Tips on Keeping Your Hair Healthy and Shiny

While long hair can be your best asset, it can also be your biggest headache because long hair needs to be looked after. The longer your hair, the more prone to damage, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush for the scissors! Just follow these simple tips, and it will help keep your beautiful long locks at the peak of health and looking wonderful:

1. Don’t go overboard on hair products

Our first tip on how to keep long hair healthy and shiny is – don’t overdo it with hair products. Long hair is heavier than short hair, and if you get a build-up of products in your hair, it will weigh down your hair even further and make it look flat and lifeless. Be especially careful of products that contain silicone. These may make your hair look shinier when first used, but they can build up on your hair and, over time, actually dry your hair out.

2. Invest in a good hairbrush

You have a lot of hair to brush, so it’s well worth buying a quality hairbrush. The best kind to buy is natural bristle brushes with rounded bristles, and look for a brush that is firm but still gentle enough that it won’t pull on your hair too much. It’s also worth having a wide-toothed comb for painlessly easing out any tangles.

3. Air-dry your hair when possible

The best way to dry your hair is to let it dry naturally. Too much heat can damage any type of hair, but when you have long hair, turning dryers up to full blasts is even more tempting to get the job done quicker. It’s better to gently pat your hair dry with a towel and let the fresh air do the rest.

4. Trim your hair regularly

Another tip on how to keep long hair healthy is regular trimming. Though the myth that cutting your hair makes it grow faster isn’t true, it does help to keep your long hair looking neat and tidy. You should be getting a trim every six to eight weeks to trim off any split ends and keep your hair looking smart.

5. Don’t wear your hair too tight

Sever, tight styles like ponytails or braids can damage long hair and the safest style for long hair is just to let it down. You can keep your hair off your face using headbands, but if you keep tying up your hair, you will damage it.

6. Choose hair products wisely

Choose products that match your hair type and, wherever possible, choose products that contain natural ingredients. Quite simply, with long hair, there is more hair on display, so if it is damaged, it will be more apparent.

7. Less washing, more conditioning

Our next tip on how to keep long hair healthy and shiny is—to wash less and condition more. Most people are guilty of washing their too often, but a daily wash will strip all the natural oils from hair and leave it dry and flat. Try washing your hair just twice a week. Use a quality conditioner, and remember to give your hair a gentle brush to spread your natural oils along the whole length of your hair.

9. Be kind and gentle with your hair

Above all else, another important tip on how to keep long hair healthy is—to be kind and gentle to your hair and love it. Long hair is more prone to breaking and splitting, especially wet. Never dry your hair roughly with a towel and remember to protect it from long exposure to sunlight and wind, and never tie it up in a ponytail when it’s wet.

10. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water

It’s boring, but it’s true, you need to have a healthy diet to keep long hair looking beautiful. You need protein for hair growth and plenty of vitamins A, C and E to keep your hair shiny. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, too; your hair needs hydrating as well.

What are your favorite tips on how to keep long hair healthy? Please feel free to share your hair tips with us!