Issue No. 16

When Your Hair Needs a Little TLC

As if new moms haven’t been through enough—a couple of months postpartum, your hair falls out, or “thins,” as I believe the euphemism goes. I’m approaching five blissful months with baby Elsie, which, for my hair, means my days of full, healthy locks are pretty likely numbered. In anticipation, I’ve been giving my hair a little extra TLC (tender loving care — had to Google it) lately. So far, it seems to be working! I’ve even received a few unexpected compliments (Words of Affirmation is definitely my love language), which feels like a pretty big deal given my postpartum status. In case you find yourself in a similar boat, or know a new mom (or just a regular person - male or female!) who might be in need of some extra hair love, I thought I’d share what has been working for me so far.

RŌZ Hair

First up is RŌZ (pronounced “rose”). I just discovered this brand thanks to my friend Kate (who is a friend of Mara Roszak, its founder) and it appears I’ve been living under a rock. Mara is a celebrity hair stylist of many, many years, making her more than qualified to create her own thoughtfully designed, clean haircare line.

I’ve worked their shampoo and conditioner into my rotation, and am loving it. But their standout product, hands down, is their hair oil. Ooooomg. I put it on overnight and I don’t think my hair has felt silkier, shinier, or smelled this good, maybe ever. It doubles as a body oil and is equally hydrating on skin as it is on hair. It’s no surprise that their hair oil stands out. According to Mara, hair oil is her “(not so) secret weapon to healthy-looking shiny hair.”

Also worth noting is that RŌZ’s ingredients are as clean as can be. Because my hair ends up in Elsie’s mouth 95% of the time these days, this is especially important to me.

RŌZ’s Air Thickening Spray is the next item on my list to try. I can’t wait to report back! :)

Crown Affair

Another new-ish brand to the haircare scene (as of 2020) is Crown Affair. The name alone! I have to wonder if it was at all inspired by The Thomas Crown Affair, which, if you haven’t seen the 1999 version, is a very chic movie. Crown Affair’s founder, Diana Cohen, is well-steeped in building digital brands with the “right” kind of visual world. Crown Affair is no exception. In Cohen’s words, Crown Affair is “all about daily rituals and high-quality ingredients that transform the health of your hair over time.” (Sidenote: Diana writes her own Substack and her recent article Magic of Moodboarding was an enjoyable read.)

I’ve tried a few of the Crown Affair products (dry shampoo, hair mask) but the star player, in my opinion, is The Towel. It was news to me that our hair is “most vulnerable when wet,” and “by letting your hair air dry (and using a gentle, microfiber hair towel to do so) you're keeping it protected from any damage or breakage.” Sign me up! With a baby in the house, my blow-drying days have become scarce and I’ve, instead, embraced the “Art of the Air Dry.” As luck would have it, Crown Affair has an entire collection dedicated to air drying.

Vegamour

If Radhi Devlukia’s hair is any indication, Vegamour works. Their GRO Hair Serum is the standout star. Formulated for “thinning, lackluster hair,” it uses “clinically-tested, plant-based phyto-actives to improve overall hair wellness in as soon as 90 days.” I’ve been taking it for longer than 30 days now and, I have to say, I think it’s helping!

Beauty In A Bottle

I’ve actually taken Dr. Nigma’s Beauty In A Bottle for years and both my colorist and hairdresser told me what an improvement they noticed— both in thickness and strength. I restarted it after the baby was born, and am very thankful I did. I trust no one the way I trust Dr. Nigma, and her supplements are no exception. They even come in a glass bottle!

So there you have it! Four new tricks to try if you’re looking to give your hair a little healthy boost. Happy Sunday!

Have something that’s working wonders for your hair?! Tell us! Drop them in the comment or better yet, in the chat! :)

The List