I wish I was joking.
Clearly people with some adult bevs on board forget about personal space. That happened quite frequently. Yes it is normal for a female to have long hair without it being a weave. I know we have lots of trickery nowadays with our eyelash extensions (still want) and spanxx but like no it’s my real hair and I would appreciate if you wouldn’t rake your wet drinks hands through it.
Okay moving along….I understand everyone has different hair types that grow at different rates but the majority of these tips are good maintenance if nothing else. I have pretty thin hair but a lot of it. My hairdresser Jesse has promised me she will let know when it’s time to take off some length but definitely not before the wedding! So these are my tips for growing long hair.
1. Don’t Wash It Everyday
I had to lay the groundwork with Mark pretty early on about this. Sorry buddy I promise I’ll shower daily but the locks won’t be washed daily. Shampooing every day strips your hair of it’s natural oils and makes it dry. Dry hair = unhappy hair = breakage which then does not equal long locks. Find a good dry shampoo. I love this Redken one
2. Use Shampoos and Conditioner Without Sulfates or Harsh Chemicals
Sulfates are not good for your hair. I swear my hair started really growing when I switched over to Pureology
3. Use a Protein Mask
My hairdresser Jesse swears by this and I couldn’t agree more. I put it on my ends and do all the other tedious shower activities i.e. shaving. Rinse out and you’re good to go. I do that about 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I’ll alternate between that and this product which makes your hair so unbelievably soft.
4. Get a Good Brush
I swear I still have no idea how this Wet Brush works. I feel like it is a little magician. It works through my hair and detangles it with ease. Therefore you’re not fighting with your brush to get tangles out of your hair that potentially could lead to breaks and big hair pulls.
5. Use a Protectant on Your Ends
I’m not down with most hair oils but Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil really lives up to it’s name. It doesn’t leave a greasy layer on your hands and makes your hair incredibly soft and shiny. Also 12 Benefits has a cult following for a reason. Whenever it comes off backorder on Birchbox I always order it.
6. Avoid Heat At All Costs
True story. I probably only blow dry my hair 1-2 times a month. Otherwise I let it air dry as much as I can. If I need to have some kind of style I’ll blow dry it right at the end with a flat brush to pull it together but heat is so damaging which I’m sure we all already knew that one. I try to use my dryer on the middle heat setting. When I do have to use my flat iron I make sure to spray it with a heat protectant spray. This Kenra Hot Spray
Letting it go natural whenever possible.
7. Use Prenatal Vitamins
I got suckered into the expensive hair and nail vitamins from Sephora once. They did not work. My sister who is a mommy of 3 told me to do the following. Go to Target. Avoid all the other aisles (easier said than done). Go to the vitamins and get the Target Brand Prenatals. It is white with pink letters. It is also the cheapest one there. Then take them everyday. Wait 2-3 months and marvel in the results. They seriously make your hair and nails so strong and long. My nails were ruined from a bad salon experience with a gel manicure and my nails were paper thin, I was desperate for something to help. Now after taking the prenatals they are strong again. To answer your question that everyone is thinking. No they will not make you more likely to get pregnant. They are “prenatal” vitamins because they contain the correct amount of Folic Acid you should be taking if you are to become pregnant. Really all women of childbearing age should take this but that is my healthcare soapbox. Basically it is a daily vitamin with more folic acid. No increased chance of pregnancy by taking the vitamin but I cannot be responsible what you do with your spare time. Just saying…..
8. Drink Lots of Water
You should be doing this anyways but when you are hydrated your skin, nails and hair respond accordingly. Get that pretty water bottle and start chugging. Drink one right when you wake up. One done.
9. Take/Eat Omega 3’s
Omega 3 Fatty Acids help combat dry hair by nourishing hair follicles and increasing hair elasticity (less breakage). You can either take the supplements……I don’t love this option because they are big pills that are usually encapsulated in some kind of unnatural gel form and I often forget to take them. I try to pick foods that are high in Omega 3’s such as salmon and my favorite flies under the radar and doesn’t get the recognition that it should but chia seeds. Overnight oats (recipe halfway down the page) is a great way to incorporate chia seeds into your diet and it keeps you full! Also avocados are an excellent healthy fat that is good for healthy hair. Omega 3 Fish Oils are still a supplement and if you have any questions ask your provider. If you want to go down the medical route and you’re a man (men get it pretty bad as well rememeber!) then they can always go onto Blink Health online and get their prescription filled for finasteride to help with their thinning hair, so they don’t feel self-concious.
