Coconuts are a much-loved staple in the tropics where they are used for food, oil, cosmetics, and fuel, among other things.

Crack one open and beneath the outer husk and shell, you’ll find coconut meat, coconut milk, and coconut water. This is a delicious treasure trove, and there’s more! Pressing the fresh meat will give you coconut oil, and that’s that substance your hair adores.

Hair & Scalp Eat It Up

Coconut oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a type of saturated fat. The fatty acids in coconut oil naturally nourish your scalp and help to remove sebum buildup from hair follicles, supporting healthy hair growth.

Coconut oil may be especially helpful for thinning hair because of the nutrients it provides.

And Lauric acid, one of the fatty acids in coconut oil, also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This may help keep your scalp healthy and strong.

Studies show that coconut oil can boost the moisture content of dry skin. It may also improve the function of the skin, helping to keep your skin’s outer barrier strong and preventing excessive water loss. A strong barrier will also protect you from external factors, like UV rays, pollution, germs, chemicals, and allergens.

This is why we included it in our Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner Hair Mask.  The Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil deeply hydrates, nourishes, and protects your hair.

A little coconut oil on your scalp, like you’ll get when using our hair mask, will give your hair a strong place to call home.

That’s not all it does, though.

Using coconut oil as a hair mask treatment helps to moisturize and seal hair. This can help prevent a dry, flaky scalp, dandruff, and hair breakage.

Bonus: If your hair is properly moisturized and not breaking it will look shinier, stronger, and longer.

The coconut oil in our Argan Oil Styling Cream conditions and softens your hair while adding great shine for a light, bouncy style. Use a little of this when you’re using heat styling tools, or for a beachy wave without heat, and you’ll get an extra boost of protection.

Your hair will thank you!

Grow Strong Hair

Coconut oil helps reduce protein loss in all hair types. Protein loss makes hair more porous, more fragile, and more prone to breaking. Hair without enough protein can also look dull and lifeless,

And Lauric acid, one of the MCT fatty acids in coconut oil, protects the roots of your hair. It also helps prevent hair breakage and easily penetrates deep into the hair shaft making it a perfect conditioner for hair. It will leave your hair soft and help tame the frizzies.

That’s why you’ll find organic coconut oil in our Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment. It’s there to help build and restore your hair’s protein bonds, keep your hair strong, and fortify it to grow longer.

Now that you know how and why we use coconut oil, the $10,000 dollar question is…

How will you use it?

Argan Oil Styling Cream

Life is too short to be unhappy with your hair! Plus, whatever the root cause of your concern is, you can fix it.

Let’s break your hair concerns into a few groups: hair loss, dry and damaged hair, and styling woes.

• Hair loss includes hair that is falling out in clumps, or more hair than normal falling out naturally when you brush or touch it.
• Dry and damaged hair includes hair that seems weak and prone to breaking, hair that feels or looks like straw, or that has a lot of split ends.
• And styling woes might include anything like flat, dull, frizzy hair, or hair that just cannot be tamed.

Is it Stress?

Many people just take their hair as it is and think that’s the best it will be. But these hair issues might actually be the result of stress or anxiety.

Hair stress is a real thing. It can result in dry and damaged hair, dullness, thinning, and hair loss. And those untamable bad hair days… yep! Stress might be a contributing factor.

Dry & Damaged Hair

While there’s plenty of evidence showing a link between stress and hair loss, stress can also lead to dryness, dull or lackluster hair, and breakage.

Stress and anxiety cause changes in your body. Most commonly, and often unseen, are the changes to the type and amount of hormones in your body. Any increase or decrease in your body’s hormones can result in changes to the strength and texture of your hair.

For example, when estrogen levels rise during pregnancy, hair can become shinier, and more manageable. This occurs because the hair follicle gets slightly sturdier, and less prone to frizzing. There’s also an increased blood flow and more nutrients in your body, both of which benefit your scalp. Many women experience their best hair texture during pregnancy. On the other hand, menopause causes androgen hormone levels to increase, while estrogen levels drop in response. This results in thinning hair and a dryer scalp, which weakens hair follicles.

Hair Loss

Stress can push your hair follicles into a “resting” phase so that they don’t produce new hair strands. Over time, strands can fall out more easily, even if you’re just washing, combing, or touching it. Because your hair is in the resting phase, these stands do not get replaced.

Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that happens after stress, a shock, or a traumatic event. It causes diffuse thinning, a type of hair loss that affects your entire scalp. If you have telogen effluvium, your hair will look thinner and less dense than normal, especially under bright light.

Telogen effluvium can also be caused by poor nutrition and changes in hormone levels.

So how do you take the stress out of your hair?

First, check in with your healthcare professional just to rule out any medical conditions for the changes in your hair.

Once you get the green light, it’s time to grow your best hair ever.

Ready? …Let’s do it!

