One Small Shift: The Haircare System That Transformed My Routine (and My Hair) 🖤

I did the research so you don't have to

Note: This is part of the One Small Shift Series.

After getting Covid in 2022, I experienced excess hair shedding for the first time in my adult life. I had a sense my hair was thinner but my hair dresser confirmed my fears one day after washing it: “You’re shedding more hair than usual,” she told me.

I began spiraling down my typical research rabbit hole, bouncing between hair care influencers on YouTube—from Abby Young to all the natural hair care pros—trying every supplement, serum, and natural hair hack that promised to help my hair growth. From Welbel to flax gel and Nutrafol to Rice Water, nothing seemed to do what it claimed. My results were minimal, my drain was clogged from flax gel, my scalp was confused, and I was exhausted by the false promises.

For over a year, I tried everything to stop my hair from thinning.

I mean everything.
⊹ Serums with science-y sounding ingredients.
⊹ Collagen powders and fancy supplements.
⊹ Scalp massagers, oils, growth tonics.
⊹ Even the weird things like rice water rinses.

Some of it helped a little. Most of it was expensive or labor-intensive. None of it gave me the hair I was hoping for.

I was frustrated, disheartened, and utterly exhausted.

Then I Found a Woman on Instagram Who Had Done What I Was Trying to Do

One day, in a moment of algorithmic fate, I stumbled across a reel by a woman in her 40s, Michelle Thompson, on Instagram. She had reversed her hair loss, and she wasn’t touting expensive magic serums or obscure supplements.

I found her because she was part of the Medical Medium healing community I followed that had helped me recover from Long Covid.

After switching over her diet, she had also switched to a very specific line of low-tox, scalp-supportive haircare products. She had gone from thinning hair to thick, voluminous, long waves. And the products were (primarily) non-toxic and compatible with the Medical Medium lifestyle I follow.

Nothing extreme or crazy expensive. Just simple, low-tox products that actually supported the scalp as an ecosystem, reduced inflammation, promoted hair growth, and removed harsh, clogging ingredients that most conventional products sneak in.

Her story resonated because she had the same underlying issues I did:

• Hair shedding

• Autoimmune markers

• The desire for clean, non-toxic solutions

I had a good feeling about her and this solution. Something felt aligned - not like a random shot in the dark. I thought - I’ve tried everything else. What’s one more thing?

The leap paid off and the results were different this time

I bought the products, and immediately started using them consistently. I paid attention—not just to my hair, but to how my scalp felt. I breathed a sigh of relief as I stopped treating haircare like a scavenger hunt and committed to a system.

For the first time, things actually changed:

• My hair started feeling softer, shinier, healthier

• My scalp felt less irritated, itchy, and inflamed

• Soon I noticed new growth and a fuller feel

The growth wasn’t overnight, but these were the first products I tried outside of bond repair treatments that had made any lasting difference.

And it wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about health. These were the first products I’d found that were effective and had a low toxicity score on my fav app, Yuka.

The products were from Monat’s IR Clinical line (prices are lower than presented if you buy through a partner like me than they are on the link.)

I started simply. I used:

⊹ Thickening Shampoo

⊹ Thickening Conditioner,

⊹ Hair Growth Serum

⊹ Bond Repair

Within a couple weeks, I noticed my hair felt fuller, softer, and more balanced. So I added

⊹ Rejuvenique Scalp oil

⊹ Scalp Scrub

⊹ AMasque.

Before I knew it, I had a full routine that didn’t just feel good—it actually worked.

And, unlike hair growth competitors like Nioxin, I didn’t have to trade long-term health repercussions for short-term results.

I Believed in It So Much After 4 months that I Became a Market Partner

I’m careful about what I share, but when something genuinely helps me—and fits into a low-tox, holistic lifestyle—I want others to know about it too because I believe the less toxicity we all endorse, the healthier the planet is in general. That’s part of my mission here at The Well.

Through my journey I realized how many women struggle with hair loss - post-partum, post-covid, during chronic illness, through the aging process, and sometimes for no known reason.

I’ve now had friends and family with similar issues follow my recommended routine and have similar results where they are finally happy with their hair routine, texture, and growth!

That’s why I talked to my mentor Michelle and decided to become a Market Partner with this brand.I know firsthand how disheartening hair loss and sorting through all the false information and noise out there can feel, and I want to bring light to non-toxic solutions and support women (and men) through this journey.

Now, I have discounted hair care products and get to help other sensitive, health conscious people do what Michelle helped me do - feel confident in their hair again, and detoxify their beauty rituals with solutions that are aligned, simple, and actually effective.

---

What I Love About This System

If I haven’t said enough already, here’s a little more info on what made using the whole system different from the sea of half-used bottles in my shower.

• It’s complete and synergistic. The ingredients are designed to work together, so I’m not just mixing random actives and hoping for the best.

• It’s non-toxic and effective. Too often, clean beauty doesn’t deliver. I didn’t want to choose between health and results. With Monat, I didn’t have to. I’ve been using the Yuka app for years to check the toxicity of beauty products, and Monat’s IR Clinical line and all the other hair products I use score low—meaning they are free from harmful ingredients but still deliver results.

• It delivers visible, real results:
  🖤 Faster growth
  🖤 More volume

  🖤 Better shine
  🖤 Less breakage
  🖤 A calm, happy scalp

  🖤 An Easy Routine

---

A Routine that Feels Like A Ritual

There’s something calming about knowing exactly what to reach for—no more decision fatigue, no more ingredient confusion. It simplified my routine and made hair care a ritual, which made space for something better: consistency. And with consistency came results.

Instead of switching products every time something new showed up on social media, I let my body settle. I built trust with my products the way I try to build trust with my body—slowly, with care.

That’s what makes this a ritual, not just a routine.

---

Want Help Building a Non-Toxic Hair Ritual?

If you’re tired of mixing and matching and still not loving your hair, I’d love to help you find a simple, effective, low-tox routine that actually works for your hair.

If you’re curious, I created a Haircare Quiz that helps you figure out what your hair and scalp actually need right now.

No random product pushing. Just customized guidance.

🖤 Take the Free Haircare Quiz

And if you aren’t into quizzes, but want a personalized recommendation based on my experience and training, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to share what worked for me.

Sometimes, after trying all the things, it’s the simplest shifts that make the biggest difference.

This was one of mine. Drop your hair care wins or small shifts in the comments.

🖤