How to Take Care of Long Hair
Lengthy locks are stunning on both men and women when they are healthy, but it takes special care to get there and stay there. After all, longer hair is simply more in the way; therefore, it’s exposed to the wear and tear of daily life more often. Think tangled in a scarf, pulled back at the gym, drying off after the shower…the list goes on. Depending on your hair type, thickness, and overall length, managing long hair can be done with a good hair care routine, helpful products, and a little extra time.
Long Hair Care Routine
If you’re wondering how to care for long hair, our first piece of advice is to establish a healthy hair care routine. This will help it grow and stay healthy once it does.
1. Consistently Shampoo + Conditioner
Don’t shampoo every day, or you run the risk of overdrying, as shampooing strips the hair of its natural oils. When you do wash your hair, though, shampoo from the roots down since cleansing your scalp is the main goal.
After shampooing, keep your long hair conditioned and moisturized, as long hair loses moisture faster from being further from the root. Skip conditioner on your roots to avoid weighing it down and losing volume, and focus on the ends of your hair.
…keep your long hair conditioned and moisturized, as long hair loses moisture faster from being further from the root.
2. Massage Your Scalp
Massages help promote blood circulation, strengthen follicles, and promote hair growth. You can do this with your fingertips, either dry or in the shower, or you can invest in a scalp massage brush.
3. Detangle Gently
Invest in a good brush, such as a half boar bristle half nylon brush, to retain your hair’s natural oils and reduce breakage. If you’re brushing in the shower, do so with a wide tooth comb to ease detangling after the shower. Always start from the bottom and work your way up to reduce breakage and keep your strands long.
If you’re brushing in the shower, do so with a wide tooth comb to ease detangling after the shower.
4. Try a Microfiber Towel
Air drying is ideal but not always practical, so you can use a microfiber towel to wick away moisture while protecting delicate strands. Pro tip: An old T-shirt works great to reduce friction and breakage.
5. Use Heat Protectant
Minimize your hair's exposure to heat tools, which cause damage and breakage. But if you must use heat tools, always use a heat protectant beforehand.
6. Explore Hair Ties + Styles
Long hair can get snagged in clothing and scarves, so make sure to keep it out of the way. However, high ponytails can be heavy and cause you to lose hair, so pull your tresses back in a delicate low pony. Hairstyles that are healthier for long hair include braids, a loose half-top knot, or a twisted low braid or bun
Tips and Tricks for Long Hair
In addition to a long hair care routine, we have a few extra tips on keeping long hair healthy.
- Since shampoo can be drying to your hair, utilizing a dry shampoo can help keep your locks fresh on in-between days and even stretch your shampoo days out further.
- If your hair isn’t too oily, a dry conditioner can help detangle and fight frizz.
- For even more shine and moisture, try using a weekly hair mask to nourish long tresses
- This may seem a little counterproductive, but getting frequent trims helps keep long hair healthy. This works by stopping the growth of split ends and preventing your hair from getting longer, so trims are necessary to keep a healthy length.
- A healthy diet may seem like a cop-out answer at this point since it is basically the answer to everything, but certain vitamins and nutrients are essential for hair growth. Protein, biotin, iron, folate, and B12 are great for hair growth. Add foods such as eggs, salmon, nuts, and berries to your diet, and avoid processed food and sugary beverages.
Now, go rock those long locks! Check out more tips and tricks here.
