The Mane Line

Multi-tasking Hair Products for Green Fashionistas on the Go!

By Danielle De Feo

You know what it’s like: you’re hurrying to an important meeting, and all of a sudden you see that, despite a regimen of amazing products, you have 2 fly-aways that just WON’T stay put!!

Before you grab a hat, or add spray that you’ll regret (no sticky, hard hair please!), try a hair balm. Plus, if you travel, or are on the go all day, you’ll want to make every product do double duty: all these products do more than one job, and work as leave in conditioners for the ends of long hair too. You multi-task: so should your products!

To get the general principle, and in an emergency, rub a little of your moisturizer between your hands and then stroke your hands through your hair, using the cream as a conditioning hair balm. The best moisturizers to use are natural, light and easily absorbed. Coconut Skin Trip by Mountain Ocean, for example, combines a scent of fresh *real* coconut (because it is) with a fantastic smoothing effect for body and hair, so it’s one of my favorites. This cream has been made since the 70s, and it’s not just a hippy secret anymore!

At DLS we believe in having BUDGALICIOUS options. Built for this more-for-your-money approach is Cosmetic Lad by UK brand Lush. Originally designed for product-averse guys, this product is a treat for everyone in need of a good quality moisturizer that switches easily to be a fab hair balm…and it smells like fruit bread!  I *love* multi-purpose, and it’s perfect for keeping your luggage light when traveling and your space clear when camping. Don’t let the boys have all the fun!

If you want something that’s compact, sexy and gives a light, smoothing condition, try Aesop’s Violet Leaf Hair Balm. It has that green, musky, powdery, violet leaf scent and it’s the last word in smoothing with a natural formula that gives a great result and banishes the prospect of product build up. I find that it smoothes cuticles well too!