Long hair is a beautiful thing. It's also a lot of work! With the weight of all that hair pulling down on your head, you need to keep your locks healthy and smooth. Here are 10 easy ways to keep your long locks looking their best.
Tricks to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Long hair is beautiful, but it takes a lot of work to maintain. You have to wash your hair often, use conditioner or other products, and brush it everyday to keep the knots from getting too tangled. Long hair also has a tendency to get oily rather than dry because there's so much more on the scalp than on shorter hair. Your hair will also get much frailer because you're constantly pulling at it when you brush and style it.
Here are 10 easy ways to keep your long locks looking their best:
1. Brush your hair before bed
Brushing your hair prevents tangles, breakage, and makes styling in the morning easier.
2. Wash your hair every other day
Washing your hair every day can be really hard on it especially if you're using shampoo and conditioner that contains sulfates or alcohol.
3. Use a deep conditioning treatment once a week
Deep conditioning treatments help with moisture retention, which is especially important for long locks that are prone to frizziness and dryness.
4. Keep an elastic band handy for quick ponytails
Elastic bands help stop any loose hairs from getting caught in updos like braids and buns; they also make it easier for hairstyles like French braids without having to pack spare bobby pins in your purse!
5. Protect your hemline with a silk scarf while sleeping
Protecting the ends of your locks while sleeping helps prevent split ends, frizz, and breakage.
5. Spray a light leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair before bed
Using a spray that contains oils like argan or coconut helps seal moisture into the ends of your hair and prevent them from becoming dry and brittle.
6. Put some oil in your hands and run it through the ends of your hair before you sleep
Massaging oil into the ends of your hair helps keep them soft, moisturized, and healthy looking.
7. Wash your hair in cool water instead of hot water
Hot water dries out hair faster--especially if you're using heat tools to style it afterwards--so washing your locks in cool or lukewarm water helps keep them looking shiny and healthy for longer! Just make sure to use warm (not hot) water if you're going to use a flat iron or curling iron on it afterwards!
8. Wear a hat, beanie, or scarf to bed if your hair is prone to tangling
If you're one of those people whose hair tangles easily, wearing a hat, beanie, or scarf to bed can help prevent that from happening!
9. Sleep in a silk pillowcase
Silk pillowcases are great for protecting the ends of your locks because they're soft and smooth, which prevents them from getting tangled up in knots while you sleep! Plus they feel really nice on your skin and prevent pesky breakouts too!
10. Use a deep conditioning treatment every once in a while
Deep conditioning treatments are great for revitalizing dry, damaged ends because they coat each strand in conditioners that help seal in moisture and keep them looking healthy for longer! If you want to try one out, I recommend the L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Rest
The Basics of Hair Care
It's important to care for your hair and make sure it stays healthy. This includes washing, conditioning, detangling, moisturizing, and styling. You'll want to wash your hair about 2-3 times a week with a gentle shampoo and conditioner that does not contain sulfates or parabens. These are harsh chemicals that can be detrimental to your hair and scalp.
When you're shampooing, you want to make sure you're using the right amount of product so as not to put too much weight on your hair follicles. Conditioners typically have more weight than shampoos so they are used in smaller quantities. Detangling is an essential step before bathing or showering because it helps remove knots before they worsen and break off.
You'll also want to use a leave-in conditioner to help keep your locks shiny and smooth. Be careful about putting oil near the roots of the scalp as this can lead to clogged pores and eventually acne. When blow-drying wet hair, always start at the roots instead of the end of the strands because this will make it easier for you to straighten them out when dry.
Lastly, consider alternating between hot tools like flat irons which can be damaging over time if used too often!
Dealing With Split Ends
Splitting ends is a fact of life for people with long hair. It happens when the cuticle of your hair comes off and leaves you with a broken, dry end that feels rough. You'll know your ends are split if they're dry, feel rough, and look thin at the end.
You can get rid of split ends by using a conditioner or deep conditioner every time you wash your hair. This will moisturize the hair shaft and make it stronger so that when it's wet the water can't enter and cause splits.
Another way to remove split ends is by trimming them often. Splits grow out so if you keep up on trimming them they won't be as bad because they'll grow out quickly.
A third option to remove split ends is to use a serum like coconut oil on them every day before you wash your hair in order to make it more manageable.
Preventing Frizz and Flyaways
You know how after you've styled your hair and it's time to walk outside, the top of your head can get really frizzy? To prevent that, use a frizz serum before styling to keep those flyaways at bay.
Curly Girls' Secret Weapon
If you have curly hair, then you know just how difficult it can be to brush. This is because curly hair tangles so easily. To help tame your mane, use a wet brush. A wet brush will gently comb through your hair without pulling or breaking hairs - perfect for taming even the frizziest of curls!
Avoiding Grease Buildup
The biggest problem you'll encounter with long hair is greasy locks. To keep your hair looking healthy, use a dry shampoo. Dry shampoos help soak up excess oil and dirt so it doesn't show on your scalp.
They work especially well when you're not able to wash your hair every day and need a quick fix. If you want an even more effective solution, get yourself a wide tooth comb to gently comb out any knots or tangles.
How To Get Rid of Dandruff
Dandruff, that pesky scalp condition that causes flakes to accumulate at the roots of your hair, is one of the most common problems hair faces.
If you have dandruff, stop stressing: there are ways you can combat it and keep your locks looking lovely. One way to get rid of dandruff is by using a shampoo with zinc pyrithione. Dandruff shampoos contain ingredients like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, which fight the fungus causing the problem. For best results, use the shampoo at least once per week for up to four weeks or until dandruff goes away.
If you don't want to use a medicated shampoo every time you wash your hair, consider adding apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your routine. ACV is an effective natural ingredient that balances pH levels on the scalp while simultaneously stimulating circulation and reducing oil production. Another option would be to comb jojoba oil through your hair after washing it: this will moisturize and relieve any itchiness you're experiencing due to dandruff or dryness.
Maintaining Your Shampoo Routine
Shampooing your hair isn't just to get the dirt and grime out. It's also necessary to avoid buildup in your hair, which can cause dryness and residue. To keep it simple, wash your hair every other day or every 3 days.
Choosing the Right Shampoo for You
Choosing the right shampoo is one of the most important steps. Depending on what type of hair you have, you'll need to find a shampoo that will address those different needs. For example, if you have curly hair, you might want to look for a moisturizing shampoo that has added conditioners. If you have really thin and straight hair, you'll want to choose a clarifying shampoo that will help strip away any residue or buildup from previous shampoos and products.
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