Such lovely locks require extra care and attention… Here’s how to achieve and maintain a cascade of healthy hair.
Whether you have Brown, Blond hair, or Ginger hair: when it’s healthy, long hair is beautiful to look at and silky to the touch, but its care demands consistent effort. Lengthy hair is more prone to split ends and breakage—namely, colored, permed, or straightened. Fortunately, there are simple tips any woman can use to have glossy tendrils that catch the eye. Here’s how to keep long hair healthy.
7 Easy Hacks for Keeping your Long Hair Healthy:
1. Find Your Ultimate Hair Brush
Brushing your hair seems like a no-brainer, but not all hairbrushes in the hairbrush aisle, are suitable for your hair. It’s essential to explore and chose the right brush for your specific type of hair. Some hairbrushes would make your hair silkier, while others would cause another “bad hair day.”
Image: Wet Brush Original Detangler
2. Chose your hairbands wisely
It takes years to grow long hair, so don’t destroy it in a ponytail with a rubber band —that will only lead to breakage. It’s better to pull hair back into a ponytail with a coated band that’s specifically designed to protect it from becoming damaged and brittle. These are available at most drugstores in the hair care section.
Be gentle when combing or brushing, and never use a brush on wet hair. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb on wet hair in small sections, starting from the ends and working up. Don’t brush long hair unless it’s scorched, and use a natural bristle brush to reduce the risk of damage.
Best Hair Ties To Prevent Breakage:
Spiral Hair Ties
The spiral design of telephone cord hair ties spreads the “pressure” of the hair elastic out over a greater surface area of your hair, which helps to minimize the dreaded ponytail bump that hair ties can create!
silk Scrunchies
Silk reduces friction and tangles and helps you avoid breakage, knots, and split ends—no pulling or tearing delicate hair.
3. Avoid Chemical Treatments
Yes, I know it looks amazing on Pinterest. Unfortunately, the two biggest enemies of luxurious hair are heat and chemical treatments. Considering perming or straightening long hair? Don’t. Perms can cause devastating amounts of damage to long hair. Hair coloring can also be harmful, mostly if the hair was bleached. Let a professional color your locks—preferably with a low peroxide formulation or henna—to keep them strong and healthy.
4. Go Easy With That Hair Dryer!
While it’s tempting to use a blow dryer when you’re pressed for time, it’s far healthier to let it dry naturally. An alternative is to dry naturally until it’s seventy percent dry, and then finish it off with the blow dryer. Use a heat-activated conditioner to protect the hair—and keep the hairdryer moving at all times as far from your hair as possible. Stay away from curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers, and crimpers.
5. Don’t Wash Your Hair Too Often
For red-dyed hair, this tip goes without saying. Shampooing your hair too often may cause damages in the long run. Hairdressers recommend washing your hair no more than twice a week if it’s dry, or every other day if it’s oily. Also, always use conditioner, at least on the ends. Do a hot oil or deep conditioning treatment every two weeks religiously. Conditioners don’t repair the damage, but it helps to moisten and protect the hair shaft.
6. Trim long hair at least every two months
I know it may sound counterintuitive, as many people neglect this step because they don’t want to lose any length, but skipping regular trims will lead to split ends that can’t be repaired. Find a hairdresser who understands that half-an-inch means just that—and no more.
7. Ditch the Towel
If your hair is curly, you probably already heard that before – drying your hair with an old t-shirt may cause magic to your hair! This smooth fabric, such as cotton or linen, will help you get rid of excess moisture. Try it, and see for yourself (You are more than welcomed to let us know how it went in the comments).
Caring for Long Hair: The Bottom Line?
Treat long hair with a little TLC and enjoy having tumbling, silky hair that turns heads.
Image: Unsplash @element5digital