Feed Your Scalp

Beautiful, healthy hair starts at the scalp. When your scalp is healthy, not dry and itchy, your hair follicles are strong and nourished.

Give your hair much-needed nutrition by enjoying a healthy diet, taking your vitamins, and using products designed to nourish your scalp.

Products with biotin, like LuxeOrganix Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner, help strengthen your hair and promote healthier hair growth. This biotin power pair gently stimulates and soothes your scalp with healing anti-inflammatory essential oils and plant extracts that overcome and prevent scalp issues. The shampoo and conditioner are loaded with organic and natural ingredients that work to relieve dryness and itching on your scalp, returning it to its proper pH levels.

Care for Your Hair

A common reason for unmanageable hair is too little or too much moisture or protein.

So how can you tell if you need moisture or protein? The easiest way to determine what you need is the pull test. Take a wet or dry strand of your hair and gently stretch it. If it barely stretches and snaps, you need more moisture and you might have too much protein.

Also, if you brush your hair and strands fall out, you need protein.

To relieve dryness and lock moisture in, treat your hair with an occasional deep conditioner. Hair that is properly moisturized is bouncy, shiny, and soft. LuxeOrganix Deep Conditioner Hair Mask is safe for all hair types, paraben and sulfate-free, and it’s also safe for keratin and color-treated hair. This conditioning mask transforms dull, dry hair with botanicals and vitamins (A, C, D, and E), and hydrates with anti-drying ingredients, including Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Certified Organic Fair Trade Shea Butter.

To add protein, try LuxeOrganix Bond Integrity Protein Treatment. This ultra-nourishing and gentle protein treatment mask works wonders on your hair and your senses! Ancient amino acids from hydrolyzed rice and quinoa proteins, panthenol (vitamin B-5), and 2% biotin strengthen & support the integrity of bonds in your hair.

Coconut Oil Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

If you’ve been on the hunt for real answers and solutions for dry hair, you’ve probably learned by now that it’s typically not just ONE thing that could be causing your hair to feel dry.

Though it can be tempting to point the finger and hope that the latest trendy product will be the miracle you’ve been searching for, the truth is, if you really want to get to the bottom of your dry hair problems, you’ll be better served by taking a holistic or whole look at the picture, rather than just trying to treat a symptom of dryness.

Today we break down the many causes of dry hair and professional and natural tips for treating and preventing it.

Factors that Can Cause Dry Hair

• Weather
• Heat styling
• Too many smoothing treatments (such as Keratin treatments) used too frequently
• Hormone changes or treatments
• Products with harsh sulfates
• Brushing your hair when it is wet
• Over shampooing, stripping your hair of its natural oils
• Split ends

The good news is there are solutions to help remedy these challenges, and when combined with using healthy hair care products properly, it can dramatically improve your hair’s recovery process.

TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR DRY HAIR:

1. WORK WITH YOUR WEATHER

Though you may already realize that dry and brittle hair is a year-round problem, cold winter temperatures combined with higher heat indoors can parch and dry out your hair. So, you’ll want to adjust your winter hair care regimen. Plan to give your hair a heavier dose of moisturizing love by allowing your conditioner to soak longer than you normally would (stretch the time from 3-4 minutes to 5-10 minutes). During summer, it’s just as crucial to maintaining a healthy balance of hydration for preventing dry hair and breakage. Using a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, one with oil in it to outwit frizz (such as LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner), and skipping hot tools will all give your hair a fighting chance against dried-out, lifeless hair. Keeping up with regular trims to prevent split ends from secretly running up your shaft, shielding your hair strands from the sun with a hat, and saturating your hair before taking a dip in the pool or saltwater, are all extra beneficial ways of keeping your hair from becoming thirsty.

Also, consider adding a hair mask to your regimen. More on that in a minute…

2. HEAT STYLE THE RIGHT WAY

If you’re heat styling, it’s critical to do it the right way with the right tools. Did you ever see the YouTube video where the girl burned off her hair with a curling wand? There are absolutely right and wrong ways to style with heat that can make all the difference in the health of your hair. You can use hairspray and other products that contain drying ingredients like alcohol, but you want to place a barrier between these styling aids and your hair. The way you create the barrier is by using something with an oil base. (LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Styling Cream is perfect for this as it contains a Thermal Heat Protectant that provides hydration and control.)

IMPORTANT: Always make sure your hair is 100% dry before using a heat styling tool, such as a curling iron or flat iron. If you are using a styling gel, mousse, hairspray, or something similar that contains drying alcohols, make sure your hair is thoroughly dry before touching it with an iron to prevent damage. Be careful to avoid burning your hair when using a blow dryer by making sure your heat setting is not so high that it would burn your skin (this is a good way to test if it is too hot for your hair), and don’t hold the blow dryer so close to your hair that you see or smell product residue smoke.