10. Upgrade Your Pillowcase
Now is the time to get that silk pillowcase. Your hair won’t get tangled when you sleep if it slides over a silk pillowcase. If that is not in the budget get a hairband like this that won’t damage your hair and put your hair in a high and loose ponytail when you go to sleep that should help prevent gnarly knots from forming when you toss and turn at night.
Alright those are some of my tips for growing hair long! I wanted to share the ones I stick to on a daily basis and there are only so many times you can read “make sure to get regular trims” okay cool got it. Heard that one before. What are your tips for growing your hair out? Have you tried any of these? I’m always down in learning about new ideas! Hope you have a great day check back tomorrow for my at home workout picks! xoxoxo
Great tips! Pinned for you! xxx
I really, really need to look into some dry shampoo!
Thanks for all the tips Amanda. I cut my hair short in August, but after seeing so many cute hairstyles I am hoping to have long hair before attending a wedding in April. I’ll definitely be trying some vitamins and using dry shampoo more often.
I never wash my hair daily either and try to let it hair dry as much as possible. Here in Iceland everyone (seriously it is like a sin if you don’t) starts their day by taking a spoonful of Lysi (fish oil). It took me a bit to get use to but my hair and nails have never grown faster or stronger! All of these are great tips, lots of new products for me to add to my shopping list!
Ok first off, I would slap someone trying to touch/pull my hair at a bar. WTF is wrong with people?! And LOVE these tips! Especially since I cut my hair recently. The only thing I’m really bad at is the no heat thing… eek. I use a straight iron to curl my hair at least twice a week. I probably should stop… and I definitely need to try that hair mask!
<3, Pamela
sequinsandseabreezes.blogspot.com
Such a great post – I can’t even imagine someone coming up and trying to pull my hair, I’m pretty sure a fight would ensue!!! Really great tips – I just started taking Biotin for hair, nails and skin so I’m excited to see results…I was a little scared to take the prenatal because I heard the folic acid is what can cause nausea in some people! I’m the same way with heat – only blow dry my hair if it’s cold out and I’ve just taken a shower…so that pretty much eliminates that!!
I have also had random strangers come up to me and touch my hair to see if it is real…just the rudest! All of these are great tips, but I think they all come back to the first one about not washing your hair everyday…some people get grossed out when I tell them that, but it really makes such a big difference for hair health! Plus on mornings when I don’t have to wash it, I get to stay in bed longer catching up on my blog reading :)
i really need to get a silk pillowcase! it’s been on my shopping list for a while now. xo jillian – cornflake dreams
i honestly think it also has a lot to do with just how your hair grows. kayla has hair like me so it pretty much grows like weeds and i don’t do anything fancy with her hair or mine. i do agree with omegas/fatty acids having a direct impact on the quality of your hair; since i started eating avocados every day, my hair is a bit thicker (my skin is also healthier!)
As someone who’s hair grows at a snail’s pace, I’m always looking for tips! I’m almost out of my current hair mask and picking up that Redken one to try this week! Have you tried Mega Red fish oil for Omega 3? They’re small pills and don’t leave a gross taste like some Omega 3 options that I’ve tried. I take one daily and swear by them!
not gonna lie. before i read this i was all like “tip #1: don’t cut your hair. voila” but alas you have some good points haha. i also have long hair and no weave and am proud of it. although i can never chop it because every time i do, i cry a little and refuse the weave look. but i’m on a rant here. i agree with this list especially the shampoo choices and the wet brush! life changer! that i use whenever i wash my hair and is my travel brush as well. because versatile. ok i’m gonna wrap this up because it’s getting boring. :)
cheshirekatblog.com
I really need to get a good protein mask for my locks, I think that would help a lot. Because I let my hair air dry all week and only blow dry on the weekends and it’s still dry/damaged. Ugh the struggle :-P
Your hair is gorgeous, but I promise no matter how many adult beverages I’ve consumed I would never pull on someone’s hair and ask if it’s real… always amazed by people.
These are great tips! I definitely do the SLS-free shampoo, I have thyroid issues which can cause hair thinning and I found out that sulfates can exacerbate that, so I switched to sulfate-free a while ago! And I definitely don’t wash my hair every day, so not necessary! However I am horrible about using heat on my hair, must do better!
i swear by a silk pillowcase. i seriously don’t have to do my hair in the morning bc i have no bedhead fr using it.
Love these tips- I have thin hair as well but…. if I don’t wash it every day it looks absolutely disgusting :( So dry shampoo definitely comes to the rescue!
I use organic coconut oil as a hair mask at least once a month and it has done wonders.
I just don’t have nice hair, and prefer to keep it short. I do LOVE the Herbal Essences paraben/sulfate free dry shampoo.
