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5 Household Items That Might be Affecting Your Redhead Skin

If you’re dealing with skin concerns like dryness, itching, or irritation it might be because of everyday products in your home. Redheads tend to have quite sensitive skin, and everyday items with heavy fragrances or a lot of chemicals can be quite irritating. These 5 everyday household items might be negatively affecting your redhead skin: 

1. Laundry essentials

Lots of laundry products are scented to make our clothes smell good, but this can be a problem for those of us who are sensitive to fragrance. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are all common culprits for skin irritation. If you believe your laundry essentials are causing your skin grief, try switching to unscented/hypoallergenic detergent, skip the fabric softener, and use wool dryer balls. 

2. Hand and dish soap

Hot water and soap from hand or dishwashing can cause dry skin. This dry skin can be made worse if those products are irritating your skin through fragrances or other ingredients. Try using unscented or natural hand soap and wear gloves when you clean dishes. 

3. Air fresheners

Automatic air fresheners, room sprays, and other scented products don’t usually have direct contact with your skin, but the heavy fragrance can linger in the air causing irritation to sensitive skin. Opt for more natural forms of home fragrance like candles, oil diffusers, or natural room sprays.

READ: 7 Vegan Fragrances for Redheads

4. Household cleaners

You will often find lots of chemicals in household cleaners. These chemicals can dry and irritate the skin. If you can, find a more natural alternative to a cleaner. If not, just make sure to open the windows when you clean and wear gloves when handling the products to avoid contact. 

5. Metal items

Items made from nickel can often be very irritating to those with sensitive skin. This may include razor blades, jewelry, even handles, and other metal objects around your home. If you have a nickel allergy, you should consider swapping these items for a non-nickel metal or adding a protective coating. 

Rock it like a Redhead! 

Main Image: © Jupiterimages from Photo Images via Canva.com

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Is My Red Hair Shedding or Is It Permanent Hair Loss?

You’re taking a shower, washing your red hair and suddenly you look down and there’s a HUGE wad of hair in your drain. Uh no…why is your red hair falling out? There are a number of reasons you might be having hair loss, and we’ve got the deets.

Some hair loss is simply shedding and it’s normal

Let’s start right off the bat by saying hair shedding is completely normal. The average woman actually loses between 50-100 hairs per day. Redheads have fewer hair strands on their heads, but those strands are thicker, which might make it feel like you’re losing more hair than you are. 

This hair loss will occur when washing and brushing your red hair and everyday activities (pulling hair into a ponytail, touching it, etc). As we age, hair loss may increase, which is just part of life. 

READ: 6 Ways to Combat Thinning Red Hair

Your habits may cause excessive hair loss 

Over-styling or rough styling can also cause hair loss. Excessive use of hot tools, teasing, rough brushing, and yanking of the hair can cause more of it to fall out. If you feel like you’re losing more hair than normal, try being more gentle and cutting back on the styling.

READ: 6 Tips for Tackling Tangled Red Hair

It may actually be hair loss. This is what we advise:

There are a number of health-related factors that can play a part in hair loss. For women, this might be PCOS, anemia, or a thyroid problem. Hair loss can also be caused by pregnancy/postpartum changes. If you’re suffering from excessive hair loss, it’s best to discuss it with your doctor to see if it’s genetic or something else. 

Rock it like a Redhead! 


Main Image: eskymaks from Getty Images via Canva.com

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How Hot Should Your Hot Tools Actually Be?

We all know that over-exposure to heat is one of the biggest causes of hair damage. Most of us are probably guilty of cranking our curling iron or straightener all the way up. time we use it. If you like using hot tools on your hair, you should know how hot your tools should actually be. 

Your Hair Type Matters

If you have normal, healthy hair that isn’t overly processed you should be safe at about 350º. That being said, if your hair is thin, fine, or damaged you will probably want to use a lower heat under 300º. If your hair is very thick you may need a little bit higher heat. Those with curly hair may be tempted to opt for a higher heat because their hair is thick, but actually, heat can damage your curl pattern so you will want to stay under 350º for naturally curly hair. 

