have long hair

How I did it: I've always had hair past my shoulders, but it never really wanted to grow more than maybe 3 or 4 inches past them. After that it always got straggly and thin at the bottom and to me, having the last few inches of your hair only a few strands thick is NOT having long hair.

I was never really that rough on my hair, but I never really paid attention either. I cut the ends only once every 2 years or so, washed every 2 days and air dried only.
I though really long hair was accessible only to people who have super straight and strong hair.

Then I started dying my hair. My natural hair is a very dark brown with reddish undertones. It used to be somewhere between soft curls and heavy waves, the kind of in between that becomes an non descript frizz fest when it gets to humid outside. It's also very dry.

I was told so many times that dying my hair would only damage it more... don't believe all you hear. Or at least, look into it. I dyed my hair darker that my natural color. It was my hardcore clubbing years, I was intent on being gother than everyone else, so I dyed my hair black.
Across the next 3 years I noticed my hair was getting softer. It didn't frizz as much, I didn't get as much split ends, and it didn't tangle as much. That's when I decided I wanted to give my hair all the chances to "be all it could be" ! (hehe, I think I'm pretty funny now, but I'm probably not...)

I did my research, and learned that everybody's hair is different. Not just in color or texture, but more importantly, in Ph levels. Often, what makes hair weak is an imbalanced Ph level... in my case, it just so happened that the hair dye I was using was just le right composition to balance out my ph... SO dying you hair isn't necessarily bad.

I haven't used anything but a John Frieda shampoo, and most importantly, a Pantene conditionner for the last 3. I use the one for dry and damaged hair, even when my hair isn't damaged.

I wash my hair only when it obviously need it. I'll wear it down the first few days after I washed it, then when it gets a bit flatter, I tough it out an extra day before washing it again, and wear it up it a ponytail, a bun, a braid, or whatever.  When I'm not washing it, I keep it dry during my shower with the use of the dreaded shower cap... (it's so very sexy, in a grandma kinda way!) I try to keep the water not too warm when I wash my hair, and I always do my final rince with cold water. Here's why:

The hair follicles (sp?) open up in warm water, a little bit like scales. When the follicles are all opened up, the hair is weaker. When you rince in cold water at the end of your shower, it closes the follicles, so that when you eventually put a brush in your hair, it doesn't break as easily. It also means that your hair will keep it's natural moisture in better, as well as any conditionning product you've used.

I keep the super warm showers for when I'm not washing my hair.

I shampoo only once, and only use it on my scalp. When I rince out the shampoo, it washes the length of the hair well enough. The scalp is what needs to be washed, because our skin sweats and secretes a whole bunch of stuff. It's actually good for our hair, but it's what gives it this greasy look after a few days. That's why it's better to wash hair only when it really needs it, so it can fully benefit from the body's natural oils.

I use conditionner only in the length of my hair. Hair is dead, therefore doesn't get much nourishment from the body. As long as it's close to the scalp, it can benefit from the body's natural conditionner. It's ony when it's far from the scalp that it needs some extra help.

If I go swimming in salty or chlorinated water and can't keep my hair dry, I'll wash it thouroughly as soon as possible after, and even add a bit of shampoo in the length of the hair. Then, I use a deep conditionning treatment. The kind you have to leave in for a few minutes, and I leave it in for a good 10. Chlorine and salt dry out hair and make it weak.

I gently detangle my hair wit a large comb when I come out of the shower. I start at the bottom and work myself up. It I hit a knot, I don't pull. I undo it a few hair at a time, by using only one tooth of the comb at the bottom of the knot, working my way up.

Once or twice per month I'll put a little bit of leave in conditionner in it. I let it air dry. I reserve either the blowdryer, curling iron or flattening iron only for special occasions like christmas and graduation. I never brush it when it's dry, I just shake it out and gently run my ingers trough it.

I use almost no products on my hair, and I stay away from rubber bands. I buy cloth hair ties and still try not to use them to often. I put my hair up with chopsticks instead, or occasionally, ribbons.

I cut off about 3/4 of an inch every 2 months... Sure it takes longer to grow, but I don't have hair that's genetically designed to be  super long, so I have to be patient. It keeps it stronger and healthier looking.

I still dye it to this day, although I've switched from black to a deep brown that's very close to my natural color, just a bit more vibrant. I stayed with the same brand, because chemical compositions vary from brand to brand, and from color to color. I'm not sure i'd get the same results if I strayed too much from the shades I've been using. I've never gone lighter than my natural color.

Not everyone is born with hair that has the potential to go down to your butt... Everyone's hair has a maximum length stress point. That's the maximum length your hair can attain before it either breaks off or falls off. The secret to getting your hair longer is not to stop cutting it, it's to make it stronger so that maximum stress points becomes longer (or lower, however you want to put it).

I've extended my maximum length over the last 3 years from a little above my bra strap down to my belt!

Lessons & tips: Never go to bed or in extreme temperatures (hot or cold) when your hair is still wet.
Try out many different shampoos and conditionners until you find the one that works well with YOUR hair.
Stay away from any coloring that needs to lighten your hair. Bleach is a destroyer!
If you want to dye your hair, go equivalent or darker than your natural color, and look for brands that have no ammonia. Try different brands. If your hair feels rough after the coloring, change brands. Don,t stray too far from your natural color, that way, you can endure roots a while longer and don't have to dye more than once every 8 weeks.
Cut a little bit off (half an inch) every 2 months or so.

Care for your hair. Don't backcomb it, don't do stupid things with it, don't let people play with it unless they also have long hair.

Keep your hair inside your coat in the winter, and up in a bun or twist in extreme heat waves.

From personal experience, I'd have to add, don't trust stylists at trendy, edgy salons... they make their living out of cutting hair in original ways and often need haircut models for their hairshows. There's nothing they like more than to bring someone with long hair to one of those just to chop it all off. They'll tell you all sorts of things like long hair is old fashioned or boring. Find a hairstylist that has long hair and that understands your goals.

It's not true that long hair is more time consuming, than a short cut. A short cut ALWAYS has to be styled, even if it only takes 5 to 10 minutes. If you get up late and have no time, long hair can be put in a bun with stylish chopsticks (there are tons of really pretty ones in the stores now) and it takes a grand total of 30 to 45 SECONDS. You can even do it on the bus or train on your way, or with a bit of practice, while you're walking.

Short cuts are NOT more versatile. A short cut can be styled 2,3 or maybe 4 different ways. Long hair has infinite possibilities.
Learn to braid and french braid, to do buns, twists and other updo's. It's how you keep long hair fun, and keep it out of your way when you get a "I wanna shave it all" crisis.

Unless your hair is really thin, discuss with a stylist you trust a haircut that will flatter your features all the while keeping maximum length. A few layers in the front or a long fringe can mean the difference between long hair that's 1880 and long hair that looks young and fresh.

Resources: PANTENE!!!!!! It's not a myth!

Dec 10, 2008, 07:21AM PST | 1 comment | 3 cheers