Also, traditional blow dryers dry the hair from within the hair shaft to the outer layer and take longer to dry hair. However, an Ionic Blow Dryer dries hair from the outside, which makes a positive impact on the health of your hair, and saves you time by drying hair faster. If you blow-dry your hair, investing in an Ionic blow dryer is a wise investment for the health of your hair.

3. MINIMIZE SMOOTHING TREATMENTS

Are you doing too many hair smoothing treatments? Consider taking a break from, or discontinue straightening (i.e. keratin treatments) by instead working with your hair type. Many of us with naturally curly hair love the look of straight, sleek hair, and so we straighten our typically frizzy or kinky locks with heat or chemical processing. A well-trained stylist should be able to advise you about more gentle smoothing treatments, or hair styling products that can work with your natural hair, and give you beautiful, irresistible bouncy locks.

Another secret for dealing with those sections of your hair that don’t curl up well like the others is to simply use a curling iron or wand to spot treat those difficult areas.

You can also define your curls by gently twisting them around your finger while they are still damp and applying a styling cream. Then simply let them air dry or use a diffuser, occasionally scrunching (without rubbing) your hair.

4. USE SULFATE-FREE AND NON-STRIPPING HAIR PRODUCTS

Watch out for sulfates in your shampoo and be sure to check your styling products to see if they contain sulfates as well. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is widely recognized as a primary culprit of dry, dull, brittle, frizzy hair, and it can also lead to itchy, flaky, irritated scalp and other health concerns. Many companies use sulfates for the speed, ease, and efficacy of quickly cleaning the scalp and hair. But there’s a downside to this easy-to-foam ingredient…

Sulfates are known for stripping hair of its natural oils, as well as fading color and undoing keratin-treated hair. So if you’re color-treating your hair, getting Brazilian Blowout, Cezanne, or keratin treatments — and then using sulfate-based products, you may be decreasing the vibrancy and longevity of your color and smoothing treatment.

Using products with alcohol and detergents will also cause problems. If you use styling products with these ingredients, consider finding healthier alternatives that offer the same results without the harsh ingredients that take a toll on and can damage your hair.

It may take some experimenting to find a good alternative, but your hair will thank you for it (and so will your body). At LuxeOrganix we make it easy to find non-stripping, sulfate-free products because we don’t use those kinds of harsh ingredients in any of our hair or skincare. 

Also, one more thing to keep in mind is that traditional blow dryers dry the hair from within the hair shaft to the outer layer, and take longer to dry hair. However, an Ionic Blow Dryer dries hair from the outside, which makes a positive impact on the health of your hair, and saves you time by drying hair faster. If you blow-dry your hair, investing in an Ionic blow dryer is a wise investment for the health of your hair.

5. GIVE YOUR HAIR A BREAK FROM SHAMPOO

You may have already heard from your Stylist, “You shouldn’t wash your hair every day,” and that you should give yourself at least one day off in between shampooing. This is something you may or may not already be doing. If for some reason this strategy isn’t a good fit for you, here’s another alternative (or even a bonus to consider adding to your routine if you have extremely dry or brittle hair, or if you want to further prolong your colored or keratin-treated hair.)

It’s called, “co-washing.” Maybe you’ve heard of it?

The idea is to stretch out your shampoo days by exchanging it with a formulated cleansing conditioner, sometimes referred to as “co-wash” or “no-poo” (no shampoo). This can give your hair a break from shampooing, which has a tendency to over-cleanse your hair and rob it of its good and essential oils. Learn more about co-washing with our Refreshing Mint CoWash Cleansing Conditioner.

6. DON’T PROCRASTINATE ON CUTTING YOUR HAIR

You’ve probably heard that regular haircuts are important to remove the battered, split ends of your hair. Different factors, such as your hair length, chemical processing, or growing your hair out, will impact the amount of time you plan between cuts. Your hairstylist should be able to tell you how often to have your hair trimmed based on your unique situation. (But if it’s been over 3 months – you’re overdue!)

A good rule of thumb for short hair is 4-8 weeks, 6-12 weeks for mid-lengths, and no more than 8-12 weeks for long hair. You’ll want to trim more frequently if you’re dealing with damaged hair (such as split ends), and less frequently if you’re trying to grow your hair out. On the other hand, if you have already been cutting your hair regularly, and it’s really damaged, it may be time for a major cut. Sometimes, this is what it takes to make a big difference.

Several years ago, my hormones were wreaking havoc on my hair and I decided to cut off 11 inches. Unfortunately, the ends of my hair still showed the effects of my hormone imbalance (my ends were sparse, thin, and brittle, and didn’t match the top, healthy part of my hair). Since I lopped off those 11inches, I’ve averaged 6-8 weeks between my trims. My hair has never looked better and I am regularly complimented on how healthy it looks

7. DEEP CONDITION REGULARLY

Add a hair mask to your hair care regimen. Whether you use an inexpensive DIY (Do-It-Yourself) home remedy, such as coconut oil, or a healthy, organic-based hair mask that you purchase, using a deep conditioner regularly, combined with your sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, could make all the difference in bringing your hair back to its once healthy, vibrant self.

