Tips For Long, Healthy Hair
People think that they have to lay off color services or hot tools to have healthy hair. Guess what? You don’t. I promise that if you follow these tips for long, healthy hair, you’ll definitely see an improvement in your hair’s integrity.
I am a blow drying, hot-tool-using color addict, and my hair is perfectly healthy. I’ve gone through phases where I color my hair at least once a week (seriously) and straighten/curl/blow-dry/do something to my hair every single day.
The secret isn’t in laying off chemical services or hot tools. It’s using the right products in the right way.
Hair I styled for a shoot with Zeta Gao
Here are four simple steps to having the best of both worlds and living everyday with perfectly colored, styled and healthy hair:
1. Make sure you’re using the right shampoo and conditioner. Time and time again, I swear by Enjoy products. They’re sulfate-free and pH balanced so you know you’re taking care of your hair.
2. Make sure your stylist is using the right product and techniques. Have highlights? Make sure she’s not overlapping previously lightened areas. Change your hair a lot? Make sure your stylist plans ahead with different styles so you’re not going from black to red to platinum in three months.
3. Use the right techniques when using hot tools. When blow drying, don’t let the nozzle touch your hair shaft at any point. It’ll mess up your hair and brush if you’re using one. When flat ironing or curling, use a heat protectant. Easy.
4. Get your hair trimmed regularly. I know, I know. You’re growing your hair out. But you still need regular trims, because let’s be honest… There’s nothing tackier looking than long hair that has four inches of damage. You don’t have to part with much: I’m talking 1/8 of an inch every 8 weeks or so. (Your hair grows 1/4 of an inch a month, so I promise that it’s growing faster than what you’re cutting off.)
Me, working on set with one of my favorite make-up artists!
My go-to products for repairing damaged hair and maintaining healthy hair:
1. Lanza Trauma Treatment is a lotion that smells like a vacation on the beach and gives your hair triple UV protection (most sunscreens don’t even have that). It’s got a healing formula in it, so you’ll have noticeably smoother and softer hair. This is especially great for people who color their hair with a “fun” color (red, blue, purple, pink…) because it extends haircolor up to 107%, extending the time between color treatments.
2. Matrix Instacure. I swear this is magic in a bottle. This product has been around since the 80s when girls were perm addicts and the formula hasn’t changed since then because it’s the best. Every girl who has fine hair that breaks off at the ends needs this.
3. Enjoy Hair Mask is the best luxury conditioner on the market. You only need to use a small, dime-sized amount on your hair once a week and you’ll have less breakage and less dryness, which means softer and more manageable hair.
4. DIY Coconut Oil Mask: Check out my how-to here.
