Hair Detox 101

Detox is a buzz word we often hear at the beginning of the year; be it a diet, relationship or beauty detox, the start of the year brings a fresh start. Purist's botanical chemist, Annabelle Personeni, shares her top tips for a simple hair detox.

Cut out the silicones
Silicones are like fast food to the hair, a quick fix with immediate results. Often found in hair styling serums, silicone based products don’t actually treat or nourish the hair. Used long term, product can build up, weighing hair down. Opt for products that offer nutrients to your hair, so it can shine naturally without the help of silicones.

Note: Silicones can be found in most “nourishing” shampoos, in almost every conditioner and serum. Products containing silicone may also be listed under its synonyms (i.e. Dimeticone and Cyclopentasiloxane). If there is a cone or silane at the end of an ingredient, it is likely to contain silicones.

Invest in a quality shampoo and conditioner
To nourish the hair and scalp, switch your silicone based conditioner to a natural conditioner. Using a natural conditioner will “re-boost” your hair with the nutrients and proteins it needs to look shiny and healthy. A deep cleansing shampoo will aid in removing product build up.
Recommended: Al’chemy Lemongrass Shampoo.

Make good use of the basics
Break the habit of over-washing: wash hair with a gentle shampoo once every few days as using shampoo daily can strip hair of its natural oils while over stimulating the production of sebum. Those who perspire a lot from physical activity or weather may still rinse hair daily if necessary as perspiration is freely washed off with pure water.

To get the most out of your conditioner, Annabelle suggests rinsing it out in two steps as it enhances the deposition of natural conditioning ingredients. Apply conditioner as usual but rinse with only ½ cup of water first, followed by a full rinse. Doing so will break down the emulsions, releasing more nutrients to the hair.
Recommended: Al’chemy Jojoba Light Conditioner.

Read your labels
Healthy hair will benefit from products that are free from harsh chemicals like parabens, sulphates, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours. If you come across an unfamiliar ingredient, sites like skindeep.org are a great resource for ingredient profiles and its safety ratings.

What are your favourite hair care products?