Lately, I’ve had many people emailing me and asking me how I manage to grow my hair out so quickly and maintain my hair care. Even before I cut 10 inches off of my hair this past summer, I have been getting asked about all of the products that I use to maintain and grow my hair.
Maintaining healthy hair, that continues to grow, certainly doesn’t happen overnight and it can be a frustrating and awkward process along the way. It’s a process that starts from the inside out, which I think most people forget. Here are a few tips to get you started on the way to happy and healthy hair with tips and great hair care products!
Most people assume that I was just blessed with great hair genes. I know my genes play into it, but my dad is bald and my mom’s hair is extremely straight, yet somehow I ended up with outrageously thick and curly hair. The bottom line is that the best way to take care of yourself is by starting from the inside out. Regardless of what hair genes you ended up with, eating a healthy diet and regular exercise really makes a huge difference on how your body grows your hair.I fully recommend reading ‘Eating for Beauty,’ a book that explains the science behind what you put inside your body and how it will slowly, but surely, display those effects on the outside. Although, I’m human and I know I don’t always have a perfect diet, I do try to eat as healthy as possible and stick to working out 3-5 days a week to keep everything in good working order. I also make sure I am giving my body everything it needs with a good daily vitamin and lots of water. A women’s vitamin should have biotin, folic acid, zinc, and B-complex that are all helpful in promoting healthy hair growth, and keeping skin and nails healthy too.
Tip #2: Wash, but not too often.
You might feel uncomfortable with this part, especially if you are used to washing on the regular, but… DO NOT WASH YOUR HAIR EVERYDAY. This is a huge no no! Washing your hair daily strips your scalp of the necessary and needed oils that help produce healthy hair. I try to wash my hair every other day, just because I’m lazy, to make sure that I am allowing my hair the time to grow without damaging it.
When you do wash your hair, make sure you are using the correct product for your type of hair.
(Also, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use volumizing shampoos or conditioners. They create build up and actually prevent more hair growth by trying to mask it with more volume.)Look for products that contain zero sulfates. When you use shampoo that contains sulfates, you strip away more than dirt and excess oil from your scalp. You also remove the natural oils that your hair needs to stay healthy and grow. Removing these oils can cause a dry and itchy scalp and can lead to more dandruff and breakage.
Trying to repair dry and already damaged hair? I recommend using this 3 minute deep conditioner in the shower once a week. Let it sit in your wet hair for about 2 minutes in the shower, while you shave your legs, and then wash out.
I’ve used a lot of different products in the past, both wash out and leave in formulas, and nothing compares to this little purple bottle. The best part…? It’s only $2.99 and available at most grocery stores!! It adds in the perfect amount of moisture to dry hair and leaves it feeling so silky soft once dry.
If you are used to washing on a daily basis, keep in mind that during the process of trying to go for longer periods of time between washings, that your hair will seem greasier and more dirty, but this actually phases itself out over a short period of time and your hair will adjust to the new levels of oil in your hair, without looking so gross! Use a good dry shampoo to hold you over in between wash days, until your hair adjusts.
When you do wash your hair, make sure you are using the correct product for your type of hair.
(Also, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use volumizing shampoos or conditioners. They create build up and actually prevent more hair growth by trying to mask it with more volume.)Look for products that contain zero sulfates. When you use shampoo that contains sulfates, you strip away more than dirt and excess oil from your scalp. You also remove the natural oils that your hair needs to stay healthy and grow. Removing these oils can cause a dry and itchy scalp and can lead to more dandruff and breakage.
Trying to repair dry and already damaged hair? I recommend using this 3 minute deep conditioner in the shower once a week. Let it sit in your wet hair for about 2 minutes in the shower, while you shave your legs, and then wash out.
I’ve used a lot of different products in the past, both wash out and leave in formulas, and nothing compares to this little purple bottle. The best part…? It’s only $2.99 and available at most grocery stores!! It adds in the perfect amount of moisture to dry hair and leaves it feeling so silky soft once dry.
If you are used to washing on a daily basis, keep in mind that during the process of trying to go for longer periods of time between washings, that your hair will seem greasier and more dirty, but this actually phases itself out over a short period of time and your hair will adjust to the new levels of oil in your hair, without looking so gross! Use a good dry shampoo to hold you over in between wash days, until your hair adjusts.