Check out LuxeOrganix Deep Conditioner Hair Mask that deeply penetrates to moisturize, strengthen, repair, and grow healthy hair. We hear from our customers with normal to thick, and curly hair types, how quickly they feel and see the difference with it. Alternatively, LuxeOrganix Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment is a favorite hair mask of those with fine, thin, and mature hair types, who are looking for stronger, fuller-looking hair. 

Now you may wonder how often should you use a hair mask?

It’s going to vary for everyone.

Try experimenting with once or twice a month. If you don’t notice and feel a significant difference, increase the frequency or allow the hair mask to soak in for longer periods while you shower the rest of your body. Those with severely dry or brittle hair, as well as bleached or color-treated hair, may find it helpful to deep condition once or twice per week. The texture and condition of your hair will determine the frequency; it really does depend on your individual situation. So don’t be afraid to experiment…or better yet, reach out to us for personalized attention and advice!

8. ADDRESS HORMONES, ILLNESS, OR NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

Let’s be honest – most of us are affected in some way or another by our hormones, let alone dealing with illness and more commonly, we are dealing with nutritional deficiencies that we may not even be aware of or understand how it is impacting the health and appearance of our hair.

Hormone issues, for example, can cause sudden hair loss for many women, as well as cause hair to be malnourished; and therefore, lackluster and be susceptible to dryness and breakage. Hormone imbalances in cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and low thyroid hormone, are several culprits that cause hair woes. Your doctor can check your levels to see if one of these hormone imbalances could be causing hair loss.

Postpartum hair loss ((hair loss after giving birth) is considered normal and happens because of changing hormone levels after pregnancy. You can’t prevent postpartum hair loss, but you can positively affect the appearance of your hair during the shedding and regrowth phase. Using thickening and volumizing products can help your hair appear fuller, and the new hair growth be fortified to grow out as healthy as possible. We recommend LuxeOrganix Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner, Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment, and Argan Oil Styling Cream for this. A fresh new style, cut, or new color can also give an instant visual boost! Ask your stylist for styling tips, as well.

If you are using high-quality hair care products and nurturing your hair – getting your glucose, hormones, and thyroid levels checked may give you a better understanding of the root of your problem.

Additionally, you can take charge immediately by eating clean, nutritious food, and incorporating more fiber into your diet, which can help lower estrogen levels. Eating a high protein, low-glycemic carbohydrate diet with lots of vegetables has a positive impact on insulin resistance. Insulin imbalance is not often something people would think could have a negative effect on hair, but it can.

Stress and lack of essential vitamins also play a role, so it really is important to feed your body whole foods that are naturally loaded with vitamins, as well as get enough sleep, and learn what your body may be lacking so you can give it what it needs to thrive. A Functional Health Practitioner or holistic health care professional can be a great resource to get to the root of these issues and help you achieve good health for your hair and body.

9. PROPER EXPECTATIONS AND USAGE OF YOUR HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Chances are, you have invested in quality hair care products, but you are still reading because you’re looking for answers as to why you’re still feeling like your hair is dry.

But even with using our high-quality, gentle sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, some may still find their hair is feeling dry.

There are several possibilities for this, but first, let’s look at the most likely reason, which is how the shampoo is designed to work.

LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Shampoo was formulated as a healthy alternative to salon-quality products (and free from harsh and unnecessary ingredients that can cause damage). It isn’t loaded up with synthetic moisturizers or parabens, which can be found in lower quality, sulfate-based shampoos that strip hair of its natural, beneficial oils.

These ingredients give the impression your hair feels soft after washing, when in fact, it’s just coated with slippery materials and isn’t actually moisturized, repaired, or hydrated.

Since LuxeOrganix doesn’t contain any unnecessary or harmful ingredients, this may be why after rinsing the LuxeOrganix shampoo, some feel their hair is dry. However, it may actually be an indication that your hair is just squeaky clean, and is now prepared to be deeply moisturized and protected by our conditioner.

Simply put – it is not designed to be a stand-alone product, but rather, to be paired with the LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Conditioner.

Your hair needs hydration, so conditioning after shampooing is essential to preventing it from dehydration and dryness. Depending on your climate and how you style your hair, the frequency and how you condition your hair may vary.

10. REPAIR AND DAMAGE CONTROL

That said, another common reason hair may feel dry after washing, is that it is already severely dehydrated, or even damaged. “Prevention is key. Dry hair worsens with time because of accumulated abuse,” says Eugene Toye who is a senior stylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York. He says, “The only real way to get rid of the damage is to cut off damaged hair.”

But if running for the scissors to trim it off isn’t an option – conditioning, prevention, and protection are your only other options.

