Bargain Central

(From our April 2025 Issue)

Simple Hair Growth Tips

By Debbie Neal

Ladies, raise your hands if you have a cabinet full of barely used hair products. Are you not discarding them because you’ve spent a pretty penny and found that it wasn’t the right product for your hair type? Nine times out of ten it’s expired, too. To tell if your hair products have expired, check for a "Period After Opening" (PAO) symbol (a jar with a number and "M") on the packaging, which indicates how many months the product remains usable after opening. Also, watch for changes in texture, color, or smell.

Tossing it in the garbage can isn’t the best choice of disposal either. Have you ever considered the environmental impact of the packaging that these products come in? Most shampoo and conditioner bottles are made from plastic, particularly non-biodegradable plastics like PET and HDPE. These materials can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to long-lasting pollution of our oceans, landfills, and wildlife habitats.

Don't dump them down the drain even with running water, as the ingredients may be harmful to the environment or plumbing. Instead use up as much of the product as you can then dispose of empty bottles and containers in the trash, but check for local recycling options if your area accepts them. Better yet, donate to organizations like Project Beauty Share at projectbeautyshare.org. They collect personal hygiene and beauty products to distribute to non-profit organizations serving women and families overcoming hardship. Or donate them to women's shelters. Some shelters gratefully accept unwanted makeup and beauty products. Finally, consider platforms like Poshmark or Glambot to sell unused items.

The rule of thumb when caring for your hair is to always consult your beautician for at-home hair products to use in between salon visits. Use very little oil on your hair except for the ends where it’s more brittle. You see, the scalp naturally secrets oil, for some it can secrete too much down the hair strands causing oily hair. For that, use a clarifying shampoo to keep oily scalp at bay.

Stop wasting your money on hair growth products like vitamins and hair growth oil. The secret to growing longer hair is learning to retain hair. Yes, ladies, that’s the secret. Simply learn how to retain as much of your hair as it’s growing.

Another tip for promoting hair growth is brushing; brushing stimulates blood circulation and helps spread natural oils from the scalp along the hair shaft, moisturizing and conditioning hair. However, too much brushing can cause hair loss, so brush sparingly.

My go-to-hair products are a sulfur free shampoo and hair mask. Hair masks deeply nourish and hydrate hair, replenishing lost moisture and improving its overall condition. They strengthen hair shafts, reducing breakage and split ends. Hair masks can also repair damaged hair caused by heat styling, chemical treatments, or environmental factors. Hair masks offer deeper, more intensive conditioning, while conditioners focus on the surface of the hair and are designed for more frequent use. For promoting hair growth, consider masks enriched with biotin, castor oil, keratin, or niacinamide, or try DIY recipes like avocado and coconut oil, or honey and banana.

After applying the hair mask, I put on a plastic cap and sit under a steam cap (for about 30 minutes tops). Forget the cotton towels and start using microfiber hair towels when drying your hair. Microfiber towels have many benefits for hair, including reducing frizz, drying hair faster, and protecting hair from breakage. Stop manipulating your hair ladies, simply wring your hair out in the shower and wrap the microfiber towel around your hair. Amazon sells 2 microfiber hair towels for $9.99, and the steam cap runs between $17-$29.

Yes, I still blow dry, but you could try air drying instead to avoid heat until your hair gets stronger, and shedding is reduced. The Conair Silverbird blow dryer is my favorite and can be found at Sally’s Beauty Supply. Oh, I would be remiss not to mention the Ion Universal Hair Straightening Pic Attachment also available at Sally’s. It’s my go-to when my blow dryer comb wears out. It fits your blow dryer like a glove, literally. It’s black with a pink pic on the end; they often sell out but normally it’s available at Sally’s on North Academy and Union near Chuck E. Cheese. Ceramic flatirons like t3 flat iron, found at Costco are known for even heat distribution, which can minimize hot spots and damage. They are generally gentler on hair than titanium or tourmaline. Always use heat protectant spray when flat ironing; my favorite is Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer by EVA NYC. The pink bottle is lighter, not oily, and is also available at Sally’s Beauty Supply.

My final recommendation is my home-made protein treatment called rice water rinse, which I apply every two weeks. You can spray it on, but I prefer just pouring it over my head. I hope you find my at-home hair care tips useful while enjoying your hair growth journey.

If you know of any local or national bargains you’d like to share with the community, email Bargain Central at contactus@coloradospringskids.com.