Healthy Hair Hacks

I am always getting comments on how long my hair has gotten, and people ask what I do to maintain it and keep it healthy. I think that for the most part, I need to thank my hairdresser, who has been giving me tips over the last 27 years. A lot of the hair hacks she's given me have proven to work. So I figured I'd share them! Also, for those who have asked if I have extensions, the answer is no. I have always had insanely thick hair, but have never had extensions. Ok, here we go.

Regular Trims

I should start by saying that there is usually anything I'd rather do than get my haircut (thanks to a traumatic haircut in high school, which left me crying for weeks and with a pixie cut for a couple years). But, I have come to realize that getting trims more frequently does in fact help prevent the split ends. My hair doesn't break as often as it used to when I would avoid haircuts for up to about a year at a time. Who would have thought?

Quality Shampoo & Conditioner

For the last 10 years, I have been using L'Oréal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture shampoo and conditioner. The conditioner is what they've used in the last 3 salons that my hairdresser has worked at, so in addition to smelling good, it is salon-worthy. I am generous when I apply it, and I wait a few minutes before rinsing it out. I use the shampoo, too, because I feel like they make a great team. My second choice for shampoo would be this one. Another thing that I should mention is that I can get away with washing my hair about 1x/week. I know some people can’t go that long, but my hair tends to be non-oily and pretty dry, so it can last.

VERY Limited Use of Hot Tools

If I don’t use a flatiron on my hair, it is absolutely out of control. I used to get my hair chemically straightened during high school and college years, but after a while, it destroyed it. I stopped getting any chemical processing done about 13 years ago. I can't stand having my hair in its natural state of kinky chaos, so I use the flatiron once per week to straighten it. I also keep a close eye on when my flatiron needs to be replaced, which is actually pretty important. I used to use this iron, but now I use this one. For waves, I almost never use my curling iron anymore, unless I'm going to an event, which is somewhat infrequent. Instead, I put it in a bun, which leads me to my next point…

I Sleep With my Hair Up EVERY NIGHT

It's become such a habit, it feels weird to sleep with it down. I actually feel like this is the biggest secret to why, according to my hairdresser, my hair is the healthiest it has been since I was 10, and why it has grown so much. Every night, I wrap my hair up into a very low and loose bun, and sleep with it that way. My hairdresser advised that doing this prevents split ends (true) and that unless I want to buy a silk pillowcase, I should do it. So I do, and it works! Also, it gives my hair a natural wave that almost resembles curls made by a curling iron. I usually use a claw clip (which oddly enough doesn’t bother me when I lay my head down), or sometimes a scrunchie.

Shine & Smooth

Click here to see what I'm talking about. I put this serum in my hair and it gives it some more weight without feeling heavy or losing volume. I also think it gives my hair some moisture back after I've cooked it with the iron. I don't know if it actually does, but it feels that way. It also smells delicious and keeps most flyaways down.

That's about it. After having grown up with thick and frizzy hair that many of my aunts swore they could tame only to give up halfway through blow drying it, I am relieved to have found a way to keep it straight and soft without damaging it. Also, the less I have to do, the better, so I really only put effort into ironing it, and the rest is handled while I sleep. If anyone else has some good hair hacks, I would love to hear!