How to start a natural hair care routine

You want to switch to a natural hair care routine but don’t know where to start? With new products, ingredient lists to decode and the famous “transition phase”, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

The good news: with a simple structure and a few clear steps, building a natural routine is absolutely doable. At Natur’All Hair, we support this transition with ready-to-use routines and a curated selection of natural and organic brands.

In this article, I’ll guide you step by step to create a routine that is:

• adapted to your hair,
• easy to follow,
• natural and flexible over time.

Why switch to a natural hair care routine?

Before changing your products, it’s important to understand what natural hair care can actually do for you.

With a natural and organic hair routine, you can expect:

• Less scalp irritation: gentle surfactants and more respectful formulas help reduce itching and discomfort.
• Stronger hair in the long term: you truly nourish the hair fibre instead of “coating” it with silicones.
• More stable needs: once the transition is over, your hair often needs fewer products to look and feel good.
• A more conscious choice: cleaner formulas, solid shampoos, more thoughtful packaging…

The goal isn’t to be perfectly “green” overnight, but to make better choices, step by step.

Step 1 – Do your mini hair diagnosis

To build your natural hair care routine, start by observing your hair and scalp.

1. Your scalp

Ask yourself:

• Do your roots get oily quickly (within 24–48 hours)?
• Does your scalp feel dry, tight or itchy?
• Do you often notice flakes or dandruff?
• Or is your scalp rather normal (you can go 3+ days between washes without discomfort)?

2. Your lengths and ends

Then look at your lengths:

• Overall look: more dry / brittle or soft / easy to manage?
• Texture: fine, medium or thick hair?
• Pattern: straight, wavy, curly, coily?
• Are they coloured, bleached or chemically treated (straightening, perm, etc.)?

Write these things down – they’ll help you choose the right products. At Natur’All Hair, this is exactly the type of profile we use to suggest tailored routines.

Step 2 – The 3 pillars of a natural hair care routine

When you’re just starting out, you don’t need 10 different products. Your routine should be built on 3 main pillars:

1. Cleansing – a gentle natural shampoo
2. Nourishing / hydrating – a conditioner + a mask
3. Protecting – a few smart everyday habits

1. Cleanse: your natural shampoo

The shampoo is the foundation of your routine.

What you’re looking for:

• Gentle surfactants (often derived from coconut, sugar, etc.);
• a formula without harsh sulfates, silicones or mineral oils;
• if possible, targeted actives:
  • soothing (aloe vera, calendula, oat, etc.),
  • gentle purifying (clays, hydrosols, plant extracts),
  • strengthening (plant proteins, vitamin-rich botanicals).

You can explore our selection of gentle natural shampoos adapted to different scalp types.

Suggested wash frequency (to adjust to your needs):

• oily scalp: about every 2 days,
• normal scalp: twice a week,
• dry/sensitive scalp: once or twice a week.

The idea is to listen to your scalp rather than follow a rigid “rule”.

2. Nourish and hydrate: conditioner and mask

Your lengths and ends need extra care.

• Natural conditioner: to detangle, smooth and reduce frizz.
  Apply it from mid-lengths to ends, avoiding the roots unless your hair is very dry or coily.
• Mask or deep treatment: once a week or every other week. Choose according to your main concern:
  • dry hair: a nourishing mask,
  • dull hair: a hydrating mask,
  • damaged hair: a rebuilding treatment (plant proteins, ceramides, etc.).

At Natur’All Hair, you’ll find shampoo + conditioner + mask sets designed for different hair types, which makes starting so much easier.

3. Protect: make your results last

This is what really makes a difference in the long run:

• Finishing oil: a drop of light plant oil (argan, jojoba, broccoli seed, etc.) rubbed between your hands and applied only to the ends.
• Mechanical protection:
  • pat your hair dry with a towel instead of rubbing it,
  • avoid hair ties that pull and break the hair,
  • limit heat (straighteners, curlers, very hot blow-dryers).
• Seasonal protection:
  • in summer: shield from sun, salt and chlorine,
  • in winter: boost hydration and be mindful of dry heated air.

Step 3 – Example of a beginner-friendly natural hair routine

Here’s a simple routine you can adapt to your hair type.