High Heat Doesn’t Save Time

You might be tempted to use a higher heat to save time, but really it won’t save you much at all. Your hair will still curl or straighten the same at 350º as it will at 400º but you will have less damage. The best way to take care of your red hair is to keep the heat low. 

Turn the Blow Dryer Down Too

While it doesn’t have a temperature gauge, many of us are also making our blow dryers too hot. Try using the low or cool setting to dry your hair. You will notice that you have less frizz and it drys in about the same amount of time as the higher settings. 

READ: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer Brush Review: How It Reacted To Red Hair

Less Heat = Healthier Hair

Reducing the amount of heat you use on your hair and keeping the heat low when you do use it is the best way to keep hair healthy while styling. Great options for reducing heat include no heat overnight styles, heatless curlers, and styling the hair while blowing it out to avoid the use of multiple hot tools. 

Main Image: Jenny Uhling from Pexels via Canva.com

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5 Ingredients That Could Be Ruining Your Curly Red Hair

Naturally curly red hair is beautiful and you want to do your best to keep it looking nice. Well, did you know the products you use could actually ruin your curls? Here are 5 ingredients you should watch out for if you want to keep your curls healthy and bouncy. 

READ 7 Things You May Be Doing to Damage Your Red Hair

1. Parabens

Found in many beauty items, parabens are a potential irritant, especially for the scalp. Scalp irritation can cause contact dermatitis which can cause hair loss and an unhealthy scalp for those with sensitive scalps or more fragile hair. 

2. Silicones

For people with straight hair, silicones create a nice shine and leave hair feeling silky soft. For those with curly hair, silicones weigh the hair down leaving curls limp and lackluster. 

3. Sulfates

The rich lather you expect from shampoo is caused by sulfates, which break down oils and impurities. Since curly hair tends to be dryer than straight hair, sulfates can be very drying and will strip the hair of the natural oils giving it body.

READ: 6 Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Redheads Under $30

4. Alcohols

Since curly hair is more on the dry side, one of the worst ingredients for curls is alcohol. Alcohol can dry out the hair and scalp leaving you with frizzy, brittle hair more susceptible to damage. 

5. Salicylic Acid

While it can be quite great for straight hair, SA is a no-go for those with natural curls. It can remove the natural oils leaving hair dry and brittle. 

Rock it like a Redhead! 

 

Featured Post

Sunscreens You Need to Purchase This Spring

All redheads have different skin and spend different amounts of time outdoors, but one thing we can all agree on is that sunscreen is vital for keeping our fair skin healthy and happy. Oftentimes, when spring hits we can be forgetful with sunscreen. We are so used to winter weather and sometimes sunny days catch us off guard. Here are 8 sunscreens to try this spring based on what your skin needs!

If You Have A Little One: Thinkbaby SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick

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$9

If You’re Looking For A Mineral-Based Sunscreen: Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Face & Body

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If You’re Looking For A Spray: BU SPF 30 Fragrance-Free Spray Full Size

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$15

If You’re Looking For A Tint: Revision Skincare Intellishade Original Tinted Moisturizer SPF 45

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$80

If You’re Looking For An Organic Sunscreen: Z Skin Simply Organic Sunblock 

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$21

If You’re Looking For Makeup With SPF: Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder

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$70

If You’re Looking For A Sweat-Resistant Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sport Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide SPF 30+

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$28

If You’re Looking For A Non-Oily Face Sunscreen: Soon Skincare Clear Day Broad Spectrum SPF 50

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$32

Main Image: © Ridofranz from Getty Images via Canva.com

Featured Post

7 New Beauty Products We’re Excited About

Edited: September 12th, 2023

At the start of every new year, we usually see new product launches from all of our favorite brands. 

