Five Habits Essential for Protecting Your Length

Achieving long, healthy natural hair requires an optimal hair routine. Last week we discussed five bad hair habits that will destroy the length you’ve worked so hard for. Now that you know what you shouldn’t do, here are five habits that are essential to a healthy hair routine that will protect your length.

Moisture is King

You’ve heard it before, but this cannot be stated enough. Keeping your tresses moisturized is the most important thing you can do to retain length. Water-based moisturizers, like Curly Satisfaction Leave-in Balm, are easily absorbed into the hair shaft. Another option is a penetrating oil-based moisturizer, like Honey Love Moisturizer. After you’ve given your hair a dose of vital moisture, use an oil or butter to seal the ends.

Deep Condition

Styling, manipulation, the environment and stress can wreak havoc on tresses, leaving them dull and lifeless. Rejuvenate hair by injecting an extra boost of moisture. Do this by making deep conditioning part of your healthy hair routine. A good deep conditioner like the Olive You Deep Conditioner will hydrate tresses without weighing them down, make detangling easier and restore elasticity.

Strengthen Hair

Keeping a proper protein/moisture balance is crucial to retaining length. The hair is made mostly of protein. Therefore protein is needed to maintain the strength of the hair and fortify weakened strands. Strengthen hair with a periodic protein treatment like Honey & Horsetail Reconstructor, which will help repair damage and make hair more resistant to breakage. A hydrating, leave-in treatment like Hair Do Right, repairs damage, controls frizz and seals split ends. Not sure how often your hair needs protein? Consult with your stylist.

Do Pre-poo

Shampoo can dry hair out. Offset this damaging effect by prepping hair with a simple pre-shampoo treatment. Apply olive oil or coconut oil to hair and cover with a plastic bag. Sit under a hooded dryer or wrap hair with a warm towel. Olive oil and coconut oil are among the few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft—rather than just sitting on the surface. The heat helps the oil to penetrate deeper. After thirty minutes, wash hair as usual. Your hair will be soft, shiny and easier to detangle.

Trim Ends When Needed

Clients often resist getting ends trimmed because they want to hold onto their length. However, if split ends aren’t trimmed they will continue to split, further damaging hair. This also causes tangling, which jeopardizes undamaged strands. Pay attention to your hair. If you’re frequently experiencing single-strand knots, carefully check for split ends. Don’t be afraid to get hair trimmed, as needed. Rather than focusing on the small amount being trimmed, recognize that this is a vital step in retaining the rest of your length.

Retaining length is the key to healthy, long tresses. Now that you know which bad habits to avoid and which habits are essential to a healthy hair routine, you can make needed adjustments that will protect the length you’ve worked so hard for.