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If you are following my reviews on the Pantene Aqualight range (week 1 and week 2), this is week 3’s post, and I am happy to report that my hair’s condition has improved over the last week and it’s back to its usual self! This is a result of me being less stressed out, and I have allowed my hair to air-dry a lot more by cutting down on using heat styling tools.

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I did some reading up on the causes of hair damage, as well as what you can do daily to prevent damage.

Did you know?

  • Heat tools, brushing, and chemical treatments are hazardous to our hair, but did you know that minerals in tap water poses a threat to our luscious locks too? According to hair care expert and trichologist, Dr. John Gray, while water may be good for the body levels of copper ions and other minerals found naturally in all sources of water erode the hair’s vital protein layer.
  • Split ends are a direct result of placing stress on your strands. If your locks are over-processed with relaxers, perms and colour, or if you are in the habit of using too much heat-styling (yip, that’s me), brushing while wet, handling too roughly or overdoing it with sun and chlorine exposure, your ends are in need of some intensive care. Scientifically speaking, each hair fiber is enclosed by a layer protecting it from damage known as the cuticle. When this is damaged, your hair is no longer able to contain the elements that hold the fibre together, resulting in split ends.
  • If you want to give your hair some TLC, avoid using curling irons, flat irons and blow-dryers. Let your hair air-dry, at least twice a week (which I’ve been trying to do), to build-up your natural texture. When heat-styling be sure to use a lower setting, and apply heat directly to hair for no longer five seconds! If you’re a swimmer, always coat your hair with conditioner (for example Pantene’s Moisture renewal conditioner) before entering the water. This helps shield the cuticle from strand-shredding chlorine.
  • The golden rule is to never brush your luscious locks while they are wet. Be sure to only use wide-tooth combs to detangle, gently starting from the bottom and working your way up. Ripping through knots is a cuticle emergency so keep your strands safe. (I usually hold my hair halfway down the length while combing so as not to tug at my hair.)

These facts above are all so logical and are things that I should consider daily, but I think sometimes I get so caught up in the never-ending “rush” that is my life, and I don’t realise how much strain I am putting on my hair. I am so happy that my hair has returned to its usual self, and I am still very happy with the Pantene Aqualight range which leaves my hair feeling light and manageable! I have one more review to do as part of this trial, and I’ll post some more pics of how my hair looks.

Thank you again to P&G and Pantene for sending me the Aqualight shampoo and conditioner to try out as part of a blogger trial for a month.