Hair Help

Moroccanoil: My Secret Weapon

Spring. It’s a great season for cleaning, organizing and freshening up all that you own. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately and have been careful not to neglect something that I wear everyday whether I stay home or go out. Yes, as the title of this story indicates, I’m talking about my hair.

Hair—how it looks and feels—is important to all of us. So I thought I’d share a few of my secrets with you. I consider myself an expert of sorts since I live and play in a climate that can render the most silky locks into a nest of untamable frizz. Plus I’m at a time in my life where age only makes the situation worse (Oh dear!), and both my hair and skin seem to constantly be crying out with a Sahara-like thirst the likes of which I’ve never known. My bad coif situation reaches hair-splitting proportions by the end of ski season. (Although I’m careful to always wear a hat on the slopes, the little tufts that frame my face still become fried and discolored by our intense high-alpine sunshine. I bet you didn’t know that the sun on the ski slopes of Colorado beams far stronger than on most beaches.)

So what’s the answer? Oil. I can’t get enough of it. I don’t go anywhere without my Moroccanoil Oil Treatment for All Hair or Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment. (Good news, too:  most of their lines of products come in environmentally-friendly glass bottles.) I work a small amount of either oil into my hair after shampooing and conditioning while still wet. After a quick blow dry, I smooth in L’Anza Silk Serum for added softness. Try the Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream instead of the oil for more controlled styling. I also love the Moroccanoil shampoo and conditioner.

For more concentrated hydration, do a Macadamia Deep Repair Masque once or twice a week. My Italian boyfriend told me that his grandfather used to occasionally walk around with olive oil in his hair, a home remedy that I’m sure made him chuckle.  And even I reported in my book, “The Riches of Paris,” that one of Paris’s top salons recommended adding olive, palm or other types of oil to your hair once a week a few minutes before shampooing to keep your locks healthy and silky smooth. These are both great options but I still like to create a separation between bathroom and kitchen products—I prefer using something that makes me feel like I’m at a spa rather than a trattoria.

Even with all these hydrating treatments that I implemented throughout winter, I found my hair pathetically brittle and brassy come early April. I felt overwhelmed by a I-can’t-stand-it-one-more-day feeling just as I was heading off for some travels. There was no time for professional coloring, so I took a chance and bought a box of Clairol Natural Instincts at our local pharmacy. I nervously followed the instructions and applications to the letter since it was only the third time in my life that I turned to box color. Fabuleux! I ended up being thrilled by the color and texture of my hair. And it cost me less than $10. The hue and softness have held up nicely these past five weeks—especially with the assistance of my various oils and conditioners. Now I’m ready to give it another try.

Wish me luck since pricey colors and cuts might best be reserved for only quarterly trips to the salon during these challenging times.