I often get asked what exactly do I do for super long and thick locks and there isn’t just one answer to it so I thought why not make an article with my top 15 tips to get longer and stronger hair? Just as you care for your skin, you have to care for your tresses as well! It is rightly said what you put inside your stomach shows up on the outside and it is very important that you eat a healthy diet along with applying topical treatments to keep your mane healthy. Want to know what to do for super long mane? Below are my 15 tips for long hair –
15 TIPS FOR LONGER HAIR
NOT BRUSHING MY MANE
Not that I never brush my hair or you shouldn’t brush yours, I simply like the natural shape and the natural waves that they have. I skip combing after a wash and I only comb before the next wash to remove any severe tangles. Most of the times, I only finger comb. Harsh combing or frequent combing in my opinion can lead to breakage and falling and I think reducing the frequency of combing has really helped me maintain the thickness and length!
FENUGREEK
I swear by my overnight fenugreek mask and I absolutely love it. There have been a lot of published research work on the same and I think it really works for my hair. All I do is soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and use the water the next day as a 2 to 3 hour mask.
CURRY LEAVES
All my life, my mom has used curry leaf infused coconut oil on my tresses and it has really helped maintain the natural health of my hair. There has also been a lot of research work on the effectiveness of curry leaves on hair. All you can do is infuse dried curry leaves in coconut oil for a month and use it as a hair oil. You can also fry fresh curry leaves in coconut oil and then keep it infused for better extraction of essential components from curry leaves.
MORE: HOW TO USE CURRY LEAVES FOR HAIR GROWTH >>>
USING A SERUM
I always use a serum after I have washed my hair to detangle and moisturize my locks. I really love the body shop grapeseed oil glossing serum and L’Oreal mythic oil and these two oils are something I have been using for a pretty long time. Even livon serum is something I keep recommending because it is affordable and works pretty well. A serum helps seal in the moisture and keeps your hair soft and manageable. If you have frizziness during the monsoon or even otherwises, you have to use the serum.
HOT OIL TREATMENTS FOR LONGER TRESSES
I absolutely love my hot oil champis! A combination of castor oil and coconut oil or just any other commercial hair oil works well when warmed and then used. Not only does a hot oil treatment nourish your scalp and hair but it boosts growth and stimulates follicles.
AVOCADO AND BANANA MASKS
Avocado and banana are two of my favorite moisturizing and conditioning ingredients. It is great to prevent and repair any damage and keep your locks super shiny and silky. Simply blend these two ingredients together until smooth and add in some milk if you want or honey. Use it as a one hour mask before shampooing.
MONTHLY SCALP DETOX
It is really important to detox your scalp at least once a month to remove all that product buildup and to unclog your follicles and stimulate growth. You can make your own scalp detoxing scrub or hair mask with bentonte clay or kaolin clay. Mix these clays with enough warm green tea and use it as a scrub and 30 minute mask before shampooing.
TOP KNOT
I always have my hair in a top knot or high bun and that keeps my hair from falling and keeps it in good shape! I really feel this works because you don’t end up combing frequently or touching your hair frequently and this really keeps your hair in good condition.
REGULAR TRIMS
Not that getting a trim is going to make your hair longer but I’ll tell you why this is necessary. Have you noticed when you don’t cut your hair for a longer period, it starts getting thinner and thinner at the ends? Getting a trim keeps your hair thicker from the root to the bottom and it also keeps split ends away.
STAYING AWAY FROM HEAT TREATMENTS
I cannot stress more on the importance of staying away from heat treatments. It might make your tresses look temporarily really good but in the long run, it is just going to make your hair dry and damaged. Getting your mane straightened or going for a curl is okay once a month or once in two months but do not overdo it on a regular basis to keep your hair healthy and longer.
HEALTHY EATING FOR HEALTHY LOCKS
Like I mentioned earlier, what you eat is what reflects on the outside, it is really important to eat well-balanced diet and good amount of essential fatty acids. Stick to oils that do not cause any internal information like coconut oil, ghee or clarified butter, olive oil etc. Also make sure you are having good amount of protein in your diet
REVERSE WASHING
I am sure I have talked about reverse washing a lot of times on my Instagram account and this is something I have been doing unknowingly for a pretty long time, it is only recently that I discovered that the way I wash my hair is called as reverse washing. Because I have pretty long hair, I wash it under the tap because I find it easier that way and I did see my hair growing super long so quickly! It is only later that I realized it is because I wash in a certain way. Now, I also apply oil or do champi in a similar manner.
GHEE
Using clarified butter to massage your scalp and hair and using it as a mask is an age-old remedy in India and it is commonly used here for hair and health. Simply apply warm ghee on your scalp and hair and massage for a few minutes. Use a shampoo after 1 to 2 hours.
FLAX SEED GEL
Flax seed gel is rich in essential fatty acids that make your hair follicles super strong and as shiny. All you need to do is cook whole flaxseeds in water until you get a gel like consistency. Use a stocking or a strainer with bigger holes/mesh to strain out the gel. Use it as a hair mask two hours before shampooing.
ALOE VERA GEL FOR SHINY LOCKS
This is one of the simplest way to make your hair instantly look bouncy and healthy and I swear by this one ingredient hair mask. All you need to do is cut open an aloe vera leaf and rub the gel on your scalp and hair. Let it sit for 2 to 3 hours before you use a shampoo.
