My shower is my daily mind-centering activity. It’s how I get my bearings for the day (as well as keep my thin hair from looking really oily). But when I worked at a summer camp up in Maine for a season, finding products that made your hairstyle last longer were worth the hours of research they took. You see, on particularly busy days, I had to choose between eating my dinner, or running back to the cabin to quickly shower. Sometimes, the shower won. Sometimes they were serving steak, and dry shampoo and other products that made my hair not look greasy had to suffice.
When it comes to making a blowout or other hairstyle last longer, the products you put in your hair beforehand are just as important as the products you put in your hair afterwards — and, for the most part, less is more. Anti-frizz serums and holding lotions may look awesome on day one, but on days two and three, those things translate to an oily scalp and heavy, limp strands. As always, I’m all about the natural options, as I find that they’re much better at balancing oil production and promoting amazing, long-lasting hair health. Check out these top ways to avoid greasy hair with products that keep your hairstyle looking fresh all week.
1. Don’t Use Regular Hairspray – Use Sea Salt
Organic Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray, $19, Amazon
Sea salt may be too drying for freshly-washed hair, but it’s a great holding product if you’re trying to avoid the oil a couple days into your wash. Organic Mermaid's sea salt hair spray has all-natural ingredients that are rich in healing minerals, and it adds volume and texture to your hair without any of the greasy residue of hairspray.
2. Use A High-Quality Hair Dryer With Ionizing Technology
xtava Allure Professional Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer, $36, Amazon
A long-lasting hairstyle starts with the styling, and a low-quality blow dryer isn’t just causing irreparable damage — it’s also drying out your locks, causing your body to make excess oil to compensate. xtava Allure Professional Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer is an awesome option because it uses ionizing technology and a lightweight ceramic frame to dry hair faster and with much less damage, so hair stays healthy and in place for days.
3. Go Natural With Your Dry Shampoo
Organic Hair Dance Dry Shampoo, $12, Amazon
When it comes to a long-lasting hairstyle, dry shampoo is no new trick, but synthetic ingredients disrupt the pH of your scalp and cause build-up, ultimately making the issue worse. As always, I try to stick with organic options. Organic Hair Dance's dry shampoo leaves hair looking refreshed, volumized, and beautiful, all without annoying residue or chalky build-up, and people say it’s easily the best one they’ve tried.
4. Use Blotting Paper On Your Hair On-The-Go
Natural Bamboo Charcoal Oil Absorbing Blotting Paper, $7, Amazon
Oil blotting paper isn’t just for your skin when you break a sweat on the train heading into work. It’s also a great hack to keep your hair looking fresh, and I’m a fan of this Natural Bamboo charcoal oil-absorbing blotting paper because it’s all natural. It’s made with nothing other than high-quality linen and organic bamboo charcoal, which easily and conveniently soak up the excess oil in your hair.
5. Lift Your Roots For Long-Lasting Volume
Davines Texturizing Dust, $19, Amazon
Lifting your hair up and away from your scalp stops the spreading of oil. This Italian-made product called Davines Texturizing Dust is an awesome way to touch up and texturize your roots a few days in, especially if you have thin hair that tends to flatten out by the next morning. A little sprinkling on the scalp gives you fresh volume, and it does so without any sticky or gummy residue.
6. Skip The Heavy Oils — Condition With Beer, Instead
Duffy's Brew Premium Craft Beer Conditioner, $20, Amazon
Beer is rich in vitamins and minerals, and the alcohol in it works as a cleansing and shine agent, so it’s an awesome way to hydrate hair without any of the volume-crushing oils. Duffy's Brew craft beer conditioner uses natural craft beer as its main ingredient to give your hair unbeatable shine and volume that’ll last for days. It’s also made without parabens or phthalates, and no worries — your hair will smell less like a beer hall and more like mahogany and caramel.
7. Absorb Oils At Night With Bamboo
LinenSpa Bamboo Pillowcase Set, $14, Amazon
If you’re looking to go a few days before washing your hair, sleeping on bamboo is ideal, because it’s not only lightweight, cooling, and breathable (so less sweat), but it’s antimicrobial and helps to absorb any excess oil. This LinenSpa bamboo pillowcase set is made from 100 percent rayon from bamboo, which means that on top of being extra comfortable and soft, it’ll help to keep your hairstyle looking neat and fresh all week.
9. Use Extra-Absorbent Arrowroot Powder
Hoosier Hill Farm Premium Arrowroot Powder, $11, Amazon
I learned this trick a few years ago from an avid camper friend, and this tidbit of knowledge has improved my life far more than I can express to you. Arrowroot powder is ridiculously absorbent, so a great, pure brand like Hoosier Hill Farm arrowroot powder makes an awesome dry shampoo. It comes in an easy-to-sprinkle bottle that soaks into your hair without any residue or discoloration, all while leaving your roots looking fresh and volumized.
4. When You Are Ready To Wash, Get Rid Of Product Build-Up With Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar & Herb Conditioning Hair Rinse, $27, Amazon
In an attempt to make their hairstyle last days, some people load up on the products, but this causes build-up in your hair, which leads to oily, flat, and limp strands. Apple cider vinegar is a great and all-natural way to strip build-up, gently cleanse, and balance the pH of your scalp, and this apple cider vinegar and herb conditioning hair rinse is a great way to do it. It’ll cleanse and freshen your hair while promoting shine, and the added herbs strengthen and provide amazing texture.
Images: Fotolia (1); Amazon (8)
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