One of the best ways to smell amazing all day is the unassuming hair perfume, or hair fragrance! Often sliding under the radar when it comes to the fragrance and perfume side of the beauty industry, hair fragrances are a genius product as not only does fragrance cling to hair more effectively than skin, but these can also aid in your styling and haircare routines and help to give you stronger locks over time.
To first understand the science of hair perfumes, here are some amazing often undisclosed facts about hair you might never heard of – and how to wear your hair perfume!
♡ The individual scales of the cuticle overlap one another much like the feathers of a bird or scales on a fish. This amazing system allows diffusion of oils and moisture into and out of the hair, as needed. Porosity is determined by how tightly the cuticle scales adhere to the surface of the hair shaft and also by how thoroughly adjacent scales overlap one another.
♡ Did you know that hair can contain traces of substances we consume in every day life. For example, through hair drug testing provided by AlphaBiolabs, it is possible to detect the presence of particular drugs up to 12 months after first consuming. Our hair can paint a picture of the habits we carry, our lifestyle and anything we consume, as, once absorbed into the bloodstream, certain substances can enter the hair follicle and become trapped in the medulla, the innermost layer of the hair shaft.
♡ It is not recommended to spray regular perfume (such as an eau de parfum or eau de toilette) directly in to your hair, due to the high alcohol content, which can cause dry and brittle hair that breaks easily.
♡ Hair perfumes are uniquely great in that they are specially designed to care for and hydrate the hair at the same time, featuring ingredients such as amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, as well as lightweight oils, such as argan oil, added to the formula as a natural emollient to help the hair retain moisture and prevent breakage. They also carry a low alcohol content, which means hair can be perfumed without suffering any ill effects, like becoming dry or suffering breakage.
♡ Application: after washing your hair, rinse it with cold water to strengthen the capillary fibres. This will help your hair more effectively absorb the hair mist or fragrance.
♡ For those with oily types, why not try a beautifully fragranced dry shampoo in place of a hair perfume! This is a great way to lock in scent and the dry shampoo will help to absorb the excess oil in your hair For oilier hair types, we also included some dry shampoo picks to try out below!
♡ To get the maximum impact from the hair products you use, wash hair with a clarifying and deep cleansing shampoo that will help to rid your locks of any product build up. Sometimes these can be the most basic and affordable drugstore shampoos in our product arsenal (those under £1-£2!) – but if you can find a sulphate free deep cleansing shampoo, you have a gem in your collection. An amazing one to try is the OGX apple cider and vinegar, because it packs such a punch when it comes to cleansing your hair but also smells amazing, with a sweet apple scent. It’s a little steeper than the cheaper shampoos, at around £5-£8, but means your hair will keep in better condition for longer and won’t suffer any damage over time from harsh and drying sulphates.
♡ Hair pulling disorders, such as trichotillomania, are more common than they seem and can be a great source of shame to the sufferer, meaning it’s hard to know how many struggle with this condition, and making it hard for them to seek help and communicate about their condition. It can be hard to know what to do to help but sometimes the loveliest thing we can do is to be aware, patient and to listen, whether it is to help them to find a relevant non-profit, support group, a new community help group online or to provide a safe space for them to confide in.
I wanted this post to touch on the relation between mental illness and the way we feel about ourselves. For sufferers of trichotillomania and similar issues, that can be incredibly debilitating to an individual’s confidence and the way they feel in their own body. I would love to put together a new post with more detail about debilitating disorders such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Dermatillomania (skin picking) and Trichotillomania filled with advice and truths that sufferers might want you to understand that often hide unseen.
Whatever your hair type and hair concerns, fun with hair fragrance and perfume is something that can be accessible and enjoyable for all, so I wanted to produce this little quiz to help you find your new favourite hair fragrance or scent you will want to distribute wildly with every hair flick!
Fun hair fragrance quiz time!
1. Pick a fabric to wrap yourself in! Do you choose…
‘A’ silk
‘B’ tulle
‘C’ pointelle
‘D’ velvet
‘E’ lace
F’ soft fleece or wool blend
2. You order your favourite dessert from the bakery. What is it?
‘A’. a butter croissant or pain au chocolat
‘B’. rose flavoured macarons
‘C’. a large swirly iced cupcake or shortcake dusted with sugar
‘D’. a latte or hot chocolate
‘E’. a strawberry pastry or raspberry tart
‘F’. anything salted caramel or drizzled with syrup
3. What is the supreme macaron flavour?
‘A’ Vanilla
‘B’ Rose
‘C’ Coffee
‘D’ Pistachio
‘E’ Raspberry
‘F’ Salted Caramel
4. You decide to personalise your outfit by adding…
‘A’ A Pandora bracelet or ring
‘B’ Silky hair ribbon
‘C’ A peter pan collar
‘D’ a dusting of highlighter across the collar bones
‘E’ A french or boho braid
‘F’ Thigh high boots or socks
5. For your room you would buy…
‘A’ Lots of silky and soft blankets
‘B’ Pretty things for the vanity
‘C’ Dainty painted wooden hanging hearts
‘D’ Some statement art for the walls
‘E’ Scented candles or a new room spray
‘F’ A new adorable mug
6. There is a top you really like but you are not sure you can justify it. How do you decide whether to buy?
‘A’ Try it on in store and stare at it a lot in the mirror. Maybe take a photo or ten.