1. Finally Glossy® Shine & Luminosity Shampoo for Redheads, $26

It took many years to custom-make the Finally Glossy® formula and we’re so excited for redheads to enjoy it. We’re thrilled to release another clean redhead beauty product. It is paraben-free, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free, mineral-oil, and vegan. It also contains no perfume, is free of gluten and is silicone-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-free and cocamidopropyl betaine-free. This clean formula is formulated with Vitamin B3, olive oil, coconut oil and green tea.

redhead shampoo

2. Fenty Icon The Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick

We love Fenty lipsticks and now there’s a more eco-friendly way to be a lipstick lover. This new refillable lip tube lets you buy one tube and replace the lipstick inside. Perfect for replenishing your favorite color or trying every shade!

3. DpHue Color Fresh Dry Texture Spray

A new color-safe texture spray that helps to keep color from dulling, specifically from UV light. Sunlight can dull and fade even natural hair color over time which makes this perfect for natural redheads and redheads by choice!

4. EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

We’re suckers for new sun protection products and this UV SPF stick from EltaMD is super exciting. With less mess and all the protection, this stick is perfect for on the go.

5. Sweet Chef Carrot Ginger Blemish Rescue Patch

Pimple patches are a must-have skincare item for redheads, and we’re excited to try these ginger and carrot-infused ones that are sensitive skin-friendly, and target blemishes of any size.

6. ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation New Shades

We’re big fans of ILIA foundations and we’re excited to see them launch 30 new shades of their Skin Serum! Including more shades means more options for every skin color including ultra-fair redheads!

7. Finally Have Brows + Lashes

The complete redhead eyebrow + lash experience. The Finally Have Brows trio consists of the Ultra Fine Eyebrow Pencil to brush and fill in your redhead brows. Then use the Volumizing gel to tint, condition and fluff. Lock it all in with the Longwearing to tint, tame and lock. The results will be natural-looking, gorgeous redhead brows.

The Finally Have Lashes trio consists of three mascara shades: Red-y for Lashes Perfectly Auburn Redhead Mascara, Brown With a Splash of Red: Perfectly Brown Mascara, and A Full 180: Perfectly Black Mascara. Clean, cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny approved, paraben-free, and vegan. Made in the USA.

 

$140

Finally Have Lashes Update:

Finally Have Lashes is new & improved! With a new brush, updated formula + new H2BAR Extension Technology®, curl, lift & lengthen your lashes with a sensitive-friendly formula. Two new shades are introduced to the line so you can expand your selection of redhead mascara. Shop the Finally Have Lashes line now

Rock it like a Redhead!

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Everything You Need to Know About Hair Sunscreen

We know how important it is to protect our skin from UV rays, but did you know it’s also important to protect our hair and scalps? Here’s everything you need to know about keeping your head protected from the sun and using “hair sunscreen”. 

Why Do We Need to Protect Our Red Hair?

Hair, especially red hair, has a tendency to fade with over-exposure to UV light. You may have noticed this if you’ve ever seen some blonde come out in your red hair during the summer. 

Why Do We Need to Protect Our Scalps?

In addition to protecting our hair, it’s vital that we protect our scalps. Your scalp is very tender and can get sunburnt easily. You can also get sun damage on your scalp between the hair follicles. The head is commonplace for sunspots and even skin cancer. 

How Can We Protect Our Heads?

A great option for protecting the scalp and hair is wearing a hat, but that’s not always an option. There are a number of “hair sunscreen” products. Some can help protect the scalp and the hair and others are intended just for the hair. Using these products in conjunction with a hat, using multiple products, or using a more all-encompassing product is a great way to stay protected.

READ: 9 of the Best Redhead-Approved Makeup Products with SPF

What Does Hair Sunscreen Do?

Hair sunscreen gives you a layer of UV protection to keep hair from fading in the sun. It can also help to protect the scalp. UV protection is important for both natural hair and dyed hair. 

