About 4 years ago we moved from Kansas to North Carolina…the cooler Kansas summer had encouraged me to grow my hair out that year. A few months after our move and just two weeks before my husband deployed for a year, we found out we were expecting our third son. My husband looooves my hair long and was nervous I’d chop it all off while he was deployed so I promised him I’d continue to grow it out while he was gone, despite being due in late summer and the sweltering North Carolina heat!
I kept my promise and now three years later I’m so glad I did! I love keeping my hair this long and wanted to share some of my secrets for keeping my hair growing long and growing healthy!
Take Care of Your Ends
While it seems counter-productive to cut your hair when you’re trying to grow it out, trimming damaged ends helps prevent those split ends from traveling up the length of your hair. I trim my hair every 3-6 months and only the bare minimum my stylist thinks is necessary.
Take Those Vitamins
If you’re not getting the nutrients your body needs there’s no way your hair will grow healthy. Take a multivitamin daily and if you need extra help gaining length consider adding a Biotin supplement. If you have trouble remembering to take your vitamins, switch to the chewable kinds-the tastiness helps me remember-I personally love these!
Don’t Wash Daily
My Mom introduced me to the “no poo” movement the year my husband was deployed and I was growing my hair out. She gave me some Wen cleansing conditioner as a gift and I was transformed! I now wash my hair 2-3 times a week and use dry shampoo the other days and after workouts. It may take a few weeks for your hair to adjust to not washing as much but after that you shouldn’t have an issue!
Use Hair Masks
I use regular hair masks to help restore the moisture in my hair and keep it strong and healthy. I’ve shared one of my favorite combinations before-avocado, egg, and coconut oil. I also regularly use plain coconut oil rubbed into my hair either overnight or just a bit before I wash my hair-it’s crazy moisturizing and smells wonderful. If you try coconut oil and still feel your hair isn’t getting enough moisturizer try avocado oil instead, it works better for some very dry hair types.
Minimize Heat Damage
I do curl my hair most days but I NEVER blow dry it. It’s a pick and choose game. I shared my daily hair and makeup routine with you the other day and told you how I always wash my hair in the evenings so that it can air dry overnight and I can curl it in the mornings. This reduces the amount of heat I have to expose my hair to. I also use a heat protecting spray before curling my hair and get keratin treatments a couple of times a year. (See my full keratin treatment bebfore and after and review here.)
Minimize Elastic Damage
Oh those little elastic fiends…pulling your hair tightly back encourages an immense amount of damage and breakage. I can totally sympathize with needing your hair off your neck (it gets hot under there!) but try to use more gentle methods like loosely pulling hair into No Damage Elastics or claw hair clips.
Be Patient
The hardest part of growing my hair out was just resisting the urge to cut it. Even an inch here and there over the bare minimum of trims can seriously slow or halt your progress in adding length. Try to commit to leaving it alone for a year-experiment with new hairstyles as your length changes but resist the urge to cut it!!
Do you have long hair? Why or why not?
Ellie says
When I was 8 I had super short hair and I hated it! I swore I’d never cut my hair again, and I’ve had long hair ever since!
I have had long straight hair ever since, and am the only one in my school who never cut my hair. ?
I had children, and now my straight hair has started to “wave.” So now I get it blown out when I get it colored once a month.
I found this blog researching Keratin treatments. I am considering getting one. Let’s see!
Domi says
My hair is very long. Everyone asks me what I do to get it long, and i tell them I do nothing to it. Literally. I hardly ever use heat on it, I switched to shampoo and conditioner that is natural, and i do a bare minimum trim once a year…
After I had my son i chopped it all off (and it qas long at that point) and didn’t have the time or desire to mess with it. Now it’s long and healthy
ch ali says
long hair heathful
Irshad says
Do you also want such long, dense, beautiful hair that people should stop seeing and they cannot remain without praise?
Nellie says
I am using argan oil for my hair. Argan oil have necessary nutrients that are important for long hair. One of my friend suggest me to use argan oil. If anyone is facing hair loss problem then she should try argan oil once.
Diane says
I have to say that your suggestions are the best I’ve ever read. Most of the time people just want you to just buy products and none of them have any positive results on my hair. In fact you’re suggestions are simple and basic things.I already see the improvement on my hair. Especially the avocado. Lol… Oh yes! I stopped wearing the elastic bands. Thanks, Dee
J.Lee says
All good tips. I follow most of these, though I’m not poo-free because most oil seems to irritate my skin.
