Long Hair Care

Long hair care is about taking care of yourself as well as your hair. Here are some tips for healthy long hair.

Long hair needs special care.

Keeping Long Hair Healthy

Breakage is the number one problem with long hair care. Usually, breakage is seen as split ends or fly away strands. Unhealthy hair is caused by poor maintenance, from improper brushing, washing, and too few and far in-between visits to the hair stylist. Poor-nutrition, stress, and even bad sleeping patterns can lead to damaged hair.

Proper Brushing

Proper brushing is especially important to long hair care. Hair should only be brushed when dry because hair is at its weakest when wet. A brush with a wooden base and natural bristles, sometimes even called a "long hair brush", is best for long hair. The healthiest way to brush your hair is:

Bend forward and allow your hair to fall. Brush from the nap of your neck to the tips of your hair.
Next, stand up straight and brush your hair from the underside, starting at the hairline and working your way down to the tips.
Lastly, brush the top layers with long and even strokes.

The number of strokes should be increased gradually. If the hair becomes oily, cut back on the number of strokes.

Combing

Your hair should always be combed before brushing, including when the hair is dry. A wide tooth comb is best for long hair; stylists suggest using a quality wide tooth comb made from rubber, nylon or resin. Wooden combs are also acceptable as long as they are polished and smooth.

Drying

Air drying is best way to dry long hair. Overuse of hair dryers can cause damage to the hair and dry the scalp out as well. Try not to scrub or rub hair vigorously when drying – this can cause breakage or unwanted tangles.

Curling

For long hair care, the best way to curl hair is with hair rollers. Electric rollers, hot combs, and curling irons are hard on the hair and should be used in moderation. Use only on a cool setting. Basic, old-fashioned hair curlers are the safest way to curl long hair.

Shampooing and Conditioning Hair

Shampooing

If your hair is overly dry and brittle, you should wet your hair and coat it with a thin layer of light conditioner before shampooing.
Next, massage the shampoo into your scalp and roots and rinse.
Make sure to pick the right shampoo for your hair type.
The less chemicals and the more natural ingredients in a shampoo, the better it is for your hair and the less buildup you will see.

Conditioning

Do not over condition: using conditioner every day will cause your hair to be greasy.
Do not put conditioner directly on your scalp, rather work it through the hair, taking special care to coat the hair tips where most damage occurs.
For extremely damaged or delicate hair, consider regular deep conditioning or hot oil treatments.

Outdoors and Long Hair Care

Make sure to wear a hat, a scarf, or some type of head covering at all times, to protect your hair from over exposure to the sun, wind, and air pollution, which can dry out your hair. Also investigate products that include UV protection.

Hair Cuts

For long hair care to retain that maintained look and for the hair to continue to grow in healthy, it is absolutely necessary that your hair is trimmed on a regular basis. The optimum time is every six weeks to two months, but the exact interval will depend on the condition and strength of your hair.

Hair Growth

Hair grows at a different rate, depending on the individual. Long hair care takes attention and time. Here are some of the factors that have to do with how fast hair grows:

Body chemistry
How well you take care of your hair
Eating a well-balanced diet
Working out regularly
Getting a proper amount of sleep
Taking proper vitamins, especially vitamins that aid in hair health

Long Hair Care Forums

Discussing hair care with others is a great way to learn about maintaining long hair and problems with long hair. Here are a few forums devoted specifically to the care of long hair:

The Result: Healthy Hair

The best way to keep long hair healthy and give it the best care possible is to take care of the rest of you as well, both mentally and physically. Hair is a part of the human body, and if it is treated badly, your hair will follow suit and be unhealthy as well.

External Long Hair Links

Written by Virginia Payne

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