Deep conditioning treatments with ingredients containing proteins, amino acids, vitamins (like Panthenol b5), marshmallow root, as well as hydrating oils such as argan or hemp oil, will help soften, smooth, and boost the vibrance of your hair for days. Using a leave-in conditioner can also make a noticeable difference.

Many of our customers have found it helpful to follow washing and conditioning with a small amount of LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Styling Cream to add hydration, control, and protection for heat styling. This product leaves hair smooth, frizz-free, and more manageable while providing a light hold.

For severely parched hair, using an oil, such as argan oil, as your base layer, then adding your styling products, can also visibly improve your hair. It may also help to occasionally use a deep conditioning hair mask, prior to applying your regular conditioner.

Some of our customers with severely dry or damaged hair have found it very beneficial to wash with the Argan Oil Shampoo, then after rinsing and squeezing the water away from their hair, follow with LuxeOrganix Deep Conditioner Hair Mask. The reason they find this deep conditioning hair mask so effective at rejuvenating stressed tresses is because it’s packed full of ultra-hydrating and strengthening organic and natural, bio-available ingredients. (It contains all of those impactful ingredients Toye mentioned for helping dry, damaged hair.)

Allowing the hair mask to soak for 5 minutes (or more if you have time), gives the conditioning nutrients a chance to soak in and do their miracle work. After rinsing the hair mask out, follow with a moisturizing conditioner, such as LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Conditioner.

Doing this initially once or twice per week, until the hair becomes more hydrated and visibly smoother, is a smart routine for a salon-quality treatment from the comfort of your home.

Of course, using high-quality products meant for your specific hair type is only part of the equation. Taking good care of your hair, eating healthy foods that will help your hair grow stronger, and using simple home remedies can help manage and maintain to prevent and protect your hair from being damaged and feeling dry — and keep it healthy going forward. It’s applying this knowledge that will reveal naturally beautiful, healthy hair.

Let’s NOT Make This Too Complicated!

We hope you feel empowered, rather than overwhelmed, by this information. Each tip can be used by itself or in combination with others to help improve the health and appearance of your hair. But it’s important to remember, that your hair didn’t get to its current state overnight, so expecting perfect, healthy hair overnight isn’t fair to yourself.

Yes, some of us have some work to do, but be gentle with yourself and give yourself time to explore what works best for you. Being focused and taking consistent action will always lead to results. At one point in time, the thickness of my hair was reduced by nearly two-thirds, and I struggled with thin, brittle ends for some time. Once I started chipping away at the causes of damage and was intentional about my health and the health of my hair, my life changed.

Your goal is absolutely possible… so, go for it!

And, if there’s anything we can do to support you along your journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We are committed to helping you look and feel beautiful, without sacrificing your health for the sake of your beauty.

Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Sets

Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment

Is there a right way to wash your hair?

If you want your best hair, there’s actually a little more to it than just wetting your hair, lathering up with shampoo, and rinsing.

Washing the right way ensures minimal damage to your hair, hair follicles, and scalp.

We’ve outlined the most important things to consider below.

Choose your products carefully.

Don’t pick your products just because they smell nice or they’re on sale. Pick the right shampoo for your hair type.

• If you have thick, coarse, or curly hair, use a shampoo and conditioner with moisturizing qualities, like the LuxeOrganix Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner.
• If you have color-treated, straightened, or processed hair, use a shampoo that won’t strip your hair every time you wash it. All of the LuxeOrganix shampoos and conditioners will not strip your treatments. They’re safe for perms, colored, and keratin-treated hair.
• If you have fine or thinning hair, or are prone to being greasy, use a shampoo that nourishes your hair and scalp to promote healthy hair growth and bring balance to your scalp pH, like our Biotin Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.

Don’t know what kind of hair you have? You can always ask your stylist for advice.

No matter your hair type, you should avoid shampoos that contain sulfates. While sulfates help your shampoo lather, they strip your hair’s natural oils, leaving your hair prone to breakage and looking dull. All LuxeOrganix shampoos are sulfate-free.

The stripping of your natural oils can also lead to an over-production of those oils as your hair and scalp try to balance the dryness. Over-production of the oils means greasy-looking, flat, lifeless hair.

Sulfates can also cause irritation for some people, especially those with sensitive skin. That’s why anyone with rosacea, eczema, psoriasis or contact dermatitis should avoid shampoos with sulfates. Our Organic Psoriasis Shampoo and Body Wash is extra-gentle on sensitive skin. It helps clean your scalp and hair without any harsh ingredients, and it helps promote healthy skin.

Don’t wash your hair every day.

Seriously.

Don’t wash your hair every day. This can dry and damage your hair.

The optimal number of times to wash your hair weekly varies a little depending on your hair type. Oily hair may require washing every 2 to 3 days, but dry hair may only need washing 1 to 2 times per week.

For almost everyone, letting your hair go a few days between washes gives your hair’s natural oils a chance to do their thing and keep your hair healthy. Overwashing prevents this and may lead to an itchy scalp, flaking, and dull hair. You need those natural oils!

