We get it: life is stressful, and you often feel as though you’re being pulled in several different directions all at once. Given how hectic it can be, certain things can fall to the wayside, like self-care. After all, who wants to think about a fifteen-step skincare routine when there’s deadlines looming and bills to pay?
Taking time for yourself actually doesn’t have to take too much time. Nothing can perk you back up when you’re feeling exhausted and depressed than setting aside a few minutes to just focus on yourself. Or even just a part of yourself, like your hair. Below are a few of our favorite haircare products for your crowning glory that should be easy to shoehorn into your schedule:
A Daily Conditioner
You won’t believe the difference a fantastic conditioner can make for your hair, especially if you’ve never been in the habit of using it before. Using a daily conditioner can even be more beneficial than your once-a-week hair mask when it comes to protecting your strands from damage and dehydration. For just a few extra minutes in the shower, you could be looking at stronger, more moisturized hair that dries down to a dazzling shine while also being easier to style—and who doesn’t want that? Try Skinfood’s Peppermint Fresh Scalp Conditioner, which provides gentle cleansing for dry, itchy scalp and leaves a fresh, invigorating feeling.
A Hair Mask
If you suffer from dry, frizzy hair that’s dull and rife with split ends, a weekly hair mask can do wonders for your tresses. Think of it like the upgraded version of your daily conditioner, which offers the same benefits of providing moisture, hydration and healing—just dialed up a few notches in intensity. It can tame frizz, bring back smoothness, and make your hair softer and healthier. The deep hydration hair masks provide can also help prevent any further damage done to your hair by infusing strands with moisture to help them feel thicker.
A Hair Oil
There are several benefits to using hair oils: as lubricants, they can help suss out tangles in your wet hair, for example. They can also act as sealants to seal the hair cuticle down. Hair oils also help protect your hair from damage caused by styling, whether it’s with a blow dryer, a curling iron, or any heating implement. They can also help prevent split ends by replenishing the stores of protein and lipids in your hair strands. Best of all, using them will only take a few seconds at most—heat a couple of drops between your palms and run them through your hair, focusing on the ends. Style, and go.
A Hair Serum
Hair serum and hair oil may look similar, and are even applied in a similar way. The difference is in the ingredients – hair oil is usually made with natural essential oils, while hair serums are silicone-based products that also contain amino acids and ceramides. Instead of penetrating the hair strand, like an oil, hair serums coat the surface of the strand instead, preventing nasty tangles, providing shine and softness, and protecting your hair from sun exposure and environmental pollutants.
A Temporary Color Treatment
A recent K-beauty trend is infusing hair treatment packs with pigment that can give you a brand new hair color for a week, or up to a month. These color treatments can be used with or without bleaching, and are so easy to use. Just apply the product through your hair, comb it through, wait for the recommended amount of time, and rinse off. Since it’s a treatment, your hair will be left soft and smooth as though you’ve just deep conditioned. The vivid new shade can last anywhere from a week to four weeks, depending on how often you shampoo.
Indeed, with the right products, not only can you pamper your beautiful tresses, you’ll also be able to tame them and keep them in tiptop shape. Which one is your favorite?