For most of my life, I’ve had long hair. There was a period in junior high when I cut it above my shoulders, but I’d rather forget that and not look at photos from back then.
My long hair is a big part of how I see myself, and how others see me. However, having long hair requires work and maintenance, two things that don’t always gel with my laziness and lack of time to spend on my hair. But, when I see a sea of split ends and feel the weight of the world on the top of my head, it motivates me to figure out a plan of attack. Trust me when I say I think I’ve tried everything to manage my hair…this picture is evidence of the amount of stuff I have for hair care (excuse the mess):
So, here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way on how you can wage war against dull, lifeless long hair:
- First – get it cut! That might seem counterproductive, if you’re trying to grow out your hair or keep it long, but you need to visit your stylist at least once every 6 weeks to get a trim. Otherwise, you’ll be housing dead, lackluster locks, even if they are long.
- And – think about layers. If you’re like me, and your hair is generally pretty thick and straight (or only has a slight natural wave), you might consider getting some long layers (and I stress the word long in that description), just to give some shape and movement to your hair. If everything is one length, and that length is past your shoulders, you probably want to lighten things up by asking your stylist for long layers (no shorter than chin length).
- But don’t forget – a great cut will only take you so far. You need to use the best products to keep your hair in shape in between trips to the salon. Here’s what I’m using, and what I’ve found to work for me:
BEFORE shampooing, I get my hair wet in the shower. After ringing it out and combing, I put about a dime-size amount (maybe a tad more…I have a lot of hair) of Chi Silk Infusion through all my hair, followed by a generous amount of Argan Oil (which is a miracle product! I got mine on sale at Sally Beauty Supply for $6.99 or so, but I think Whole Foods also sells it, and you can get it on several online sites).I pile all of the hair on top of my head and put it in a topknot with a hairband. You can sleep with the treatment in, but I don’t have time to wash it out in the a.m., so I just let it set for an hour or so. Then, I hop back in the shower, rinse, and use my shampoo/conditioner (right now, it’s Aura Rosemary Mint Rejuvenating Shampoo & Conditioner, an Aveda knockoff you can get at Sally Beauty Supply. I had a coupon, and it was on sale the month that I bought it. Quick review – I like it and I don’t find it drying at all).
After that, I wrap my hair in a towel and pat dry. After taking it out of the towel, I spray TRESemme Heat Tamer Spray all through my hair, to protect it from the heat I’m about to put on it, and I rub a styling cream on the ends to keep the frizz at bay (right now, I’m using Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme — I bought this forever ago, so I’m not sure if this particular product is still in their line or if the packaging has changed, but get it if you can; it’s inexpensive and really helps to keep my hair smooth as I blowdry).
Then, I blowdry my hair upside down with my Conair Ion Shine (love love love this dryer! I use the diffuser on the end to concentrate the heat on my hair, and I get it about 80-90 percent dry. From there, I blow it out with a round brush (I learned how from lolamarie7 on YouTube. Check out her awesome, easy-to-follow tutorial.)
And the end result? A head of long hair that I’m really happy with!
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