Regimen Building for Noobs!

"Your regimen, in order to be successful, should contain products that work together to address your two most important hair needs: moisture and protein. It should be basic, flexible, and be able to evolve based on your ever-changing hair needs." - Audrey Sivasothy

Info: There are two main types of product categories: protein based products and moisture based products. Use of your protein or moisture based product should depend on what your hair needs at the time.

Tip: "Building a good regimen also means that you will need to experiment with a wide variety of products before you find The Ones!"

What to do:

Select one or two products from each category below.

1 - A Moisturizing Shampoo: "the best moisturizing shampoos are sodium/ammonium lauryl sulfate free and do not leave the hair feeling stripped, tangly, or squeaky, squeaky clean. These shampoos are gentle cleansers that leave the hair feeling soft and detangled."

2 - A Clarifying Shampoo (and / or Chelating Shampoo if you are a swimmer or have hard water): "Clarifying shampoos strip the hair of product buildup and are great for starting the hair off fresh each month. Your hair will and SHOULD feel squeaky, squeaky clean after clarifying."

3 - A Moisturizing Deep Conditioner: Apply to hair after every shampoo with heat for times indicated on packaging.

4 - A Protein Deep Conditioner: Apply to hair after every shampoo with heat for times indicated on packaging.

5 - A Protein Conditioner: Used for rebuilding the hair. Select one (1) protein treatment on the light to mild end of the spectrum for light touch ups and select another (1) protein treatment on the moderate to heavy end for more intense protein conditioning. Protein reconstructors should be followed by moisturizing deep conditioners to restore moisture and pliability to the hair.

6 - Leave in Conditioner: You will need one moisturizing and one protein leave in. This will be used after you have washed your hair.

7 - WATER BASED Moisturizer: Again you will need one moisturizing and one protein leave in. Used for daily moisture supplementation. The best water-based moisturizers are products that do not contain mineral oil, petrolatum, or lanolin.

8 - Essential Oils: Scalp stimulants! (Important to check whether or not your chosen oil needs to be diluted before applying to scalp.)

9 - Other hair tools:

Wide and medium toothed seamless comb

A boar or soft bristle brush

Satin Scarf, Bonnet, and or Satin Pillowcases (for night care)

Plastic Shower Caps (for deep conditioning)

WHAT TO DO:

- Shampoo your hair with a moisturizing shampoo 1-2x/week (Preferably sulfate free)

- Use a moisturizing deep conditioner with heat (At least 30mins) after every shampoo

- Always follow up with a leave-in conditioner

- Use a water-based moisturizer 2x/day (Morning & night) then seal in the moisture with a natural oil

- Always wear a satin/silk scarf or bonnet to bed

- *If You Are Relaxed* Relax at least every 8 weeks (If You can go beyond that, even better)

- Do a protein treatment when needed (Whenever the hair feels very limp, mushy, overly soft etc.)

- Trim when needed

- Use a Clarifying shampoo (remove buildup) 1-2x/month (depending on the amount of product you use)

- Use a wide tooth comb to comb/detangle your hair. You'll experience less breakage.