A Visual Diary of My 3-Year Journey From Hagrid Hair to Professional Haircare Convert
I'm Adore Beauty's resident beauty newbie. Before working at Adore, I was travelling the world for 4 months with just one tiny tube of Jurlique moisturiser. I washed my face with warm water and used olive oil as a deep conditioning treatment. Oh, how things have changed!
For many years, my hair motto was ‘quantity over quality’.
I wanted long, thick hair, and I did not care what it looked like. All that mattered was that my hair was past my boobs.
The result? The bottom six inches of my hair looked like a dead skunk.
Then, I started working in the beauty industry and found out there is in fact a difference between long hair and healthy hair.
All my colleagues had swishy, shiny, TV commercial hair. Suddenly, dead skunk didn't seem so hot.
After a lot of trial and error, and sifting through hundreds of products, my hair is the longest and healthiest its ever been.
In this article, I'll give you some recommendations on some of the best haircare products for those new to salon haircare. So, let’s take a look at a visual diary of my journey from dead Hagrid hair to professional haircare convert.
July 2018.
This was my first few weeks working at Adore. Oh dear!
I have very frizzy hair, so I used to straighten it to within an inch of its life and then plait it (because I couldn’t use curling tongs).
I had been using on-sale-at-the-supermarket shampoo and conditioner.
Occasionally, I’d pull out my cooking coconut oil and slather my hair in it. I did nothing to repair the damage from the balayage, I just did a trim every few months and hoped for the best.
This is not a good haircare strategy, by the way.
November 2018.
My Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast co-host Joanna was on my back for months.
She said, point blank, “Your hair is dead.”
And after wearing me down, I did the big chop. I was so clueless about haircare back then.
As you can see from this picture, I didn’t understand the concept of “brushing out curls”. I just curled every section in random directions.
BUT I was starting the journey, and things could only get better from here.
The first professional haircare product I used was Kerastase Nutritive 8HR Magic Night Hair Serum 90ml and I still use to this day.
I LEGIT thought it was magic. I could not believe how soft my hair felt the next morning. I was hooked!
December 2018.
I had an existential crisis around my 30th birthday, so I decided to cut my hair in the same style as when I was five years old.
I thought it would make me look younger.
My hair was in the best shape of its life! I was in an exclusive relationship with Kérastase around this time.
I was using their Discipline range, which is formulated for Hagrid hair like mine.
Seriously, go read some of the reviews on our site if you don’t believe me.
March 2019.
Aside from that tattoo on my wrist, going blonde was one of the biggest beauty mistakes of my life.
Luckily, I used Olaplex before and after going blonde so my hair survived. BUT, going blonde ruins your natural colour. My hair goes full orange and I have to constantly colour it.
I love my natural brunette colour, so please don’t go blonde if you don’t plan on staying blonde!
But if you are going blonde or adding balayage, these will be your saving grace:
These products kept my hair strong and I experienced almost no major breakage.
February 2020.
Just before my sister’s wedding, I met Giles Robinson from ColorWow.
He introduced me to their cult product ColorWOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray 200ml - its claim to fame is that Chris Appleton uses it on his celeb clients (including JLo!) for big events.
It’s a styling miracle for Hagrid hair, with humidity protection. I decided to style my own hair for the wedding, and it was smooth and sleek the entire night.
You can listen to Jo and I chat to Chris Appleton about which product kept JLo's hair in check for the Miami Super Bowl in the podcast ep below.
This hair straightening routine will change your life:
- Coat your hair in the Dream Coat until it’s damp.
- Use a blow dryer to activate the product.
- As you blow dry, use a brush to pull the hair down. You don’t need to be a superstar blow dryer, just make sure you’re pulling it with tension.
- Use a straightener to smooth your hair.
Watch the YouTube video below to see how Giles Robinson uses ColorWOW's glass hair products for the ultimate anti-frizz, shiny hair tutorial.
October 2020.
With plenty of spare time in lockdown, I finally learnt how to curl my hair properly.
The Mermade Hair Spin Curler Black 25mm is the perfect curling tool for beginners. It does all the work for you, helping you get beautiful, bouncy curls.
I always use AVEDA heat relief thermal protector & conditioning mist 100ml as a heat protector to protect hair from heat damage.
See? I was very pleased with these waves.
I also discovered the Goldwell Kerasilk Control range during lockdown, which I think is the best mid-range priced professional range for frizzy hair.
It contains keratin and liquid silk, so leaves hair really smooth.
You can read my full keratin treatment review here, or watch my video below.
December 2020.
I was heading to Queensland on holidays, and needed a low maintenance product that could help tame the Hagrid without daily styling.
VIRTUE Un-Frizz Cream 60ml blew my mind, it's a game changer. You can read my full Virtue Un-Frizz review with allllll the evidence here.
I still remember the feeling that first day I used it. I let my hair dry naturally. Oh, the mems. Look at that face! Pure joy.
I soon ditched my heat tools and let my natural hair go wild. I hiked, I dated, I went on hiking dates… all with au natural hair.
May 2021.
This is the month I discovered K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask 50ml and asked... where have you been all my life?!
This peptide hair treatment has changed the game in terms of hair repair. I can’t recommend it enough.
You need to see it to believe it. Your hair feels so much stronger after just one treatment.
Yes it’s pricey, but non-dead hair is priceless. Read our full K18 review with before and after photos here.
July 2021.
Three years later… it's alive!!
The colour isn’t perfect, but I’ve finally been able to grow my hair longer than my shoulders.
My biggest haircare lesson is that you shouldn’t ignore damage.
Be proactive and use products that will help to repair and protect your hair from heat and colour damage.
We put so much time and effort into your skincare routines, but I think hair is just as important.
You can hear me talk more about my haircare journey in this YouTube video below.
Want to read more of Hannah's product reviews? Check out her articles below:
