Let’s Talk About the Basics
Everyone’s favorite time of year has arrived.
It’s creepy, it’s crawly, and it’s giving ‘CocoCrew gets the chance to put on their matching sweatsuits and cosplay as Momtok’. It’s my favorite time to be alive.
Spooky season is so many things to so many people, but we’re here to raise awareness from our niche corner of the world and talk about some fun lil hair things that haunt us year-round—
let’s talk about some basics that are so basic we tend to forget about them completely.
And sometimes… us included.
Let’s start with one I forever remain guilty of!
Falling asleep with wet hair is for sure not your friend.
I’m going to do all of you readers a solid and start with one that, I, myself am guilty of to this day. i’ll never forget the horror on the face of our resident extension specialist, one Rachel Lane, the day I admitted I had slept on wet hair the night before. Her reaction was both entirely justified and also didn’t entirely change my behavior (which is a conversation I need to have with myself and has little to do with the fantastic points she raised.)
So here’s the deal: sleeping with wet hair can be detrimental to your hair's health and appearance. When hair is wet, the strands are more fragile and susceptible to damage. Sleeping like this can lead to tangles, breakage, and even mold growth on the scalp (MOLD!). Aside from the very obvious after the last two sentences, it can also land you with hair that’s (hopefully dried) and living in an entirely unnatural position, so styling in the morning is about to be your worst nightmare.
For the best results, it's recommended to thoroughly dry your hair before hitting the pillow to prevent any unnecessary harm or disruption to your hair's natural state.
Using serums/oils before you use your hot tool = sautéed hair.
This one I think of every time I remember the night I accidentally gave myself second degree burns while making a questionable choice as I handled a frying pan. While, yes the burns were not my favorite thing that’s ever happened to me, the thing I remember the most is the scent that radiated off my arm for the better part of 12 hours post-torching that hair.
So let’s be honest—serums and oils prior to picking up a hot tool isn’t going to be your hair’s favorite experience.
Using oils before styling with hot tools can for sure impact the overall health of your hair as well as negate the effectiveness of your styling tool. Oils create a slippery surface on the hair, making it difficult for the curling iron to grip the strands properly. This can lead to uneven or loose curls that don't hold their shape. Additionally, the high heat of the curling iron can cause the oils to smoke or even catch fire, potentially damaging the hair and creating quite an unpleasant odor.
For best results, it's recommended to style dry, oil-free hair with a curling iron to achieve long-lasting, defined curls without risking harm to that beautiful mane.
Dry shampoo is life, but traditional shampoo is your lifeline.
This one isn’t one I run into at all behind the chair, but is worth mentioning as humans who live in the era of living/dying by dry shampoo—
While dry shampoo is for sure a convenient product that can extend the time between washes by absorbing excess oil and refreshing the scalp, trying to replace traditional shampoo with it is something that'll give you nightmares.
While it may mask the appearance of dirt and oil, it doesn’t cleanse the hair or scalp in the same way that water and traditional shampoo do. Regular shampooing removes buildup from styling products, sweat, and environmental pollutants, ensuring a healthier scalp and hair.
Additionally, over-relying on dry shampoo can lead to scalp issues (@ me, an exczema sufferer), such as irritation or clogged pores. So, while dry shampoo can be a helpful temporary solution, it should complement, rather than substitute a regular cleansing routine.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
One of my biggest frights as a human being who washes my hair is feeling like my hair isn’t actually clean after i’ve shampooed it. Those of us over here in Virginia are pretty used to water that’s incredibly mineral heavy, so even if you’re living here in an area that doesn’t technically have hard water… your water is still packed fullllll of minerals that sit on your hair strand and weigh it down, prevent the good ingredients in your products from actually getting to your hairstrand, and tend to dry your hair out like there’s no tomorrow. And for those of us with well water, we just say a silent prayer and hope everything works itself out as long as we do everything to a T.
That being said, shampooing your hair twice can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your cleansing routine. The first wash removes surface oils, dirt, and product buildup from your scalp and strands, allowing the second application to actually go in and cleanse the hairstrand fully. Making sure you get those hairstrands squeaky clean means you’re creating a healthier environment for hair growth and minimizing issues like flakiness and greasiness. We’re talkin’ fresher, happier, healthier hair. And if you live in the good ol’ state for lovers, this is going to be your haircare routine’s best-kept secret.
You definitely need conditioner.
Coincidentally, the first time I ever came across the idea of skipping conditioner was when I was watching the cult-classic (for me) Disney Channel Original Movie titled Twitches. It’s a heartwarming, minimal-spook Halloween film about two twin witches (Tia and Tamera Mowry) who were raised in completely separate houses. And there’s a fun scene in which one twin explains how she’s using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. Tamera Mowry’s character just about loses her mind. It wasn’t until year laters that i’d even understand why I shared her shock about the situation, but here’s the deal—
Skipping conditioner in the shower can significantly impact the health and appearance of your hair. Conditioner is designed to replenish moisture, detangle strands, and smooth the cuticle layer, which helps in reducing frizz and enhancing shine. Without it, hair may become dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage. Regularly using conditioner ensures that your hair remains manageable and nourished, making it easier to style and maintain over time. For optimal hair care, incorporating conditioner into your washing routine is essential.
Tight styles are a slay for the look, but will legit slay your hairline over time if we’re not careful.
This one’s spooky because how can something that looks so snatched be so scary?
Objectively, it’s fun and flirty and fabulous x 100000, but over time your hairline will be screamin’ and if that ain’t one of the spookiest endings to a hair story i’ve ever heard….?!
But yes, hairstyles like tight ponytails, buns, and braids can be detrimental to the health of your hair and the overall appearance of your hairline. The constant tension and pulling on the hair follicles can lead to a condition called “uh oh” but can extend as far as a condition known as traction alopecia, which can result in hair loss and damage to the scalp.
Additionally, these styles can cause breakage, split ends, and an overall weakening of the hair shaft, making it more susceptible to further damage. It’s important to give your hair a break from tight styles and opt for more gentle, loose hairstyles to maintain the integrity and strength of your mane.
Touching that round brush before your hair’s ~80% dry is working against you!
In the year of our lord 2024, the age of blowout brushes, the era of that early 2000’s classic blowout… it’s important to know that reaching for that brush or that blowout tool before your hair is almost completely dry is like all six Scream films combined for your hair.
The long and the short of it is this: using a round brush (especially one with metal elements to it) or a blowout brush on hair that is not almost entirely dry can cause some real damage.
When hair is still wet, the bristles of the brush can pull and stretch the strands, leading to breakage and split ends. Additionally, the heat from the brush can torch the hair, robbing it of essential moisture and leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to frizz. The dryer your hair is, the better. That heat will smooth out anything you weren’t able to do so with in the rough dry and waiting will allow the hair to maintain its strength and integrity, resulting in a smoother, more polished finish.
So happy to have you with us for the spookiest of CocoLemon Hair blog posts. Don’t forget to check out our last blog post on why we need to ditch the heavy moisture for lightweight hydration in these fall months & we can’t wait to see you for our next post!
