Grow Longer Hair by Caring

Washing

Wash two to three times a week or if you have oily hair every other day.

To wash, dispense shampoo into the palm of your hand and message onto your scalp, concentrating on the roots.  Then wash out or for oily hair work a little down the shafts of hair to the ends, then wash out.

For most just cleaning our roots and top hair is enough, the less you wash the rest of your hair the less dry and deprived of natural oils it will be.

Conditioning

Do not over condition your roots and top hair.  For after shampooing, apply a palm size amount to shafts and ends of hair (all hair below the ears) or if you have short hair, just to the ends.  Leave in for 5 minutes at the least and rinse out.

Do a deep conditoning twice or at the lease once a month. Use conditioner or any home made hair conditoning product, links for those found at the bottom.

Apply conditioner all over hair, cover with shoer cap then towel and leave in for 30 minutes or more before rinsing out.

Last rinse before leaving the shower/tub give it a good soaking in cold water.  Cold water closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger, prevents dirt form accumulating within your scalp and makes your hair healthier and look glossy.

Wet Hair

To dry, squeeze excess water out then pat with a towel.  Do not rub, brush or use a blow drier.  This will damage the hair.  When hair is wet or damp it’s at its very weakest point.

When hair gets wet the water breaks down the natural hydrogen bonds in the hair.  They reform again when the hair dries but while wet, they are most fragile.

This explains how hair is able to be reshaped into different patterns when rolled (or set) on curlers or other related styling tools while wet or damp.

If you must detangle, use fingers or wide toothed comb.  Starting from the bottome working your way up, take your time.

Blow Drying

If you must blow dry your hair, for reasons like it's cold, your going to sleep or your going out.

Separate your hair into sections. The bigger the section, the longer it will take to dry. It's best to go for 4-6 sections, but make sure nothing is tangled. If you have thick or longer hair, try using clips to help. If your hair's a bit too short, you may want to just part it into two sections.

Start blow drying from the roots, about six inches away from your scalp. Maintain this distance throughout, so nothing burns. Never blow dry in an upwards motion, as this causes more damage. Plus, by drying the hair on your scalp, it prevents the moisture from soaking the rest of your hair.

Work your way down, and remember to move the blow dryer around, again, so nothing burns. If you simply focus the dryer on one spot for too long it will dry out and burn the hair, rather than simply drying it gently.

Leave your hair a little bit damp. Don't ever dry until your whole head is completely dry - you need to leave in some moisture, so your hair won't dry out, and become frizzy or damaged. Leave it tolerably damp, not so it soaks your clothes, but so it will dry naturally in about 5-10 minutes.

Finish with a blast of cold air, to lock in shine.  Just like rinsing with cold water last. Comb through your hair carfully with a wide toothed comb, or de-tangle it with your fingers. If needed, apply a moisturizing or anti-frizz serum and comb it through evenly. You can even use a tiny bit of olive oil for a more "natural" option.  Put a few drops in the palm of your hand and scrunch into your hair. These will work to keep your locks shiny and smooth.

Blow dryer I personally use.  It eliminates any damage from the blowing effect that most "blow" dryers have.  

Revlon RV440C 1200 Watt Ionic Hot Air Dryer and Styler, Blue

 There are vareations of this kind, like the white one below.  But I have found mine to be simply amazing.  It's like a dream come true in blowdryers!

Hair Brush Tools

Boar bristle brushes may seem old-fashioned, but they're a gentle solution for keeping hair in check. They make hair look shinier because they help evenly distribute the hair's natural oil from root to tip, and they're especially wonderful for damaged strands that need a milder touch.

Sleeping with your Hair

Most of us sleep on cotton pillowcases, but they absorb moisture from hair and skin (therefore also not good for your face), and the texture can also lead to more knots. For better hair every time you wake up, silk or satin pillowcases are the way to go. They're not nearly as absorbent, and their smooth surfaces keeps hair tangle-free.

You should also have your hair in a braid, bun on the top of your head (that will leave it wavy looking) or put up in some way that helps protect it from intangelment with it's self or you as you sleep!

Related Links:

your-own-shampoo
rinses-for-after-shampooing
Olive Oil Hair Treatment
healthy-hair-skin
Herbal Shampoo