Garnier Whole Blends Hair Repair

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As spring and summer start rolling around it’s almost tradition that we start longing for beach girl waves and lighter hues. The only issue being that going from a dark winter color to a light summer shade can really end up damaging your hair. Harsh bleach and color stripping additives may give us the color we are looking for, but give us half of the health we began with. Luckily with the Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Hair Care collection, you can have your cake and eat it too.

This being the second time I am transitioning to blonde, maintaining healthy hair through the process is my number one priority. It is essential to worry about the condition of your hair if you want to maintain length, strength, and shine. It takes much more than a heat protectant or a serum, keeping your hair its healthiest during the warmer months starts from the beginning. I wanted to show you my weekly routine to make sure my hair stays nourished and strong through my repeated bleaching visits.

Step one: Coconut Oil

Because it is comprised mainly of smaller medium-chain fatty acids, the oil of the coconut penetrates hair more deeply and faster than other conditioners. I often leave it on my hair to repair split ends, moisturize my scalp, and add a healthy glow to my main. I melt about 3 tablespoons in a color mixing bowl and melt it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Once the coconut oil comes to temperature and is completely melted, use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your hair, then work through with a comb or hair pick. After you’ve finished applying the oil, wrap your hair up in a shower cap or small towel and allow it to soak in for thirty minutes or longer (The longer you leave coconut oil on your hair, the more effective it will be!). I usually put it in a top knot for the whole day or let it sit while I sleep.

Step two: Shampoo

Not only is shampoo important to remove the oil, but using the right products to help repair damage can speed up the healing process and allow you to reach your desired color faster. The New Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Hair Care shampoos and conditioners, come in a variety of treatments that are specific for your hair care needs. I selected the Repairing – Honey Treasures collection to help sooth my hair and strengthen it from the harsh processes I have put it through. Besides the already amazing scent, I loved the Luscious formula with the essence of royal jelly, honey, and propolis. I used the product once to wash out the oil, and once more just to make sure everything was removed and give it a little extra invigoration.

Step three: Condition

Using a conditioner provides a variety of benefits. Each time you condition your hair, conditioning agents smooth the cuticle, providing soft hair that looks healthy. Following the Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures shampoo, I used the same conditioner to act as a one-two punch to strengthen my hair and help prevent split ends and breakage. The fact that these products have Paraben-free formulas really make me feel so much more comfortable about what I am putting on my hair and scalp. The conditioner not only moisturized my hair but made it much softer than my traditional products.

Step four: Deep Condition

I cannot stress how important a deep conditioner is to your hairs health. Deep conditioning your hair will provide the much needed nutrients to the hair follicle and allow the hair to shine and appear as healthy as possible. If your hair is damaged or feeling extremely dry through continued bleaching or processing, you can deep condition more often until it gets back to a better condition. The Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Hair Care Deep Conditioning treatment is my favorite part of the repairing trio. Its soft fragrance of royal jelly, honey & propolis, not only elevated my mood but certainly treated my hair. I also like to leave it on for an extra 2 minutes (5 minutes total) while I shower to give it a little extra staying power, helping to mend my damage and brittleness to strengthen strands for renewed, healthier hair. It also removes the need for a detangler, as my hair is much easier to shower after use.

Step five: Brush and Air Dry

It’s almost essential through color treating your hair that you reduce the use of heating products to your hair as much as possible. Although blowdrying your hair isn’t as harmful on your hair if used at the correct distance, I avoid it all together if I plan on straightening or curling my hair. I also always use a wet brush to reduce breakage and tame my hair before air drying. If you tend to take your showers at night, there are so many set-overnight styles you can do while you sleep to reduce the use of heat. Whether you want to experiment with sleeping in buns, braids, or twists, all will give you waves without your needing to set foot near a hot tool reducing extra damage.

So as I continue my hair care journey through dying my hair blonde (we are in stage 2 of 3, hopefully, maybe 4), keeping my hair healthy is certainly my main priority. If you choose to lighten up this summer, be sure to follow these five easy steps to insure you are giving your hair everything it needs through the process. Be sure to pick up the Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Hair Care collection available at Wal-mart! You can also check out the entire Whole Blends line, here. Which blend do you want to try?

Photos: Haley Nord