My Noughty Haircare Journey: From Blonde Straight Hair to Embracing Natural Waves

Sometimes the best discoveries happen when we're ready for change. That's exactly what happened when I took Noughty's simple hair quiz and discovered a whole new approach to caring for my evolving hair texture. What started as curiosity about my changing waves turned into a complete hair transformation story worth sharing.

The Starting Point: A Hair Identity Crisis

Let me set the scene: I've always been the girl with long, blonde hair that I assumed was straight. You know the type - wash, blow-dry, maybe run a straightener through it if I was feeling fancy. But as I entered my early twenties, something shifted. My hair started developing this subtle wave pattern that I honestly didn't know what to do with. One day it would look effortlessly textured, the next it would be a frizzy mess that seemed to defy gravity in all the wrong ways.

That's when I stumbled across Noughty's quiz - honestly, one of the easiest and most insightful hair assessments I've ever taken. The results? Medium texture, wavy hair type, with oily scalp concerns. Finally, someone was speaking my language! The brand recommended their "Long Term Relationship" routine featuring four key products, and I decided to take the plunge.

The Dream Team: My Complete Noughty Routine

Back to Balance Shampoo: The Foundation Hero

The Back to Balance Shampoo targets oily roots and limp hair with a 97% natural formula that's completely sulphate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free. What immediately caught my attention was the inclusion of piroctone olamine, which has antifungal properties and helps control the microbial environment to make the scalp an unfriendly habitat for irritating microbes.

The Reality Check: This shampoo has been a revelation for my oily-prone scalp. It gently cleanses without stripping, and 82% of users rate it 4 or more out of 5. The formula contains tea tree essential oil, eucalyptus, spearmint, and rosemary extracts - creating this amazing fresh, almost spa-like experience every wash day.

The game-changer? It's proven to extend days between washes and help provide healthy-looking, non-greasy hair. For someone who used to wash daily and still felt like my roots looked flat by evening, this was revolutionary. I can now comfortably go 2-3 days between washes, and my hair actually has volume at the roots.

To The Rescue Conditioner: The Moisture Maven

This deeply moisturising conditioner transforms dry and damaged hair with a 97% natural formula loaded with sweet almond extract, olive and coconut oil. The hero ingredients also include shea butter, wheat amino acids, and sunflower extracts - basically a powerhouse cocktail for thirsty hair.

My Experience: The texture is perfectly creamy without being heavy. Unlike other conditioners, I didn't feel the need to use twice as much conditioner as shampoo because it's so effective. What I love most is how it detangles hair even without combing - you can literally feel your hair becoming silky smooth as you rinse.

The science behind it makes sense too: conditioners are typically slightly acidic (pH around 3.0-4.0), which helps close the hair cuticle after it's been opened by the shampoo, retaining moisture and creating smoother appearance. This one delivers on that promise beautifully.

Intensive Care Leave-In Conditioner: The Wave Definer

Here's where things got interesting for my newly discovered waves. This ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioner contains sweet almond extract, argan oil, and shea butter to trap moisture in the hair shaft and protect the hair cuticle. Argan oil is renowned for protecting hair from oxidative damage, improving elasticity, and preventing split ends.

The Wave Revelation: This product has been absolutely crucial in helping my waves form properly. Customers report that it keeps curls tangle-free and frizz-free, with many noting it works excellently for curly and wavy hair. It creates this perfect foundation for my waves to clump and hold their pattern.

The versatility is amazing - it's a hybrid between conditioner, treatment, and styler. On days when my waves need extra help, this provides that moisture boost without weighing everything down.

Hello Curls Primer: The Styling Secret Weapon

This was the surprise star of my routine. The 97% natural formula contains QuinOxy (Noughty's curl-optimizing ingredient), sea kelp extract, and shea butter to define and add hold. It's enriched with wheat protein - amino acids that can penetrate deep into the hair shaft, strengthening hair from within.

Multi-Purpose Magic: This spray can be used to prime curls for serious definition, worn alone to create effortless beachy waves, or as a curl refresher between washes. I typically use it as a primer under other products, but on lazy days, I'll spritz it on damp hair and let it air dry for these gorgeous, undone waves.

Despite containing shea butter and avocado oil high in the ingredient list, it has a thin consistency and feels light. That's exactly what my fine waves needed - definition without weight.

The Transformation: Before vs. After

The difference has been remarkable. My hair now has this natural movement and texture that I never knew existed. Instead of fighting my waves with heat tools and trying to force them straight, I'm working with my hair's natural pattern.

The routine has helped me:

• Extend wash days from daily washing to every 2-3 days

• Define my wave pattern without crunchiness or stiffness

• Control oiliness at the roots while maintaining moisture through the lengths

• Reduce frizz significantly, even on humid days

• Improve overall hair health with less heat styling and more nourishing ingredients

  
  

The Brand Philosophy That Won Me Over

Noughty's approach is refreshingly honest - they use 97% natural ingredients, are vegan and cruelty-free, and all their Wave Hello products are Curly Girl Method approved. The price point is incredibly accessible too - most products are under £10, making this quality natural haircare achievable rather than aspirational.

What sets them apart is being "far from the only mostly natural, sulphate-free, silicone-free products out there, but for under £10 per product, the list gets considerably smaller".

Final Thoughts: A Love Letter to My Waves

This journey with Noughty has been about so much more than just finding new products. It's been about embracing a part of myself I didn't even know existed. My waves aren't perfect - some days they're more defined, other days they're softer and more relaxed. But that's the beauty of it.

The products work harmoniously together, and the routine feels sustainable rather than overwhelming. For anyone dealing with wavy hair in challenging climates or conditions, this routine provides that reliable foundation for managing and enhancing your natural texture.

Would I recommend this routine? Absolutely. Especially if you're in a similar place of hair discovery, dealing with combination scalp issues, or simply want to try natural haircare without breaking the bank. Sometimes the best relationships start with taking a simple quiz and being open to what you discover about yourself.

The Bottom Line: Noughty has helped me fall in love with my natural hair texture, and that's worth celebrating. Here's to embracing the waves and all the beautiful, imperfect days they bring! 🌊