Long hair requires a lot of care and maintenance, if you are not willing to put the work in you will not achieve the same results. I started growing my hair about a year ago. My length at the time was about underarm length, it is currently low back length past mid back. The following paragraphs are all facts I have gathered over time and tips from my long hair care routine that have helped me to achieve longer, stronger, beautiful hair.
Healthy hair is very much related to your overall health. You will get out what you put into it, this goes for your nails and skin as well. A healthy diet is the first step to growing long hair. Taking a multivitamin (prenatal vitamins work fine too) will help nourish your body from the inside out. Drinking plenty of water is also essential. People who are dehydrated often have problems with dry scalp which generally leads to flakes and irritation. A way to treat scalp irritation which I have found extremely successful us to apply tea tree oil to the area directly. Tea tree oil is known to soothe irritation and is a natural antifungal.
Chemicals in hair color, perms and relaxers, regardless of what the manufacturer claims, are drying and damaging to the hair follicle! So stop right now! If you are like me and can’t hold off the hair color too long, make sure you are going to a salon and using professional products and do not “bleach” or lighten your hair. The health of your hair is an investment, and just like any other stock, if you risk too much, you could loose it all.
Blow dryers, flat irons, hot curlers, wands….put them away. Use less often, and always use a heat protecting spray or serum when applying heat to your hair. Opt for more natural styles like buns or braids and air dry whenever possible. If you want to curl your hair put them in flexi rods when damp and let air dry you will look like you just stepped out of the salon and you wont have to apply heat to look fabulous!
Deep Conditioning will become your best friend do so about once a week or as often as needed. My favorite product for this is raw organic coconut oil from trader Joes (generally used for cooking). Coconut oil is the closest in its properties to the oil our body creates so it is absorbed better by our hair.
Natural oils from our scalp are the best for our hair, so stop shampooing them away everyday. If you have oily hair, use a dry shampoo in between or wear it up on the second or third day so it is bearable. I shampoo every third day and I like to apply a dime size amount of arganoil in my hair when I get out of the shower and before styling. When shampooing do stimulate and massage your scalp to get the circulation flowing and di not brush when its wet use a wide toothed comb. Make sure your hair is up when you sleep to prevent further breakage and tangling.
Products….I love products, they are great but you have to make sure you are using the appropriate ones for your hair type in order for them to work. For example curly hair and chemically over processed hair require more moisture then normal hair does. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair. Argon oil does wonders for all types of hair when damp and can work as a heat protectant, did I mention it smells heavenly? Don't go overboard or as with any oil your hair will end up looking greasy. Select a good thick conditioner to deep condition with and alternate with that and coconut oil as often as needed. There are also plenty of natural ingredients that can be found in your kitchen to try out in your hair care routine. Olive oil, egg yolks, mayonnaise, avocados, and honey are all good as masks for your hair. Experiment and figure out which works best for you and your hair.
Don't pull your hair back so tight, it causes breakage and stress on your hair and scalp. Not to mention the receding hairline effect. Try to alternate the spot where you put the hair tie(no rubber bands!!) Lower or higher so its not constantly tugging on or stressing the same spot.
Do get a trim every 6-8 weeks or as often as needed. Not cutting your hair because you want it to grow is a common misconception. We want long healthy strong hair not long hair that looks stringy and scarecrow like. The longer you wait the more you will need to cut, split ends stop splitting when you cut it off otherwise they continue to go up. If your hair is very damaged you may want to cut off a few inches to get back into the swing if things, once the health if your hair gets addressed you will notice it start to grow faster and stronger.
1. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
2. Use a good conditioner.
3. Wash your hair regularly:
4. Always rinse hair products out of your hair with very cool water.
5. Remember to use a heat protectant spray or lotion when using hot tools on your hair (curling irons, straighteners, dryers, crimpers, etc). 6. Don't brush your hair when it's wet!
7.Take a daily multivitamin!
8. Eat a lot of protein.
9. Only get split ends trimmed off when you need to.
10. Follow each of these steps carefully, and you will begin to notice, stronger, smoother, longer and healthier hair in no time!
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