which makes it great for those with dry, damaged hair. It also has natural silicon to restore shine and luster.
Pine Shale is the most restorative of the shampoos. It’s great for those with dandruff, itchy scalp and inflammation. It deeply cleanses to promote strong, healthy hair.
The best conditioners for healthy, long hair are Euro Natural Oil Conditioner and Diamond Crystal Mist.
Euro Natural Oil is a deep conditioner. It’s deeply restorative and balances the pH of the scalp and hair. I recommend using it every time you wash your hair, but it’s perfect for weekly deep treatments. Apply it to the roots and work your way down to the ends. Cover your head and sleep with it in overnight. This will deeply condition and promote growth.
I use Diamond Crystal Mist after I get out of the shower and before I brush my hair. I really prefer to use this in addition to the Euro Oil because I’ve found that using both is SO conditioning and really helps my hair. Before when I would wash my hair, it would dry into this crunch, straw-like mess. Using the mist really helps detangle as well as hydrate my hair. When it dries it’s much softer, flowing and shiny.
Other Recommendations
Make sure to brush your hair regularly. Start at the ends and work your way up. Once you get all of the tangles out, brush from your scalp to the ends, making sure to apply pressure to your scalp. This does two things: it stimulates the scalp and distributes your natural oils. These natural oils are really beneficial and will help nourish your hair, so you want to make sure your ends are getting some of them as well.
Essential oils are also great for jump-starting hair growth. Applying 3 drops of each of doTERRA’s lime, lavender, ylang-ylang, and rosemary to the scalp stimulates hair follicles and encourages growth. I only recommend doTERRA’s essential oils because they are therapeutic grade. You can find out how to purchase them HERE.
Many people have also had success adding a Biotin (find Biotin HERE) supplement to their daily routine. Biotin is a B vitamin that supports hair and nail growth and boosts energy. If you do decide to take a Biotin supplement, make sure you’re drinking an adequate amount of water.
