I’ve lived most of my life with short hair. I wasn’t necessarily pixie-bob short, but I do remember a time my hairdresser taking men’s clippers to the back of my neck. I think that was when I realized I was ready to grow my hair out. Since it’s gotten longer, I’ve found it so much harder to manage; the strands all get tangled together and I notice more breakage and fly-aways than ever. For a while, I thought I had just reached the length-potential of my hair until I realized that I wasn’t using the right products to support the follicles and strengthen the strands. After a lot of trials and errors with products, I’ve journeyed into a new hair routine, helping my hair grow into the longest it’s ever been.
Here’s my Long-Locks Hair Care Routine:
Pre-Wash
I always use a wide-toothed comb to brush my hair out before getting it wet. This will prevent tangles from forming, thus preventing breakage. I tend to stay away from brushes since they’re harsher on the hair. The Conair Shower Comb does the trick:
Shampoos & Conditioners
OGX Brand: Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco
I normally alternate my shampoos and conditioners during the week, and make sure to use things like this Kintsugi Infused Hydration conditioner when my hair is looking a little drier than usual, but my go-to brand is Ogx. Some say that the shampoos have added salt in them, leading to brittleness and breakage, but I’ve found the complete opposite with using their products. The biggest thing to remember is that everybody’s hair is different due to factors like age, the shape of the hair follicles, and genetics. Since using Ogx brand of shampoos and conditioners, my mane has actually become stronger and more manageable, leading to hair growth.
Ogx has a variety of options based on what you’re looking for but the Argan Oil of Morrocco is one of my favorites for long hair. I use Argan Oil separately on the baby hairs around my face to help restore strength at the root to enable them to grow, and this shampoo and conditioner does just that and more as it helps create shine and softness for the hair.
Bain de Terre Keratin Phyto-Protein
The Bain de Terre brands of shampoo & conditioner have never disappointed me, but the Keratin Phyto-Protein is my all-time favorite. It’s beneficial for long locks as it helps to build up the protein of the hair with Keratin to create strength and defend against future damage. It’s also great for retaining color treatment and the Monoi and Argan oils aid in shine and softness.
Ogx Brand: Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil
My favorite version of the Ogx brand shampoo and conditioner is the Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil. This product is perfect for long-hair and has both Argan and Keratin oil to create strength and resist breakage when brushing or styling.
Biomega Moisture Mist Leave-In Conditioner
As soon as I get out of the shower, I pat my hair dry with a towel and then instantly apply the Biomega Moisture Mist Leave-In Conditioner. It not only acts as a detangler, without being too heavy, but it adds some volume to the hair too. There is also a shampoo that you can buy with this product but I use it as a leave-in conditioner only and it runs about $18. After applying the Biomega Mist, I then use my Conair Shower Comb to brush out the tangles.
After-Wash Care
Regis Designline Enchanted Midnight Weightless Oil
This little bottle is one of my favorite products and I’ve used it for many years. It’s great for long and short hair as it helps nourish the strands. The weightless oil also acts as a style primer, warding off humidity, dryness and damage, and it retains color treatments longer. You can snag a 2 ounce bottle for around $25 on Amazon.
Chi 44 Iron Guard
A big part of the hair-care process that many women skip is heat protection. Before styling with any heat, including a hair dryer, it’s important to treat the hair first. This little product is a huge reason why my hair has finally started growing longer and stronger. Without a heat-resistor, the hair will break off, causing frizz and obvious damage.
My favorite heat-resistor is the Chi 44 Iron Guard.
Since following this long-hair-care routine, I’ve noticed such a difference in the strength, shine and length of my hair and am finally starting to love my locks!
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