After being blonde forever, I honestly never thought I’d go brunette, and I especially never thought I’d LOVE it as much as I do.
I loved being blonde but I love the change too. It’s so fun to switch things up. It’s fresh and I was getting bored to be honest – I’ve been blonde since I was 14. Speaking of, remember when I did a bleach out? That’s what’s so fun about hair. You can always go back & keep changing it up, so I’m not even sure why I stayed blonde for so long.
Anyway, let’s get into the specifics of what I asked for when I made the change and how the incredible team made it all happen in a HEALTHY way. In this post I’m also going to give you all my hair growth tips. Because my god, the transformation has been insane and I attribute it to a bunch of little things.
How to go from Blonde to Brunette:
Alex Truong at Nine Zero One is like a wizard when it comes to hair color and if you’re in LA, I highly recommend booking with him for your first brunette job if you’re a blonde. We did:
+ warm rich low lights
+ rich all over gloss
+ super rich base
+ dimensional ends
+ super moisturizing/shiny shampoo & conditioner
+ Incommon Magic Mist to finish
Since then we’ve gone a little darker, gone a little more chocolate and made the color a little more deep with lots of dimension.
At first I was still using some clip in extensions. Now, I don’t have to use any extensions. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Extensions are fun but I used to wear them for years, so to not have to is kind of freeing. My hair is so thick and healthy now from taking care of it. BUT if you’re into extensions here are some tips from Kevin Kelly. He knows everything about extensions which is why he has his own line of them.
As well as Kevin Kelly’s Luxe extensions, Hayley Heckmann also used to do extensions for me and here are some of her tips:
+ blend them by always matching the ends and the lightest tone to the real hair
+ use a root spray at the top of the weft of an extension to create a seamless blend
+ braid up the underneath when the hair is thick or blunt
+ use longer extensions for a softer blend when adding length
Now, here are some things I’ve been doing to keep my hair healthy and help it grow, along with products that are making all the difference. I really think it’s a combo of all this stuff and not just one thing that’s making my hair grow so insanely fast and thick. Eating more meat and focusing on protein has made a big difference but here are some products and practices I think really work.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW
Scalp massager
Anna from Pellequr recommended I start using a wooden scalp massager because silicone ones pull out your hair. She gifted me Pellequr’s and I recently got this wooden one that I like too.
It stimulates circulation and the hair follicle to help with hair growth. Also, it just feels so fucking good and the dogs like it too. Use it with a hair serum like Vegamour’s GRO and you’ll be amazed how thick and long your hair gets. I’ve been using it for months and almost can’t believe my eyes. (Use code SKINNY for 20% off).
I also like this gua sha brush. It stimulates acupressure points and feels incredible. Still planning to try the rosemary oil for hair growth hack but haven’t yet. It’s on my list.
Shampoo, conditioner, mask
Kerastase is my go-to and now I’m using the one for brunettes. Dae has really good products at an amazing price point and so does Ouai by Jen Atkin (you can listen to her on The HIM & HER Show here.)
The ACT + ACRE hair mask is one I keep going back to. It’s restorative so it gives your hair a nourishing boost.
Wella Hair Repair Spray
Another favorite, this really strengthens my hair and it makes it so shiny. Whenever I use it I notice way less breakage and frizz. What you do is put it on after you wash your hair. Use it as a leave-in conditioner/treatment and notice how smooth and strong your hair is. Such a staple.
Nutrafol
I’ve been taking this for a while now and I really notice a difference in my hair thickness. Postpartum you shed a lot. This really decreases the amount of hair that falls out. Currently I’m still taking the postpartum one and I highly recommend it if you’re experiencing thinning hair. It’s full of good ingredients, with no nasties which we love. You can use code SKINNYHAIR for $10 off your order at nutrafol.com.
Microneedling
You can totally microneedle your scalp and there are so many benefits. It promotes hair growth, prevents hair loss, helps your follicles grow stronger & increases blood flow. Lately I’ve been using the one by BeautyBIO and you can stalk this post to learn how to do it yourself. If you’re noticing a lot of baby hairs along your hair line I recommend using a microneedler in those areas.
Silk pillowcase
Using a silk pillowcase can really help your hair retain moisture, plus it helps with tangling. Like you won’t wake up with a tangled rat’s nest that takes 10 minutes to brush. Also, it contains amino acids and will keep your hair nice and shiny. In fact, years ago when we moved I lost my silk pillowcase and was slow to replace it. My hairstylist noticed immediately that something had changed because my hair was drier and just didn’t look as nice.
Microfiber hair towel
Instead of using a huge body towel, try using a microfiber hair towel. It just makes your hair dry so fast and so nicely, it’s hard to explain. There’s no frizz and it just falls so nicely compared to towel scrubbing your hair and wrapping it in a huge towel that pulls at your strands.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Drybar is what I use to dry my hair, HA! But when I do dry my own hair I like a Dyson. It’s an investment but the details are just too good. The attachments are magnetic, it’s faster than any other hair dryer I’ve ever used, it won’t make your hair frizz, in fact it’s very smoothing, comes with a hanger for easy storage. Also, the attachments never got hot and it’s got this amazing balance. It’s hard to describe but it just feels so good to hold.
Hair brushes
Mason Pearson hair brushes are superior is what I’ve been shouting from the rooftops this year. Zaza has a little pink one, Townes has a light blue one, Michael has a black one and I have white. They’re made with boar bristles so they help restore healthy oils in the hair and it’s just so chic and iconic to have a Mason Pearson brush. They’re on the pricier side but I promise you’ll have it for years.
If you don’t want to spend that much on a hair brush I obviously totally understand. Zaza and I love a Wet Brush too. It’s really the best for detangling, especially if you a kid who hates having their hair done.
High Frequency Wand
We’ve talked about this but the little comb attachment on the Nuderma High Frequency Wand stimulates blood circulation to your scalp and therefore hair growth, and it only takes a few seconds a day. I like to run it over my hairline and that’s it. The easiest, quickest hack for your hair. Make sure you get the one with the orange comb attachment.
While we’re here let’s talk about other hair on the body:
Brows and lashes
+ double brow tint, always
+ castor oil to help grow brows and lashes
+ REFY gel is the best for a bold brow
+ HOT TIP: let your brows grow out for a few months and see what you’re working with.
Everywhere else
For my face I use The Skinny Confidential Razor and Shave Cream and for the rest of my body I like to use EOS shaving cream with a Venus razor. And if you must know, I trim my nose hairs with this cute pink electric trimmer. LOL.
Other things that I know help my hair grow are meat and raw milk. Don’t call the cops. It’s controversial but eating a ton of meat has really been life changing for me so I talk about it a lot in case it it could be life changing for someone else. You can get more details on the bowl of meat here. Raw milk also has been incredible too. I get it at the farmer’s market and it has the perfect amount of fat, carbs and protein for a pre-workout, perfect if you like to exercise on an empty stomach. It just gives you the bit of energy you need. Both are full of essentials vitamins and nutrients and I’m obsessed.
Everything is easy to shop in my Amazon store or LTK store, so click here for a quick snapshot of all my healthy hair tips.
x, lauryn
+ stalk the benefits of washing your hair with cold water.
++ check out these tips for afro-textured hair.
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