At Luxy Hair, we’re big fans of the holidays. Food, festivities, and family make December our favorite time of year. January, on the other hand, is another story, but we’ve got some post-holiday detox tips to get rid of those post-Christmas blues and lift up your spirits after all that indulging.
From eating too much at Christmas dinner, to having one too many glasses of champagne on New Year’s Eve, to heat styling your hair for all your holiday parties, there’s no better time for a reset than the start of 2019. To help you out, we’ve rounded up our top post-holiday detox tips so you can start the new year off feeling light, tight, and refreshed.
Reset your diet
Feel good, look good. That’s why your number one post-holiday detox tip is to nourish yourself properly from the inside. Not sticking to your regular diet is understandable over the holidays, so it’s important not to beat yourself up. If you’re not feeling your best, the new year is a good time to make those lifestyle changes you’ve been considering. Have you wanted to try going gluten-free to see if it banishes your bloating? Contemplated going vegan or vegetarian but think it will be too hard to stick to? Just looking to reduce the amount of refined sugars in your diet?
Whatever the case, use the chance for a clean slate to make changes to your diet and see what works. We suggest starting slowly by making small tweaks to your diet rather than quitting whatever it is you’re cutting out cold turkey, so you’re less likely to relapse down the line. You just may be surprised how much motivation you have to stick to something when you start feeling its positive effects! Plus, eating right is a key part of fostering good hair health, so it’s important to nourish yourself from the inside-out.
Commit to doing a hair mask twice a week
If there’s one thing the holiday season is filled with, it’s parties. From casual dinner parties with family to work events, and New Year’s celebrations, most of us have been getting dolled up more than usual. This means your hair has to endure a lot more heat styling than it does on an ordinary basis, so replenishing the moisture in your strands is the best post-holiday detox for your hair. From curling irons to straighteners and everything in between, all the heat used on your hair this holiday season can leave it feeling dry and brittle so it’s important to rehydrate your strands with a nourishing hair mask. Just pop on your favorite Netflix show, sit back, relax, and let the mask get to work. If you want to maximize your results, we recommend leaving your mask on overnight. Just be sure to put a towel down on your pillow to prevent any mess!
Detoxify your skin with a face mask
When it comes to face masks, there are those that mask regularly, once a week without fail, and those that always forget, despite knowing they should. Think of a face mask as a post-holiday detox in a jar. It can transform your skin get rid of blemishes, and leave your complexion looking soft and supple. Since you’ve probably been wearing more makeup than usual during the holidays, it’s a good idea to use a clarifying mask to draw out impurities to prevent any pimples from surfacing.
On the other hand, if the New Year’s Eve festivities have left you feeling parched and your skin is looking a bit sallow, a hydrating face mask is your best bet. From detoxifying your skin to infusing it with moisture, a face mask can instantly revive your complexion so you look more luminous and radiant. Trust us, if you get into the habit of using a face mask regularly, you’ll become addicted to the results.
Start a new workout routine you actually enjoy
There’s no better time than the new year to kick start a new workout routine. After all the heavy food, rich desserts, and drinking over the holidays, it’s natural to not be feeling your best. The best post-holiday detox? Work up a sweat and get those toxins out of your body faster. Forming good habits early on in the new year is the best way to set yourself up for success, but as always, it’s a good idea to ease into your new lifestyle. If you’ve never been physically active before, we don’t recommend diving into an intense 7-days-a-week training regimen right off the bat. Not only do you run the risk of getting injured, it’s also unlikely that you will want to hit the gym everyday when you’ve never exercised consistently before. Instead, we recommend baby steps so you can ease yourself into an effective workout plan gradually.
Whether you want to lose weight after your indulgent holiday diet, tone up, or simply be more active, it’s all about finding an activity you enjoy. We recommend signing up for yoga classes, kickboxing, or even a cycling class to help you pump up the motivation. If group fitness isn’t your thing, try booking a personal training session a couple of times a week to keep you accountable while ensuring you have the right form.
Trade the wine in for herbal tea
For most of us, having one too many glasses of wine over the holidays is expected, so there’s no better time for a post-holiday detox than the start of 2019. If you’re the sort of person who normally opts for a glass of pinot when you want to unwind, the new year is a good time to trade the wine in for some herbal tea. Our favorites? Chamomile, ginger, and peppermint. Not only do they boast tons of anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties, they are also extremely soothing and calming which is a must after all that holiday madness. So curl up with your favorite book, grab a mug warmer if you’re feeling extra, and get ready to detoxify your body and mind. Trust us, you’ll be feeling so healthy and refreshed when you wake up, you may even consider trading in your morning cup of joe for some green tea.
Give yourself an at-home manicure
The holidays can get expensive. Between buying gifts for loved ones and splurging on new outfits for all your events, it’s a good idea to reign in the spending in the new year. Plus, your nails are probably feeling a little brittle from the gel or acrylic nails you’ve been sporting, so giving them a break is the best post-holiday detox. Still, we think you deserve to look and feel your best all the time without having to shell out cash for a professional manicure. Instead, pop on your favorite movie and do it yourself. Best of all, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while you wait for your nails to dry.
Try out meditation
When it comes to self-care, meditation is definitely having its moment—and for good reason! The hustle and bustle of everyday life can get stressful at times and meditating daily—even for just 10 minutes—can transform the way you feel. Think of it as a post-holiday detox for your mind and soul; with all the different thoughts flying through your head on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to sit in silence every morning to help you start the day off on the right note. Keep in mind that getting to a place where you can sit still without your mind racing takes some time, but luckily there are plenty of meditation apps available to help kick start your meditation practice. Give it a go! We guarantee you’ll be feeling less anxious and stressed in no time.
Go green with your hair routine
Okay, so you’ve taken a look at your eating habits and figured out your late night tendency to reach for a bag of chips isn’t doing your body any good, but what about your hair products? The best post-holiday detox tips are about purging your existing routine before adding in new habits. Next time you’re about to head to the store to restock on your shampoo, conditioner, or styling products, take a moment to think about whether they are actually good for your body. Many conventional haircare products are packed with toxic chemicals that can be detrimental in the long run. We suggest reaching for natural, plant-based formulas that are free of sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances so you can nourish your hair properly without exposing yourself to harmful ingredients.
Make a commitment to disconnect
Most of us are guilty of spending way too much time on our smartphones so the best post-holiday detox for your overall well-being and productivity is to make a commitment to disconnect. Being too attached to our devices can be damaging to our mental health. Not only are you not present with whatever you’re doing, but mindlessly scrolling through Instagram for hours on end is never a good use of your time. Instead, commit to reading a book for a half hour before bed and set your phone to airplane mode to avoid disruptions. If you find yourself responding to emails at all hours of the day, purge your phone of work-related apps so you don’t feel compelled to respond instantly. As always, be sure to create an ambiance that is conducive to relaxation. This means, keeping your space clean and clutter-free, putting on some soft music, lighting some candles, and maybe even spritzing your bed sheets with some aromatherapy lavender mist.
Try out a heatless hairstyle
Spending less time on your hair means spending more time on the things you love. Plus, it’s one of the easiest ways to get healthier hair. Give your strands a post-holiday detox by willing yourself to go without heat styling a few times a week. Not only will your hair look better naturally over time as you’ll be avoiding the damage caused by hot tools, you’ll also save yourself a ton of time in the mornings.
Simply follow these 10 tips for a healthy start to 2019. Research indicates it takes 21 days to form a habit, so you’ll likely find that these detox tips become second nature after a few weeks. Do you have any favorite post-holiday detox tips that help you reset? Share them with us in the comments below!
