My 6-Step Organic, Low Maintenance Hair Care Routine

Okay, would you believe me if I told you I only wash my hair about once a week? Yep, and I promise you I don’t have a rat’s nest for hair either 🤣 So today I’m going to share my absolute favorite hair products with you that are all-natural and use clean, organic ingredients. Plus, I’ll walk you step-by-step through my low-maintenance, 6-step routine for keeping my thick hair clean and healthy! 💁‍♀️

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Step 1: Shampoo (Duh)

Alright, this is an obvious one. I typically only wash my hair once a week, usually on a Sunday night. There are a couple of different shampoos that I use and like, it kind of depends on what I have available or what I feel my hair needs.

Plaine Products Shampoo: This has been my go-to shampoo for a while now. You can read my blog post about this awesome company for more info! It makes my hair feel extremely clean and doesn’t leave a residue or buildup. Refillable, eco-friendly packaging, AND natural ingredients? Yes, please. Oh, and code ORGANICALLYBECCA gets you 20% off their site!

Innersense Bright Balance Hairbath: I get my hair highlighted maybe once or twice a year, so I sometimes use purple shampoo to keep the color fresh and tone down the brassiness. I’ve tried multiple natural purple shampoos and this one has worked the best for me! I also use this one as a mask by applying it to dry hair for about 20 minutes before washing.

Related post: “The Best (Natural & Non-Toxic!) Purple Shampoo Brands for Blonde & Gray Hair“

Those are my top two shampoos that work best for my hair. But if you want help finding the best natural shampoo for your specific hair type, check out this post:

Natural Shampoo Guide: How to Find the BEST Clean Shampoo for Your Hair Type

No conditioner for me…

And, I should note that I don’t follow up with a conditioner! Since I only wash my hair about 1x per week, my hair doesn’t really need it and I just feel like conditioner can weigh my hair down. But if you have really dry hair then perhaps conditioner will work well in your routine.

P.S…Sometimes switching to natural shampoo calls for an adjustment period for your hair. If natural options aren’t working for you, I have some tips and treatments listed below! Keep reading 😉

You might also be wondering…Becca, how do you only wash your hair once a week? Do you wash your body too? Might sound silly, but I’ve been asked that quite a few times! Yes, I still wash my body. I just tie my hair up and try to avoid getting my hair wet while showering. But if that’s not your jam, you can check out these organic cotton shower caps.

Related post: “Meow Meow Tweet Shampoo Powder Review: A Zero Waste Hair Care Option“

Step 2: Hair Wrap Towel

If you’re still using a big towel to dry your hair – listen up! 🛀 Body towels (usually made of terry cloth or microfiber) can be wayyyyy too heavy for hair. In fact, they can pull, tug, cause breakage, and actually make frizz worse. I switched to a Hubalou hair wrap towel a few years ago and it has made SUCH a huge difference for my hair. They actually no longer sell them, but I also use this Marmara Imports organic Turkish cotton hair towel and it works just as nicely.

It’s lightweight and gentle and made of sustainable organic cotton with a high thread count. It minimizes heat dry time, prevents breakage, and reduces frizz. I typically shower in the evening and leave my hair up in this wrap for about 2 hours until it’s mostly dry. It’s highly absorbent yet naturally antibacterial so it won’t smell moldy.

I rarely blow-dry my hair either. So this hair wrap is so nice because it gently dries my hair without having to use any heat. Love it!

Step 3: Hair Oil or Serum

Since I don’t use conditioner, hair oils and serums are a MUST for me and they help keep my hair nourished!

When using an oil, it’s important to only use the *tiniest* bit. Otherwise, your hair will become oily and heavy. I just put 2-3 drops in the palm of my hands, rub them together, and then gently apply it to the ends of my hair when it’s damp. Never in the roots.

Some hair oils and serums that I like:

• Captain Blankenship Nourish Hair & Scalp Serum: An ultra-moisturizing hair oil 🧜‍♀️ You can also use it as an overnight scalp treatment. It has a lovely scent of sweet orange and fir needle. Formerly known as their Mermaid Hair Oil.
• Lovesong Weightless Leave-In Conditioner: This truly does feel weightless and also doubles as a heat protectant. The light and fresh scent is amazing. I like that it’s a gel/serum consistency and not super oily at all. Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA10 for a discount!

Related post: “Review: Lovesong Beauty Natural Hair Products (Vegan, Cruelty Free, Non-GMO)“

Step 4: Styling Sprays & Tools

Alright, so I’m pretty lazy when it comes to styling my hair too. Since my hair is really thick and holds a style pretty well, I can usually get away with styling it the day after washing and then just leave it for the next few days (and trying not to touch it or brush it much in between).

