How To Maintain Long, Healthy Hair
/Hair maintenance is essential no matter how long your hair cascades, but for those with longer locks a steady hair-care regimen can eliminate the struggle of breakage, dullness, and stunted hair growth. If you're new to the idea of a daily hair-care routine, the idea can feel a bit daunting. But don't worry! These tips won't add more than 15 minutes to your daily care . Here are five tips on how to maintain healthy hair, pick and choose, or incorporate all five into your beauty routine. You won't regret it and your hair will be glowing!
1. Upgrade Your Hair Brush
Photo by stylist @samoslyn
Think of your hair brush as your biggest tool to building the foundation for your healthy hair. Long hair is more prone to breakage and a great hair brush will smooth the hair shaft and reduce friction. What happens when you get split ends? Although split ends are common, they are also avoidable with regular haircuts and reliable tools. We recommend purchasing a wet hairbrush, which is made specifically to comb hair after a shower (when your hair is most fragile and likely to split) as well as a wide-tooth comb which also minimizes stress to hair roots. The important thing to note is that the longer split ends are ignored the worst split ends become. They'll continue to split higher up on the hair shaft, which will later only require more work to clean up. Come schedule a haircut with us if you're worried about split ends!
2. Hair Masks Are Your New Best Friend
Protein is essential to growing long hair that is also healthy. What's the easiest way to pack in a healthy amount of protein to your roots? A hair mask, once a week. Aveda's Dry Remedy Moisturizing Masque is perfect to apply and quick to use with a sitting time of 2-5 minutes. If you feel like your hair needs an extra dose of protein, spring for Aveda's Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment. It's packed with quinoa (amazing, we know!) and it will undoubtedly build your strands back up so they are as strong as they are beautiful.
3. Use Proper Technique When Blow Drying
Any heat to the hair will cause damage, but there's ways to reduce the stress put on your hair with proper technique. When blow drying, make sure to keep the hair dryer 3 inches away from your hair and point the nozzle downwards. It's also best if you use a low-heat setting. Creating that distance from your hair will help limit overheating and by pointing the nozzle downwards (not sideways) it will keep the shaft smooth and frizz-free.
photo by Parlor stylist @s.bryzow
4. Ponytails
Ponytails: they are your friend and foe. Now before we get ahead of ourselves, we're not suggesting to annex ponytails altogether! That'd be sacrilege, but it is good to know that pulling your hair into a tight updo on the daily will cause breakage at the elastic line. Consider updating your elastic bands with softer hair band options, such as the now-popular "telephone-cord" hair rings. They are totally giving us 90s Spice Girl vibes, but in the best way possible. See an example, here.
5. Avoid Over Shampooing
This final tip may be the easiest because it requires the least amount of energy. Limit your shampooing to 2-3 times a week. The natural oils that our scalps produces stimulates hair growth and will provide the protein your hair needs to stay strong and shiny. Shampooing too often drys out the hair and leaves it more brittle than when you started! Also, don't skip on the conditioner! We're trying to make the hair as lush as possible and conditioning always helps. If you're worried about your hair looking too oily, grab a dry shampoo to help out. Aveda has a great one, available here, and in our two salons.
photo by Parlor stylist @shirleyhagel
