Tuesday 13 January 2015

Haircare Tips & Tricks for Long Hair

 Without a shadow of a doubt, the first thing anybody who meets me notices is my hair. It's pretty hard to miss - It's naturally golden, pin straight and is so long it can now touch my bum! (These photos were taken at my prom last July...) This also means it is extremely hard to handle. As much as I love being nicknamed "Rapunzel" by all of my teachers and friends (I have always wanted to be a princess!), maintenance is difficult and I occasionally find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to chop it all off à la Taylor Swift - not that I would ever have the guts to!
I have had long hair for pretty much the entire duration of my life, although as I have grown myself I have let it grow more and more. This means I have had a lot of time to experiment with different ways of managing long hair, some of which I will write about in this post. It is important to keep your hair in the best health possible, especially if you are keeping it long, as you won't be continuously cutting it, meaning the ends will be around for a while to retain damage.

  1. Avoid using heat - It is always tempting to blow-dry your hair, it gets the job done much faster so you don't have to sit around with a heavy, wet lump of hair dripping around your shoulders. However, I can't stress how much better it is for your hair to avoid using heat on it altogether!
    "Human hair contains keratin proteins and hydrogen bonds. When you use heat styling tools such as curling irons, flat irons, tongs or blow dryers, they strip your hair of its natural oils and proteins by breaking down its hydrogen bonds." discovergoodnutrition.com

    I avoid using heat by showering at night rather than in the morning. I put a towel over my pillow and sleep with towel-dried hair. Personally, I adore the way this makes my hair look, as it is very natural with a bit of bounce and volume. However, if you feel you need to straighten or curl it, remember to use a good heat protectant! The same goes for if you are in a rush and have to blow-dry it.
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  2. Brush it carefully - Long hair often gets into huge tangles which can be frustrating to remove, especially if you are in a rush. This often leaves you pulling and tugging at hair, ripping pieces out and making the knot worse. I use the Beautybay Detangling Brush and start from the very bottom with a small section of hair, brushing until it is completely free of tangles before moving up the section. This will ensure you don't just push the knots into a clump at the ends of your hair. If you are really struggling, try adding a small amount of leave-in conditioner to help.
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  3. Trim it often - A common misconception when growing your hair is that you shouldn't cut it. However, this leads to damaged and dry hair and accelerates split ends which look awful and will mean you have to have a much larger amount cut off when it comes to visiting the hairdresser. It is recommended that you have your hair trimmed every 4-8 weeks, at least. This may shock you, but if you only have a tiny trim, 5mm for example, it will accelerate hair growth in the long run.
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  4. Don't wash it every day - Many people I know wash their hair every day, claiming it goes greasy if they don't. The problem with this is, by washing out the natural oils produced by the scalp, it causes your body to produce even more oil, increasing the problem. By taking the leap and switching to washing your hair every other day, or even every three days, your hair will eventually stop producing so much oil and going "greasy" in the space of a day. It can be scary at first, but try doing this when you won't be seeing anyone, such as in the school holidays or over a weekend.
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  5. Use an oil - Similarly to the previous point, many people I know are appalled when I talk about using oil on my hair, wondering how this does not make it greasy. Using an oil on your hair actually intensely nourishes it while giving it a gorgeous shine. There are many products out there, popular ones being Moroccan Oil and Argan Oil. Personally, I have used the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil ever since I first tried it around 3 years ago. I absolutely fell in love with the softness it gave to my hair, as well as sleek and glossy locks. It claims to be a "5-in-1 Miracle Hair Perfector: Hair has a glowing shine, Feels intensely nourished, Flows with silky softness, Seems sumptuously smooth, Looks beautifully perfected" and I 100% agree! It has definitely been a miracle product for me and I don't think I, or my hair, could live without it. I either put it through the ends of my hair after towel-drying, or before going out. Either way works fine, and I have noticed if I use it before going out it keeps the ends of my hair smooth, sleek and perfectly straight, even if it is raining!
I hope these tips & tricks are helpful for you, whether you already have long hair or are trying to grow it. The most important thing it to be gentle with it! Having long hair can be hard work but when it's healthy, it looks absolutely gorgeous. For me, my hair is probably my favourite feature, so I try to keep it as nourished and healthy as possible; my haircare routine comes second only to skincare!


7 comments:

  1. I was just popping by to let you know I have nominated you for the Liebster award in my today's blog post x http://voguescent.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/liebster-award-nomination.html

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  2. Wow looks great!! Need my hair to grow asap! It's taking ages x

    www.seeonebuyone.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Just keep treating it well and getting trims and it should grow in no time! x

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  3. Wow. You really have amazing long hair. Mine isn't in the best condition at the moment, ever since i got highlights. But I always try to avoid using heat on it and do not wash it every day but only every second day (I use dry shampoo in between). I am really bad at getting impatient when brushing my hair. It just takes ages. argh. Something I had never done before and now have been trying is oil. Morrocan or Keratine infused. I just leave it in overnight. It has made such a difference xx Dandy I www.dandelionblue.co.uk

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    1. Thank you so much! I think it really takes persistence and sticking at it to get it in better condition but I'm sure it's possible! Oils really are miracle workers. Thank you much for leaving a comment! xx

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  4. The points you have mentioned in this article are useful. Blonde girls

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