If only I were a Disney Princess
As a toddler I used to rock short pixie cuts as a hairstyle. Not sure if I had any say in the matter, but short hair seemed kinda my go to thing. Later on pixies were exchanged for chin-lenght bobs or a blunt lob. Whenever my hair would have reached its maximum growth and length capacity, an inch or two over the shoulders, the scissors would reappear and jazz up the shoulder length look. I have remained within this range until I was in my mid 20s.
I always played around with color too. In my early teens, a flattering natural henna coloring used to be my favourite. On my untouched warm mid-brown locks, the henna turned into a chestnut brown. Later on it developed a more profound auburn tint. Needless to say, my aunts owning their own salon was quite a stimulation. My understanding of the types of hair coloration and the different colouring techniques was heightened early on. I went from a deep violet, to my first ever balayage to the most awful black color on the spectrum: the one with the blue shine! Let’s say for a fair skinned Amazigh woman, this last color made me look like the Evil Queen and not so much Snow White!
Up until my mid twenties I never really regretted any of my choices or decisions I took related to my hair. I was very impulsive, still am if I’m being completely truthful.
I could wake up one morning and decide to color my hair the darkest black possible and rest assured my hair would be colored that same day.
Maybe impulsive isn’t the right word… what about: determined? Yes! That has a much more positive ring to it. Now what changed in my mid twenties, you may be asking yourself? Well, one day, about 6 years ago I decided to go for an ‘ombré’. After a bit of research I went to a hair salon experienced in the ombré? I was looking forward to have my brown locks turn into honey brown midway. Alas, every life story can have its devastating twist. The hairdresser at the time, backcombed pieces of my hair and bleached the remaining strands. The hairdresser assured me she had already used this type of technique on many clients to get a beautiful ombré. My sixth sense was telling me to have her wash my hair that very instant. However, for one or the other stupid reason I remained observant. I was determined to give her the benefit of the doubt and await the end result.
“It’s shocking you’re still alive!”
My hair was a combination of brow, orange, blond, green white and silver: stripes and dots. There was no trace of an ombré whatsoever. What was present though: my first ever nervous breakdown! My poor sister, who had to listen to me cry the entire night while I was doing research. This problem needed to be fixed ASAP. Luckily for me, God had mercy on me. I called Toni Kalin, one of Antwerp’s best hairdressers, at 6 am (non opening hours). In tears, I explained him the situation and told him I couldn’t show my face at work with the monstrosity on my head, or anywhere else for that matter.
Later that morning, Stephanie Kalin, my hair colourist for the next two years, gave me an 8 hours treatment, only to make me look human again.
Walking planet earth as an actual Homo Sapien and not some alienated figure, I realised my hair would not survive a similar mistake ever again. It took my hair a couple of years to recover from the disastrous effects it was branded with. My hair was brittle, dry, extremely stretchy and in need of love and care.
In order to prevent this from ever happening again, I wanted to make sure I mastered sufficient knowledge about the scientific world of cosmetics. As a previous Maths and Science major, I went ahead and successfully finished a Postgraduate in Cosmetic Sciences. This in depth degree allowed me to not only understand raw natural products as well as pure chemicals. It also enhanced my knowledge in which types of ingredients would suit a specific skin type or hair type best. In addition, I learned how to formulate my very own products.
As such I began developing my own soapbars, micellar waters, colored lip balms, creams and more.
… Cause mommy delivered a new pup
“You look beautiful!”… I gazed in the mirror, quietly. I tossed my hair around a few times, rubbed my fingers through my eyes to make sure I still had full vision and immediately called my sister to come over. How should I explain this part? If I resembled the Evil Queen in my teenage years, I had now reached the point where I could star in the 101 Dalmatians, the sequel, cause mommy delivered a new pup.
From pup to guinea pig
As my hair was slowly recovering, I set up a goal for myself. For once I would have long and extremely healthy hair. Not lob length or two-inch-over-the-shoulder “long” hair. No, an actual length that I could track: belly button long! I set the goal for myself to grow my hair at least up to my belly button. In addition, I wouldn’t be using any type of coloration on my hair anymore, natural coloration included. I went from pup to guinea pig!