Try a co-wash.

Can’t skip your shampoo because you go to the gym every day? Try a co-wash.

Co-washing hair products are cleansing conditioners that moisturize and gently clean your hair and scalp.

Cowash conditioners are not meant to replace your shampoo. They’re meant as a go-between. You alternate between co-washing and shampooing to give your hair a break from your shampoo. It’s a great way to “skip shampooing” without skipping the part where you clean your hair.

The LuxeOrganix Cowash Cleansing Conditioner is free of harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and sodium chloride. It’s proven to protect and enhance curly, fine, colored, and chemically straightened hair.

Over time, hard water can dry your hair, leaving it more susceptible to breaking. It can also irritate your scalp and exacerbate eczema or psoriasis.
Most people have little control over the mineral levels in the water in their homes — especially if you’re renting… So, what can you do?

If you own your home, you could install a water softening system for your whole house. This would purify your water at every faucet.

And if you’re a renter, you could install a water softener shower head, which contains filtering cartridges to remove excess minerals and purify the water in your shower.

Either way, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes on your hair and your skin.

How do you wash your hair the right way?

We’ve spelled out the basic steps for you, below.

Wet your hair completely.

Use lukewarm, not hot, water. Hot water breaks the bonds in your hair, and that will eventually lead to hair damage (splits, breaks, frizzies). So keep your water warm, not hot.

And do not start out by immediately applying your shampoo. Instead, let your hair get fully soaking wet.

Depending on how thick or dense your hair is, this might take longer than you think. So let the water flow over your head for at least 1 minute, then run your fingers through your hair to make sure all of it is drenched.

While the water is penetrating your hair, massage your scalp with your fingertips to help loosen up any residual product, dirt, and debris.
Letting your hair get fully wet with lukewarm water helps open the cuticles, making it easier for your hair to absorb your conditioner when you’re done shampooing.

And soaking wet hair will help any shampoo, including sulftate-free shampoos, develop a rich lather.

Apply your shampoo.

Make sure you’re applying the correct amount of shampoo for your hair length. If you use too much, you might not get it all out. And using too little might not thoroughly cleanse your hair.

If you have short hair, aim for a squeeze of shampoo that’s about the size of a nickel. For shoulder-length hair, make it quarter-sized. If you have long hair, make it half-dollar sized.

Apply the shampoo to your entire scalp and crown. Focus on shampooing your scalp, massaging your scalp with your fingertips to help remove dirt and debris.

You don’t need any shampoo on the tips of your hair. The ends will be cleaned later as you rinse the shampoo out.

Be gentle

Don’t use your nails when cleaning your scalp. Your scalp is sensitive and scrubbing with your nails can cause irritation, tears, and infection. Massage with gentle pressure using your fingertips (no nails!) and palms for about 3 minutes. Think of how your hairstylist does it and channel your inner stylist.

You also want to avoid circular or harsh back and forth movements while you massage the shampoo into your scalp. These movements can tangle your hair and damage hair follicles.

Be gentle!

Rinse thoroughly.

Rinse your hair with cooler-temperature water. Cool water will not dry out the sebum, which is an oily, waxy substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands. It coats, moisturizes, and protects your skin. It’s also the main ingredient in your hair’s natural oils.

Spend at least two minutes rinsing your hair to be sure no soap remains.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving shampoo in their hair. This is what causes buildup. The leftover shampoo also attracts and holds dirt. Nobody wants that!

Always use a conditioner.

Never ever skip your conditioner. Your hair, especially after you wash it with shampoo, always needs a conditioner.

Apply your conditioner from the mid-strand down to the ends of your hair. You don’t need to put conditioner on your scalp, it might make it appear oily.

Then, let your conditioner sit on your hair for the recommended time (this is usually spelled out for you on the bottle). Some conditioners need to sit for 2 to 3 minutes, while a deep conditioner, like the LuxeOrganix Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment or Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner Hair Mask, might require 5 or more minutes.

Don’t leave your conditioner in for longer than recommended or it might be harder to rinse out completely. Again, leaving residue behind is not a good look. And leaving conditioner on for too long can actually cause your hair to break. It’s called over-conditioning.

While you let the conditioner soak in, you can use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair if you want. Be gentle with this and start by combing at the bottom and working your way up as your hair is combed.

Rinse again, thoroughly.

Just like with your shampoo, rinse for at least two minutes. A good rule of thumb for rinsing is to always rinse longer than you think you need.

Channel that inner stylist again – what would your hairstylist do? You want to be sure you get it all out.

Dry gently.

Once you’re done washing your hair, get a soft towel and GENTLY squeeze or pat your hair dry.

Never rub, wring, or wrap your wet hair into a tight turban. Wet hair is fragile and this will break it.

If you can, use a microfiber towel or a soft t-shirt. The rougher the fiber in your towel, the more damage it could cause to your hair. So think soft!