Another good idea is to keep a wide toothed shower comb around for a cold rinse at the end of my shower and to make sure most of the conditioner is out. I also use that brush periodically to de-tangle and only use a boar bristle brush once my hair is dry to redistribute natural oils and stimulate my scalp. =)
Nicole says
When I’m stressed my hair actually falls out. Thankyou for the trips. I will try some of them in the hopes that my bald patches and baby hairs will grow out sooner. Thanks!
Melissa says
Oh I hope it helps Nicole, I can imagine the hair falling would make the stress worse!! When I stress I break out in hives-still looking for tricks to handle that!
Jo says
Clairitin or benadryl cream
Ellie says
This happened to me. I had work issues. I tried everything, and ended up at a Dermotologist. The end result was getting on Minoxidil for women, a multivitamin, a DHA fish oil pill 2x a day, a large dose biotin every morning, and a prescription to “spirolactin.” It took a long time, but my hair came back. Be patient, and try not to focus on it falling. Also, I use a wet brush (wide tooth brush) and to smooth, a boar bristled brush. Good luck! PS: my hair is longer than the original poster. 🙂
Lori Rothermund says
Thanks so much for the tips. I am in the process of growing my back out after having to cut about 14 inches off for brain surgery and it is just not wanting to grow for some reason. I do not wash my hair nor either of my daughters hair daily. I usually only wash twice a week- mine never gets dirty since I am almost bedridden! I do use olive oil about every two weeks and leave it on for about four hours as a deep conditioner and you would not believe how soft my hair is afterwards. I usually use Garnier Fruitis shampoo for damaged hair afterwards even though my hair is only slightly damaged. I never blow dry or chemically treat my hair in any way. But it just does not want to grow. I will try to use some of the tips you list and see if it helps. Thanks so much!
Melissa says
Lori if I had to guess I’d say that your body is working so hard to recover that your hair won’t grow super fast right now regardless. I’d just focus on your healing and the hair will grow in time. Best wishes for your recovery-I’ll be keeping you in my prayers, Melissa
Rosanne says
Lori, You might want to look into a natural shampoo & conditioner which would help your head/hair/scalp become and stay moisturized. There are many recipes out there now and so many good store bought options. There are certain chemicals in that shampoo, Garnier, it would be good to avoid too…just somethings to consider, hope it helps 🙂
Domi says
Basic rule I go by for any products
If i cannot pronounce the ingredients, i will NOT use. And ofnthe ingredient list is super long of items I csnnot pronounce…..nooope
You shoyld look into Shea moisture products! Their shampoo and conditioner are all natural and have sooo many good oils in them!
Ellie says
There are a lot of foods and vitamins you can eat/take to help your hair and nails. As she said, a multivitamin, and Biotin are great. My hair is halfway down my bottom. I had to cut 8” off about 8 years ago because I was so stressed that a lot of it fell out due to my weight loss. I didn’t even realize it had happened. I couldn’t figure out why my hair was falling (nor the doctors) but when I look back at pictures, I was so thin…it had to be it!
One thing I do (I know, a lot don’t agree) is that I almost NEVER cut my hair. I only cut my hair if I am sitting on it (because I hate that,) or if it looks raggedy. This ends up being just a few times per year. If I want to grow my hair, and it needs a trim, I ask them to “snip” the ends. (One fourth of an inch.)
Google Hair growing food and start eating it! Good luck!
Elizabeth Cotten says
My daughter has super thick, long hair. I occasionally give her an egg mask. The first time i did, i warned her to rinse it with cold water, not warm. Well, she decided she didn’t like the cold water on her scalp and rinsed with lukewarm water, and ended up cooking the egg in her hair! She learned mother knows best and always rinses with cold water now! Lol
Melissa says
lol that’s so funny Elizabeth-maybe I sould update my hair mask post to put in that warning!!
Mystie says
I am growing out my hair. It’s so hard to be patient! I definitely notice my hair grows faster and better when I’m taking my vitamins, especially the extra Bs.
Trine @ Creative Pink Butterfly says
I have long hair and I just love it!!
I actually french braid it a lot to keep things semi-under controll. I am super lucky and only need to wash it about 2 times a week. One and a half months ago I switched from store bought to homemade shampoo and conditioner and its been amazing for my hair. It always used to be super dry the first day after washing and then returned normal. Now it always looks nice. For the shampoo I use baking soda and water and for the conditioner I use apple cider vinegar and water.