As my hair was slowly recovering, I set up a goal for myself. For once I would have long and extremely healthy hair. Not lob length or two-inch-over-the-shoulder “long” hair. No, an actual length that I could track: belly button long! I set the goal for myself to grow my hair at least up to my belly button. In addition, I wouldn’t be using any type of coloration on my hair anymore, natural coloration included. I went from pup to guinea pig!
The most significant changes within reviving my hair resulted in conscious eating and drinking behaviour as well as building up a haircare routine. In this blog I will not cover the changes I made to my diet, but it all started with water, water and more water. I will give you an insight in the steps I took to give my hair what it needed to become healthy again: moisture. My goal was to work on the volume and to reestablish my natural waves. First my hair needed its moisture back.
For the past 4 years, I've been using Australian brands like Eleven and Aussie as I find their hydration/moisturising products most effective. I shampoo, condition and mask my hair with these two brands as I have found that their formulation worked best for me. Possibly the Australian brands are used to hydrating the hair for the surf loving people and to counteract the effects of overindulging in the salt baths.
Once every three months I give my hair a homemade protein mask which strengthens the locks from the outside. This mask contains an egg, mostly an egg yolk and sometimes a full egg depending on my hair's needs. I add a tbs of honey, two tbs of vinegar and two tbs of yogurt. I stir everything up and massage it through my scalp and hair. I let this mask sit for about 10 min before rinsing it out. The mask is rinsed out with regular temperature water first and then with hot water. In case I would like to make a hair scrub out of this mask, I add coffee grounds.
I massage my scalp for 3 to 5 minutes while shampooing to stimulate the hair follicles and boost the growth and volume of my hair.
I rinse my hair with cold water after every shower.
Only shampoo once a week! The human scalp and follicles produces natural oils. The more products we use during the week such as styling products, shampoo, conditioner etc, the more our system will try to self clean and protect. As such, I shampoo my hair once a week. However in summer months, my hair gets rinsed daily with cold water and sometimes a bit of conditioner.
Lastly, I've been using my own Grow & Glow hair butter cream for two years on a daily basis! With its specific formulation, Gigi has helped me to finally grow my hair up to my belly button in a healthy way by adding nutrition and protection to my hair.
HOW DOES THE FORMULA HELP THE SCALP AND THE HAIR?
Cocos Nucifera Oil
There are multiple benefits of cocos oil on the scalp and the hair. The oil is known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal activity. In addition the oil is a lubricant which means the slip between hair strands are increased and hair is easily detangled. In addition, cocos oil forms a light coating over the hair shaft locking the moisture inside. Lastly, the oil can actually penetrate inside the hair shaft, preventing protein loss.
Sweet Almond Oil
Almond oil is better know as a UV protector for hair! The oil manages to protect the hair against UV radiation thanks to its fatty acids and double bonds. The oil derived from the Prunus Amygdalus contains Vitamin E. Just like cocos oil, it adds moisture to the scalp and the hair. The elasticity of the hair is increased as the gabs between cuticle cells are filled up.
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Mango butter has found to be an excellent moisturiser for the hair. The butter is filled with vitamins A, E, and antioxidants making sure to revitalise the hair.
Refined Shea Butter
Shea butter posses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which stimulates hair growth.
Cocos Nucifera Oil with Gardenia Florida
This oil is know as Monoi oil. Most its benefits come from cocos oil as well as the gardenia flower. This oil is a boosted cocos oil filled with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and nourishments for the hair.
Argan Oil
This oil is obtained from the kernels from the Argania spinose, which can be found in Morocco. The oil has a regulatory effect on sebum secretion. It’s a great moisturiser due to its water holding capacity and the oil adds overal elasticity to the hair after a usage of two months.
Bergamot Extract
The citrus extract stimulates hair growth significantly
IS IT TRULY MAGICAL?
Gigi has all the ingredients to help you revitalise your hair and stimulate your hair growth. The hair butter is full of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. It gives a necessary UV protection to counteract potential damage of radiation during each and every season. It contains both vitamins A which is a growth stimulator, and vitamin E which strengthens the hair follicles and hair shaft. It moisturises the hair by actually penetrating in the hair shaft. The elasticity gets enhanced and the hair falls more smoothly preventing unnecessary tangles. Bonus? All the shine!
But is is truly magical? Let’s say, you are what you eat! Just don’t forget your water intake.