‘B’ Cautiously take it to the checkout, all the while formulating a plan to work your finances around it
‘C’ Take it with you mentally and if you can’t get it off your mind, head back to the shop
‘D’ Take it home with you now and figure the cost out later
‘E’ Try to find it online instead, it might be cheaper
‘F’ Choose the longest walk home to get perspective and to mull it over all the way
7. What’s your favourite time of the year?
‘A’ every season has its own unique charm
‘B’ spring, I’m definitely at home in spring
‘C’ my birthday and the run up to exciting occasions
‘D’ Paris in the fall and the prospect of longer nights
‘E’ summertime, hot days and any time I can wear bardot dresses
‘F’ the cosiness of autumn and winter
8. What is the most satisfying thing?
‘A’ fresh bed sheets or brand new pyjamas
‘B’ receiving a new perfect unopened bottle of your favourite perfume
‘C’ being presented with a perfect whole plate of coffee ice cream with sauce
‘D’ reorganising my whole wardrobe, at night, with the window open
‘E’ popping open the lid on a brand new lipstick or foundation
‘F’ lighting a brand new candle and sinking in to a delicately scented bubble bath
9. Where do you long to visit?
‘A’ A dreamy soft white sand beach
‘B’ Paris is where I belong
‘C’ All of the pretty cafes (especially cat cafes)
‘D’ A brand new city I’ve never been to before
‘E’ Anywhere and everywhere, the rainforest, swimming in the reefs
‘F’ Home is where my heart is
10. What can you normally be found taking pictures of?
‘A’ absolutely stalking the swans all the way down the river
‘B’ fresh flowers and fountains
‘C’ the cutest and most lavish ice cream desserts and food related items
‘D’ an outfit I love, an amazing garment I found or new makeup I haven’t opened
‘E’ Funny moments with friends and family, for the memories
‘F’ animal pictures 100%, my pets and those I make friends with out and about
Answered mostly ‘A’s – here is how to smell like sugar – you love a good vanilla or sensual scent, your tastes are quite simple, classic and refined but any muted, milky, fresh, yet creamy fragrance makes you weak at the knees. You adore the silk sweet innocence of vanilla and its simple elegance, you love bubble baths, the feel of fabrics and the cool side of the pillow.
Answered mostly ‘B’s – here is how to smell like fresh blooms, lavender and rose – you adore a floral based fragrance, a blend of lush blooms, a sophisticated and romantic scent like Miss Dior. You are a romantic at heart and easily get caught up in the moment, instantly succumb to broderie dresses online. You can’t help feeling like you have chanced upon them for a reason. You are often found planning your next trip to Paris and you love an impressive bottle to decorate your dresser.
Answered mostly ‘C’s – here is how to smell like marshmallow – a lover of sweet, candied and food related scents, your favourite part of baking is the smell of things cooking, and eating them! Your clothes are soft and cloud like, you have a childlike view of the world and see the fun in everything. You love a sheer garment, a tulle midi skirt and a young, candied and fun scent to go with it!
Answered mostly ‘D’s – here is how to smell glamorous – your scents are elegant, sophisticated and grown up, you adore perfume, standing out and everything chic. You also love the base notes of a fragrance, where the top notes have faded away. You love the smells of the city and the pretty sights and feels, you wish you could collect them all and save them to look at later. You feel at peace at night time and love a mysterious fragrance to accord with your textured cool toned outfits. You love a sophisticated scent, sometimes with a fresh and clean edge. Like the smell of rain at night.
Answered mostly ‘E’s – here is how to smell like watermelon – you adore a fruity scent, something fruity, juicy and quirky, you wouldn’t mind smelling like raspberry ice tea all day. You are easy going and easily pleased and adore a good morning routine. Sunlight energises you, you love the smell of the sun warming everything, being carefree and laughing with family and friends.
Answered mostly ‘F’s – here is how to smell like cocoa – you love to feel cosy and snug and your fragrances to reflect that. Think cocoa, brown sugar, smelling edible like chocolate, goes perfectly with your scarf and beret combo. You love a good body butter you can pull over your body like the best pair of fluffy socks and you’re always on the lookout for a scent that will give you the cosy feels.
How to wear perfume – you love a really rich, cosy, gorgeous scent with maybe just the right amount of sultry and burnt caramel. Try these out for size to smell like all kinds of delicious!
What a great quiz! I love the idea of hair perfume.