Tip #3 Post Shower Rituals.
Most people think that this habit of mine is quite strange, but I really have to thank my lack of split ends to something as simple as not blow drying my hair. Every time I get out of the shower I apply a detangler, (due to the insane amount of knots I tend to manufacture thanks to my curly and unruly hair) brush my hair with a tangle friendly brush and then add a small amount of Moroccan oil (about the size of a nickel) throughout my hair. This ones my favorite, and does just as good of a job as the expensive brands, but smells much better!
If you don’t like wearing you hair wet in the middle of the day or you don’t have enough time to let it dry before you need to leave the house, I highly suggest showering at night. You will wake up with dry hair and it’s quick to style, without the damage of a blow dryer day after day.
If you don’t like wearing you hair wet in the middle of the day or you don’t have enough time to let it dry before you need to leave the house, I highly suggest showering at night. You will wake up with dry hair and it’s quick to style, without the damage of a blow dryer day after day.
Tip #4 Styling.
Having curly hair, I always grew up wanting pin straight hair. Lucky for me, the only way that was going to happen was with straightening irons. I’ve been using these bad boys since I was about 15 years old and can say that flat irons have come a LONG way. Now we have the option to use ceramic platted flat irons to reduce damage and even make our hair smoother and shinier. Through the years, I have used so many different styling tools from $100+ brands all the way down to $30 tools, and in my studies, interestingly enough, the $30 tools are my favorite and certainly handle the test of time. This flat iron and curling iron are my two absolute go-to’s for all my styling and hair care needs.
I think the one thing that I’ve had the hardest time doing is just letting my hair be natural. After I brush my hair after the shower, I let it air dry and go about my day. Sometimes I feel like we are so heavily criticized by trying to look perfect every second of everyday, but we don’t appreciate what we actually already have. When we try to make our hair do different tricks, curls and styles, we end up having to add products and heat, which end up taking away from the health and new growth of the healthy hair we want. If possible, try letting your hair down and just be natural for a day or two during the week. The health of your hair will thank you.
I understand that these tips might not work for everyone, but through my experience of growing and cutting my hair and dyeing it from blonde to brown repeatedly, these tips seem to be the best ways to maintain long and healthy hair. Give it a try and let me know how they help! All the products listed in this post are products that I believe in and actually use on my hair all the time. Be sure to check them out!
I understand that these tips might not work for everyone, but through my experience of growing and cutting my hair and dyeing it from blonde to brown repeatedly, these tips seem to be the best ways to maintain long and healthy hair. Give it a try and let me know how they help! All the products listed in this post are products that I believe in and actually use on my hair all the time. Be sure to check them out!
You really do have gorgeous hair, so I loved reading these tips! I know I’ll never have thick hair, but good habits allow any of us to make the hair we do have the best it can be.
I’m all about the sulphate free shampoo these days. It’s gradual, but I’ve really noticed a difference!
xo Jackie
Something About That
Your hair is stunningly gorgeous! I wish I could let mine air dry and still be presentable. It’s just unfit for the public. 😉 When I stopped washing mine everyday, it was like a new world!
xo, Amy Ann
The Real Arnolds
Great tips! You have such gorgeous hair!
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
You have gorgeous hair. Thank you for the tips! I’ll definitely check out some of those products to get your locks.
Michaela || The Monogrammed Midwesterner
AMAZING tips your hair is so gorgeous.
xo
PinkSole
your hair always looks amazing, so I’m happy to receive some tips!
The Style Scribe
OMG your hair is so gorgeous!! And you rock blond locks just as well as brunette!!
Great post!
x Diana
http://www.TheColeCollection.com
Okay, I need to check out that book! My hair is so sad and weak, I need all the help I can get. Love the blast from the past hair pics!
Gina – On the Daily Express
You have amazing hair. The not washing everyday is key. Thanks for sharing your tips!
http://www.girlinahotcity.com
Great post! You really do have amazing hair. I already do some of these things but I want to incorporate more of your tips! Love the idea for beauty it’s so true that it starts from the inside out. Thanks for sharing girl!
20somethingfashion.blogspot.com
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