Maintain Long Hair| Expert Tips for Luscious Long Hair
Looking for long hair tips?
You’ve come to the right place.
There is a simple truth when it comes to caring for long hair. It needs proper maintenance. Take time to look after it and you’ll be rewarded with hair that looks and feels great, plus it can be healthy too.
I’ve been working with hair for over 35 years and whilst long hair requires more maintenance, it’s worth putting the time in to get the swishy, shiny hair you’ve always wanted.
Build a good long hair care routine and once you get into the rhythm of a weekly routine, you’ll find it’s easy to maintain.
Keep reading to discover my expert long hair tips and get your long hair in the best condition.
Yes, you have long hair. No, this doesn’t mean that you only need to visit the hairdresser once a year.
Long hair needs regular trims to prevent split ends.
Split ends can make hair look frizzy and become weak and brittle. Visit your hairdresser about every 6-8 weeks for a trim. Regular trims will rejuvenate your hair and keep the style looking sharp.
Long hair is more prone to split ends and if left unchecked, they can ride up the hair shaft, having hair looking dull and frizzy.
I understand (and sympathise) that washing long hair can feel like a chore. However, regular shampooing and conditioning is essential to keep long hair looking healthy and shiny.
Greasy long hair attracts dirt and without regular cleansing and conditioning hair can become seriously dull.
Maintain your shine with good quality hair products that look after the health of your hair.
That way you can make the most of your swingy, shiny hair!
3. Give your Long Hair a Treatment
Treat your hair to a deep conditioner and you will reap the rewards with hair that is hydrated and healthy.
It will be the best use of 10 minutes and you get to sit back and relax as your hair soaks up some TLC. What’s not to love?
I recommend deep conditioning for all hair types and it’s the best thing you can do for your hair.
I believe that deep conditioning is the foundation for healthy, shiny hair and I regularly share my expert knowledge on how to get the most from hair masks and deep conditioners.
It can be tempting to rake a brush through your hair then make a dash for the door.
My advice? Don’t. Rough brushing is the fastest way to break your hair and since you’ve spent so long growing those lovely locks, take some time for gentle brushing.
Choose the right brush for your hair. If you have long, straight hair, try the Paddle Brush.
With padding at the back and shorter bristles, the paddle brush is more gentle on long lengths of hair. The bristles are the same size so it will prevent tangling and this brush is great for increasing shine.
For long, wavy hair the round brush is the best choice.
5. Give Heat the Cold Shoulder
With so much hair to blow-dry or style with heated appliances, it stands to reason that you are going to be applying harsh heat to your hair for a longer time. To minimise heat damage, turn down the heat on your hairdryer and at least once a week, let your hair air-dry and give your heated stylers the cold shoulder. Try not to over-dry your hair.
If you are not sure if you are over-drying your hair, time how long you dry your hair for on a normal day. The next day reduce that time by 1 minute and see what difference it makes to your hair. You can keep doing this every day until you find the right amount of drying time for your hair. Chances are, by going through this process you’ll find your hair needs less drying time than you think.
I recommend Styling Mist for Glossy Finish when blow-drying your hair. You can give damp hair 2-3 spritzes of Glossy Mist before you blow-dry your hair. Containing sugar beet this sugar spray for hair helps hair retain moisture and combat the dry effects of blow-drying hair.
Plus it contains pro vitamin b5 to condition hair along with tiny bubbles of argan oil and keratin that temporarily seal split ends. It leaves hair with a super shiny finish.
Styling Mist for Glossy Finish is a sugar spray. It contains Sugar Beet to smooth the cuticle, seal split ends, add moisture and help dry hair retain moisture.
When conditioning long hair, it’s good to treat it like your most delicate item of clothing. We are talking about that beautiful silk dress or that soft cashmere sweater that you love to pair with your favourite jeans.
Hair is a delicate natural fabric and gentle is the watchword when caring for your hair.
Follow my simple steps when conditioning long hair.
1. Choose a Microfibre Towel
After shampooing and rinsing, gently squeeze the excess water out of your hair. A microfibre towel is a good choice here. The smooth surface of the fabric will protect the hair shaft and prevent damage to the hair.
2. Apply a Small Amount of Conditioner
Once excess water has been removed from the hair, its time to get to work with the conditioner. Start by applying a small amount of conditioner into the palm of your hands and rub the conditioner between your palms. This will warm up the product and help to ensure you get an even spread of conditioner on your hair.
3. Start at the Ends of Your Hair
Start applying conditioner at the ends of your hair and working your way up. Gently feed the conditioner into the ends of your hair and move towards the mid-lengths. If you need more conditioner, simply add more. Layering product in this way is a good way of ensuring you don’t overload the hair with excess conditioner.
4. Leave your Conditioner on for Longer
Leave your conditioner on for longer. Leaving your conditioner on for a couple of minutes will give hair an extra boost.