On non-wash days

In the morning:

• Gently detangle (wide-tooth comb or soft brush).
• If your lengths feel a bit dry or dull, mist some water or hydrosol, then apply a tiny drop of oil to the ends.

In the evening:

• Do a quick detangle to prevent overnight tangles.
• Put your hair in a loose braid, soft bun or “pineapple” if you have curls.

On wash days (1 to 3 times a week)

1. Pre-shampoo treatment (optional but great for dry hair)
   Apply a small amount of plant oil on your lengths 30 minutes before shampooing.
2. Shampoo
   Wet your hair thoroughly. Take a small amount of shampoo and gently massage the scalp with your fingertips. Rinse thoroughly – the foam running through your lengths is enough to cleanse them.
3. Conditioner
   Apply to mid-lengths and ends. Leave on for a few minutes. Detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, then rinse.
4. Drying
   Squeeze out excess water with a towel, patting instead of rubbing. Let your hair air-dry when possible, or use a blow-dryer on a moderate setting.
5. Finishing
   On dry or almost-dry hair, add a drop of oil to the ends to smooth and protect.

If you want to save time, you can start from a beginner natural hair care routine we’ve already put together, and then tweak it to fit your own needs.

Once a week or every other week

• Replace your regular conditioner with a more intensive mask, leaving it on for 10–20 minutes.
• Take the opportunity to give yourself a scalp massage (with or without oil) to boost microcirculation.

Step 4 – Common beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Changing everything at once

You don’t need to replace all your products overnight. Start with your shampoo, then switch your conditioner, then your oil. This is exactly the approach we use in Natur’All Hair routines: clear steps, no overwhelm.

2. Using too much product

Natural and organic products are often quite concentrated. Go little by little: you can always add more, but it’s harder to remove excess.

3. Overdoing DIY recipes

DIY can be fun, but some recipes are unbalanced or tricky to store safely. Think of them as occasional treats, not the backbone of your routine. For everyday care, choose tested, stable natural formulas.

4. Giving up during the transition phase

When you switch from conventional products (often rich in silicones) to natural ones, your hair may feel drier, duller or “less manageable” for a few weeks. That’s normal: you’re finally seeing its true state. Stick with your routine and fine-tune it instead of giving up.

5. Forgetting about seasons

Your hair doesn’t experience the same things in summer (UV, sea, pool) and in winter (cold, heating, static). Adjust your routine: more protection in summer, more hydration in winter.

How long until you see results?

Every head of hair is unique, but as a general guideline:

• After 2–3 washes: your scalp often feels more comfortable.
• After 4–6 weeks: you start finding your ideal wash rhythm and your hair feels more balanced.
• After 3 months: you usually notice a clear difference overall – less breakage, more softness, a more natural shine.

The key is consistency rather than perfection.

FAQ – Starting a natural hair care routine

Do I need a “detox” before going natural?

Not necessarily. You can simply introduce a gentle natural shampoo and gradually reduce your old products. A clarifying wash or clay mask can help at the start, but it’s not mandatory.

Can I still use some conventional products?

Yes. What matters is that you’re moving in the right direction. You might switch to natural shampoo and conditioner first, and finish your old styling spray later.

My hair gets oily faster now that I’m using natural products. Is that normal?

Yes, especially at the beginning. Your scalp was used to more aggressive shampoos and may overproduce sebum in reaction. Give it a bit of time to rebalance, and avoid going back to harsh formulas.

Does a natural routine take more time?

Not really. With a solid trio (gentle shampoo + conditioner + finishing oil), your routine remains simple and quick. It’s mostly your habits that change.

Ready to take the next step?

To sum up, if you’re starting a natural hair care routine, focus on:

1. Understanding your needs (scalp + lengths).
2. Choosing 3 key product types:
   • a gentle natural shampoo,
   • a conditioner / mask,
   • a finishing plant oil.
3. Following this routine for a few weeks, then tweaking as needed.

At Natur’All Hair, we’ve already gathered natural and organic hair care routines ready to use, adapted to different hair types (dry, curly, coloured, sensitive scalp, etc.).

This way, you can:

• save time,
• avoid common beginner mistakes,
• and explore natural and organic brands carefully curated by us.

Ready to get started? Discover all Natur’All Hair routines tailored to your hair type and start your natural journey smoothly.