Hair health activist and style alchemist Reneé Potgieter is on a mission to get us all to fall back in love with our natural locks.
In her 20 years spent in the hair business, Reneé has watched as we cut, coloured, curled, and crimped the natural beauty out of our hair. She also learnt that there is a gentler way for us to uncover the hair of our dreams. This gentle approach begins with allowing our hair to heal; letting Mother Nature take the metaphorical brush and breaking our cycle of chemical dependency to begin the rehabilitation process.
How do you know if your hair needs rehabilitation?
Just like our skin, our hair will display signs of ageing and damage if we mistreat it. Dullness, build-up, dry scalp, dandruff, oiliness, hair loss and sensitivity are all common side effects of long-term chemical dependency. These symptoms can be caused by a wide variety of sources including a build-up of silicone on the hair shaft, compromised porosity and elasticity, pH imbalance, a nutrient deficiency in the body, a medical condition such as a thyroid imbalance, genetics, and physical reactions to the chemicals in your hair products.
Paying attention to your body and taking a minimalist approach to products and styling will give your hair time to find its natural equilibrium again.
What is the Hair Rehab process?
Awareness: First, you need to detox from all the chemicals you come into daily contact with. Everything you use including shampoos, conditioners, oils, silicones, heat-protectors, and even bubble baths will have an impact on your hair. Have a look through the ingredient lists and exclude any products with terrifying, unpronounceable words and alcohol.
Deep Cleanse: Give your hair a helping hand with a deep cleanse that will remove any chemical build-up and expose the natural state of your hair. You cannot begin to properly nourish your hair until you have broken the build-up shield on the hair shaft and scalp, as any nutrients will be prevented from making their way into your hair.
Deep Nourish: To encourage elasticity and porosity (which are the building blocks of great hair), after our deep cleanse we need to feed our hair. Natural nourishing treatments like oils, masks and conditioners that contain botanical elements will help your hair look and feel loved. Make sure to use premium grade products as they are most often not contaminated with other chemicals.
Take Care of the Cuticle Layer: All hair has a cuticle layer that must be nurtured and understood for happy, healthy hair. Sealing the cuticle locks in moisture and protects the keratin in the hair from exposure, improving the texture of your hair and prolonging your colour.
Limit Your Chemical Exposure: After all your hard work in detox and recovery, you need to cultivate healthier habits. Cleaner, more natural products, a minimal-heat approach, a nourishing diet, and being kind to yourself with your personal care regime all makes you a healthier happier person. Actively replacing unhealthy hair habits with a ‘less is more’ approach to heat and chemicals, helps the care you put into your hair shine through in your confidence.
No matter how long you have been using harsh methods, if you start with the basics and have patience, your hair will recover.
Your ideal hair is waiting for you, with a gentle approach, a holistic plan and a little time, it is only a few simple steps away.