Do you love having long hair? Want long hair but don’t know how to get your locks to cooperate? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve been sporting long hair for years! I’ve tried going shorter many times in my life, but I’ve always regretted it. Long hair just makes me happy! But un-healthy long hair? That’s never a good thing.
Below are my 12 tips that’ll get your hair long, healthy, and luscious in no time!
1. Don’t wash it everyday
Washing your hair everyday is the worst thing you can do if you’re trying to grow it out. With washing, comes drying, and that blow-dryer causes serious damage over time. The less you use one, the better. So start getting really close to dry shampoo!
Do you exercise on a regular basis? If so, you’ll want to read our tips on saving your blowout after a sweat session. There’s no need to get your hair wet in the shower after the gym!
2. Let it air dry
Start taking your showers at night, that way your hair has six or more hours to dry naturally. Once you wake up, take a blow dryer, smooth it out, and add some curl with your curling iron, or take a flat-iron to it.
Blow drying your hair when it’s over 80% dry will keep it healthy.
3. Sleep in a low ponytail
I used to sleep with my hair in a high messy bun, but every time I woke up, I had to deal with serious tangles. I now sleep with my hair in a low ponytail. I haven’t woken up with a knot since!
4. Be gentle with your wet hair
Your hair is extremely fragile when it’s wet, so handle with care. After my nightly shower, I pat it dry, spray it with a detangler, and then I brush it gently with a wide-tooth comb.
After the knots are out, I add a styling cream or oil to my ends only. From there, I part my hair and comb into a low ponytail until morning.
5. Avoid elastics and hair ties
Actually, don’t use elastics and hair ties at all. They break your hair, damage it, and can cause dents. Instead, use spring bands. They are life-changing!
6. Sleep on satin pillow cases
This isn’t necessary, but it does help. Most bedding is made out of cotton, which can cause frizz and split ends due to the friction that occurs in your sleep. Instead, sleep on a pillow that has a satin pillowcase. This allows your hair to glide easily over the pillow without the damaging friction.
7. Take your vitamins
Healthy skin and hair starts on the inside. Since most of us don’t get the nutrients our bodies need in our food alone, vitamins are essential. Just take a muli-vitamin every morning and night.
If you mean business, you can also take a hair, skin and nails supplement or a prenatal vitamin. But beware, not only will your hair grow faster, but it’ll grow faster everywhere else too. So stock up on razor blades!
*Check with a doctor before adding a vitamin or supplement to your diet.
8. Use the right products
I highly recommend you use a shampoo that’s sulfate-free and a decent conditioner. I really like the shampoo and conditioner from Not Your Mother’s. When it comes to styling products, apply a styling oil or cream. Both Suave and Living Proof have great products that will protect your hair from heat while adding moisture to prevent frizz.
9. Use a deep conditioner once a week
This is extremely important! I also recommend you splurge on a good one. Don’t worry, they last awhile! I really like the deep conditioners from It’s a 10 and One ‘n Only.
10. Invest in a good blow dryer
This has saved my hair! According to Yoni at Y-Gallery Salon in New York City:
An ionic ceramic dryer doesn’t burn the hair, while a low-cost dryer can.
The motor is also more powerful so it’ll dry your hair faster. I really like the ionic dryer from Eva NYC!
11. Consider a smoothing or keratin treatment
Don’t rely on these since they’re expensive and not safe to breath in — but they really help during the growing out stage. When I got the Brazilian Blowout, I didn’t have to touch my flat iron for five months. Five months! By the time it washed out, my newly long hair was healthy and shiny.
Since I’m wary of chemicals like that, I now rely on the Super Silk Treatment by Sam Brocato.
12. Get trims on a regular basis
I usually get a trim at the beginning of every season to get rid of the split ends. When you get to the salon, just ask for a dusting. That’s the magic word.
Really express you’re trying to grow it out and you don’t want anymore that a centimeter or two off. Don’t let them talk you into getting more length than that removed!
How do you maintain healthy hair? Let us know in the comments below!
