Hair confidence has not come easily to me. There have been several times in my life where I’ve felt very self-conscious about my hair…and my hair density has varied over time, due to factors such as stress, poor diet and hormones. In my family, we tend to have straight, silky hair (love it!) except it’s also very fine (not so good!). Along with the fine, silky hair – we also have cowlicks on the back of our heads. This is a spot where the hair grows in a whorl, leaving a circular patch of scalp exposed. You can’t usually notice it on freshly washed hair – and I can “fix” it with a bit of strategic teasing…but when my hair is in poor condition, it’s much harder to cover up.
When I first started working in Investment Banking, right after University – it was probably one of the most stressful times in my life. I was going through intensive Analyst Training – and there were some topics I REALLY struggled with (um…. spreadsheet building!). It was also a very exciting time in my life – I had just met my now-husband and I was in LOVE. So, with all the excitement and stress in my life, I had a very erratic schedule, and completely lost my appetite! Although my skin wasn’t affected (luckily) my hair was limp, thin and lackluster.
It seems like a small thing, but my thinning hair affected my confidence drastically. I remember getting ready to go on a shopping date with my mother, and sitting in the bathroom and crying – asking her to fix my hair so that my scalp wouldn’t show. Bless her loving heart – mothers are miracle workers, and she used a fine-tooth comb to style my hair in to a low bun – which worked as a temporary solution.
When you’re already self-conscious about something, and then others draw attention to your problem, it can make your self-confidence drop even lower! That’s what happened to me at work during this period. A friendly but thoughtless colleague was standing behind me as I was working on my computer and he said “Do you have a bald spot”? Due to my thinning hair, my cowlick was more apparent – he had termed this a bald spot. I remember laughing it off and pretending to act like it didn’t matter…but inside I felt horrible! After that, I started to regularly check the back of my head using a mirror – carefully combing around my cowlick so that my scalp wasn’t so noticeable.
All of this happened way before I was a part of the blogging world, so I didn’t really know what options were available to help restore my hair. I worked on my eating habits and incorporated vitamins into my diet, which slowly helped me get healthier and more confident again.
Clip: c/o Amazon / Necklace: c/o Amazon / Dress: c/o Chicwish
Since blogging, I’ve been introduced to Viviscal and Toppik and have been using a lot of their products to help keep my hair at its best. There are two main components to Viviscal – the Gorgeous Growth Densifying Range and the Extra Strength Supplements – while Toppik provides Hair Building Fibers.
- Viviscal Extra Strength Supplements ($59.99) – These tablets contain hair nourishing ingredients, such as Biotin, Vitamin C and Iron. The supplements have been clinically-proven to promote thicker, fuller-looking hair, and can also help reduce hair shedding. Results are usually apparent after 3-6 months of use.
- Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Range ($19.99 – $29.99) – This range consists of a Shampoo, Conditioner and Elixir. They all contain a combination of hair-nourishing ingredients including Biotin, Keratin and Zinc, along with a proprietary blend Ana:Tel. The Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo gently cleans your scalp and hair, while the Gorgeous Growth Densifying Conditioner detangles and moisturizes your hair. The products are very lightweight so your hair looks full and isn’t weighed down. The Gorgeous Growth Densifying Elixir is a body-boosting leave-in treatment that helps your hair look more voluminous. I love using the shampoo and conditioner from this range, because the products feel luxurious and smell SO good (like cloves). They’re gentle on my sensitive scalp and rinse away easily, without leaving any residue or flakiness. I had previously had frizziness and dry strands from heat-styling, but since using this range – my hair is silky and sleek!
- Toppik Hair Building Fibers ($29.95) – Toppik is a styling product you can use to cover any thinning areas. It’s made up of keratin fibers, which blend in with your natural hair to create the appearance of thicker hair. You can apply this on your hair part or any other areas where your hair feels thin and you want more coverage. In my case, it’s a great product to use on my cowlick!
You can purchase these products at Shopper’s Drug Mart, as well as online here.
Have you experienced thinning hair? What has helped your hair look and feel healthier?
DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Viviscal and Toppik.
