How to Care For Your Long Hair

Long, healthy hair is highly sought after in the beauty world, but it’s not something you can achieve overnight. It takes dedication and patience, and can often cause frustration. Stress, pollution and diet are just a few of many foes you’ll combat as you grow your hair out. But there are a few things you can do to make sure you avoid damaging or losing any hair.

Use the right hair brush:

Long hair is prone to breakage, and using a regular hairbrush can aggravate it even further. You can use a natural fiber brush to reduce friction when brushing. Boar bristle brushes are popular natural fiber brushes, and they can keep your hair looking and feeling smooth and silky. Using one gently will also make your hair less likely to break or knot up.

Trims:

By regularly trimming your hair, you’ll fend off damaged, broken or split ends. Experts say you should visit the salon once every three months to keep your long hair looking great.

Don’t over-wash your hair:

Washing your hair everyday will strip it of its essential oils, which work to keep your hair healthy. Daily washing will create a vicious cycle of natural oil over-production to compensate for the dryness caused by over-washing. Don’t put your hair through this kind of stress!

Vitamins:

A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair, and that’s what vitamin E will give you. By improving blood circulation to your hair follicles and normalizing oil production, Vitamin E helps you to grow healthy and strong hair. Vitamin E caplets are available at almost any grocery store or pharmacy.

Diet:

Omega-3s are fatty acids that our body can’t make itself; they need to be provided by what we eat. They help to keep hair shiny and strong, in addition to other benefits like reduced risk for heart disease. Oily fish like salmon or herring contain Omega-3s, as well as plant sources like avocado or walnuts.

Sleep:

Sleep is when the body does most of its repair work. When you miss out on it, not only does your hair suffer, but so do your skin, muscles and almost everything else! Shoot for 8 hours of sleep when possible.

Use a heat protectant:

A heat protectant spray will form a barrier on your hair to protect it from heat damage when you style it. It will keep your hair shiny, and help you to avoid breakage when you straighten or curl your hair. It’s an important step to take, especially for those with long hair.