Hair Slugging!

 

The other day, I was reading my digital news and came across an article on hair slugging.  The first thing I pictured was hair beating up on itself but a quick search of the internet indicated that was not it.  Apparently, it came to public attention via Tik Tok as a hack designed to help your hair. Apparently, this developed out of a Korean skincare routine called skin slugging.

By definition, hair slugging is a process designed to lock moisture into the hair by using oil. It takes it a step further than just applying oil to your strands, it requires the hair to be covered by a sock or satin bonnet.  This helps the oil penetrate individual strands and when done, your hair looks healthier and shiny.  If you choose a sock, you might want to use a tube sock rather than a fuzzy sock so you don't leave any fuzzy bits in your hair.

To use hair slugging, one needs to wash their hair first so it is clean and has had all the extra moisture patted out so it is damp.  At this point, you apply oil to the hair.  It is recommended one use a light weight hair oil or serum because those are designed to penetrate the individual strands while providing protection but if you don't have any handy, you can use regular oil but you need to wash it out properly at the end.   You want to make sure the oil is well distributed throughout the hair, making sure the ends receive a generous amount and use little around the scalp.  Do not over penetrate the hair or your hair could end up too limp.

Furthermore, do not use a comb to distribute the oil, use your fingers as they do a better job. When your hair is soaked in oil, it can be a bit weaker and your fingers do not cause the hair to break as easily. Once the oil is dispersed throughout the hair, wrap it up in a sock or bonnet. Although some might recommend putting your hair into a pony tail before placing it in the sock or bonnet, a loose bun works much better. It is best to leave it in overnight but if you don't have that amount of time available, the oil can be left in for one to two hours.  

When you are ready, wash the oil out of your hair with lukewarm water and finish off with a cool water rinse to close the cuticles and lock the moisture in. If you use a regular oil like coconut or olive oil, you need to make sure it is throughly washed out otherwise it could lead to clogged pores and buildup. It is recommended one slug the hair at least once a week and up to three times if you have dry hair.   Just to let you know, this is not a "new" thing.  The idea of oiling ones hair has been around for a very long time.  It was used in Southeast Asia and India.  

So if your hair needs a bit of help in the hydration department, give this a try to see if it works for you.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.