How to Grow My Hair to My Waist
Long, healthy hair is a sought-after and coveted beauty asset. Unlike pricey hair extensions, which instantly lengthen your tresses, naturally long locks take time and effort to achieve. If you are set on having a glorious mane of waist-length hair, be prepared to follow a healthy lifestyle and tend your tresses. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Deep-conditioning treatment
- Multivitamins
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Wide-tooth comb
- Boar's bristle brush
- Swim cap
- Hat or scarf
Instructions
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Start with a trim. While cutting hair in order to grow it seems like a contradiction, damaged ends must be removed. Split ends can travel up the hair shaft and inhibit growth. Have a stylist trim only the dead ends. Once your ends are in shape, you'll need to baby them to prevent new damage. Use a deep strengthening conditioner or hot oil treatment once a week. Be sure to distribute the product on the ends of your hair. Give yourself a scalp massage often to stimulate follicle circulation.
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Select products that do not leave a chemical build-up. Unless you have a very oily scalp, avoid washing your hair daily. This allows natural oils to coat the hair shafts. Mix a little water in with your shampoo to minimize drying effects, apply only to scalp, and rinse it down strands. Use conditioner after shampooing, and work through to ends. Be especially cautious with fragile wet hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle damp, just-washed hair.
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Avoid heat styling and very hot water when you wash your hair. All heat, especially flattening irons, blow drying and curling irons can damage hair shafts. If you must use these for styling, apply a heat-activated silicone-based sealing product. Opt for letting your hair air dry as much as possible, and alternate days when you use heat-styling tools. Consider using a boar's bristle brush, which works natural oils throughout the hair without damaging it.
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Wear a swim cap, or coat your hair with deep conditioner if you must expose your hair to saltwater or chlorine. Protect hair from UV rays with a hat or scarf, or use a salon product designed to prevent UV damage. Refrain from any chemical processing while growing tresses.
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Eat a diet rich in vitamins B, C and E, and include plenty of protein. Diet is one of the most important factors in growing hair. Include soy, eggs, yogurt, beans, fresh colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains in your diet. Consult your physician before taking supplements, but consider a good multivitamin to give your hair a solid nutrient base for growth.
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Improve circulation, which aids hair production, by adding daily exercise. Avoid stress, excessive fats, sugar, smoking and caffeine.
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Tips & Warnings
Hair grows at a rate of about 1/2" a month. Have a trim every three or four months during the growing period to keep split ends minimal and allow for continued growth.
Do not use elastic bands or any accessory that may damage strands.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit my long hair image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com
