Damaged and/or Blonde Hair LIFESAVERS

If you are anything like me, you abuse your hair regularly, sometimes without even knowing it (depending on the climate where you live, or due to your lack of a regimen at all). Me? I've had probably six different shades of blonde (yes, B-L-O-N-D-E--you only leave the "E" off if you're a MAN!) in my head at some point this year. My hair used to be the most evenly-colored, healthiest version of platinum blonde hair you'd ever seen--until I stupidly gave in to the dark hair trend that made a wave two years ago and did the unimaginable and dyed it borderline black. It looked okay on me, but my hair literally rejected it (being I'm a natural dirty blonde anyway) and it would end up on my towels every time I shampooed! I went back to blonde three months later, and ever since, it has been a process to get my hair to an unbrassy, luminous, healthy state, which I am still undergoing. My hair got so damaged that I had to chop most of it off last April. It's still growing, but I wonder sometimes if it will ever get that long again :[. Oh well, that's why God invented extensions, right?

So, for those of you who like to pretend that you're haircare magicians too, I figured I'd write about some of my favorite haircare products that I've come across during all of my trials and tribulations. I'm gunna put some that are specifically for blonde hair, but many of these also have brunette/black/ginger alternatives in the product lines, or generic versions. Really, you can use any product even if it is labeled for a different haircolor than your own, as long as you read carefully and the label does not mention anything about color depositing or lightening on it. Some products contain highlight enhancers, which means they will bring out the naturally lighter shades in your hair based on the ingredients (such as chamomile) in them, but don't actually deposit color onto your hair. So, if you need a tress makeover, keep reading...

**PLEASE NOTE: All prices listed below are approximate. The locations are places that either I bought the items from myself or know you'll get a good deal at. Happy hunting!

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

It's as important to heal your hair (and skin and nails, simultaneously) from the inside as well as outside. To stimulate growth, massage your scalp with an inexpensive tool. Honestly? My favorite is a small rubber spiky brush that you can buy at a pet supply store...and just rub your head with it...it feels amazinggggg. Also, take Vitamins C & E, biotin, and fish oil pills to strengthen and lengthen.

SHAMPOOS/CONDITIONERS

from left:

Dove Intense Damage Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner

($5 each, Wal-Mart)

gentle enough for daily use; leave the conditioner on for at least 5 minutes for maximum effects; this is my favorite of all brands I've ever used

TIGI BedHead Dumb Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner
($13 each, Wal-Mart)
($20-ish for the set, Nordstrom Rack outlet)
these do not deposit color or enhance highlights; higher-end option for thirsty hair that is also great for everyday use

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoos & Conditioners

($7 each, Wal-Mart)
highlight-enhancers that are available in a couple different shades; also, the bottles have been redesigned a couple of times so you may find the same product looking different than in the picture...just make sure you READ carefully :]

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoos & Conditioners

($8, Wal-Mart)

bleach and peroxide-free formulas that will gradually lighten hair over time; I personally recommend to use it every other shampoo, and only on medium to darker blonde hair (platinum hair can't get blonder, so what's the point?!)

ON TOWEL-DRIED HAIR

from left:

Herbal Essences Long-term Relationship Split End Protector
($3, Wal-Mart)

lightweight leave-in conditioner that keeps your hair stronger to grow longer

Rusk Sensories Smoother Passionflower & Aloe Leave-In Texturizing Conditioner

($10, Target)

turns cheap doll-like hair into something much more manageable; especially great if your hair is gummy or pully when blow-drying

ON SLIGHTLY DAMP OR DRY HAIR

from left:

BioSilk Silk Therapy

($12, Sally Beauty Supply)

fills in the "gaps" in your hair shaft and leaves it silky and smooth...a little goes a long way though, or else your hair will look greasy and weighed-down

Herbal Essences Dangerously Straight Flat Out Finishing Spray

($3, Wal-Mart)

leaves your hair so smooth and shiny; great as a heat protectant when flat-ironing or blow-drying straight styles

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Serum

($7, Wal-Mart)

works well on all hair types, but especially coarse and curly hair; a few drops will keep your curls intact yet tame them into pretty ringlets instead of frizz; also comes in extra-strength formula

POLISHING OFF THE 'DO

from left:

got2b Smoothing Lustre Lotion

($7, Walgreens--they often have a BOGO promotion)

besides its extremely delicious smell, this will really polish down any flyaways and give you an allover, non-greasy sheen

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shape & Shimmer Hairspray

($6, Wal-Mart)

great for if you want touchable yet stay-put curls or a pretty hairstyle that doesn't feel like burned polyester; definitely more suitable for everyday styles rather than extravagant ones

MAINTENANCE MIRACLES

from left:
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Luminous Color Glaze

($10, Wal-Mart)

available in every haircolor shade (including clear for our neon-headed friends or people who don't want any color boost); great for in-between colorings to give your hair patent leather shine

Queen Helene's Cholestrol Hair Conditioning Cream

($4, Sally Beauty Supply)

wet your hair with warm water and put this stuff on for about an hour, then rinse; do this once a week and your hair will be stronger and seem twice as thick!

ion Reconstructor Treatment

($10.49, Sally Beauty Supply)

($2.19 for sample-sized packet)

apply to wet hair for thirty minutes while applying heat about two times per week; fills hair with protein and complements the cholestrol treatment veryyy nicely

Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo

($8, Sally Beauty Supply)

great for blondes to tone down brassy or orange-tones, especially with a hair-color mishap; ash-tones, beware, this can give you a more grayish tone than you'd like; platinum blondes, don't leave it on for long or it'll give your hair a slightly lavender hue, but it's great for a pure white effect

Hope this helps somebody :] !!!