Great tips!! I too have lot of hair that is thin. I recently cut 5 inches off because it really need it. Not one even noticed. ha! I’m going to book mark these tips. A few years ago, thanks to stress, I lost alot of hair but it has grown all back , so I’m always looking for ways to keep it long and healthy.
I totally agree with these!! I’m still in the market for a silk pillowcase (I suck at shopping online and you KNOW this tiny ass town doesn’t offer anything like that haha). My hair started growing like a freaking weed when I cut out soda and started only drinking water. It’s amazing what tons of water will do for your hair/skin/body! I air dry at night and style only if necessary in the morning. I also avoid putting my hair up unless I’m using one of those soft fabric anti-break ties! Such great tips friend!
*SIGHS* I need to take better care of my hair –
I love this post – we all could be so lucky to have long luscious locks like you! I used to take a prenatal vitamin along with my daily multivitamin, but then I fell off the bandwagon. Thank you for the friendly reminder. :)
Great tips!! I really gotta cool it with the whole heat situation (no pun intended ha!) I straighten and blow dry like everyday!
Tori
FashionBlingGirlyThings
Word on the not washing your hair everyday! I’m down to every other and starting to attempt every three days… Thank goodness for my fav product, dry shampoo! I’ve never heard of this brush you mention – I only use a wide tooth comb on my hair – but I think I might check it out!
Great post lady! You have beautiful hair too. Ew to strangers coming up to you and touching it though!! I have thick hair and that brush sounds like something that I could use. Chris always says that my hair is in his face or nose when we go to sleep so the hair band might be a good idea too haha. I also wash my hair once a week. I know that sounds gross, but when the top part gets a little icky, I just put a little baby powder in it. I only use a hair dryer when I’m going out and I want dry hair, or during the winter. Any advice on a good hair dryer though? I also use a sulfate-free color treated shampoo that I really like. Thanks for sharing all of this and I hope that you are having a great day so far! :-)
I definitely want that brush! XO
Loving your tips! They are all spot on! Although I must admit that I haven’t jumped on the silk pillowcase train yet, need to!
Strangers touch my hair on a weekly bases to check if it’s real… so I know how that goes! It’s still not enough for me to chop mine off, yet ;)
The wet brush doesn’t work on my hair :( I don’t know what it is, I think my hair is too thick, it just doesn’t glide through at all. Still looking for a good brush!
Love these tips- and your hair is so gorgeous! I’m getting to the end of my JM oils, so I might give that bumble & bumble oil a try finally!
I’ve never used a hair mask but I do hot oil treatments twice a month. For the first time in my life my hair has started breaking off (old age??) and it is stressing me out!
~Elise @ highheelsglitteringeyes.blogspot.com
I don’t do the silk pillowcase, but I probably should at this point for both my hair and skin.
I do some of these! Especially heat, it’s mainly because I’m so lazy. But I think it has to be genetics a little right? Because I feel like I don’t treat my hair that well and it just grows and grows. But totally agree wit the right brush and products!
I don’t brush my hair. (it’s curly!) i use a wide tooth comb i n the shower. all these tips are great
Great tips and thanks for the product recommendations! I am really bad about using the straight iron.
My hair grows like crazy too and I think it is all due to only washing it once a week and using hot tools twice a week! I completely stopped using my blow dryer (which was fine because I always despised doing that) and just straighten my hair when I wake up the next morning. Once it starts to look like it could use a wash a couple of days in, I coat my hair with dry shampoo and then curl it and I can leave it like that for a few more days! It has helped SO MUCH!
All great tips! Never thought about the pillow case which totally makes sense because my hair is always knotted when I wake up, leading me to have to wash it daily! I use Not Your Mothers Grow Long and its been helping a lot, its suflate free and loaded with Keratin and other vitams that promote growth and its cheap! I’ve been taking prenatal vitamins for about 3 years now, although they haven’t helped me get pregnant, they’ve strengthened my hair and nails!
Ohh I didn’t know that we should all be taking prenatal vitamins anyway! I’m in! My hairdresser swears by the protein masks too!
Great tips, I think I need a new pillowcase. I laughed out loud about laying down the groundwork with Mark regarding not washing your hair. My hubby gives me a hard time, I share every single day at least once but I am stretching the hair as long as I can. It’s SUCH a process to wash/dry/style it. I am almost out of dry shampoo too, I may have to try that one :)
I actually didn’t wash my hair this morning. i need to check out the BnB oil though. If I let my hair dry naturally it is a funky wave but I try to do that and then just round brush dry it for just a few to straighten it out.