Now you know!

There is a right way to wash your hair. And now that you know it, your hair will thank you.

If you take the time to choose your products carefully, invest in a water softener, wash your hair gently, and condition it, you can help your hair be stronger, healthier, softer, and shinier.

Some Helpful Videos On the Subject

CoWash Cleansing Conditioner

Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment

There is a way to get your beautiful locks back in line before springtime, and we’re sharing the secrets below.

​1. Frizzies

Frizzy hair occurs because the humidity (water) in the atmosphere affects the hydrogen bonds in your hair. The humidity breaks the bonds down and alters the pH, and consequently the shape of each hair. This causes your hair to kink up a little.

In the winter, friction between your hair and your winter clothes, like that cozy scarf or sweater, may actually rough up your hair follicle, resulting in some in static electricity and flyaway hair strands.

Add this to hair with broken bonds, and POOF! Major frizzies!

How can you stop winter humidity from making hair frizzy?

One way to combat this: a good conditioner will keep your hair hydrated, fighting off the static electricity and flyaways. A deep conditioner, like our Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment, will help prevent erosion of your hair bonds. This conditioner helps keep these bonds strong, so humidity can’t break them down so quickly.

2. Hat Head

Hats are a must in the winter. But hats can absorb any moisture in your hair, leaving your strands dry (and dull-looking) and your style limp.

Is there a fix for hat head?

Since you’re not giving up your hats mid-winter, you need a plan. You can avoid Hat Head by using styling products that lock moisture into your hair. 

Good products, like our Argan Oil Styling Cream, can help keep your hair moisturized (and reduce frizzies) while maintaining a beautiful style. It also gives your hair a healthy shine, which winter tends to dull.

Bonus tip: After you style your strands, make sure to wait until your hair cools. Do not put your hat on right after you’re done blow-drying your hair. You need to let it cool down; if your hair is still warm and moldable when you put your hat on, it will be flat and lifeless when you take it off. When you get to your destination, flip your hair upside down and give it a little fluff with your fingertips after you remove your hat. This will revive your hair, and since you waited until your style cooled, it will maintain its original shape.

3. Tight, Itching Scalp

Just like your skin, your scalp is prone to becoming dry and itchy once the cold weather hits. Unlike your skin though, you can’t slather your scalp in a rich cream and call it a day. (Please don’t try it…  it’s not a good look!)

A dry scalp lacks hydration and moisture, which leads to flaking and itching.

Hydrate your scalp?

To treat a tight, itchy, flaky scalp, switch up your regular shampoo and conditioner to a more gentle formula designed for dry scalps, like our Psoriasis Shampoo + Body Wash. You don’t need to go cold-turkey and ditch your favorite shampoo until spring, but using a more gentle formula a few times a week can help combat the dryness and itching. Our Psoriasis Shampoo was specifically created for dry, sensitive skin. It’s a soothing treatment (not medicated or artificially scented) that hydrates your scalp while it cleans.

Another consideration may be to wash your hair less often in the winter. This will allow more of your natural oils to sit on your scalp so that the skin stays hydrated and protected against the blistering cold. Our CoWash Cleansing Conditioner helps with this. It’s not a shampoo, so it will not strip your hair of its natural oils. It cleans while it conditions. Swapping your regular routine for a CoWash once or twice a week will help protect your scalp in the winter weather.

4. Matted Hair

While you probably don’t admit this out loud, a lot of people struggle with matted hair in the winter. The instant you start wearing thicker collar jackets and scarves, the hair at the nape of your neck creates a rat’s nest that rivals any beaver dam ever built. It basically looks and feels like you rode a motorcycle on the highway without a helmet. Yikes!

How do you combat mat?

Keep your strands together! Braid your hair to the back or side, or put it up in a bun to keep your strands tangle-free. If you absolutely have to wear your hair down, section your hair off so the hair from your ears down stays together. Put that section in a ponytail,  and leave the top section loose over the top of the ponytail. This will minimize your matting potential.

First, take a break from your hot tools. They suck the moisture out of your hair and contribute to the problem. Can’t cut them out entirely? Ok, scale them way back. Rather than everyday use, try using them only once or twice per week.

Next, add more moisture to your hair care regimen. A hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and a mask with hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil. We recommend our Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, and our Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner. Using one or more of these products one or more days each week will help fight the straw effect.

Finally, sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, or use a satin-lined cap when you go to bed. It sounds silly but these products help retain any moisture you’re putting back into your hair. You probably were not aware of this, but a cotton pillowcase can actually work against your hair as cotton absorbs moisture… even that hiding in your tresses.

You Can’t End Winter

Using any or all of these recommendations won’t make winter go away any sooner, but it will help you get through the cold months with beautiful, healthy hair that makes everyone take notice.

Who doesn’t want that?

