A while back I asked you all (through Instagram) about what you would like to see more of, and among all of the food and nutrition requests…. hair and beauty tips were high up on the list! Of course, first things first. Radiant healthy hair and skin starts from within. You can’t have nice skin or hair without being properly nourished and hydrated. Period. Check out this post for some of my nutrition tips to keep your skin and hair healthy if you’re concerned that you’re not getting the nutrients you need! Eating a balanced diet that includes healthy fats (avocados, olive oil etc), plant-based protein (including beans, tofu, nuts and seeds), tons of greens, vitamin C packed fruit and hearty whole grains is a good start along with minimizing stress and getting plenty of sleep.
Aside from lifestyle and nutrition, the products you use are also super important! And I am speaking from experience here. I’ve tried a gazillion products, and am thrilled that I get to share my new-found hair product go-to with you here!
I’ve been blessed with a lot of strong hair to start with (genetics also play a role to add to the above list), but over the last couple of years I noticed that my hair started to feel dry, brittle and thinner. In fact, when we came back from my brother’s wedding in Mexico a couple of months ago I kind of freaked out, I literally thought that half of my hair had fallen out, it felt so thin! Eeek!
I knew that I needed to find a product that could rescue my hair and protect it from further damage down the road. Just before I left on vacation I was introduced to a range of products under the Schwarzkopf brand: you may recognize it as a professional salon-grade hair brand. They make a full hair care collection (which is now available at the retail level) under one umbrella including shampoos, conditioners, and treatments with keratin, hair colour, root touch-up sprays, and even styling products under the got2b brand. Since I do everything at home (including colouring my own hair, more on that to come), finding one company that covered all the bases was such a win!
Now, I have a confession to make: I’m allergic to getting my hair cut. But seriously, I only cut my hair 1-2 times a year much to the chagrin of my hairdresser. She texts me every so often to remind me just how overdue I am for a cut (bless her). I love having long hair and always like the way it grows out! But to pull this off, I need to make sure that I take care of my locks between cuts.
I started using the Schwarzkopf collection when I returned home from Mexico and noticed a massive change in the health of my hair. As it turns out, I didn’t lose half of my hair (although some days it feels like it raising two boys haha!); it was just SO dry and brittle and had zero life in it. I found a good fit for my hair from their GLISS repairing shampoo and conditioner line and breathed a sigh of relief to know I wasn’t going bald (I’m using GLISS Hair Repair Ultra+ Moisture – the white bottle – but I also love the Ultimate Repair formula when my hair calls out for an SOS – the black bottle). If you’re interested in finding your best match within the Schwarzkopf family of products click here.
Giving your hair a break is one essential tip that I want to share with any of you who have long hair or are trying to grow out your hair. When I was back in high school I had the thickest long hair (down to my bum at one point, a bit much actually), and one thing that I did regularly was braid my hair after brushing it, fresh out of the shower when it was still wet, and leave it for the day.
I do the same 2-3 days a week now but I’ve added a leave-in keratin conditioner to the routine (I spray on the GLISS Ultimate Repair Express Repair Conditioner and comb it through my hair with my fingers) before braiding it. It’s something I highly recommend! I had a doctor once tell me that moisturizers work best if applied to slightly damp skin to lock in the moisture, and I feel that hair follows the same set of rules. I would love to know how this works for you or if you have any pearls of hair care wisdom to share below in the comments section!
Thank you so much for following along as I share my tips and tricks for hair care and styling over the coming months! And thank you so much to Schwarzkopf for sponsoring these posts, I’m thrilled to have found a company to work with that creates such awesome products that truly work.
xo
Tori
This post was sponsored by Schwarzkopf. All opinions are my own.
Your hair is gorgeous. What are the colours of the hair dye you use. I’m texted to do my own as I’ve got a ton of hair too and it’s so expensive in the salon.
Thanks Jessie! I am just experimenting with the colours, I typically use a combination of a hazelnut and dark brown!
What color do you use on your hair if I may ask
I’m just experimenting with some new colours I will keep you posted!
How often do you wash your hair?
Every 2-3 days
Your hair is soo beautiful!!
I think I am going to give Gliss a try..I’ve been looking for good repair products- thanks for sharing!
P.S Do you whiten your teeth? If so, which brand do you use?
Thanks!!
Thanks so much Sheila! I whiten them about once or twice a year at home with the Crest White Strips: I use the Glamorous White (at least I did the last time). Take care!!! Tori
Hey, Tori this is off topic but, can you please tell me where your silver cake stand is from? I missed it from your insta stories. Thank you 🙂
Hi Rav! Jillian bought it for me ages ago but you can get them at specialty food supply shops if you have one in your neighbourhood? I have one here called CRS and another called Chefs Edge I think that both carry them in Kelowna? Take care!
Thanks so much for all the information! Your hair is very beautiful 🙂
Thank you so much Andrea! xo Tori
I absolutely love your hair! I am also wondering how you get salon looking results at home? What brand of colour are you using for home? The salon is soooo expensive that I am growing tired of going every 4 weeks to cover grey. Any tips you have for home use would be amazing 🙂 Thanks Tori!
Thank you!! I will be doing a tutorial very soon on my hair! I’m using the Schwarzkopf brand (Keratin one) will give you the full review and will share the details in a couple of weeks, colouring your hair is actually quite easy!
The braid has been suggested to me by two different high-end stylists. It’s funny because it is something I tried intuitively when I was younger. My problem is that my hair never fully dried and it made my hair flat on top. But maybe it is time for a rethink!
Thanks for your blog!
Hi Anon I find the same thing to be honest, but love how it gives my hair a rest! I just do it on days when I don’t have to get dolled up the next day:)
Thank you for following along!!
Tori
Hi Tori,
Off topic… but I am considering a plant based way of eating, how would you recommend I start?
Thank you
Hi Clare,
That is a great question! Why don’t you just start slowly and gradually incorporate more plant based foods into your diet? To be honest it seems intimidating but it’s really easy to make some good changes. Maybe you just change your regular milk to soy or almond milk, sub tofu for chicken in your next stir fry, try a meatless Monday then expand it to other days of the week. Invest in a good cookbook like Minimalist Baker’s or Oh She Glows for some awesome inspiration! I should write a blog about this as you aren’t alone…I just added it to my list! Let me know how it goes! Tori
Just wanted to clarify because I am someone who never uses products. I always hate how they make my hair feel greasy and weighed down, but I’m also noticing with age and longer hair comes flatter hair 🙂
With the leave-in conditioner, do you still use shampoo and conditioner in the shower as normal? And then apply the leave-in and braid? Or does the leave-in replace your normal conditioner on days you use it?
How often do u put heat on your hair and if so what? And how often? And what temperature because your hair is very beautiful.
Hi Donna! Thanks so much! Usually every 2-3 days. I use a high temperature on my hair dryer (more out of impatience, it is better to use a warm vs hot temperature on your hair dryer) and use a high temperature (I think around 300) on my curling iron but don’t let it contact my ends for more than a couple seconds.
Hi, Your hair looks beautiful. Do you use the Schwarzkopf line to color your hair? I need to start covering grays and I want to do it myself. Thank you.
Thank you! Yes I do! I use the Keratin line in Cappuccino – would love to hear if you give it a try!
Hi Tori,
I know this an old post, but I’ve seen you sometimes wearing this awesome super big scrunchies. Were are they from?
Thank u!!!!
Hi Debora, they are from Chelsea King!
Thank u!!!!