Tuesday 15 January 2013

No Heat On My Hair Challenge


I love having long hair, but I would love it to be longer! I've been speaking with loads of you beauties over Twitter the last weeks about having long hair and I know I'm not on my own with my mission on having it longer - It seams that having your hair past boob length seams to be the desired length. I really want to avoid getting my hair cut, purley for the fact that I want it longer, but I have so many split and dead ends that leaves me in a hair dillema - I think we can all agree that whoever said getting your hair cut regulally makes your hair grow longer was telling big fat lies. Let's face it, no-one wants to have long hair, but have it feeling dry, damanged and looking crappy and I know for one that the bad condition of my hair is compleltly down to the overuse of heat. I think I use heat most days of the week, ranging from my hairdryer, curling wand and my beloved GHD's. 

So because it's January, the month which we all try and make important little changes in our lives, I decided to set myself a little challange to see if I can improve the quality and condition of my hair. Last Monday I decided to see if my hair and I could live without a week of using any sort of heat in my hair. Well I'm so pleased and proud that I managed to complete this little challange and during my week of no heat, I took a picture each day of the week, so you beauties can see how I wore my hair with no heat on it and how I got on with the challenge.




Day 1
I washed my hair in the morning, but had to get up so early to let it dry naturally. My hair always turns out differently when I ditch the hairdryer and leave my locks to their own devices, sometimes I'll get mega wavy hair, but today it turned out fairly straight with a natural wave.


Day 2

I don't wash my hair everyday, so day 2 was my second day hair and after a full days work and a nights sleep, I had total bed hair when I woke up. I used sea salt spray, dry shampoo and hairspray to add some texture and a little bit of volume. 


Day 3

Seeing as it took forever to let my hair dry naturally one day one, I decided to wash my hair the previous evening and give it all the time in the world to dry. I woke up in the morning with seriously soft and fluffy hair, so decided to wear it in a little side pony


Day 4

Day 4 was the hardest day into my challenge to not give into temptation on using any heat in my hair. I was planning on wearing it down (again) but I had bits of hair that would just not cooperate! Normally I'll give these bits of hair a quick fix with the straighteners - So as a result I said a big HELLO to the messy bun!


Day 5 
I was quite impressed with the whole washing my hair in the evening on day 3, but thought I would be a bit more adventerious with my hairstyle. So while my hair was wet, I decided to braid it, sleep on it and have a hassel free hairstyle in the morning. When I took my braids out I was a bit 'oh my gosh' as I had gotten completely carried away the night before and did my braids way too tight, which resulted in really tight waves. I was hoping that they would drop though the day, but nope they stayed put... total hair disaster!


Day 6

I woke up in the morning, still finding I had a lot of little waves in my hair from the day before, so decided to pop it in a classic pony tail. With a lot of dry shampoo, backcombing and hairspray I made this pony tail a little bit rough and ready and found that I really liked the way my hair looked.. Bonus!


Day 7 

On day 7, the final day of my challenge, I washed my hair in the morning, and spent a lazy Sunday morning, waiting for it to dry. I love how my hair looked and was super impressed that with no heat my hair looked pretty decent and felt full of life and really soft.


The Results 

So the big question has to be, over the course of one week did I notice any improvement or change in my hair - And I'm pleased to say the answer is YES


There weren't massive changes, but towards the end of the week I saw that my hair was noticeably softer and the dead ends didn't feel so course and dry. When I look at the picture from day 1 and the last picture on day 7, I think my hair looks in much better condition. On both these days I let my hair dry naturally in the morning and when I compare the pictures my hair looks ever so shiny by the end of the week. Not only does my hair look healthier but the ends don't look so bad either. 




It seams as though my hair is thanking me for the use of no heat and I found that as the week went on, I felt more comfortable and had more confidence with my hair looking a little un-kept. I am loving of the feel of my hair so much so that I'm definitely planning on having more heat free days.



I can honestly say that living with no heat on your hair was a little challenging, some days a lot harder than others - If it hadn't been for some fab hair products, my week surly would have been a total hair disaster. Below I've listed the products I used which helped me though my challenge and have helped with improving the condition of my hair.


The Denman Tangle Tamer Brush - This is an excellent tool for backcombing your locks and I find it's the perfect brush to do the job.


Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray - I am in love with sea salt sprays, they are just prefect for adding texture and a bit of volume into your hair, this one from Toni & Guy is my favourite - you can read my review here


Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical - Dry shampoo is a life saviour, whether your using heat or not. I definitely used this little baby when I had those days without washing my hair. But I also used it on freshly washed hair as its perfect for adding some volume to your hair.


L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray - It goes without saying that every girl owns a good hairspray, this one from L'Oreal is one of my faves, prefect for holding your loose waves in places and spraying on those backcombed areas.



Lee Stafford Argan Oil - Taking a break from heat, is the prefect excuse to treat your hair to more treatments than usual. There are loads of hair oils around, but this one from Lee Stafford is priced well and does an amazing job at making the ends of your hair feel soft.



Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - Every time I washed my hair, I popped Aussies 3MM into my hair, it does an amazing job at nourishing your hair and making it feel soft, not to mention it smells amazing. As I was giving my hair a break I wanted to give it as much pampering as possible. I use this all the time anyway, but using it while I had my week of no heat, I can honestly say I felt the benefits of this conditioner a lot more.



Overall saying no to heat was hard, but so worth it, my hair looks and feels better and I can see improvements in just one week. It's made me realise I don't need to add heat all the time and if I want my hair to grow longer and still look healthy then I need to ditch the heat more often. A few of beauties of Twitter that have already took up their own 'no heat challenege' in the past told me how much faster their hair grew... So exciting news if this is true. 



Long, short, thick or thin hair...no matter what your hair is like I think it's good to take a break now and again, if any of you are wanting to give this ago I would love to know how you get on, or any hair styling tips you have for those days when you stay away from the heat.


Lot's of Love


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36 comments

  1. aw i really should try this but my natural hair is ridiculous and when i have my hair natural with some hair mousse in, i look like jesus! :| which is never impressive! haha on the other hand you look gorgeous and i really like when your hair is up, it suits you so much!!
    Ana
    X
    http://weallthinkdifferently.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aww no, sometimes my hair will go like that, so I just tie it up... Crazy hair days. Thanks lovely, I need to wear it up more often xx

      Delete
  2. Your hair looks in really good condition after the week! Really shiny!
    http://golddustk.blogspot.co.uk/
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely, pleased you can see the difference. I find it amazing what a little no heat can do x

      Delete
  3. I'm trying the same at the minute. My hairs about your length but seriously crispy after being bleached and then dyed back brown. : /
    No heat def helps but sadly mines gone beyond that and now it's for the chop!
    Have you tried pin curls.? Wrap sections of hair round your fingers when their slightly damp and stick a clip in them. Go to sleep and in the morning the curls are lovely. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's just how my hair was starting to feel, a little bit horrible and crispy at the ends. Nope not tried pin curls, sounds like a fab idea though, will try it soon xx

      Delete
  4. I think how fast your hair grows is down to DNA & diet but having regular cuts helps keep it in good condition. I no longer have long hair like yours but I still try to minimise heat styling in order to keep it looking nice :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I had the DNA gene that makes it grow super fast lol. Yep I can now agree, keeping the heat down to a minimum really does make a difference x

      Delete
  5. i LOVED this post! Love how youve documented every day! Cant believe how lovely your hair looks in a bun - you really suit having your hair up missy!
    Ive done the whole braiding hair to tight the night before thing - well done you for resisiting temptation to get the GHD's out!

    I might have to give this a go soon :) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks gorgeous! I never used to like wearing it up, but everyone is saying it looks lovely... I think I need to listen and start doing to updo more often.

      Give it ago lovely, its a little tricky at times, but I felt quite proud after keeping it up, your hair is amazing anyway xxx

      Delete
  6. This is such a good post, I think I'm going to try something like this! I'm going to have to use a lot of your tips because I don't really know what to do with my hair if I don't use heat! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely, if you give it ago be sure to let me know I would love to see your results. If there is anything you need or a little bit of support along the way just let me know xx

      Delete
  7. Your hair is beautiful. It looks great without heat. Sadly mine is so color-treated and frizzy. When I go heatless it looks like an 80's hair-do x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aww thank you. I suppose I am quite lucky that my hair is quite tamable without the heat, I am sure you look beautiful even with you big hair xx

      Delete
  8. This is a really good ide a:) I'd love to do the no heat challenge - it must do your hair wonders. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found that there really was a noticeable difference in the condition of my hair afterwards, think you should give it ago lovely xx

      Delete
  9. my hair goes just about down to my butt, although I do have layers cut in. anyway, I stopped blow drying my hair.. maybe 15 years ago? It really does help! Washing before bed is a big must as well, although sometimes I still wake up with slightly damp hair! Your hair looks gorgeous, great to see it improving :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely... Down to your butt, wow I am so jealous. I found living without the hairdryer pretty tricky, long hair takes forever to dry, doesn't it? 15 years is some dedication to your hair, I bet it looks amazing xx

      Delete
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  11. The post is great. I think that it's the best that we use as less chemical products for our hair as possible such as adding volume to our hair without heat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks lovely, I agree totally, sometimes its easier said than done though, but if we give our hair a break now and again then that's good too. x

      Delete
  12. This post is amazing! Thanks for all of the styling product recommendations too. Your hair looks great without any heat anyway! Mine literally turns into triangle shaped frizz ha! I've just followed :)

    http://absolutebeaut.com

    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow babes, and your very welcome. Try and stay away from the heat on days you know your just staying in and where you can get away with it, that's what started me off on my whole challenge x

      Delete
  13. you're so pretty! I love that ponytail and the bun on you :)
    following you x

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  14. How gorgeous are u? I can't live without straighteners lol x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aww thank you lovely. I never thought I'd see the day where I would say bye to the straighteners, so pleased that I did it :) xx

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