Common Problems and Tips for Long Hair

Except for Halle Berry and Emma Watson, I don’t think there are lots of Hollywood beauties who don pixie- cut or short bob hair. I had my share of cropped hair eons ago and I don’t think I will ever go back to that stage. I wanted to grow my hair long thinking it will require less maintenance. I was wrong.

I haven’t had a major haircut since 2005. Right now, my hair almost touches my waistline. I must have saved a few hundred dollars because I trim the ends myself every three months and dye my hair whenever I can. If you have long mane or have plans of growing it ala Kim Kardashian, here are some tips you can try:

1. Long hair is prone to dryness. To prevent it,
a. Wash your hair every two or three days as daily shampooing strips the hair’s natural oil. In between, use dry shampoo to give your hair a boost.
b. Apply leave-in conditioner on damp hair to retain moisture
c. Treat you hair to deep conditioning at least once a month. To make your own, mix five- tablespoons of olive oil (or almond oil) with two drops of essential oil ( I prefer to use orange or citrus for shine). If you don’t have essential oil, that’s fine. Work the mixture from roots to end. Wrap your hair in a shower cap for one hour. Rinse you hair in bathroom sink, not tub because the floor can be slippery. Shampoo and condition as usual.

2. Long hair is prone to split-ends, tangles, and brittleness. Don’t let split-ends exacerbate or you end up cropping your mane ultra-short.
a. Trim at every chance you see split-ends. Use sharp scissors intended solely for hair, not the household scissors. Snip where you see strands split in two’s. Examine your hair regularly.
b. Don’t brush your hair when it’s wet. I used to do this before and noticed that my hair has become brittle.
c. Use a detangler product before brushing your hair especially if you have natural curls or waves. One time I had an unplanned trip to the salon and it took the hairstylist a good 30 minutes detangling my hair (imagine my shame as I helped her brush my hair, eeww!)

3. Give styling tools a break. Needless to say, too much heat emitted from curlers and irons can damage your hair. Use a heat protectant before styling your hair.

Bad hair day? get creative with your hair. Watch these videos for some ideas:

Side Braid Overload