DIY HAIR COCKTAILING....DARE TO BE A MIXOLOGIST!

 stir it up 

Are you an expert hair mixologist, or a novice wanting to experiment with new ingredients and concoctions to better maintain and promote healthier locs. 

We all have our fav over-the-counter hair care products, a few we adore from one line and a couple more from another, but occasionally our hair needs that extra oomph, a tad bit of cocktailing!  Some DIY hair mixologists are increasingly experimenting with a variety of natural oils and other ingredients like eggs to help enhance protein strength, or maybe a pinch of honey to smooth cuticles and increase softness. 

blend don't clash 

But watch out now--be careful not to create a mixture mishap which could cause a catastrophic hair mess, leaving your mane feeling like you dried it in a clothes dryer--brittle and rough, or heavy and weighed down.  Why does this happen? Because you just can’t mix everything with anything.  Sounds simple enough but unfortunately, most of the time, we won’t know what works until we’ve tried it, right? Not necessarily. You should actually do a lil’ internet homework to find out the benefits and disadvantages of your ingredients before getting all mixed up, still leaving a little room for trial and error, of course.  Here are a few basic tips to help minimize your mix-fortunes:

pick the right mix

Know your oils before mixing them with your bestie hair products.  Is it a penetrating oil or a coating oil? Both are good but serve different purposes. If you’re aiming to create a deep conditioning concoction, be sure to use oils like Argan, Coconut, Emu and Avocado..and the list goes on.  An oil’s penetration capability relies heavily on its molecular makeup. (A topic for a separate article :) For now, we’ll keep the conversation simple.  Penetrating oils help prevent dehydration by pushing through the hair cuticles, adding to and trapping any existing moisture.  If your moisture levels are in-check, but your hair seems dull, lacking vibrancy and sheen, then you definitely want to pour up a bit of those great coating oils like Jojoba to achieve more shine while retaining moisture. Side note: research shows olive oil is a good penetrating oil.  For my hair, it seems to work best as a coating or sealing oil.  Figure out what works best for you.

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how much is too much 

We all have our fav over-the-counter hair care products, a few we adore from one line and a couple more from another, but occasionally our hair needs that extra oomph, a tad bit of cocktailing!  Some DIY hair mixologists are increasingly experimenting with a variety of natural oils and other ingredients like eggs to help enhance protein strength, or maybe a pinch of honey to smooth cuticles and increase softness. 

It’s always a pretty good rule of thumb to tread lightly during your first attempt at a new blend. Don’t leave your staple hair product swimming in pools of oils, jams and jellies (just kiddin’….I don’t think jams and jellies contain any hair enhancement qualities). But if you’re stirring in natural additives, try using a half teaspoon on your first go around. Give your hair a chance to gauge how much is just enough to accomplish your desired look and feel. You can always make adjustments in your next cocktail. 

if it doesn't work, now what

Relax--don’t get your tangles all in a wad if you don’t see or feel a big difference in your hair after serving up your creation.  Generally, hair will not drastically react to conditioning treatments from the start.  In fact, penetrating oils tend to show their true value after several applications. However, if you’ve applied your cocktail during the third shampoo or co-wash and you still don’t see even the slightest improvements in texture, elasticity or shine, then this is a pretty good indicator it’s time to change processes or change ingredients.  For example, if you were rinsing out your cocktail before sitting under the dryer, the next time you may want to apply the blend, wrap your hair with plastic, or use a plastic cap, and sit under the dryer for 15-20 minutes.  This extra step will assist conditioners in penetrating the hair shafts.

Have patience with yourself and your hair as you experiment with cocktailing. Have FUN!  Before you know it, your hair will show positive signs as evidence that you’ve found the perfect blend. 

Until the next time.....Cheers!!