My hair is naturally wavy. Depending on the style I’m going for, there are a couple of different styling products I like to use:

• Innersense I Create Waves Salt Hair Spray: This has a light hold so it gives me a tousled, beach wave look. I spray it on damp hair and give it a little scrunch. I also use it after curling my hair as a light hair spray!
• Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Cream Texturizer: I don’t really use this but my husband does if he wants a textured, light hold for styling.
• Josh Rosebrook Firm Hold Hair Spray: If I need a more durable hold for a fancier style, I’ll use this hairspray!
• Josh Rosebrook Serum Spray: This is one I apply to damp hair and it functions as a heat protectant that also helps manage frizz. There are not many clean heat protectants on the market so this is great! Leaves my hair feeling so soft and manageable.

Styling Tools:

• Boar Bristle Hair Brush Paddle (code BECCA15 for a discount)
• Chi Ceramic Flat Iron
• T3 Single Pass Curling Iron
• Wooden Comb (code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount)

Step 5: Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is probably THE most important step in my hair routine! It’s my best friend and the *key* to being able to only wash my hair once a week. Many conventional dry shampoos out there are aerosol sprays, which can be really harmful to breathe in. So I like to use natural options that are usually powders (and yes, they work!).

Dry Shampoo Pro Tip:

My main tip is to immediately start using dry shampoo the day after washing. Many people wait until their hair is oily to start using it, but being proactive and using it earlier will help keep your hair clean and looking fresh. I also like to apply it at night so it can work its magic while I sleep and I wake up with clean hair! 💆‍♀️ I simply pull my hair back and apply it around my temples where my hair tends to get the oiliest.

Here are some natural options that I recommend:

Captain Blankenship Refresh Dry Shampoo Sprays: Lots to love about these! Available in regular for lighter hair colors, or a dark version that is tinted with raw cacao and charcoal. It comes in an aluminum bottle and has a non-aerosol pump. It has a floral rose geranium scent and really soaks up excess oils and makes my hair look clean.

Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo: This one comes in a squeeze bottle for easy application. It’s a really fine powder and smells like vanilla! This one sprays wider and is less targeted compared to the Captain Blankenship one but I do feel like both of them work well to keep hair looking fresh.

 

Step 6: Additional Treatments & Transitioning to Natural Shampoo

So technically my hair routine is only 5 steps because what I’m about to mention here is only If needed. I hardly ever do these because my hair has adjusted and don’t really need to.

Switching to natural shampoo can be a journey for some people. Thankfully for me, it went pretty well. Conventional shampoos usually contain silicones that coat your hair and give it that “silky” feeling, as well as sulfates that strip hair of its natural moisture. So some people experience a “heavy” feeling when first using a natural shampoo, or maybe feel like their hair isn’t totally clean. Your hair has to adjust and you might have to train it! There are some tips and treatments that might help:

• Apple cider vinegar/baking soda/honey hair rinse: This is super helpful if you need to de-gunk and clarify your hair. ACV has properties that help break down nasty buildup, balance hair’s pH, and kill off bacteria. It also helps detangle. There are many different ways you can use it for your hair but here’s what I’ve done: Mix 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water, then massage into your hair and scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then take 1 part ACV and 4 parts water, you can also mix in about a spoonful of honey 🍯 Then use this to rinse out the baking soda. When it’s out, rinse your hair completely (cold water is best if you can handle it!). The baking soda helps remove buildup and the honey helps condition hair. Raw, unfiltered ACV is best and I get mine from Thrive Market.
• Innersense True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub: A minty scalp scrub that you work into your hair (before shampooing). It tingles, clarifies, and leaves hair feeling soft and manageable. This is a wonderful addition to any hair care routine.
• Beneath Your Mask Nourish Skin & Hair Serum: You can use this one on your ends as hair oil, but it’s also nice as a scalp treatment or overnight mask. It has great healing and hydrating ingredients.
• Coconut oil hair mask: This is kind of a trendy thing, but honestly it didn’t work out that well for me! But you can try it out. Basically, it can help hydrate; you just apply coconut oil to your hair as a mask. But it made me break out like crazy because I slept with it and some got on my face, so learn from my mistakes! 🥥
• Innersense Hydrating Hair Mask: This is a good one to help with dry or damaged hair; just apply it to ends and leave it on for about 10 minutes before washing.

Natural Hair Products for The Curly Girl Method!

Have curly hair? My friend Delilah from the blog Holistic Enchilada has an amazing online course that might interest you. It’s called Fabulous Curls Made Easy that will help you transform frizzy, unruly hair into fabulous curls in just a few months. Check it out!

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I hope that was helpful to you! 💇‍♀️ Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, or if you have any other helpful tips. Here’s to healthy hair, naturally, and without having to put in too much work!