So many of you have asked about my hair—how I get that wavy, full look that feels a little “undone” but still put-together. Well, I’m excited to finally compile all of the details! I get tons of questions about my haircut, the hair color I use, and my extensions, plus my hair care routine. It’s so empowering to finally get your hair the way you want it to be, but it can really be a journey!
Since we’re not about gate-keeping anything over here, I’m going to spill all the “secrets” – from what my amazing hair stylist does and that game-changing blow dryer I can’t live without, to my once-a-week wash day and the hair products I absolutely love.
Of course, everyone’s hair is different, but it’s always fun to swap recommendations with friends who’ve tried a bunch of things, right? So, let’s dive into everything that goes into my signature style!
My Haircut, Hair Color & Extensions
When it comes to my hair, I like a wavy, slightly “undone” look, but I want it to be full and have volume. I have coarse hair, so it tends to hold style really well.
My hairstylist cuts my hair into long layers—the highest are a few layers about 3 inches down from my chin that I’m growing out a little more. I have one row of Covet & Mane hand-tied extensions that she puts in, and she moves them up every 7-8 weeks at the same time as I get my hair cut.
I have my roots dyed every 15-16 weeks (basically every other appointment) just to cover greys. I can pretty much count the grays, so they’re not too prevalent yet… She colors my hair to a level 6 warm brown, but gave me a caveat that my hair absorbs color really easily, and it would look much lighter on anyone else.
You know how after every blowout your hair just looks a million times better than when you do it? Well, my stylist shared her secret with me: it’s her blow dryer. She uses the Rusk Speed Freak Hair Dryer. I went out and bought the same one! It does get very hot and dries my hair so fast. It’s amazing. I used to reach for my straightener if my hair was frizzy or had creases in it, and now I can just get a brush and blow out any creases.
It never looks quite as perfect as when you leave the salon, but it’s still a big upgrade from what I was using before.
My Weekly Wash/Dry/Maintenance Routine
People are usually shocked by this, but I only wash my hair once a week. Not everyone can do that, but there are benefits. Your scalp can adjust to getting washed less often—people call it “hair training” and it can take a couple of weeks or a month.
I get the question, “Well how do you go to the gym everyday and not wash your hair that often!?” Here are my tips: I wear my hair in a ponytail when I work out. and as soon as I’m done working out before i leave the gym, I take out the ponytail and give my hair a quick hit with the “cool shot” button on the blow dryer, brushing it out with my pocket hairbrush. It kind of sounds gross, but it’s fine for the oils to go into your hair.
After around 4 days of no products, I’ll put dry shampoo in my hair. My favorite one is the Living Proof Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. I apply it to my roots that night and massage it in, then I sleep with it up in my normal way (more on that below).
The key to dry shampoo that a lot of people don’t know is that you’re supposed to brush it out. In the morning I’ll use the “cool shot” button and blow dry out the dry shampoo, and my hair feels really nice.
The Products I Use for My Hair
For natural curls: I never use hair spray. I like an undone look, and my hair holds curl almost too well! I love my Bio Ionic 1 1/4” Curling Iron (but I wish they made 1 1/2” curling iron!) When I’m curling my hair, I mix up the direction I’m winding the hair every grouping—toward my face and away from my face—so it’s more natural looking. It keeps the waves separated and a little less polished.
For straight hair: When I want to wear my hair super straight, I’ll use the Bio Ionic 10X Styling Iron. My hair is coarse, and the the vibrations in the plates help smooth it out a lot easier.
I often get the question, “Do you still use the Dyson Air Straightener?” No, I actually gave it away. I just realized I wasn’t wearing my hair straight as often as it justified having it. I do still have my Dyson Air Wrap, but I only use the brush attachment on it, either lightly drying my hair after the gym with a round brush attachment, or I put dry shampoo in and use it when I’m doing a little refresh mid-week. It doesn’t get as hot as my Rusk blow dryer, so I’ll use that on non-wash days. It takes too long to dry my hair from wet with that. But it’s great at finishing styles.
For hair thickness: I’ve been taking Nutrafol supplements for a while now. I used to have two thick rows of hair extensions, and now I’m down to only one little row. I have to cut my hair every time I have my extensions done! I take four pills a day.
A lot of people ask if Nutrafol interferes with my thyroid medication. *This is not medical advice, but here is my experience.* Before you get your thyroid checked, you have to be off any biotin for 5 days. I was told that biotin doesn’t interfere with your thyroid, it only interferes with the test. I was told I shouldn’t take any vitamins within 4 hours of the thyroid medicine I take daily, so I take that in the morning and the Nutrafol at night.
For anti-frizz: I use the COLOR WOW Extra Strength Dream Coat after I shower and before I blow dry my hair. I also like the Kenra Platinum Blow Dry Spray as a heat protectant and to combat humidity. It adds so much shine and smells amazing. I sprayed Greta’s hair with it when I was doing her hair last week and told her that one of the best things as a woman is that people go crazy over good-smelling hair.
For glossy hair: The satin pillowcase over my favorite pillow is one of my favorite things to keep my hair really smooth. I also have a hair oil that I use on my ends. But I don’t use it every day, only when I’m styling my hair straight.
For natural waves: To extend the life of my wash day and keep the natural-looking waves in my hair, at the end of every day, I flip my head over and pull my hair up into a very high ponytail—as close to my forehead as I can comfortably get it. Then I twist it around and around into a rope and then coil it into a bun, securing with a big crease-free silk scrunchie. I’ll sleep like that overnight and then in the morning as I’m getting ready, I just let it down. This also helps retain volume!
Shop My Hair Routine
What I Haven’t Figured Out Yet…
Another question I get a lot is what shampoo and conditioner I use. Sigh…I’ve yet to find my perfect match. I almost never buy the same shampoo twice. I was using Prose Shampoo for awhile (as I mentioned in my last hair update post), but when I ran out of it one time I just didn’t feel the need to go back. I keep returning to Biolage for no real reason other than it’s easy and I don’t not like it.
If you’ve found one you love, please drop me a note in the comments! I’m still on the hunt.