I’ve always been a long hair kinda gal. And a blondie through and through.
I’ve come a long way in how I treat my hair now though.. these locks weren’t always the healthiest due to more damage than I’d like to think about (eeek).
Three years on the high school swim team took a major toll on my hair. Especially that dreadfully tight swim cap which gave me split ends, breakage and very attractive lines on my forehead… I laugh about it now, but the harsh chlorine turned my blonde hair green, the pool water was SO damaging and sucked out any moisture plus the amount of breakage from always being up in a tight swim cap makes me cringe. I had to use a special shampoo (with who knows what chemicals) to remove the green tint. Not to mention, my hair was SO OILY because it was trying to make up for my constant stripping away of natural oils… Fast forward to college and going out all the time which entailed washing it daily, roughly brushing it without caring, blow drying, curling/straightening, teasing and using every conventional product under the sun.
Yikes.
After the past few years of taking much better care of my hair (and going vegan), I’ve seen a major improvement in length, natural shine and overall hair health. Many of you have asked about the products I use, if I color it, my top hair tips etc. so that’s what we’re getting into today. I’m splitting this post into two parts (one for my secrets, the other for favorite products, so be on the lookout for that towards the end of the week!).
Side note: If you think your hair just stops growing at a certain length (so frustrating, right?) then this post is for you. Don’t give up on your hair, all you need to do is change up your routine a bit and implement the tips I’m sharing to get it growing again. It is possible!!
I do not color my hair and never have – I got it from my mama! She was the same and somehow I was lucky enough to inherit that blonde gene.
What’s the secret to growing long, healthy hair?
There’s many secrets! Not just one magical product or pill or trick. We wish, right?! Long luscious locks require work, maintenance, time and patience. It could takes months of changing habits and switching out products to see results but it’s SO worth it!
So let’s get started!
MY 7 HAIR CARE SECRETS
1. BE GENTLE… AND USE A WOODEN BRUSH!
I said it above and I’ll say it again. Your precious hair is delicate and can break/split so easily if you aren’t careful. Breakage is not cute and does not help the length – it makes your strands look thin and dull. Consider this when brushing it out! Stop tearing through knots like you’re angry at them. This is especially important after showering. When hair is wet, it’s much more prone to breakage and can easily snap off.
ALWAYS start from the bottom with a wide tooth comb and work your way up to the top. Spray on some detangler
Lastly, before bed, braid your hair in a loose braid so you wake up with natural waves (I do this every night) instead of crazy messy bed head that you have to slowly brush out. Use a scrunchie instead of a tight hair tie. Or loosely pull it back into a low pony tail so you don’t sleep on it and cause more damage throughout the night.
2. CUT DOWN THE HEAT:
Limit your use of styling tools as much as you can. Instead of automatically frying your hair by turning up the heat to high, turn it to low/medium – it works the same and is much less damaging. Let your hair air dry as long as possible before blow drying. Only blow dry if you have to and use the warm or cool temperature. If you curl your hair, make the curls last a few days! There are lots of ways to cut back on heat damage. Also use a heat-protectant spray like this one
3. THE DIRTIER THE BETTER:
I know some girls can’t go more than a day without washing their hair because it feels gross and oily, but washing everyday strips away the natural oils causing your hair to produce more oil so you’re actually doing more harm than good. Once you stop washing everyday and switch to 2-3x per week, your hair will adjust (with time) and start producing less oil.
Less washing means less blow drying and less heat. In the meantime and in between washes, thank goodness for things like dry shampoo! Total lifesaver. Try this method of washing less and eventually you will get used to it, I promise, and your gorgeous hair will thank you!
4. NO TEASING PLEASE. NO HIGH PONY TAILS WITH TIGHT HAIR BANDS EITHER!
Stay away from teasing! It causes SO much damage. I used to way overdo it on the volume… like the entire crown of my head… LOL #college
Use a volumizing shampoo
5. STOP GETTING TRIMS!
Trims are so misleading. While they do remove dead split ends making your hair appear fresher and healthier – trims do nothing to promote hair growth. Just let it grow out! I get a trim maybe twice a year which sounds crazy and many hair dressers would gasp… but they always chop off WAY more than they say and I immediately regret going. So now, I just don’t! Twice a year works just fine for me.