Main Image: © Ridofranz from Getty Images via Canva.com

 

Featured Post

Why Women of All Ages Can Rock Red Hair

We’ve talked about how red hair is trending, and when we talk about things being “on-trend” that usually means they are having a moment with a certain demographic, but red hair is different. Red hair is becoming beloved by all age groups and we’re here for it. 

Red hair can help you appear more youthful and since natural redheads often keep their hair pigment longer than other hair colors, it’s no wonder both older and younger women are opting to go red. 

There are lots of natural redheads whose red hair has started to fade, but they keep up the look and often look much more youthful than others their age. One great example is Reba McEntire who is 66 years old! Other famous redheads include The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond who’s in her mid-50s and actress Susan Saradon who’s 75!! 

And the older women aren’t the only ones in Hollywood rocking the red. Young starlets like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid have become redheads by choice in their 20s, and youthful actresses like Madelaine Petsch and Sadie Sink rock their natural color with pride.

Eyebrows

Brow Pimples: How to Avoid Them

Eyebrow pimples can be annoying and painful, but for many redheads, they are relatively common. This is because most of us fill in or tint our light brows regularly. Here’s what you can do to reduce your risk of getting brow pimples. 

Cleanse Your Brows

When washing your face, take a little extra time to wash your brows. Like the hair on your head, your brows can have build-up that causes clogged pores. Take a little of your facial cleanser and rub it into the brow hairs. You can even use a spoolie to brush it through. Then rinse and pat dry. 

Avoid Touching Your Brows

The oils and dirt from your hands can easily spread to your face and brows and cause blemishes. Try to avoid touching your face and specifically your brows as much as possible. Always use clean hands when grooming or applying makeup to your brows. 

Skip Pore Clogging Products

Products like brow wax are great for helping your brows hold their shape, but if your pores clog easily, they may cause breakouts. Opt for lighter products that won’t clog pores and always remove your makeup at the end of the day.

Check the Expiration Date On Your Tint

The great thing about brow tint is you only have to use it every few weeks or even months, but this means it might expire and you won’t notice. Expired brow tints can cause irritation to the skin, so check the expiration dates. 

Ditch the Bangs

If you’re suffering from brow pimples regularly and you have bangs, it might be time for a new hairstyle. Having your bangs hanging near your brows could be transferring product, oil, and dirt that is causing the blemishes. 

Be Cautious With Plucking and Waxing

You can get ingrown hairs and irritation from both waxing and plucking, so be cautious and always use clean tools. If it becomes an ongoing problem, try laser hair removal or a hair removal cream instead.

Featured Post

The Importance of Hand Care

We spend tons of time perfecting our skincare routines and finding the perfect products, but most of us don’t give a second thought to the care of our hands. Hand care is a vital part of skincare, especially if you want to reduce signs of aging. 

Our hands are one of the parts of our bodies that show age the most. That’s why it’s important to think about what you’re putting on your hands. Here’s everything you need to know about the importance of hand care for redheads.

Apply and Reapply SPF

Just like the rest of our bodies, our hands can get sun damage and sunspots. It’s important to spread your SPF to your hands as well and reapply every 1-2 hours or after every wash. This will ensure hands don’t get burnt or damaged by the sun.

Spread Your Facial Care Out

A great way to keep hands looking youthful and soft is to use a little of your facial care on them. After you use your hands to apply a serum, lotion, or oil, spread it around on your hands, especially the backs of your hands. 

Perform Cuticle Care

Healthy, maintained cuticles not only look better but they feel better and will help prevent hangnails, ripping, and bleeding on the fingers. 

READ: 6 Foods to Give Redheads Strong, Healthy Nails

Hydrate and Nourish

Frequent hand washing and the use of sanitizer can leave your hands dry and itchy. Make sure you hydrate them regularly and keep them nourished so the skin stays nice and soft. 

