By Courtney Pester

There’s no denying that seasonal changes often come with shifting conditions in our hair and skin. In the Summer, we experience the aftermath of sun, chlorine, and salt water damage, requiring extra care and consideration to combat harsh UV rays and intense heat. In Fall, we face other hair challenges, such as greasy scalp, dry or lackluster hair, which can appear weighted down due to the absence of volume. To adjust to changing climates with minimal discomfort, it is essential to adapt our beauty routines accordingly. 

The key to hair growth in the Fall lies in balance. To keep the scalp from over-greasing or the hair drying out, it's essential to manage sebum production through carefully balancing moisturizing and hydrating your hair from root to end. Sebum is an oily and waxy substance that is produced on the skin due to various circumstances, such as hormone imbalances, heat, exercise, genetics, or even something as simple as transitional periods throughout the year. A scalp without sebum will be extremely dry, and a scalp with too much sebum looks wet and greasy. So finding that sweet spot can be tricky, without the right knowledge of course.

Fall is a time to reclaim your hair's strength and shine and focus on replenishing it with nutrients and hydration. So how does one balance our hair from producing excess oils yet keep it from drying out? Follow along to uncover best kept secrets to nourished hair with our personally selected products and hair care hacks so you can step into Autumn with ease. 

1. Gentle Shampoo Washes for Revitalization

After a few months in the sun, your hair will likely be fragile and partially damaged! That's why gentle wash shampoos are so important–they provide essential nutrients to the hair, help balance the sebum production to lubricate the scalp, and give your hair that shine it’s been missing. Your hair, in such a fragile state, needs to grow and revive, and harsh or chemical-filled shampoos will deplete your hair with nutrients and cause overproduction of sebum. Using a gentle shampoo, your hair won't be stripped or depleted from nutrients. Below are two shampoos we love that won’t harm your hair. 

MASAMI 

This vegan, cruelty-free, delicate foaming, high-performing shampoo from Masami works to enrich, nourish, and reawaken the hair using Apricot Oil and a Japanese ocean botanical called Mekabu. Not only is it botanically hydrating, but this paraben and sulfate-free shampoo will give you the salon experience at home, leaving your hair shinier than ever. It's also easy to rinse and leaves zero residues, so maintaining style and volume won’t be an issue.

Enjoy 20% off Masami Hair Care

USE CODE: GREATHAIR20

Limited Offer

SANDOR

The Grounding Shampoo features aloe vera and chamomile, and calendula extract calling effects and is excellent for grounding. It will gently clean and refresh your hair–almost as if you are enjoying a complete spa experience. It's easy to rinse, and, again, leaves zero residues in the scalp. What's more, this unparalleled shampoo offers a pH value that matches your scalp's natural state, so your scalp's microbiome can be balanced. You’ll see a noticeable difference in the way your hair rests and glows upon just a few washes.

Enjoy 15% off at Sandor Hair Care

USE CODE: MAY15

Limited Offer

2. Lightweight Conditioners for Hydration

Lightweight conditioners serve to hydrate and detangle, all while softening and strengthening the hair. They offer a noticeable burst of moisture without robbing your hair of volume or fullness, and are perfect for replenishing your hair health, giving your hair a fresh look free of heavy residues, which can weigh hair down. We highly recommend pairing your MASAMI and SANDOR shampoo with its complementary MASAMI conditioner and SANDOR Grounding conditioner, which will help the hair achieve a healthy glow to walk into Fall empowered and vivacious. Brownie points for using the conditioner as your detangler by applying your comb or brushing it throughout. For extra nourishment, you can leave the conditioner in for 3-5 minutes longer, leaving your hair feeling softer and more supple than ever.

3. Purifying Scalp Treatment for a Deep Cleanse

It’s easy to get frustrated and point fingers when it comes to scalp tenderness and flaking, but what many people don’t realize is that scalp issues often result from residue and buildup trapped under the skin. This can cause inflammation, over-sensitivity, itchy or dry scalp, and flaky scalp. Have no fear; we have the perfect solution! Purifying scalp treatments can cleanse the scalp with antibacterial oils to draw out impurities and eliminate lackluster hair, restoring your hair back to a healthy state where it can grow and thrive. There are several enriching and hydrating hair oils designed for different purposes, depending on your problems and your hair goals. Our favorites are listed below.

