Long hair can be difficult to maintain. I know this because I have very long hair. A lot of very long hair. My hair has actually been longer (long enough to sit on) but now that I'm in my mid 30's I keep it generally one length to my lower back. I get my hair trimmed about once every 2 years and then only to neaten it up a bit. I am one of those lucky people who doesn't end up with a lot of split ends. Through this lens I am going to tell you about how I care for my long hair and some hints and tips if your hair is thick or fine as well as specifics for brunettes and blondes. Nothing I do is overly expensive and many things are free and only require your time. The pictures throughout will all be my actual hair so you can see that what I am talking about has worked for me. If you have troubles with hair loos click here.
Diet
What goes in you affects everything in your body including your hair. Now we all know eating right is not only good for us but also can be quite difficult to do on a regular basis. I don't eat healthy constantly. I do try to eat healthy most of the time though so I don't feel guilty when I do have treats. I eat lots of veggies, protein and whole grains. Notice I didn't say I eat lots of fruit? I don't on a regular basis. I like carrots, broccoli, corn and potatoes (with butter, sourcream and fresh chives). I enjoy steak, chicken, pork, beef and sometimes halibut or tuna. Brown rice is a staple in my house as is whole grain pasta and whole wheat breads (yep even the hamburg and hotdog buns). I generally use olive oil when cooking and low fat versions of salad dressing and condiments (like mayo). Also, there are effective Hairmax Dietary Supplements on the market.
According to Simply Antiaging though I do consume more coffee, tea and dairy than they recommend for healthy hair. But I love my cheese and my coffee and won't give it up. I do drink a fair amount of green tea and water though (I have a chlorine allergy so I do only drink bottled water, I have the 18 liter jugs for my water cooler that I refill at Home Hardware).
The shine you see in my hair in the picture is natural and not brought on through hair products.
According to Simply Antiaging though I do consume more coffee, tea and dairy than they recommend for healthy hair. But I love my cheese and my coffee and won't give it up. I do drink a fair amount of green tea and water though (I have a chlorine allergy so I do only drink bottled water, I have the 18 liter jugs for my water cooler that I refill at Home Hardware).
The shine you see in my hair in the picture is natural and not brought on through hair products.
Cleaning Long Hair
Washing long hair can be expensive. The more hair you have the more shampoo you need. A really good shampoo though will honestly clean your hair better while you use less of it. I use natural shampoo for chemically treated hair. I do dye my hair so the natural detergent free formula doesn't strip out my colour and still leaves my hair literally squeeky clean.
The best hair advice I was ever given by a stylist was to not wash my hair every day. This can strip out too much of the hairs natural oils and leave your hair weaker and dryer than it should be. I only wash my hair 3 times a week with shampoo. The rest of the week I wash it out with this conditioner which is natural as well, and do not shampoo at all.
The best hair advice I was ever given by a stylist was to not wash my hair every day. This can strip out too much of the hairs natural oils and leave your hair weaker and dryer than it should be. I only wash my hair 3 times a week with shampoo. The rest of the week I wash it out with this conditioner which is natural as well, and do not shampoo at all.
Conditioning Long Hair
I use a leave in conditioner and detangler year round. It helps protect my hair from the sun and wind and cold weather. It also makes brushing my hair easier and helps control flyaway hairs. I use the certified organic Slide Instant Detangler because it doesn't leave my hair feeling heavy or heavily scented afterwards.
I also use an egg hair mask once a month after washing my hair while it is still wet. I mix 2 eggs with a bit of olive oil and spread it throughout my hair. I leave it on for about 1/2 an hour then rinse with warm water. Other great conditioning hair masks can be found on the Daily Glow website.
The picture here is a macro of the ends of my hair. I have been 6 months without a haircut and it is unbrushed when I took it.
I also use an egg hair mask once a month after washing my hair while it is still wet. I mix 2 eggs with a bit of olive oil and spread it throughout my hair. I leave it on for about 1/2 an hour then rinse with warm water. Other great conditioning hair masks can be found on the Daily Glow website.
The picture here is a macro of the ends of my hair. I have been 6 months without a haircut and it is unbrushed when I took it.
Brushing Long Hair
Long hair definitely gets tangled more than short hair. It seems like the slightest breeze causes my hair to knot itself completely. While I have worn knots in my hair, those were on purpose and decorative.
Brushing your hair can contibute to hair breakage. Find the best brush for your hair and stick to it. While fine hair may be ok with combing, I know I cannot ever get a comb through my hair (wet or dry). I use a large paddle cushioned style brush for untangling my hair. It's great for spreading the Slide Instant Detangler I use through my hair. Since it is also a leave in conditioner I think it's important to get my hair fully saturated. Now my hair is long and I have lots of it, so my type of brush may not be right for your hair needs. Check out dummies.com to learn more about the different types of hairbrushes.
Brushing your hair can contibute to hair breakage. Find the best brush for your hair and stick to it. While fine hair may be ok with combing, I know I cannot ever get a comb through my hair (wet or dry). I use a large paddle cushioned style brush for untangling my hair. It's great for spreading the Slide Instant Detangler I use through my hair. Since it is also a leave in conditioner I think it's important to get my hair fully saturated. Now my hair is long and I have lots of it, so my type of brush may not be right for your hair needs. Check out dummies.com to learn more about the different types of hairbrushes.