Not Your Mother's: My Hair Care Routine

It's been several years since I've grown my hair out. I first chopped my locks off back in 2011, when I was in university. It was a bold choice, but I was a bold new person and I needed a look that reflected that. So I went for a cute and spiky pixie cut - I loved it!

Ever since, I've gone back and forth with varying different short hair styles, but last year when I finally decided I was going to grow my hair out for real, I needed some new hair care products that were going to ensure maximum scalp health and remind me to stick with it. No scissors!

I settled on Not Your Mother's Way to Grow Shampoo and Conditioner. They were on clearance at my local grocery store, so I honestly couldn't resist. I had heard good things about this line before and I wanted a chance to try it out myself.

So that night in the shower, I used both the shampoo and conditioner for the first time.

Immediate Impression:

• The smell is like strawberries and cream. Lovely.
• The shampoo lathered up well, but didn't strip my hair.
• The conditioner left my hair feeling shiny and smooth, but not heavy.

I was sold!

NYM's Way to Grow shampoo and conditioner is sulfate and paraben free, which I love, and it's jam-packed with all kinds of nutrients crucial to hair health. I've been using this set almost exclusively since February and my hair has grown significantly in that time.

So what's my hair care routine?

I wash my hair every two or three days as needed, and almost always at night. I wet my hair in the shower and using a quarter sized amount of shampoo, I lather up my hair near the scalp - spending a few minutes gently massaging it into my hair and letting the nutrients sink in and the shampoo break up any accumulated oils and debris.

Then I rinse the shampoo lather from my hair and gently wring out excess water. I use a slightly larger dollop of conditioner and work it through my hair, starting at the ends and working up into my scalp. I let this sit for a bit while I wash my face, shave my legs, etc. Afterwards, I rinse it completely from my hair.

Once out of the shower, I very gently towel-dry my hair (no rubbing!) and let it air dry the rest of the way. I don't use any other products or heat styling on it currently and because of that, it's finally gotten healthy enough that I can play around with it again.

It's almost long enough to throw up into a full ponytail or braid. I'm very excited!

What is your hair care routine like? Do you use any special brands or products? What tips or tricks do you have to keep hair looking healthy and shiny? Let me know in the comments!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.