What should we clean and style our hair with? I used to buy the cheapest option possible (I went with the Pert shampoo/conditioner blend – it came in a green bottle). Then I learned that not all shampoo is the same and I bought the really expensive stuff from the salon. Both options were full of chemicals I could not pronounce.
Eventually I found myself on a wellness adventure for my hair. It started in the early 2000’s when the salon color agents burned my scalp. I started learning and while I continued to color my hair I switched to an all-natural version from Israel that I bought at my natural food stores.
These days I no longer color and I’ve learned a lot about what is best for cleaning and styling hair. I plan to write a full wellness adventure section on hair – with more of my own story, resources where you can learn, and a set of hair wellness adventures from beginner to advanced.
In the meantime, if you’d like to jump in and try the gear I use … below is a list.
As I always do here at The Wellness Adventures, these links do not track your activity and I do not have an affiliate or sponsored relationship with any of the brands I recommend. These are the products I use every day for my own hair!
Finally, please remember that your hair is quite unique. Hair can vary widely – from person to person and within the scope of a single person’s life. I try to meet my hair where it is today. I no longer try to change it to match a current style. I seek to understand it and give it what it needs most. What works for me may definitely not be the perfect fit for you. I do however feel you’ll find products that you love on the websites listed below.
Happy adventuring!
What I Use to Clean and Condition My Hair:
I shampoo with a shampoo bar. That was a big switch for me – moving from bottled shampoo to the bar approach. It’s not hard. Bars are not expensive. Trying a shampoo bar is a great beginner wellness adventure. It might feel really strange, but basically you are leaving behind excess plastic packaging, microplastics, and ingredients that are suspect and unnecessary. Cost is usually less. The bars I currently use are not available for general purchase (made by a friend). I also use shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, and I often purchase from local suppliers. I treat my hair to occasional washes with the shampoo bar from Morrocco Method (it’s a little too conditioning so repeated washings will weigh my hair down; it might be a great daily bar for some).
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Concentrate: Summer Rain is a must for me. ACV rinses are good for all hair types – however the amount and frequency varies. Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has several ACV rinse options. First time users also need something to mix it in. I use the bottle from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve – it has been well worth the money.
What I Use to Comb and Brush My Hair:
I use four items to comb and brush my hair.
First, a wooden comb is a must. Plastic combs are, well, plastic. Plastic is cheap, it breaks down and leaves micro plastic residue, and it creates static which is not healthy for your scalp or hair. Wooden combs can be found everywhere. If buying online the site I recommend most is EarthHero.com. You can also look on Etsy and local natural food or wellness stores.
Brushes – I switched to Pure Boar Bristle Brushes back in 2017. Morrocco Method is my favorite source and all my brushes are from them. You can also learn why boar bristle brushes are best for your hair on their website.
I also use something called a Scalp Massager. Again from Morrocco Method. A Scalp Massager is a great Wellness Adventure to try. Perfect for beginners. The cost is low, using it is simple and requires no special skills, and it’s effective (stimulating the scalp helps the hair follicles).
