Long hair is simply gorgeous. There’s nothing that can compare to long, luxurious locks. You have an impossible number of style options. Long hair is far from low maintenance, though. You must know how to maintain it to keep it beautiful and healthy. These hair care tips for long hair will help you do just that.
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Use The Right Shampoo
Using cheap shampoo can make your hair dry and brittle. Instead, opt for a more natural shampoo that doesn’t have harmful ingredients, like sulfates. Research your hair type, and select a high-quality shampoo specially formulated for your hair type.
Our Picks
Oway Smoothing Hair Bath
This smoothing hair bath is perfect for both straight and curly hair. It visibly smooths hair, fighting frizz and preparing it for styling. The bottle features an aluminum cap to keep it plastic-free, but you can add a pump. It’s packaged in recycled amber glass and is vegan and cruelty-free!
Why You’ll Love It
- Fights frizz for a smooth, sleek appearance
- It helps control unruly hair
- Suitable for straight hair as well
- No synthetic fragrances or color dyes
Simply Organic Refresh Hair And Scalp Wash
Simply Organic Refresh Hair and Scalp Wash is a detoxifying shampoo specially formulated to give your scalp and hair the deep clean they need. It helps remove excess product residue and dirt for a clean that you can feel.
Why You’ll Love It
- Available in multiple sizes
- Doesn’t strip the hair of natural oils
- Controls excess oil production from the scalp
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Suitable for all hair types, including color treated hair
- Provides UV protection
Massage Your Scalp While Washing Your Hair
When you wash your hair, make sure to massage your scalp. My grandmother used to do this when I was growing up. She said it helped keep hair healthy.
Upon further research, it turns out that she was right! Massaging your scalp helps stimulate blood flow, encouraging nutrients to be delivered throughout the hair follicles. Do this while washing your hair to maintain long hair.
Protect Your Hair From Styling Tools
Using curling irons or straightening tools can make your hair look glorious, but they can also do quite a bit of damage. Use them sparingly, and avoid using them if you’re out of heat protectant spray. Tresseme Heat Protectant Spray smells excellent and is available at most dollar stores.
Don’t Blow Dry Your Hair With Heat
Heat can damage your hair. If you want to keep your hair healthy, put down the blow dryer. Instead, wring your hair out before you get out of the shower. Then, take a towel and run it straight down your hair. You can wrap it around your hair to gently squeeze, too. This is the ideal way to dry your hair without leaving it a tangled mess.
If you must blow dry your hair, use the lowest setting possible. The more heat you expose your hair to, the more likely it is to become damaged.
Use Conditioner
Conditioner not only helps protect the hair but can also keep it moisturized. To care for long hair, keep it as moisturized as possible. After washing your hair, start in the shower with a conditioner. Your moisturizing journey doesn’t stop in the shower, though.
Pick Up Some Leave In Conditioner
Not only will leave-in conditioner keep your hair moisturized, but it can also make it easier to brush. Leave-in conditioner is also my go-to product to fight frizz during the colder months. You can find leave-in conditioners almost anywhere from your favorite brands.
Use Dry Shampoo To Avoid Over Shampooing
You don’t usually need to shampoo your hair every night. We’re all different, though. If you have to appear presentable, go for it. I don’t wash my hair every night.
However, that can lead to a little bit of excess oil. That’s where dry shampoo comes in. It can help absorb oil to ensure you look great and don’t have to over-shampoo your hair.
Try not to use dry shampoo for more than one day, though. The product can build up on both your scalp and hair follicles. When that happens, you’re hurting more than you’re helping.
Detangle Long Hair Properly
Ripping a brush through those tangles can be tempting, but don’t. Tangles themselves can put extra stress on your hair. It’s crucial to remove them, but you need to do so correctly to take care of long hair.
If you brush your hair in the shower, use a wide-toothed comb or a brush designed for wet hair.
If you’re not brushing your hair in the shower, try to let it dry first. Hair is more likely to break if you pull on it when wet than when it is dry. If you can’t wait, make sure that you use leave-in conditioner first.
Start combing out the tangles from the bottom. Slowly work your comb or brush through the hair to gently remove tangles. Ensure you are gentle and avoid pulling on the hair when you can. This can lead to breakage.
Eat A Balanced Diet
Healthy hair doesn’t start at the scalp. It begins with what you’re putting into your body. Make sure that you are eating a well-balanced diet with different foods. You want to ensure you get plenty of vitamins and nutrients from your food.
Don’t Pull Your Hair Up Too Tightly
Not only can this lead to breakage, but it can also make it harder for nutrients to travel down the strand of hair. Instead, wear your hair up loosely, if possible. If not, limit how often you pull your hair back to maintain long hair.
Provide Plenty Of Hydration
Conditioner and leave-in conditioner are both great ideas, but you’ll need more than that to take care of long hair. The longer your hair is, the more quickly it will dry out.
A weekly hair treatment, such as a hair mask, is essential. You should also pick up some hair oil. You can apply it to your hair once a day and can do it in under a minute. It provides extra moisture without making your hair look greasy.
Hot Water Counts As Exposing Your Hair To Heat
When you jump in the shower, it can feel great to take a scalding hot shower that leaves your skin so red you question whether you just burnt yourself. Nothing about that is suitable for your physical health, though. The hot water exposes your hair to heat, which can be drying. You might be causing more damage than you realize.
Instead, stick with a lukewarm shower. On those days that you’re dying to take a hot shower, pull your hair up in a bun to avoid heat damage. This is one of the best ideas for handling long hair with minimal effort.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated has quite a few benefits for your entire body. Water keeps every part of your body hydrated, including your hair. Hydrate your hair from the inside out to maintain long hair.
In Conclusion
Maintaining long hair requires using as many of these hair care tips as you possibly can. You prevent damage and split ends and keep your hair healthy. If you’re still struggling, consider looking at your diet. Make sure that you’re getting these vitamins that are essential for healthy hair.
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