5. Avoid Hot Water
Rinse the conditioner from the hair using warm water. Avoid washing your hair in high temperatures. Heat in any form, whether it’s from the tap or the hairdryer can be drying for hair. So simply avoid excessive heat.
6. Gently Blot Water out of the Hair
Once rinsed, its time to reach out for your microfibre towel again. Gently blot the water out of the hair, being careful not to rub. Start at the ends and gently work you way up the hair. You are ready to go, style as normal.
How do you maintain long hair naturally?
Follow my long hair tips for the best way to maintain long hair naturally.
1. Regular Trims
Get rid of split ends with regular trims.
2. Regular Cleansing
Shampoo and condition hair regularly with good quality products.
3. Maintain Moisture
Treat long hair to a weekly deep condition to maintain moisture.
4. Choose the Right Hairbrush
A paddle brush for long, straight hair.
Or a round brush for long hair with waves.
5. Reduce Heat
Reduce the amount of heat you apply to hair and choose styling products that condition the hair.
Honestly, the best long hair care routine is that one that works for your hair.
What I mean by that is that it’s individual.
My long hair tips above are a great place to start.
However, I recommend that you incorporate those steps into your own hair care routine and see what results you get.
For example, you may find that regular shampooing and conditioning for your hair works best when you do it 2 to 3 times a week.
On the other hand, if your hair is particularly fine, you may find it’s best to shampoo and condition every day. It really depends on your hair.
So, the best thing is to think about the long hair tips above, incorporate them and work out your own long hair care routine.
Is Long Hair Healthy?
Long hair can be healthy. However it is more prone than shorter hair to become dry and it can be prone to split ends, becoming brittle that can result in breakage. This can absolutely be avoided with the right hair care routine. Follow my long hair tips above to develop your own routine of looking after your long hair.
How do you take care of thick long hair?
If your long hair is thick or coarse, chances are the biggest challenge is preventing it from becoming dry. That’s because thick and coarse hair types are more prone to becoming dry. So, that means your focus should be on adding moisture at every opportunity.
Follow my tips for taking care of long, thick hair.
1. Condition Your Hair
Every time you shampoo your hair, follow with a good quality moisturising conditioner.
2. Leave Conditioner for Longer
Leave the conditioner in for longer if you can. Let thick hair soak up the nourishing ingredients before you rinse.
3. Long, thick Hair needs Moisture
Shampoo and condition hair regularly. Long, thick hair needs plenty of moisture so regular conditioning with a quality product is key.
4. Leave your Conditioner on for Longer
Leave your conditioner on for longer. Leaving your conditioner on for a couple of minutes will give hair an extra boost.
5. Microfibre Towels are Best
Choose a microfibre towel to gently blot water our of your hair after rinsing. This helps to avoid roughing up the cuticle and damaging the hair.
6. Choose Styling Products that Add Moisture
Choose styling products that add moisture to the hair. This is a great opportunity to add moisture to the hair and helps with preventing heat damage.
7. Deep Condition
Use a weekly deep conditioner to add extra moisture to long, thick hair. If the hair is excessively dry you can use Restore and Shine Hair Masque twice a week for a couple of weeks and then revert back to once a week.
8. Don't Brush too Much
Avoid overbrushing the hair and if the hair is curly, there is no need to brush. You can get rid of tangles, after washing, by gently feeding your conditioner into the ends and mid-lengths of the hair using your fingers.
Long Hair | Take Aways
Follow my long hair tips for the best way to maintain long hair naturally.
1. Routine, Routine, Routine
Routine is essential when caring for long hair.
2. Don't Skip the Trim
Keep split ends in check for your best hair.
3. Moisture Matters
Weekly deep conditioning will help you locks stay lush and strong.
4. Style it Right
From using the correct brush for your hair type, to using moisture-boosting styling products to reducing the heat, the smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.
Norris Ogario is founder and Creative Director of Ogario London. Developed in his London salon, the Ogario London haircare products reflect his belief that hydration is the key to fixing most hair problems. Hydrated hair can be styled with ease. Plus, hydration leaves hair shiny and healthy. Norris has over 35 years of hair know-how. With expertise in all hair types; from dry hair to fine or grey hair, from frizzy to damaged or bleached hair, curly hair and afro hair, Norris offers his expert advice.
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Ogario London is a salon developed range of natural hair care products. Because we are passionate about our products, delivering the best results is at the heart of what we do. Do you have questions about our products? Or, would you like advice on the best products for your hair type? Maybe have another question about how to look after your hair? If you do, please get in touch at info@ogariolondon.com.
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Restore and Shine Hair Masque was awarded best hair mask in the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible Awards. As an independent hair care brand, we are incredibly proud to be recognised alongside some of the industry’s biggest haircare brands. Because I spend time ensuring that our products deliver the best results, I couldn’t be happier to get this review and win this prestigious award.