Protect Your Hands

Our hands are tough and can take a lot, but that doesn’t mean they should. To keep your hands looking good, wear gloves while gardening, doing dishes, or cleaning.

Main Image: via Canva.com

Featured Post

One Redheads Winter Skincare Routine

A Simple Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Most redheads have very sensitive skin and finding a skincare routine that works can take time and a lot of trial and error. I’m a natural redhead, who is 27 years old and has sensitive combination skin. For years I thought I needed a complicated skincare routine and expensive products to have good skin. Since 2020, I’ve started to focus more on using what my skin reacts well to instead of what I think I should be using. So I use simple products that work for me and this is my wintertime skincare routine!

Morning Routine

Morning time is when I do my full skincare routine. I work from home and don’t wear makeup while at home so it allows the products to soak into my clean skin and hydrate me all day long. If I am planning to wear makeup all day or be out and about I will swap my morning and night routines and add in a facial SPF. 

READ: My 8-Step Morning Redhead Skincare Routine

Step 1: Cleanse

I wash my face in the shower using Shikai Healthy Glow Microbiome Facial Cleanser. Shikai is a brand I found through H2BAR and have been loving all of their products. Another product I like to use is Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. Then I do a gentle facial exfoliation with No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator. I only exfoliate my face 3-4 times per week. 

Step 2: Serums and Creams

Once I’m out of the shower I apply serum and eye cream. The serums I am loving are Shikai Healthy Glow Facial Serum and InstaNatural Anti-Aging Collagen Serum. Then I apply CeraVe Eye Repair Cream under my eyes and on the lids. 

Step 3: Moisturizer

My skin can get very dry around the cheeks and nose, especially in the colder months. That’s why I use a heavy night cream as my daily moisturizer. My current favorite is the Shikai Healthy Glow Hydrating Night Cream. 

Step 4: Oils

I only apply facial oil a few times a week and I focus on the areas where you would see signs of aging. The oil I am currently using is Snow Fox Herbal Youth Oil which was featured in a previous H2BAR Box!

 

Nighttime Routine

My nighttime routine is quite simple. I tend to sleep on my stomach and mash my face into my pillow so I keep it minimal when it comes to products.

Step 1: Cleanse

If I’ve worn makeup that day I will cleanse my face again after removing the makeup. If not, I skip this step because my face tends to dry out if overwashed. 

Step 2: Toner

I like to apply my toner at night and my go-to toner is always the Thayers Witch Hazel Toner in Rose Petal. 

Step 3: Moisturizer

 I keep my nighttime moisturizer light with Neutrogena Combination Skin Oil-Free Moisture. 

Step 4: Eye Cream

During the winter months, I struggle with some under-eye and eyelid dryness and mild eczema. If these spots are feeling dry I will reapply my eye cream.

Featured Post

5 Freckle Facts for Redheads

DId you Know These Freckle Facts?

Freckles are ultra-common among redheads, but did you know these five freckle facts?

1. Not All Redheads Have Freckles

Red hair and freckles don’t come from the same gene, which means you can have one without having the other. Those with the redhead gene are more likely to have the freckle gene but many redheads have no freckles. 

2. You Aren’t Born With Freckles

Because freckles come from the sun, we aren’t born with them. Most children develop freckles around age 2 when they start getting more sun exposure. 

3. Freckles Aren’t Harmful

While freckles do come from sun exposure, they aren’t sun damage or a sign of skin cancer. There can be sun spots or cancerous spots that look similar to freckles but they aren’t really freckles.

4. People of All Skin Colors Can Have Freckles

Freckles are usually seen on fair skin, but did you know that people of all skin colors can have freckles? Freckles are more prominent the lighter your skin is, but they can be found in all ethnicities. 

5. Freckles Can Get Darker in the Winter

We usually see our freckles darkening in the summertime when there is more sun exposure. Well, your freckles can actually darken in the winter as well if you’re not retaining enough moisture in the skin. 

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