Why is it then, that when it comes to haircare ingredients, we tend to draw a blank? So many ingredients, so little time; we hear on the grapevine that naturally derived ingredients are totally having a moment. But with all that info, how’s a busy girl ever to choose?
When it comes to maintaining your longest, strongest lengths, your hair knows exactly what it needs. And luckily, we do too. So, to bring a halt to breakage, here’s what your hair needs to save your last centimeters from a cut:
- Keratin: Whoever said patience is a virtue had never tried to grow long hair. Splitting and breaking, in need of a trim, it’s like waiting in a never ending queue. And whilst there’s no miracle solution to adding quick inches, creating the right environment for your hair to grow stronger for longer is definitely the way forward (and downward). For keratin, here’s the need-to-know: This protein makes up 88% of your natural hair fibre – think of it as your wardrobe’s favourite pair of jeans – it holds everything else together. But when your lengths get damaged by over-flat-ironing and blow-drying (you know who you are) or by pollution, stress, poor diet or crazy brushing, the keratin leaks out of the hair fibre, making it weak and a sucker for snapping. To tackle the issue head on, the L’Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Dream Lenghts range contains building block-like molecules that help compensate for the loss of keratin from the hair fibre. When it comes to bringing split ends and damaged hair back into line, it’s a total no-brainer.
- Castor oil: Sometimes the oldest secrets are the best ones, right? In order to give your hair the helping hand it needs to grow long and strong, castor oil is an ingredient that women have been using for centuries. Made from castor seeds, the oil is chock full of follicle-boosting omega fatty acids. A favorite amongst nutritionists and healthy living influences, omegas deliver a super dose of nourishment to the hair follicles, helping to coax them into optimum health. On top of everything else, castor oil is both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it brilliant for your scalp. So, L’Oréal Paris couldn’t resist adding cold pressed castor oil into Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream – a lightweight leave-in treatment that seals split ends.
- Vitamins: We realize it’s no newsflash to say that vitamins are good for you – but what they do for your hair is really quite specific. We already know how essential keratin is for growing longer, stronger hair. Take a step back, and vitamins are what helps your body make keratin in the first place. Not only that, but vitamins help protect the hair cuticle; so, your hair starts stronger and stays stronger, resisting the urge to snap. Now, let’s get down to specifics: vitamins B3 and PP (another member of the B family) have a particular talent for reinforcing the hair from the inside out. No prizes for guessing that when hair is more resilient on the inside, it feels empowered on the outside. Say “hello” to mermaid lengths.
Now, once you have the ingredients down pat, it’s all about the technique. To give yourself maximum room for growth, attention must be paid to how you care for your tresses. When using L’Oreal Paris Dream Lengths Shampoo supercharge the benefits of keratin, castor oil and vitamins by taking the time to massage the formula into every last inch of your scalp. We find that if your hair is already chest-length, shampooing twice every other day (as opposed to once every day) is the best way to get rid of residue and build-up. Cleansing and caring for your scalp as it goes, this ultra-nourishing shampoo is on a mission to repair without weighing your long lengths down.
Follow the shampoo with Dream Length Saviour Mask, (used weekly, and it delivers brilliant softness and shine). Then sit back; relax. Get back to making those green smoothies knowing your long, strong hair is in the very safest of hands.