Awesome tips lady, super smart. I try to go natural with my hair as much as possible, but being a fine haired sistah I need a hair dryer to give me some volumne. I didn’t know we should be taking prenatal vitiamins without planning to be prego in the near future. I know it won’t MAKE me pregnant, but I didn’t know if you need to wait or something. Thanks for the info.
And I can’t believe people try to randomly touch your hair, rude and weird.
great tips, and you do have gorgeous hair so i should listen to all of those! i definitely don’t wash my hair daily, but i cannot live without heat. i can let my hair dry naturally but i have to style it with the flat iron or curling thingamabob otherwise i will look like scary spice no joke.
So many great tips. At this point I’m so fed up with my hair feeling heavy and gross that I need a new product for fine hair for sure! Just switching to baby shampoo hasn’t helped. So help! :)
Ugh but i CANT not heat style! This fro is not a cute look in the 110% humidity!
why did i read this title as tips on how to grow long necks?!? jesus mary and joseph i need to put on my glasses.
Love these tips! I really need a wet brush and after reading this I really think I need a silk pillowcase! hehe.
~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
acutelifestyle.blogspot.com
Great tips! I’m trying to grow my hair and reducing my use of hot tools was a struggle, but definitely helps maintain my ends. I’ve never heard of taking prenatal vitamins, but I’ll have to give it a try! May have to explain to my husband first ;)
These are such great tips! I have long hair, but I know I don’t take care of it as well as I should. Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Kat
never even thought of the pillowcase idea! how smart! i wait until the very last minute to blow dry too and sometimes not even all the way! natural is better :) and WHOOHOO for dry shampoo!
Great tips! I couldn’t agree more about investing in a good shampoo. I recently discovered Alterna’s Caviar Anti-Aging shampoo and it has seriously transformed my hair. I decided to buy a $5 (brand that shall not be named) bottle when I was cutting down on spending last winter and my hair FREAKED OUT. It was bad haha.
Love how your hair dries so gorgeous!
xoxo, Jen
http://www.comfortably-chic.com
Love your tips and the fact that you just reminded me that I’ve been wanting a silk pillowcase! I think I would love sleeping on it plus its great for your hair and skin. It’s been added to my Amazon Christmas wish list :)
eating healthy and drinking water is super important. also, yes, you’re the second one i read that says don’t wash the hair every day. i skip one day, sometimes two…and yes, it does work. it’s like giving your hair time to relax and while it does that it grows. :)
Thank you for sharing all this with us! I am growing my hair our for my wedding and need all the tips I can get! I wish I could try the not washing your hair every day thing, but if I wash my hair in the morning b the time I am off work my hair needs to be washed again because it is starting to get greasy and I most of the time I don’t put any product in my hair!
http://girltalk2015.blogspot.com/
oh my gosh, someone seriously asked me if your hair was weave?! that’s awesome.. i mean it’s totally awkward, but it’s kinda awesome too. means you have great hair! i’m all about the no heat on my hair too. i might have to switch out the biotin i take for prenatal vitamins though.
I used to have silk pillow cases but they got so worn that I threw them out and never replaced them. I need to get back on that! Totally checking out some of these products! I have been working really hard lately to be better to my hair.
Thanks but I really wish you would do a tutorial on how to refresh your hair after a sweaty workout! I only wash my hair once maybe twice a week but pretty much after the first day it has to stay in a ponytail because after I workout it dries into a stiff, dented mess. I use dry shampoo but I don’t think I must be using it correctly. HELP!
Totes agree with all of these tips!! Growing long hair takes time, but it will last so much longer and look so much healthier with these tips! The Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Oil is amazing too!!
So many great tips! I’m gonna have to check out the Pureology line. Where did you find your wet brush?
Wow! Your hair looks so shinny and straight. Yeah it is very difficult to cure our hair scalp issues, but after reading your post I got great information on alterna shampoo. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful post here!
Hi i just read your advice on growing healthy hair and nails. I am definitely going to try them. A little out of my budget but with my job that I started four months ago my nails are no longer long nor healthy since I now work at a grocery store. I deal and handle with items that are either wet or strenuous on my hands.
It saddens me so I am trying this I hope it helps.
As for my hair well about 2 yrs ago i had it back to my shoulders shortly after I had it trimmed two inches and it has not grown. I literally call my hair mushroom look. It’s embarrassing and it makes me sad and unattractive. I used to have it longer before a couple years ago.
Maybe it’s my age but I also see at the ends when its dried that its curls to a feel like straw.
Just an insight of my troubles.