February 12, 2018
Top: Shein only $13!| Jeans: Nordstrom | Shoes: Nordstrom, Target dupe | Earrings: Similar
If you clicked on this post looking for the magic trick to long hair, you’re in the wrong place. Trust me, I’ve tried a plethora of vitamins and hair masks. There isn’t just one thing that can help you grow long, strong hair. It is a combination of healthy habits that give you the best locks possible.
I’ve always had long hair. ALWAYS. My mom kept it long when I was little and it kind of felt like my thing. Each night before bed my mom would braid my hair so I wouldn’t get tangled up in it while I slept. When I slept over at a friend’s house I’d have them braid my hair for me, and when my mom was busy my dad would even braid it! Bless him. A few years ago I cut it off above my shoulders and I ached to have my long hair back. Tip: never cut your hair for a boy. However, I ended up marrying that boy, so I suppose it worked out. I keep my hair long for me, and I love it.
I have recently had a lot of people ask me if my hair is real. No joke! And yes, it is real. I do not wear hair extensions. I have some clip-in extensions that I have worn for pictures before, but 98% of my pics are of my real hair and nothing added. I would love for my hair to appear thicker, and extensions are the trick to that, but I honestly forget that I even own any and never put them in. All pictures here are with NO extensions.
So, how do I keep my hair long and healthy?
A Balanced Diet
Your body is a product of what you feed it. I try my best to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in my diet. Check out my weekly grocery list to see which ones I keep in my fridge. A variety of vitamins and minerals are key to growing long hair. Iron, B vitamins, zinc, and vitamin D are on the top of the list. Sure, you can get these in multivitamins or a specific hair, skin and nail vitamin, but why not just include them in your regular diet. Add foods like dark leafy greens (asparagus, spinach, broccoli), whole grains (whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta), and red meat to your diet if you haven’t already. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water!
Physical Activity
Now that all of the vitamins and minerals are in your system, you need to get that blood pumping. Exercise promotes blood circulation, which in turn, will get those vitamins and minerals moving throughout your body so they can do their job. If you’ve been reading the blog these past few months, you know I’ve been training for a half marathon. When I’m not training I workout about four or five times a week doing cardio (running, treadmill, elliptical), body weight exercises, and free weight exercises. I have a few exercise diaries that share more about a typical week worth of workouts.
Less Stress is Best
I’m talking stress on your hair. I put minimal heat on my hair. I take advantage of every chance to let my hair air dry. I also only curl my hair about twice a week. Luckily, my curls hold pretty well, so I can get away with second day curls. Get creative with different styles to avoid using hot tools each day. The day after I curl my hair I’ll wear it half up, and on the third day it will likely end up in a pony tail. Hair washing frequency is also very important.
I’m sure you’ve heard, but you should not wash your hair every day! If only high school me knew that. I wash my hair two to three times a week. Dove dry shampoo gets me through to the next wash.
Another source of stress on your hair…hair ties! I only use tight hair ties when I exercise. These classic elastics pull and break your hair. When I’m around the house doing chores or lounging around I wear invisibobbles. I even where these when I run errands. They do a good job keeping my hair back without pulling and breaking. When I go to bed I like to keep my hair out of my face. I wear scrunchies to bed. Thank goodness they’re back in style.
Do you have any tricks or tips that keep your hair healthy? Share in the comments!
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