What do you guys think about regular trims?
6. THE RIGHT PRODUCTS & INGREDIENTS:
Have you read the back of your shampoo and/or hair spray bottle lately? You wouldn’t believe the ingredients that lurk in beauty products… the labels make them sound like amazing miracle workers but don’t fall for the lies! You want to lookout for sulfates, salts, fragrances, chemicals etc. We are breathing in these fragrances and chemicals while spraying them on our hair… we are massaging them into our scalp in the shower… only for them to be absorbed through our skin. These could be triggering allergies, skin issues, reproductive issues, disrupting hormones… the list goes on. Conventional products use waxes to make your hair feel and look shinier which is only covering up the damage it’s doing. They don’t nourish your hair at all. Using the right products will nourish your hair and scalp without chemicals or scary ingredients!!
This is why I’ve switched to vegan, cruelty-free products with natural and safe ingredients.
**I highly recommend you get the Think Dirty app and become more aware of ingredients and toxicity, if you haven’t done so already. Enter in every product you use to see where it falls on the scale – you would be shocked at some of the ratings for those so called “healthier” brands – it’s crazy!
7. HEALTHY PLANT BASED DIET AND LIFESTYLE:
This goes hand in hand with #6 but the foods you eat play a major role in the health of your hair. If you are healthy internally, you can exude health externally through your skin, hair, nails etc. If you are eating crap then your hair will probably look like crap but if you are eating nourishing whole foods then it will show! Lots of plant based foods, plenty of water, enough sleep and regular exercise – so boring I know and you’ve heard it a million times before but it’s an essential element for growing healthy, luscious locks. For help in this area, check out my Vegan Starter Guide and 5-Day Body Balance Cleanse to get started.
What are your hair care tips?! Leave me a comment below!
Part Two of this post coming soon with my favorite vegan cruelty-free products!
I wash my long hair 1 day a week either on a Saturday or a Sunday. I condition every other day and rinse with Braggs Apple Cider vinegar, beer or Peppermint oil.
Thanks for this, in addition Keeping the hair moisturised especially when the weather is dry is healthy. like here in Nigeria we experience harmattan towards the end of year and early in the year.
Can you post a link to the hairbrush you use? Thanks
very helpful and informative post, thanks for sharing this winsome article with us.
http://www.kolorshealthcare.com/hair-re-growth.php
Wat if u have short hair
Thank you for your great hair care tips. I heard some people recommended that I should trim the dead end to get healthy hair? Well, I was confused and now I believed that it does not help to promote any hair growth.
Great stuff and I will come back for your new articles.
Hi! Love the hair tips! I’ve been growing my hair out for a few years now, and just wanted to know your opinion. I don’t brush my hair, just give it a quick finger brush if it feels knotted anywhere, always very gently. Would this be ok or are there benefits to using a brush?
Wow, Nice View and great hair care tips. Definitely going to follow your tips.:)
This article is very helpful for taking care natural hair. I am now aware about using wooden gentle brush and selecting shampoos which contain natural ingredients. Women avoid sulfate shampoo, rather they prefer Best organic hair products to hydrate the scalp and stimulate healthy hair as well as fortify hair follicles to enhance hair to a magnificent manifestation of glowing hair.
Pretty Good !!
Hi, my hair is almost long enough to sit on it, my friend Bob perms it every February, and he trims it at same time as the perm.. he’s been doing my hair going on 22 years now. And the perm is so good that people think I’ve got natural curly hair, I’ve tried a few different products but I have finally found a product called as I am naturally, cowash. I wash my hair maybe 3xs a week. It combs out so nicely and is so easy to braid too. I don’t own a brush either. It’s going whiter every year. Bob says that I don’t need highlights, cause it’s naturally doing it on its own. Have you tried a little bit of coconut oil? Put a little in your hands rub them together and put it on your ends, it’s awesome
For a lucky few, enviably long hair just happens. For the rest of us, it takes patience, effort and some very deliberate changes in our haircare routine. If it seems like your hair just isn’t growing as long or as quickly as you’d like, these pro tips will guide you in the right direction. I followed this routine that’s why I have a healthy long and shiny hair. http://bit.ly/1KCPz9x
I am a licensed cosmetologist (doing skin care now) and I totally agree with all of your tips. Getting a trim to make your hair grow has never made sense. Nothing you do to the hair shaft is going to affect how fast it grows. If you are mindful of your hair care and follow the other tips for healthy hair you shouldn’t need a trim more than once or twice a year. I don’t work in the hair industry anymore because of the exposure to SO MANY CHEMICALS on a daily basis. Your hair is absolutely gorgeous!
