Gorgeous, healthy, long hair is a gift. If you’re lucky enough to have it effortlessly, well, congratulations — you’re one of the rare ones.
Gorgeous, healthy, long hair is a gift. If you’re lucky enough to have it effortlessly, well, congratulations — you’re one of the rare ones.
Long hair, for all its charms, is a maintenance nightmare for many women. Though it’s easier to be successful with the right tools and products, the truth is, long hair care requires an investment of time.
When it comes to how to take care of long hair, the right approach can depend on a variety of factors. However, one thing’s for sure: You have to understand the hair on your head to keep it healthy.
What does this all mean for long hair care? If anything, it should be comforting to know that everyone with long hair faces the same hurdles.
It also means that long hair is, well, a long game — you need to be dedicated to the care of your hair from day one.
Good care for long hair is a mix of preventative measures and maintenance to protect the cuticle in the immediate, short, and long terms.
Sure, the ends of your strands may have seen better days, but think about it this way: Every morning, you’re given a new chance to take better care of new growth.
Since your hair grows every day, you can prevent damage to your hair as well as strengthen it using the hair care tips for long hair we’ll cover below.
So, what makes long hair different from shorter hair? Truth be told, not much.
The only difference between hip-length hair and short hairs barely peeking out of your scalp is — literally — the length. A three-foot-long strand of hair is essentially the same at its base as a short strand.
It’s what happens toward the tip of the hair over time that makes them different. That’s why long hair calls for special care.
As your hair is exposed to the elements over time, wear and tear happens to the most critical part of the hair follicle: the cuticle.
Made up of dead, overlapping cells, the cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft. Like a suit of armor, its goal is to protect the inner, fragile parts of the hair fiber.
Longer hair is only different insofar as there’s more cuticle — and the cuticle has been exposed to the elements for much longer at the end than near the scalp.
The result of this is weathering, like a tattered flag in the wind. Sun exposure and other sources of damage have had more time to break away the cuticle’s armor-like scales, exposing hair follicles to breaks and splits.
Research has proven this. When looked at under a microscope, experts have seen that damage is more apparent at the oldest part of the shaft and less visible closer to the root, where the newest growth is.
It doesn’t matter in this particular case whether your hair is straight, curly, thin, or thick. Cuticle damage is just a result of time and length.
Let’s start with the basics – shampooing and conditioning. When it comes to long hair (or any hair, for that matter), it’s crucial to invest in hair care products appropriate for your hair type.
When buying shampoo, look for a mild, sulfate-free formula. Though sulfates are great at cleansing to remove dirt, sweat, and product residue, they can also be quite harsh, stripping hair of moisture and increasing friction and frizz. If you have long hair, that’s absolutely something you don’t want.
Also, keep in mind that shampoo is primarily used to clean your scalp, so avoid applying it to the full length of your hair. Instead, gently massage it into your scalp. When you’re ready to rinse, don’t rub or scrub it out. Instead, let the water flow over your hair, taking the shampoo with it.
After shampooing, use a nourishing conditioner to prevent dryness. The natural oils that may have washed away can be replenished with the right formula.
The purpose of conditioner is to moisturize and replenish, leaving hair in much better shape than just shampooing alone. It also reduces tangling, frizzy hair, and friction, allowing you to style your hair with greater ease.
Apply conditioner directly to your hair, focusing on the ends of the hair shaft, not your scalp and roots. This helps it really work on the areas that are drier or more damaged.
You can leave conditioner on for a few minutes before rinsing it out.
Sometimes, long hair may call for a little more TLC than regular shampooing and conditioning. This is especially true if you have very dry hair or chemically treated hair.
In these scenarios, consider using a weekly deep-conditioning treatment or a hair mask to nourish your hair and add additional moisture.
Before we move on from shampooing and conditioning, a word about towel drying. When you step out of the shower, go easy with the towel.
Aggressive towel-drying causes friction, rubbing your hair’s cuticles against one another. This can lead to damage and can eventually cause issues like splitting.
Air-drying is the best option. But if you must use a towel or hair wrap, gently squeeze your hair rather than vigorously scrubbing or buffing it.
If you’re wondering about your hair dryer, we’ll cover that in a sec. Spoiler: Giving your hair a quick blow-dry may do more harm than good.
While shampooing and conditioning is vital for healthy hair, another key piece of advice we can give you is to do less.
Lathering up frequently keeps hair clean at the expense of washing away those natural hair oils that protect the cuticle from getting damaged.
The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing your hair only when it becomes oily or dirty. This can mean different things for different people.
For example, you could be washing almost every day if your hair and scalp tend to get oily very quickly. On the other hand, folks with drier hair typically don’t need to wash their hair daily.
Try to keep it simple when styling long hair. Here’s what we recommend.
First off, it’s generally best to avoid styling your hair while it’s still wet. That’s because wet hair is more delicate than dry hair, meaning it’s more prone to damage and breakage.
Having said that, with long hair, some styling is typically needed to avoid those pesky tangles as hair dries. In this case, use gentle styling tools like a wide-tooth comb or a detangling hair brush to carefully brush your hair while it’s wet.