CoWash Cleansing Conditioner

Argan Oil Styling Cream

Not All Alcohol is Bad

The truth is, not all alcohols are bad or even drying.

We are not joking!

Fatty alcohols are not irritating and can actually be beneficial for your skin.

Take Cetearyl Alcohol, for example. It’s a fatty alcohol that’s actually allowed by the FDA as an ingredient in skin and hair care products that are labeled “alcohol-free.”

Cetearyl Alcohol also referred to as cetostearyl alcohol, is a waxy substance that is derived from plants like coconuts and palms (but some labs can even synthesize it). When used in beauty products like moisturizers, lotions, and shampoos, cetearyl alcohol can act as an emollient, an emulsifier, and a stabilizer.

Emulsifiers are used to combine ingredients that normally don’t mix together, like oil and water, and stabilizers prevent these ingredients from separating. Emollients soften and soothe your skin.  

Why use any alcohol?

Alcohol can make a thick skincare product feel weightless. This allows the product to not only glide over your skin effortlessly but allows you to apply a nice thin, even layer.

Your skin is naturally very good at keeping ingredients out. Skin-protective substances (like lipids (fats), enzymes, and antioxidants) act like little soldiers, keeping everything –including the beneficial ingredients in your products– from getting in. Alcohol (the bad kind) helps ingredients like retinol and vitamin C penetrate your skin more effectively, but it does that by breaking down that barrier the little soldiers are defending. This destroys the very substances that keep your skin healthy over the long term. Think of the old western movies where a fight breaks out in a bar and cowboys are throwing each other through the windows… This is what happens when bad alcohols are involved! The windows (your skin barrier) and the cowboys (the good ingredients) both get broken.

Fatty alcohols do not behave like this. They are friendly alcohols. They’re more like a checkpoint, stopping all the visitors and allowing the good ingredients to pass, opening the doors, and even escorting them in.

So cetearyl alcohol is not like the alcohols known for drying and irritating your skin. It’s actually a good ingredient!

The rule of thumb for understanding any alcohol in your products is this…

If it starts with a C or an S, it’s SAFE; not drying or damaging.

Remember, fatty alcohols are not the least bit harmful to your skin. Often confused with the bad alcohols, like ethanol, denatured alcohol, propanol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol), fatty alcohols include, among others, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. Don’t let their names scare you off.

Why We Use It

Now that you know what cetearyl alcohol is, let’s review the benefits it brings.

• Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient, which means it helps soften your skin. It also helps to improve the spreadability and texture of the product so that you can more easily apply it to your hair and skin.
• Cetearyl alcohol also functions as a surfactant. Surfactants are ingredients that lower the surface tension between two substances, such as two liquids or a liquid and a solid. Another job of surfactants is to degrease and emulsify oils and fats and suspend dirt, allowing them to be washed away. It can also increase the capacity of foaming in products like body washes and facial cleansers.
• Last but not least, another important function of cetearyl alcohol is, it works to thicken product formulations in order to make them less runny and easier to spread.

Where You Can Find It

We use Cetearyl Alcohol in our CoWash Cleansing Conditioner, Argan Oil Styling Cream, Coconut Deep Conditioner Hair Mask, Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment, ReNew Exfoliating Face Mask & Scrub, and Brilliant Eyes Daily Eye Cream.

Deep Conditioner Hair Mask

Brilliant Eyes Day & Night Eye Cream

We’ve got some tips for avoiding summer hair damage, and recovering from it if you’re already seeing signs.

Salt and Chlorine are the Enemy

If you’re planning a little pool time, or a day at the beach, you should be very careful of the chlorine and the salt… especially if your hair is color or chemically treated.

Chlorine and salt suck the natural oils from your hair, leaving it dry, fragile, and damaged. Your hair needs these natural oils to keep it smooth and shiny.

Chlorine can also cause chemical reactions in your hair that change the natural color, weaken each strand of hair, and cause split ends.

…Green Hair?

Chlorine does not, on its own, turn your hair green. But it does oxidize any copper that might be in the water. This oxidized copper is absorbed by your hair, which can cause it to look slightly green. This is especially true for light hair colors.

An Ounce of Prevention…

The easiest way to great summer hair, is to prevent it from being damaged. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Easier said than done, right?

Actually, it’s pretty easy to prevent salt and chlorine damage!

Summer Frizz?

Humidity can cause your hair to frizz, and if you live in a place with humid summer heat, you know all about this.

What you might not know is that you can tame the frizz and have stylish hair without a lot of effort!

You don’t need to be stuck with a ponytail or a hat all summer!

The LuxeOrganix Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Cream can be used for a fresh beachy-look, or soft, defined, bouncy hair… It’s a  touchable light-hold Styling Cream that will leave your hair with a beautiful, healthy shine. 

Extra bonus: it can help give your hair a little extra protection from chlorine and salt water damage, too. So, no worries if you get thrown into the pool!

Bond Integrity Protein Hair Treatment