My mane-stays

2005. That was the year I decided to grow my hair long. Six years after, my hair is past my waistline. Except for the quarterly 2-inch trimming for maintenance, I haven't had a serious haircut since then.

Unravel the mistery. I discovered that I have soft natural curls, a lot of times I am asked where I had my hair permed. Growing up, I remember my hair being straight and lifeless. Then came hair color experimentation, bob cut, pixie-style, and so on. Probably these were the reasons why my hair took a different form. Reborn.

It is hard to find the right products for my hair. Honestly, I have not settled yet for the ideal shampoo and conditioner. I do color touch-ups for my hair every three months. Trim some split ends. Moisturize bi-monthly. All on my own. Fab and frugal it is!

Having said that, most products come and go. But these mane-stays (mainstays) deserve some serious accolade. The good news, they won't cost you a fortune- they are drugstore brands!

L-R: Tresseme Straightening Gel, Garnier Fructis Leave-In (Color Shield), Pantene Detangler (Curly), Tresseme Waterless Foam Shampoo, Garnier Glossing Spray

In days I want to give my waves a break, I straighten my hair with a flat iron. Tresseme Straightening Gel instantly smoothes wavy hair. I use it before exposing my hair to heat. It stays all day.

Since I color my hair (ok, I cover up some gray hairs, yay!), I use a leave-in conditioner like Garnier Fructis which is formulated for color-treated hair. I use this after shampoo and conditioner. It makes my hair extra-soft, for real.

Before showering, I detangle my hair with Pantene Curly Hair Series Detangler. I spritz my hair and then brush it. This process makes it easy for the shampoo and conditioner to glide. For the record, I only brush my hair during bath time. Never when my hair is dry so the waves stay as natural as possible.

Shampooing everyday strips off natural oil from hair and scalp. This is the reason for dry and brittle hair. I learned this from my hairstylist. Experts say wash your hair once or twice a week. I do mine thrice. In between, I use Tresseme Waterless Foam Shampoo for dry/curly to normal hair. I pump the bottle a few times and apply throughout hair with fingertips. The fresh scent will mask your waterless days.

For added shine, I turn to Garnier Glossing Spray. I spray it over my hair and see a noticeable brilliant shine.

Me, myself, and my hair

Dry and brittle hair ain't fab. Hair is a woman's crowning glory.

* Get inspired*  Life is an endless journey. Only when you walk.