It’s time. You’ve decided to let go of the synthetic chemicals and embrace the idea of natural products for the best hair of your life. You can do it, but like all things worthwhile, the transformation will take some time.

Switching to natural shampoo requires an adjustment period, and during that time, your hair and your scalp may be confused. The good news is once you’ve “detoxed” and adapted, you’re going to have envy-worthy hair.

What to expect when going natural

During the detox process, your hair and scalp will suddenly have to deal with adapting from an environment where they produced excess oil to one where the proper amount is created. Your hair and scalp will also be shedding the build-up of chemicals that have accumulated over the years. At the same time, your hair will be repairing the damage that’s been done, and it’ll continue to grow healthier and stronger.

There are three basic detox stages that you can experience while in the throes of a hair detox. You may not experience all of them, you may not experience any, or you might go through long transitions of each phase, depending on what condition your hair is in when you start.

Sticky, heavy, matted hair that tangles easily is one of the stages. It’s the release of chemicals and plastics that were in your “unnatural” haircare routine. It takes a while to break them down and rinse them away, and during that time is when they can cause a mess.

Greasy hair and an oily scalp are one of the most common observations. When you washed your hair with harsh chemicals every day, your scalp was signaled to produce more oil to replace what you washed away. Your scalp and hair oils are essential to great looking hair that’s moisturized, flexible, strong, and lush looking.

Now that you’ve stopped stripping those oils, your scalp isn’t sure how to respond, and it will take a little while for it to get with the all-natural program and re-regulate.

Dry, brittle, rough, and fragile hair is lying underneath the protective coating of silicone your old haircare routine created. These chemicals did serve a purpose, they protected the hair shaft from the damage other chemicals were doing.

Unfortunately, they were also weighing your hair down and sucking out the moisture. It takes a while to recover and get moisture back into your hair shaft.

Speed up hair detox

If you simply can’t stand the detox period, there are some things you can do to boost your recovery time and give your hair a healthy, natural head start.

Hair mask

Try a hydrating hair mask, like Hair La Vie Masque to moisturize, strengthen, and revive your hair with all-natural products that are designed to support hair health. The argan oil in this product fights frizz, and it moisturizes while creating a natural shine, so your hair looks better as it adjusts.

Diet

Your diet can greatly affect your hair and scalp. Learn to focus on eating natural foods that are loaded with vitamins that are good for your hair. Skip the junk food whenever possible. You’ll see the difference in your hair, your skin, your mood, and you might notice a weight change.

Hair vitamins

Did you know that you can take daily, high-quality vitamin supplements that are designed to support your hair health? If changing your diet is too difficult or you’re not getting enough nutrients, you can easily boost your hair health with specific vitamins.

Get a haircut

A haircut or a trim can help a lot when you’re going through a hair detox. By removing the more brittle and damaged ends, you shorten the recovery time and focus on the healthier parts of your hair.

Final thoughts

Switching to an all-natural haircare routine is a responsible move for your hair and the planet. Once you let go of the marketing hype that promotes hair chemicals and toxic solutions, you can focus on all-natural ingredients that make your hair look amazing.

While this switch is great for you and the environment, it’s not going to be a smooth ride. The beginning of a hair detox can be frustrating, and it’ll make you feel like your hair looks worse than ever before. No worries, this phase is only temporary, and there are a few things you can do to help speed up the process.

In the end, it’s all worth it, and you’ll love the way you look and your new eco-conscious outlook.