We hear a lot about detoxing our bodies.
But what about our hair?
If your hair has become dull, heavy, difficult to style or just doesn’t seem to respond to your usual products anymore, the answer might not be another conditioning treatment.
Your hair could simply need a really good clean.
And we’re not just talking about shampoo.
What builds up on our hair?
Your hair comes into contact with far more than you probably realise.
Over time, you can accumulate:
- Styling product residue
- Oils
- Dry shampoo
- Minerals from hard water (our area is especially bad for this, think about build up on the indosed of your kettle and shower)
- Chlorine
- Environmental impurities
- Certain ingredients from hair products
Regular shampooing removes everyday dirt and oil, but it doesn’t necessarily remove every type of deposit that can accumulate on and within the hair.
That’s where professional detox treatments can help.
What are the signs of build-up?
One of the interesting things about build-up is that it can sometimes be mistaken for damage.
You might notice:
Your hair looks dull.
Even freshly washed hair doesn’t have its usual shine.
It feels heavy.
Your roots become flat quickly or your hair doesn’t move like it normally does.
Your blonde looks different.
Mineral deposits can affect how clean, bright or clear blonde hair appears.
Your products aren’t performing like they used to.
You keep adding more, but nothing seems to work.
Your hair feels coated.
Even after shampooing, it doesn’t have that lovely clean-hair feeling.
Your colour isn’t behaving as expected.
Build-up on the hair is one of the things we need to consider before certain colour services.
Isn’t detoxing just using a clarifying shampoo?
Not necessarily.
A clarifying shampoo can be really useful for removing some types of product and oil build-up.
Professional detox treatments can go further by targeting particular mineral deposits and impurities.
At The Strand, we use professional Malibu C treatments when appropriate to help remove unwanted build-up and create a cleaner canvas.
This can be particularly useful after periods of swimming or when mineral build-up is affecting the hair.
Why detox after summer?
Think about what your hair might have encountered over the last few months.
Swimming pools.
The sea.
More sun cream.
More dry shampoo.
Sweating.
Holiday water.
Extra styling products.
Days spent tying wet hair back after swimming.
By September, there’s potentially quite a cocktail sitting on your hair.
For some clients, a professional detox can be a fantastic starting point for their autumn hair reset.
Can I detox too often?
You certainly don’t need to aggressively clarify your hair every time you wash it.
Over-cleansing with inappropriate products can leave some hair feeling dry.
Your regular shampoo and your detox/clarifying products have different jobs.
The key is using the right one at the right time.
One last thing…
If you’re planning a major colour change, tell your stylist about your hair history.
That includes swimming, holidays, home colouring and anything unusual you’ve noticed about your hair.
The cleaner and more predictable the canvas, the better informed we can be when planning your colour.
The Strand verdict
If your hair is dull, heavy or simply doesn’t feel quite right, don’t immediately assume it’s damaged.
It might not need more product. It might need less stuff sitting on it.
A professional detox followed by the right treatment can give us a fantastic clean canvas from which to rebuild your haircare routine.
Not sure whether you need moisture, repair, detoxification or simply a haircut?
That’s exactly what your consultation is for.
Ask your Strand stylist about a hair detox at your next appointment and we’ll tell you whether your hair would actually benefit from one.
