“Holistic” is one of those words that makes some people’s eyes glaze over. I get it. But when it comes to hair care, thinking holistically just means accepting something most people don’t want to hear: your shampoo isn’t the problem.
Or at least, it’s not the only problem.
Your hair is a report card
After 20+ years of looking at hair under salon lighting, I can often tell things about a client’s health before they mention it. Thinning at the temples? Could be hormonal. Brittle, snapping strands? Possibly iron or protein deficiency. Suddenly oily scalp after years of normal? Stress or medication change.
Hair doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s connected to everything else going on in your body, and no amount of expensive product will override a nutritional deficiency or hormonal imbalance.
Building a routine that actually covers the bases
Internal: what goes in. Protein, iron, vitamin D, omega-3s, zinc, and water. These are the building blocks. Your hair follicle needs adequate blood flow and nutrients to produce healthy hair. If any of these are low, the hair suffers first — your body triages nutrients to vital organs before it worries about your ponytail.
External: what goes on. A good shampoo and conditioner matched to your hair type. Weekly deep conditioning or repair treatment. Heat protection every single time you use a hot tool. A quality oil for the ends. That’s it. You don’t need 12 products. You need 4–5 good ones used consistently.
Behavioral: what you do. How you brush (gently, from the ends up). How often you wash (2–3 times a week for most people). How you sleep (silk pillowcase, loose braid). How much heat you apply (less than you think you need). These habits matter more than the products in your shower.
The products we built our routine around
At Reverie, we recommend Davines for the external piece and K18 for repair. Not because they sponsor us — they don’t — but because after trying dozens of professional lines, these are the ones that consistently deliver.
Davines NOUNOU for hydration. OI Oil for daily protection and shine. Naturaltech Energizing for scalp health and thinning. K18 Leave-In Mask once a week for bond repair. That covers most clients.
The things people overlook
Water quality. Chicago water is chlorinated and moderately hard. A shower filter costs $30 and can make a visible difference in hair softness and color longevity. It’s one of my most underrated recommendations.
Sleep. Hair repairs itself during sleep, just like the rest of your body. Chronic poor sleep shows up in hair quality — it just takes a few months to become visible.
Stress management. Cortisol pushes hair follicles into the resting phase. Chronic stress equals chronic shedding. This is the one factor most people refuse to address because it’s the hardest one to change.
Start simple
Pick one thing from each category — internal, external, behavioral — and commit to it for 8 weeks. You’ll see a difference. Then add another. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency with the basics.
Need help figuring out where to start? Take our hair quiz or book a consultation at Reverie. We look at the whole picture, not just the split ends.