MAY11 Scalp Oil is a rehydrating formula consisting of Primrose Oil, Chamomile, Thyme, and Essential Oil. Applying to the scalp daily will help it to become more balanced and functional, encouraging healthy hair growth and stimulating circulation.

4. Revitalizing and Restoring Hair Treatments for Bouncy Hair

MAY11 Revitalizing Hair Oil is a concentrated blend made with 4 vegan silicone-free vital ingredients, including Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Hemp Seed Oil. This revitalizing hair oil works to improve healthy hair growth and unlock the beauty of your hair. The transformative properties work to protect and hydrate while enhancing your hair's natural luster and shine. This oil does wonders for revitalizing and restoring colored hair, too.

MAY11 Blonde Restoring Oil is an ultra-nourishing deep conditioning blend designed for color-treated hair that naturally restores broken bonds that have become damaged due to chemicals such as hair dye or bleach. It is lightweight and consists of Kiwi Oil and Rice Bran Oil and serves as a substantial pre-shampoo treatment. This colored hair treatment is perfect for those with lightly damaged or damaged hair, and works relentlessly to prevent hair from getting brassy. 

Enjoy 15% Off at MAY11

USE CODE:OILS15

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5. Dry Shampoo Powder for Neutralization

The magical thing about dry shampoo is that it is the perfect remedy for in-between shampoos, but not all dry shampoos are created equal. While dry shampoo in spray form can certainly stretch the feeling of clean hair, it should be noted that dry shampoo should not become a regular part of your routine because it is unable to fully extract the sebum that sits on your scalp. Instead, dry shampoo acts as a grip and neutralizes the oil temporarily. While a temporary fix with temporary results, it can give off the appearance that your roots are no longer greasy or oily. 

When in a pinch, we recommend you opt for dry shampoo powder form–which is also great for the body–as it is a more satisfying and effective way of nourishing your hair and balancing sebum. Cleo and Coco offer a dry shampoo in a plant-based powder containing activated charcoal and essential oils to balance the skin and remove bacteria. It will give your hair a touch of flavor and volume when a proper shower shampoo and rinse just isn’t in the cards.

Enjoy 11% Off at Cleo and Coco

USE CODE:MAY11

Limited Offer

6. Collagen for your Healthy Hair Diet

As Summer turns to Fall, you may notice your hair is drier from swimming and being in the sun. Fall weather can include dry winds and indoor heaters, leading to more dehydrated and limp hair. Collagen is a protein we all have that makes up about 30% of our bodies (including our hair), but as we age, we produce less and less of it, and we no longer eat a collagen-rich diet. Stay ahead of the fall weather by incorporating Elaine Wellness bovine collagen into your daily routine to help support healthier, shinier hair.

Enjoy 15% Off at Elaine Wellness

USE CODE:MAY11

Limited Offer

7. Overnight Treatments for Nourishment

Ring the alarm! Fall calls for leaning in, slowing down, and nourishing your mind, body, soul, and hair! Cold weather can be drying and dulling, and bombarding your hair with products to counteract the damage can only make matters worse.

The goal is to keep the scalp and hair free from any detrimental products that could potentially add weight and flatness. The great thing about overnight treatments with all-natural oils is that they work to deeply condition the hair while you are sleeping, delivering all the nutrients which can be absorbed without you having to move a muscle. The leftover product gets washed away when you shower next, leaving your hair feeling hydrated and nourished, free of excess hair product.

We hope you enjoyed this breakdown of the best hair care products to stretch the Summer glow and achieve shiny, healthy hair through Autumn. Remember–hydration is critical to ward off lackluster hair, so hydrate daily and make your hair routine a priority!

Any questions? Connect with an expert