How I keep my hair long & healthy (tips & tricks of the trade included)!

I've had long hair for about 15 years now and I don't' think I plan on giving myself a brand new do for a while. I actually rocked the hair bob in most of my high school days if you can believe it!  Like most girls, my hair is my security blanket. It's what I know which makes it easier for me to deal with. I've had the few odd haircuts when my hair reached a couple inches after my shoulder but that was definitely not something I wanted, a new hairdresser I tried took off more inches than I asked for. 

Over the past 7 years I found myself colouring my hair from light brown, to medium , to reddish brown  to black. I'm definitely loving the dark (almost black) hair color that I have right now. The tips of my hair are definitely the driest, which is usually the case of any girl who once bleached her hair blonde. But with  a few simple tips that you can incorporate in your day to day routines, you'll be well on your way to long healthy hair. Here are some tips of mine that allow me to grow my hair long and almost 90% healthy (considering it was bleached a few years ago).

TIP #1:  DO NOT wash your hair every day.  ( I wash my hair every 2-3 days sometimes I try and push 4 days if I know I'm going to use a hair mask. It all depends on when I'm heading to work and the event I'm going on. I alway use dry shampoo in between washes when necessary. I also only y use dry shampoo once before I wash my hair, never on the 2nd and then the 3rd day - if you know what i mean) 

TIP #2:  TAKE MULTI VITAMINS or hair supplements if you don't already..... I'm currently taking prenatal vitamins which are jammed packed with all sorts of vitamins in one capsule (trying to be on top the of the game in case my husband and I get pregnant..hehe).  Biotin promotes growth of existing hair which then allows the  production keratin, which then helps increase your hair's elasticity. Niacin (Vitamin B3)promotes blood circulation to the scalp. ... Vitamin B12 helps promote the transportation of oxygen to the scalp and follicles.

TIP #3:  USE A WIDE TOOTH COMB before combing your hair with a bush. It'll cause less damage, and will be wayyyy  easier to untangle.

TIP #4:  If you're trying to grow you hair, and would like it to grow at a faster rate.... use organic castor oil as well as cold pressed coconut oil to create a make on your hair. Use equal parts, leave on for a minimum of 30 minutes before washing. If you're finding it's too hard to wash out, use a clarifying shampoo to wash it out.

TIP #5:  If you're a hair dryer freak like myself and using a dryer is a must...dry your hair until it's only half wet and air dry the rest, or vice versa. It'll cause less damage if you're using heat on your hair.  Try using the cool setting most of the time when you dry your hair. Using a blow dryer can be quite damaging to your hair when not properly used. I try to air dry my hair on days I'm staying in. 

TIP #6:  If you're really committed to growing you hair, try to avoid using any harsh chemicals for styles like perms, crimping, chemically or mechanically straightening, curling, and bleaching or repeatedly coloring hair. These treatments definitely weaken hair strands and stress hair follicles, leading to increased hair breakage and even hair loss.  It's hard ...I know...

TIP #7: A doctor told me once that hormones play a big deal with the growth of our hair, so a healthy diet is a must! Having a lot of amino acids and protein in your diet will definitely help.

TIP #8:  Invest in good hair products  (shampoo, oils, creams, etc) . That is all.

TIP #9 : Trim your hair every couple months... I'm not saying take an inch off every month, just get rid of those nasty frizzy, dead ends. I sometimes do mine myself now that my hair is so long (don't tell my hair stylist Sita that though..hehe sorry Sita if you're reading this!). 

Tip #10:  Being flight attendant, we have many hair limitations.  The company I work for does not allow us to have our hair grazing our shoulders if it is let down which means I always have to have my hair up. Throughout the years, I've hand terrible headaches, because of how long my hair has been tied  up for, the follicles are being stressed with the constant pulling from my hair tie. I found a few ways to style my hair so I can let my hair tie be a little loose, not causing that god awful headache I get. 

PRODUCTS I CURRENTLY LURRRRVE :

Now that OUAI has launched and is available at Sephora... my life has become so much easier. I can see light at the end of the tunnel!  The texturizing spray as Jen Atkin (C.E.O of OUAI) would describe it is if a dry shampoo and a hair spray had a baby. That is exactly what it is ! It gives amazing texture to the hair allowing to be moveable, and styled throughout the day! It also smells soo damn good. Like so good.  As far as the finishing creme goes, you only need 2 pearl sized amounts for it to start working. It smoothes the frizz on your ends like no other.  The wave spray is awesome for those days you want to rock the wavy beach hair looks. Spray on  while hair is damp, and allow to air dry.  What I love about this product is that it doesn't give you the crunchy, hair sprayed beach wave look.  You hair looks bouncy and smooth and best of all...not frizzy. I'm still waiting to purchase the foam dry shampoo that OUAI  came out with a month ago, I know it's going to surpass my expectations! Until then.....

I've been using the BATISTE XXL Volume dry shampoo for about 3 years now and I absolutely love it. You definitely have to be careful with this one in this one in the sense that it will leave a powder reside on your hair if it is not properly massaged into the hair. I found that spraying it on a teasing brush first, then teasing my hair with it gives way more volume as well as less white powder residue.  If you haven't tried this product yet, try it! Then.... thank me later  :)

I've been using this wide metal tooth comb for roughly 15 years now, and it must say that I can't live without it! I purchased it in the Philippines on my last trip there and one of my best friends was kind enough to bring 6 back of me in different sizes! I can't find these combs anywhere in North America, so if you do find it... share it with your girlfriends who have long hair, they'll love you forever! They detangle your hair like no ones business and best off it doesn't cause static. Has anyone else tried this comb? If so, how do you like it?

I'd love to hear some of your hair tricks and tips, please share ANY below! Thanks for reading :)

xo,

Sarah