Heat- and chemical-styling can lead to brittle hair and breakage, so try to minimize these treatments. For instance, turning curly hair into straight hair with a flat iron or chemical straightener causes damage.
For heat, avoid blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and hot-oil treatments whenever possible. If you must heat-style your hair, use the lowest temperature setting, and also consider applying a heat-protectant before styling. Heat-protectant products (like hair serums and sprays) can help prevent damage to hair from high temperatures.
Chemical treatments can also wreak havoc on your hair. If you do treat your hair, try to space out the time between touch-ups for things like coloring, perming, or relaxing.
Also, keep it to one treatment at a time. For example, don’t color and relax your hair during the same appointment.
Long hair can be great to flip around, but sometimes, you just have to get it out of your way. A trusty scrunchie or hair elastic is perfect for a quick ponytail or braid.
However, these styles, particularly when they’re tight, can damage healthy hair follicles over time.
Styles that cause prolonged tension on your scalp can lead to a type of hair loss called traction alopecia, which can be permanent. So, braids, ponytails, and buns should be worn looser.
As mentioned, hair weathering is more common at the ends of the hair shaft. This makes total sense since the tips of your hair have been exposed to the elements far longer than your roots.
One way hair weathering can manifest is through split ends. This happens when hair’s protective armor (the cuticle) becomes damaged and frayed, causing the hair shaft to split at the end.
Regular trims by your stylist help remove the damaged ends of your hair while preventing the damage from traveling further up the hair shaft. On a purely aesthetic level, it can also improve how your long hair looks.
How often your hair needs a trim can vary by individual. A number you’ll often see suggested is six to eight weeks. But your stylist can make specific recommendations based on your hair type, how healthy your hair is, and whether you’re trying to grow it longer.
Does trimming hair make it grow faster? Our blog has answers.
You can follow an impeccable hair care routine and still end up with hair damaged by environmental factors. So, it’s important to take steps to protect your hair from the elements.
From UV (ultraviolet) rays to pool chemicals to air pollution, there are many environmental factors that can damage hair, regardless of length.
Follow the tips below to help protect your long hair:
Reduce sun exposure when the sun’s at its strongest, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
If you’re going to be outside in the sun, protect your hair by covering it (like with a wide-brimmed hat or silk scarf) or applying a hair product that contains SPF.
Avoid using tanning beds — it’s the same type of UV damage as the sun.
Gently rinse your hair after swimming in a pool to remove chlorine and other pool chemicals.
Limit outdoor activities when the air quality is poor or the wind is super strong.
Quit smoking or avoid areas where secondhand smoke is prevalent.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet isn’t just important for your overall health — it’s also vital for the health of your hair.
Certain nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are critical to hair health. In fact, having deficiencies in them can potentially lead to hair loss.
To keep your long locks healthy and luscious, ensure you’re getting enough of the following nutrients in your diet:
Biotin (vitamin B7)
Folic acid (vitamin B9)
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Zinc
Hers offers a variety of women’s vitamins and wellness supplements that support hair health and overall well-being.
If you’re seeing big-picture hair issues like thinning, patchy baldness, or increased hair shedding, you may want to look into professional support.
A healthcare professional can recommend products like topical minoxidil (generic Rogaine®) to help reduce hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair follicles.
The great thing about minoxidil is that it’s available over-the-counter (no prescription needed) in two formulations — a 2% liquid solution and a 5% foam.
Depending on the cause of your hair problems, a medical provider may also recommend other treatments, such as the medication spironolactone or low-level laser therapy (LLLT, or red light therapy).
Supplements (like a daily multivitamin) might also be beneficial if you have a nutritional deficiency. You can get a blood test to see if you’re deficient in any key nutrients.
Lastly, make sure to address any scalp problems. Not only can scalp conditions lead to symptoms like itching, dandruff, and hair loss, but they can impact hair growth as well.
Sticking to a good hair care routine can be difficult for anyone. That level of commitment only increases with hair length.
Here’s what to remember about how to take care of long hair:
Things like looking into proper shampoos and conditioners, restricting your use of heat and chemical styling, and not over-washing are all good places to start if you’re looking to keep your long, luscious locks intact.
Regardless of how long and lush you want your mane to be, there’s one central, essential trick you can use to protect it for the long term, and that’s to talk to a healthcare professional.
We know cosmetology is the domain of hair care, but in the bigger picture, your hair is part of your body. If you’re struggling with fragile follicles, damage, or excessive shedding, it may be a sign of bigger issues.
If the above tips don’t seem to be helping, a healthcare provider can speak to what may be causing the damage and can answer questions about hair loss and other issues you might be encountering.
Chatting with a dermatologist or trichologist is a great way to get started. These healthcare professionals specialize in managing conditions that affect your skin, hair, and nails and can give you individualized recommendations for keeping your hair happier and healthier for the long haul.
Take our free hair quiz to see what hair care products will work best for your unique needs, goals, and hair type.
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