okaybee

One of the major trends that emerged from Paris Fashion Week is the trend for long hair. Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Givenchy – they all had long, luxurious locks and went totally against the shorter hair trend that has dominated the runways for several seasons. I’m pretty lucky to have long, healthy hair and I thought I would do a post with some tips on how to grow out your hair. I will remind you that it is a process. Any “quick fix” that you find on the internet simply isn’t true. But there are somethings you can do to help your hair to grow long and healthy.

I asked my friend Jenny to help me out with this post as I want to give you tips depending on your hair type. I have never dyed my hair (apart from pink dye at the ends two summers ago) and I have naturally oily hair. Jenny has highlighted hair and her hair would be dryer than mine. Like me, Jenny has long, thick hair, so she is the perfect person to get some advice from! Below is a picture of the both of us in Vegas last year. Neither of us are wearing extensions, so our tips are definitely working for us!

1. Regular Haircuts

If you have highlighted or dyed hair, you should aim to have your hair cut every 10 weeks. Split ends lead to thinner hair and regular trims are essential to combating this issue. Lots of people complain that their hairdresser takes too much off, when all you asked for was a one inch trim. Truth be told, if your hairdresser is cutting off more than you ask, it’s probably because you need it. If you are consistent with your cuts, you’ll find that your hair will be stronger from root to tip. Personally, I’m not great with getting my hair trimmed often, however, because I follow the tips below, I find I don’t get many split ends.

2. Blow drying, Curling or Straightening

Regular blow drying, straightening or curling can seriously damage your hair. That level of heat on your hair does it no favours. Personally, I try to avoid using styling tools too often. My hair used to be a lot thinner and I found when I stopped blow drying my hair every time I washed it, and stopped straightening it often, my hair became much healthier. Try to air dry your hair when you can and embrace the more natural look (another huge trend from Paris this season), or wear your hair up occasionally. If you can’t bear the thought of not styling your hair, heat protectors are really important to use. You can either use leave in conditioners, or a spray to put into your hair while it is wet. A small amount goes a long way!

3. Shampoo

It is so important to buy the right shampoo for your hair. Don’t just pick up any old shampoo. You should read reviews, research the right one for you and invest. As Jenny says – your hair is visible at all times. And a good shampoo is the basis to great looking hair. As my hair is oily, I use two shampoos. The first is a shampoo for oily hair and the second is a shampoo for normal hair. My hair needs the two washes as otherwise it isn’t quite clean enough, no matter how much I scrub. If you have dryer or dyed hair, one wash is plenty.

4. Deep Conditioning

Ladies, if you have oily hair like me, skip this step. Deep conditioning will clog your scalp, preventing your hair from growing and will leave your hair looking pretty limp and lifeless. However, if you have dry or highlighted hair, deep conditioning is a must. Spending an extra 5 minutes in the shower with a deep conditioner in your hair will do the world of good. If you have more time, apply a hair mask to your wet hair and wrap in a damp hot towel. After 15 minutes, rinse it all out.

5. The Wash

The reason you get such a great head massage when you have your hair washed at the hair dressers is because they are stimulating the follicles. Spend a bit of time in the shower massaging your shampoo into your head and then rinse with warm water. Be careful as water that is too hot can cause breakages in hair, water that is too cold can thin out hair. Before your put your hair in your towel, squeeze (never twist!) your hair to try to get the excess water out. Twisting your hair can cause breakages, especially as your hair is at its weakest when wet. Also, don’t brush your hair when it’s wet! Use a wide toothed comb and be gentle.

6. Give Your Hair a Break

If you are constantly highlighting your hair, consider having lowlights occasionally. Your hair becomes really susceptible to damage when regularly highlighted. Unless you 100% need to, don’t wash your hair every day. You’re not giving your scalp time to replenish the natural oils and regular washing can wreak havoc on your scalp. Invest in a good dry shampoo and use sparingly to get you through the second day. Don’t forget to give your hair a break from products too. Excessive products can weigh down hair, causing more harm than good.

Following these tips won’t give you Rapunzel hair overnight, but it will give you the right base to grow healthy and strong hair. You can see below how quickly my hair grows. The first picture was taken on New Years Eve last year, three days after I had my hair cut to just below my shoulders. The second picture is from last month, just nine months later. As you can see, my hair has grown really quickly, and before you ask, I promise there are no extensions in my hair!

Big thanks to Jenny (who you can follow on Instagram to see more pictures of her incredible hair!) for sharing her top tips with me. I hope you all find something useful out of this post. If you would like any more specific information about our hair routines, let me know!

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