I have pretty long hair; as in it reaches nearly to my bum. Often when people grow out their hair, there can be a lot of breakage or it starts looking a little rough for whatever reason, and I do have some breakage (because there's a lot of hair there and my ponytails are pretty darn heavy), but I also get a lot of compliments on how healthy it looks.
Since I've had so many people ask how I keep it so healthy, I decided to write it out and give my not-so-secret hair secrets to the world.
1. Silicone Free or Water-Based Shampoos and Conditioners
I only use those kinds of products. Silicone products often leave my hair feeling plastic-y or like there's an extra layer added to my already insanely thick hair. My favorite shampoo and conditioner combo I've found so far is actually by Herbal Essences. Their Naked collection has been amazing. I've tried almost every scent they offer and I love them all, so you can't really go wrong.
2. No Heat
I rarely use a hairdryer, flat iron, curling iron, or any other product that uses heat. I probably only use all of those put together about five times a year, actually. I've been extremely lucky with naturally nearly-straight hair, so I don't really feel the need to use any of those things, but I also learned the hard way how damaging they can be. I used to straighten my hair every single day. Literally. Every day, I tortured my hair with my beloved straightener (along with shampoo and conditioner that contained bleach, yikes!) and I could never understand why my hair always felt so gross and rough and broke off all of the time. Then, I went a summer without doing my hair except for special occasions and I switched shampoo and conditioner, and I was shocked at how quickly my hair recovered. That's a huge part of my "secret." If you do use a hairdryer or straightener or whatever, make sure you use a really great protectant spray to reduce the damage. Here's a list of sprays you can find at Ulta.
3. Wear It Down
Going along with the whole "no heat" thing, I also try to wear my hair down as often as I can. Constantly putting your hair in ties, bands, bobby pins, headbands, etc. wears it down since you typically put those things in the same places. So I do my best to just let it go and let it flow on its own. It gets ridiculously annoying sometimes, like when I accidentally smack someone when I flip it over my shoulder or when it wraps around my face and gets in my mouth, but I've seen far less breakage in my hair when I'm not containing it and holding it back.
4. Lose the Part
Yes, I typically part my hair to the side I favor. But if my hair just doesn't want to fall in a certain spot, I don't force it. Your hair has a natural pattern to it and it naturally falls in certain places, and my hair gets very picky sometimes. If my hair chooses not to lay nicely, I just flip it back and move on. I also heard a rumor that if you move your part every couple of months then it stimulates the hair follicles and speeds up the growth. I'm not sure if it really works, but I can't say it doesn't since my hair hasn't stopped growing. They say you should spend a few weeks/months or whatever with your hair parted on the right, then switch to the left, then switch to the center and repeat. So you can try that out if you want and let me know if it works for you!
5. Wash When Needed
This is probably gross, but I can't exactly say I'm the least disgusting human ever. Basically, I wash my hair when it's starting to look not-so-hot. That's usually between two and four days for me; some can go longer, some can't. I had to do a bit of training with my hair for a while to make it last longer: I basically spent a few months stretching out how frequently I washed my hair to make it produce the natural oils and whatever else goes on up there more slowly. And your natural oils are actually good for your hair (so I've heard), so it doesn't really hurt anything other than your ego or self-esteem to let your hair get a bit greasy once in a while. Sweaty is another thing entirely, though. Please wash your hair if you work up a sweat. Please.
6. Comb vs. Brush
In my experience, brushes are far more damaging than combs. I used brushes up until a few years ago, but I've had significantly less breakage using a comb. I don't use anything special or fancy, I think it's honestly just a regular Conair comb with a handle (not sure if that's the actual one, but it sure looks like mine) since it's easier to keep a hold on it while I'm battling my endless knots. My hairdresser swears by brushes from The Wet Brush, since the bristles are extremely flexible and don't force themselves through the hair but move with it. They even have brushes made specially for detangling.
No matter how your hair looks, or your face, clothes, skin, body, or whatever else, you're beautiful and you should own yourself. Sometimes changing how you look on the outside changes how you feel on the inside, but sometimes it's better left untouched.
You don't need to look or act a certain way to be beautiful. Just be you.
