How I rescued my damaged bleached hair.
I used to buy top of the line hair products. Especially as someone who highlighted their hair with bleach for many years, I would buy products specifically suited to my hair colour, which would keep my highlights bright and blonde for as long as possible.
The last time I had my hair done was January 2019 – almost two years ago! Due to my super long roots contrasting with the leftover blonde at the bottom, people now think I’ve had a really badly done balayage hair style #Awkward.
As my hair grew out, I also outgrew my desire for high-end hair products. I started just buying “whatever” – and normally not even at drug stores like Boots, but just picking up some shampoo with my grocery shop at Tesco. My hair has definitely suffered because of this.
Now that my hair is getting very long, it’s much easier to notice when it’s getting straw-like and frizzy. I went to the hairdressers for a little trim a month or so ago, and the guy doing my hair told me to stop using my shampoo because it’s stripping my hair of all its goodness (or, at least all the goodness that was left of it). I know this is totally a sales pitch done by most, if not all, hairdressers to try to sell you the salon’s own products – but there was something very sincere about it this time. Plus, I had already been noticing the fading shine and bounce from my hair by this stage – it really was BAD.
So, how did I fix this situation without reverting back to my old ways?
I figured that if the chemicals in the shampoo I had been using were ruining my hair (by the way, I was using Tresemmé), then naturally, it was time to opt for something with less to no chemicals in it. Besides making your own homemade shampoo of banana and avocado and God only knows what else, the most reliable chemical-free hair products out there have got to be baby products.
So, on my little stroll last Sunday, I popped into Boots and headed straight for the baby aisle.
There is no shame in using baby products as an adult. Heck, if it’s good enough for a baby, then you bet it’s good enough for an adult too.
I grew up being a true Johnson & Johnson kid: the shampoo, the baby oil, the bubble bath – you name it, I probably had it! But since I was a wee little lass, Johnson & Johnson have acquired a more boujee range called Aveeno.
Aveeno is a well-loved brand for adults, but their baby range is so popular it’s probably overtaken the classic yellow Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo that we all had as children. Although Aveeno is more expensive than the classic Johnson & Johnson products, I knew I had to give it a go after everything I’d heard about it.
I’ve now been washing my hair with Aveeno Baby daily care (baby hair & body wash) for the last week.
On the back of the bottle, it advertises that it leaves hair soft, shiny and easy to comb. It’s also free from parabens, soap, alcohol and dyes.
Here is what I have to say about it: WHAT? HOW? OMG! WHAT IS THIS SHINE?!
I’m not even kidding you. From the first use I felt an instant change in my hair. I wanted to really put this shampoo to the test, so I even stopped using conditioner. Anyone who has long locks like me, will know that conditioner and long hair are best friends, so this was a pretty big deal to eliminate.
I should note that when I get out of the shower, I use a kids detangling spray as well as some leave-in conditioner. But I’ve used these for ages now, so the change in my hair definitely wasn’t due to them.
What are the pros of this shampoo?
- It smells amazing! If you could bottle the smell of freshness and cleanliness – it would be this product. The smell stays in your hair all day long, which is so lovely.
- If you get it in your eyes, you won’t cry!
- It instantly restored the gloss and shine back to my hair, and especially to the bleached blonde ends that were usually frizzy and dry.
- My hair feels so light and silky compared to normal.
- I workout most days, and when I do, I tie my hair up into a high bun. Normally, in the area where the bun was tied, there develops an oily, greasy patch after working out. But my hair has been significantly dryer and cleaner after exercising. I’m convinced this is because there’s less product in my hair now.
- The pump makes it super easy to use.
What are the cons of this shampoo?
- It is pricier than regular Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. I bought it for £5.67 at Boots (it’s £5.99 online). However, since realising I no longer need to buy conditioner, I’m actually saving!
- I’ve also found it on Amazon for much cheaper: a pack of three, or single buy.
- It doesn’t really lather, and as I have such long hair, I do need to use quite a bit of the shampoo to really get it all covered in the product.
I haven’t had shine like this in years! I can also get away with washing my hair less frequently now, as it isn’t getting oily as fast as it was before. So, basically, it’s a total win and this will definitely remain part of my haircare routine for the future. If my hair feels and looks this good after a week, then I cannot wait to see what it looks like in a month!
If you’re someone who has naturally oily hair, or who exercises frequently, or who needs some moisture restored to their damaged hair, I cannot recommend this product enough.
Let me know if you try it out!
SEE: Sip Eat Enjoy 