Every year sees new hair care trends break through into the zeitgeist. And certainly, 2023 has been no exception, with social media platforms like TikTok driving a constant stream of ideas, hacks and tips to improve the look and health of our tresses and scalps. While many are destined for the dustbin of history, some are here to stay. One of these is hair cycling, which has gone viral in a major way this year! Join us for the lowdown on hair cycling – what it is, what the benefits are, and how you can incorporate it into your hair care regimen.
What Is Hair Cycling?
Hair cycling is quite simply the practise of rotating hair care products consistently to support your hair type and texture. It’s all about using the right hair care products at the right time to keep the health and appearance of your hair and scalp in tiptop condition. The trend has emerged from the ‘skinification’ phenomenon of recent years, where we’ve begun (finally!) to treat our hair with the same love and care we give to the skin on our faces.
The Benefits Of Hair Cycling
The new trend is likely to stay around for one major reason – it has many benefits!
Product Overuse
We all have our favourite shampoo or conditioner. But using the same ones repeatedly can lead to issues. Over time, this can lead to product buildup, where residues accumulate on the hair and scalp. Hair becomes weighed down, making it look dull and lifeless. It also spells bad news for your scalp, clogging hair follicles and contributing to problems like dandruff and itchy scalp.
Shampoos and conditioners containing harsh ingredients can dry out your hair and scalp too. These chemicals include sulphates, parabens, and alcohol. These can trigger scalp inflammation and dermatological conditions like contact dermatitis. All of these can lead to hair loss. Traditional dry shampoos can also cause similar issues. Hair Gain's new Peptide Puff™ dry shampoo has all of the convenience but without all the drawbacks!
Hair cycling allows us to give our hair and scalp a rest from residues and chemicals.
Hair Cycling Solutions For Multiple Issues
We’re all complex beings, and we all have individual needs and issues. Our hair is just the same! One great benefit of hair cycling is that your regimen can be designed to combat more than one problem. For instance, one day you could use a shampoo to tackle dandruff. Then the next day, you apply a great hair mask to moisturise and revitalise a problem scalp. Whatever the issues, you can tailor your routine to target these specific problems. And by using a variety of products, you also expose your hair and scalp to a wide spectrum of nutrients and minerals. It’s a balanced hair health diet!
Seasonal Changes
The needs of the hair and scalp can change enormously with the seasons. In the summer, we can take a battering from UV rays and heat. And in the winter, the cold can affect the ability of our locks to hold onto moisture. This can lead to a dry scalp, frizzy hair, split ends and even seasonal dandruff. Autumn and winter are now known to be times when we can suffer from a phenomenon known as seasonal hair shedding too. Hair cycling allows you to rotate and adapt your regimen to tackle these changes.
How To Hair Cycle Effectively
Here’s how to incorporate hair cycling effectively into your hair care routine:
Know Your Hair
Assess your hair and scalp type. Are there specific issues you want to address? Thinking about your hair health in the round will allow you to make the right decisions at the outset.
Categorise Products
Once you’ve assessed your needs, then consider what products you need to include in your routine to accommodate them. Shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, scalp foams and styling products for example.
Create Your Schedule
Design a schedule for cycling your hair care products. You might have a mild anti-dandruff shampoo one day and a gentle volumizing product later in the week. Make sure you incorporate regular conditioning masks like our Hair Gain Hair Mask into your regimen to give your hair and scalp deep nourishment and moisture. And give your scalp a boost with our Scalp Foam. Its weightless formula is packed with naturally derived ingredients to revitalise and care for the skin on your scalp. Used in a regime with our Hair Mask, it reduces hair breakage and fall by up to 60% from the first use*. Finally, if you use styling products, rotate them to avoid product buildup and overload.
Plan Ahead For Seasonal Changes
Build seasonal changes into your schedule and start using the right products before the changes take effect. In the summer, make sure you’re thinking about UV protection and products that armour against heat damage and help repair it. In the winter, it’s all about products that provide moisture.
Hair Cycling - A Systematic Approach
Maintaining your schedule will allow you to get the maximum benefits from hair cycling. But remember to listen to your hair and pay close attention to how it responds to this approach. Fine-tune your strategy as needed and identify what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
Hair cycling is an effective strategy for achieving and maintaining the healthy hair and scalp we all want. By planning well and rotating products as needed, you can prevent the effects of product build up and harsh chemicals, address changing needs over time and get the benefits of a wide range of great ingredients. To maximise your hair health, combine your hair cycling with efficacious hair supplements like our Hair Gain Capsules and Gummies. That way, you’ll be giving your hair and scalp the love and attention they deserve, on the inside as well as the outside.
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*Independently tested May 2023, results achieved when tested as a regime with the Hair Gain Hair Mask