I have very fine thin hair that’s coming out on top and sides. Get that from both parents. Almost 64 any ideas on how to re grow hair. I’ve tried a lot of expensive shampoos havent worked and serums. Read cod liver oil might help. Any ideas . Thank y VeNita I haven’t colored my hair in 3 years or more had highlights
Really Very Nice post . You are looking very beautiful. Amazing hairs, especially you hair color.
Look for a brush that is mostly boar bristle with *some* nylon bristles(all boar is too dense and soft and wont go thru the hair). It has nothing to do with being wooden or not.
Ive been a stylist for 29 yrs and no, you should never go more than 3 months in between trims when trying to grow hair. You just need to find a stylist that knows how to just trim. If you go 6 months or more you will end up getting whatever length youve achieved, cut off due to split ends that travel up the hair shaft.
Do you really like the wooden brush? It seems odd to have stiff bristles. I have straight baby fine hair that gets tangly. Def going to check out that detangler!! I have been through a whole bunch of organic shampoos trying to find one that doesn’t leave my hair feeling gross. Right now I’m using John Masters and I’m really liking it. I am finding I can only get 1 day out of my hair before needing to wash it again though!
Hey Kylie! I LOVE the wooden brush. I had to get used to it but not I can’t imagine using plastic or anything else! I’ve heard good things about the John Masters too 🙂
I myself have tried the hair,skin,nails gummies with 2000 mcgs of Biotin per serving.my hair has grown tremendously.You can get them for around $6 at dollar general or Walmart
I concur on the gummies
Look for a boar bristle brush. Not just a “wooden” brush. Her other tips are spot on
I don’t blow dry my hair and I run my fingers through my hair I very rarely use a brush or comb I do not use hairspray or dies on my hair I maybe get a trim once a year most of the time I use Ivory soap on my hair I Do by shampoos I really couldn’t tell you the names because they’re different will the time I grew up as an ivy girl with no makeup and stuff like that I didn’t care what people think
Thanks for the tips on how to get and keep healthy hair. My wife just switched to washing her hair every couple of days rather than every day and it has made a huge difference for her and the way her hair feels and looks. The problem for her is finding the right products as well, I would imagine it is hard to find the right product for a lot of people unless they buy online? I will be sure to share this with her.
You have such beautiful hair so you must be doing something right! I need to transition to using a wooden brush and I’ve been wanting to try Acure’s shampoo and conditioner line. It’s been almost a year since my last hair cut.
I love how long hair looks on you! Unfortunately, mine doesn’t grow that fast, but I try to cut it as rarely as possible, when it’s absolutely necessary. Amazing tips, I will try to take them into account every time I think about my hair.
Kudos to you for being a vegan – I really admire people like you!
I really enjoy 100% Pure’s (vegan) Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo!
I am a short-haired girl! I recently cut my hair (which has the same wave as yours but is slightly more coarse and curly) into a blunt bob and I love it.
With my slightly curly hair, I never brush it, wash it once or twice a week, and only blow-dry (no straightening or curling).
I love Shea Moisture products for my hair! And though I add blonde to my dishwater-brown hair, my stylist adds it as balayage so that not much bleach is needed and only needs to be touched up three times a year. I receive frequent trims to keep my hair short but when it was long I would get three trims a year.
Thanks for sharing Maggie! Love the tips and love the Shea Moisture products as well! I use their frankincense body wash and coconut hibiscus body lotion. AMAZING!!
Great post! I’m always on the lookout for quality hair products and tips. And I totally agree with you – going vegan has made such a difference in my overall health of course, but I’ve also noticed how much healthier my hair has been! It’s amazing 🙂
Hi Lexi! Yes – it’s so amazing right?! The differences in overall health are incredible, especially for hair 🙂 love it!