A few months ago, Annie asked: how do you balance? Apart from my regular salad, followed up by the occasional entire Domino's pepperoni pie, I feel like this really applies to how I wash my hair. Or rather, how I don't wash my hair. I abstain from the daily routine of it—a practice that, some say, helps control oil. From experience, that’s a myth. It’s more my incentive—albeit an ineffective one—to work out. (You know, your hair deserves to be washed after you make it through that spin class…)

And since I certainly do not exercise anywhere close to once a day, my routine tends to lag—especially if it's cold outside. To make up for it though, I do five-step, more-than-one-hour routine every couple weeks as an apology to my head.

I start with a good old scalp scrub, courtesy of Caviar Clinical Exfoliating Scalp Facial. It’s a strange and specific product but gives me the same feeling of a dog with an itch being scratched: utter satisfaction. Squirt some product with exfoliating beads on your scalp then rub the built in bristle applicator around it’s surface. Once washed out, you’re left with a mild, tingling sensation (think peppermint or tea tree oil shampoo).

Then, I coat my head—and body while I’m at it—in oil. I like the multipurpose type like Josie Maran Argan Oil or some standard coconut and wrap my head in a turban towel for 20 minutes, replenishing moisture entirely. Next up: my oft-forgotten wash and condition routine with Living Proof Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo strips my hair of excess build up (which is a lot), the conditioner leaves it soft (which is necessary), and both smell like a freshly squeezed grapefruit (a bonus). The formulas lather into seriously thick suds, reminding me of what I’m missing—but still will not do—on a daily basis.

I finish with a 15-minute hair mask. Something I’ve shunned since elementary school when I put mayonnaise in my hair and smelled like a sandwich for two days. Luckily, U Luxury Intense Mask is infused with other kitchen staples like honey, instead. By its end, I have silky, soft, and clean hair to make up for the rest of the month.

—Alexis Cheung

Photographed by Tom Newton.