Professional Haircare Tips for Long Hair
Every hair type is beautiful, diverse, and complex – caring for long hair is definitely a labor of love. The longer the hair, the more maintenance it requires; from shampooing and conditioning more frequently, to coloring and treatments.
Caring for long locks is both an art and a science. Let’s take a look at different hair types, and what it takes to keep it healthy.
How Long Is Long?
Most of us consider our hair ‘long’ once our usual haircut has almost completely grown out. We also have to consider our hair texture, the shrinkage on waves and curls is real! Long hair is considered either in measured length (inches) or with body markers, such as ‘shoulder’ length. Once the hair reaches the shoulder or shoulder blades, it is generally considered long. This hair is roughly 12-14 inches, regardless of strand pattern.
Tailoring Treatment for Your Tress
Why is it so important to tailor hair treatment to hair type? Different types of hair require different amounts of moisture. Curls need extra hydration and moisturizer to stay bouncy and flexible. The pH balance is also different by hair type, which makes it necessary to use products specifically designed for your hair type.
Here are some tips to care for each type of long hair to keep it healthy and always looking its best:
Color-Treated Hair
- Colored-treated hair needs to be washed with care to preserve color and prevent damage. It may be necessary to analyze water hardness, which can cause color to fade faster.
- When washing, use color safe shampoo and conditioner that helps to enhance color. Wash with cool to lukewarm water to maintain color for longer.
- Avoid other damaging hair options such as heat, chemical treatments, and rough handling. And don’t forget to protect your hair from the sun with a scarf, hat, or UV hair protecting spray.
Heat Damaged Hair
- Inject some major TLC with weekly reparative treatments. Follow up wash day with a pro-vitamin B5 serum – it’s a smoothing split end buster that works as a styling product and leave-in treatment.
- Utilize protective styles by wearing hair loosely braided or pulled back.
- Rehydrate the hair often, and employ a heat protectant oil or serum for any following heat styling.
Thinning Hair
- Encourage hair growth and hair repair with regular scalp treatments that feature herbs such as mint, nettle, and rosemary. Massage the scalp daily to provide much needed blood flow and oxygen.
- Avoid frequent or aggressive hair brushing, as that can be a leading cause of hairline hair loss.
- Incorporate a stimulating shampoo and conditioner to help with regrowth and faster growth.
Wavy & Fine Hair
- Define the shape and texture with lightweight styling products like natural hair gel or mousse.
- Build hair volume with occasional use of a dry shampoo to add texture and shape.
- Wavy hair needs frequent moisture from hydrating components like aloe vera and chia seed gel.
Wavy & Thick Hair
- Keep the hair hydrated and moisturized by adding oils and gels into every hair care routine, especially with long hair.
- Use a natural lightweight oil such as agran oil to condition, deep condition, and address split ends.
- Use a combination of moisturizing or creamy ingredients to keep the curl pattern defined and the hair feeling healthy.
Curly Hair
- Curls do best with lightweight hydrating products that maintain shape and style.
- Detangle before every style, using a detangling spray to prevent extra stress on each hair strand.
- Utilize protective styles by wearing the hair loosely pulled back.
- Rehydrate the hair often and utilize a heat protectant oil or serum for any future heat styling.
Coiled Hair
- Give the hair deep hydration with moisturizing treatments at least once or twice weekly.
- Brush from the ends up with lots of creamy detangling product and a wide comb or gentle brush.
- Supplement hair’s moisture levels by applying a topical oil that keeps the coils bouncy, not brittle.
Fine Straight Hair
- This type of hair needs frequent washing (3-6 times weekly) to stay clean and fluffy.
- Fine hair can look extra limp when it’s long, since the extra weight can make it fall flat. Use a volumizing shampoo to keep long, fine hair from falling flat.
- Avoid oily products or any styling products that linger in the hair or create buildup.
Coarse Straight Hair
- This is the secret when wondering how to style long hair, specifically when it’s coarse and straight: work with it while it’s damp. Use a spray bottle or style hair fresh out of the shower.
- As this can be the most stubborn – and rarest – hair type, some heat styling makes sense.
Natural Grey or White Hair
- Hair that has transitioned to gray has usually developed a coarser texture. To keep the hair manageable, we recommend a lightweight moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
- Avoid heat or color on this hair type, as the porous quality of the hair stands can be easily damaged.
Extensions
- If you’re wondering if a hair extension counts as a hair type, it absolutely does! Because extensions tend to be very thick, washing often will help prevent product buildup or weighing your natural hair down.
- Choose a shampoo and conditioner combo that maintains the shine and integrity of extensions. Citrus will nix bacteria and boost shine.
If you are trying to grow your medium-length locks into a luxurious mane, switch up your hair care routine with a shampoo and conditioner designed to remove buildup, while stimulating your scalp promoting healthy hair growth!
Click here to schedule an appointment online or call 727-785-7438 for a consultation. An Oasis Master Stylist will walk you through the process and provide you with the information you need to achieve the look you desire.
