Are you tired of using the same hair products over and over again, only to find that your hair is still not looking or feeling its best? Well, it might be time to switch things up a little – and try a new technique. Ever heard of hair cycling?
In a few words, hair cycling is the process of alternating between different hair products to tackle different hair issues. For example, you might use a protein-rich shampoo and conditioner one week to rebalance your hair's protein levels, and then switch to a moisturising shampoo and conditioner the next week to hydrate your hair and keep it flexible and manageable. By cycling through different products, you can address multiple hair concerns and achieve healthier, shinier, beautiful hair – without having to choose between options.
Benefits Of Hair Cycling
Hair cycling can help prevent hair damage in the long run, focusing on giving your hair exactly what it needs at any given time. On top of that, it can also help you achieve a variety of hair goals, from boosting volume to reducing frizz – depending on the time of the year, the hairstyle you’re trying to achieve, etc.
How To Choose Products For Hair Cycling
Hair cycling doesn’t have any fixed rules, as it’s different for everyone. You may be struggling with dandruff and dryness for example – so why not alternate products that focus on soothing a flaky scalp to products that will hydrate your tresses? When choosing products for hair cycling, look for those that are specifically formulated to address your hair concerns, such as brittleness, breakage, or colour fading. You can also choose products based on your hair type, such as curly, straight, or fine hair, and achieve the best of both worlds – with a little patience.
Tips For Successful Hair Cycling
To get the most out of hair cycling, be sure to use high-quality hair products and follow a consistent hair care routine. Although over-shampooing per se won’t destroy your hair, try to not overkill and keep your washing days as per your regular schedule. You can also consider incorporating hair masks or other treatments into your cycling schedule for added benefits; for most people, the ingredients for a great hair mask can be found directly in your pantry. Read more about it in our dedicated post: DIY Hair Mask Recipes For All Hair Types.
Hair Cycling vs. Traditional Hair Care
Hair cycling is a variation of traditional hair care methods, which often involve using the same products on a daily basis (usually for as long as needed, but most of us tend to stick to the routine – too afraid to spice things up after finding comfort in a good product that delivers the promised results!). By cycling through different products instead, you can provide your hair with a more diverse range of ingredients and nutrients, which can lead to healthier, more beautiful hair over time. This obviously doesn’t mean that traditional hair care doesn’t work – always remember that with hair, experimenting and trial and error are the most efficient ways to find out what works for you – and what doesn’t. Hair cycling can also be beneficial to your human hair extensions, as long as you make sure you’re using the right products!
Why Hair Cycling Works
The secret of hair cycling, for many people, lies exactly in its diversity. Our hair goes through a lot of different stages over its lifetime, and just like how our bodies benefit from a diverse diet, our tresses benefit from a diverse range of hair products. Each product contains different ingredients that can target specific hair concerns, such as dryness, frizz, or breakage.
By using different products on a rotating basis, you can avoid overloading your hair with too much of one ingredient, which can cause buildup and other issues – ever heard of hygral fatigue?
How To Get Started With Hair Cycling
Getting started with hair cycling is easy: first, you’ll need to assess your hair’s needs and identify the different concerns you may want to address. If you’re wearing permanent hair extensions, make sure you stock up with products that are exclusively sulfate-free and alcohol-free to protect them! Then, choose a variety of hair products that target those concerns. For example, if you want to address dryness, you might choose a moisturising shampoo and conditioner, a deep conditioning treatment, and a leave-in conditioner; then, to maintain the protein balance in your tresses, you may want to invest in keratin-infused products.
After that, things get eady – create a hair cycling schedule according to your hair type and washing routine. This might involve using one set of products for one week, and then switching to a different set of products the next week, or even on a fortnightly basis.
You may not nail your cycling routine at your first attempt, so make sure you pay attention to how your mane responds to the products chosen and how you alternate them! If you notice any negative effects, such as dryness or breakage, then you’ll need to adjust your cycling schedule accordingly. If you’d like, in order to save money in case you need to switch things up a few times, you could try and use travel-sized shampoo and conditioner until you find your perfect balance – then you can buy the bigger bottle.
In Conclusion
Hair cycling is a simple yet effective technique for achieving healthier, more beautiful hair. By alternating between different hair products, you can address multiple hair concerns and provide your hair with the nutrients and ingredients it needs to thrive. So why not give it a try and see how hair cycling can transform your hair?
