Just like a watched pot doesn’t boil, the same analogy can be applied to growing long hair. While watched hair does in fact grow, sometimes it feels like an eternity to make progress when you’re trying so desperately to grow your hair out. There’s no question that growing long hair takes some serious patience and a bit of effort, but a few changes in your hair-care routine can help you attain mermaid-like strands. From hair-growth tips on how to grow hair to the products to stock up on and what to avoid, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to achieve your goal of lustrous, healthy long locks.
Get a Haircut
While it might sound counterintuitive, if growing your hair for a long hairstyle is your goal, regular trims are one way to help you achieve it. Though weekly trims are excessive, paying your hairdresser a visit every month or two to freshen up your ends will help encourage growth in your hair because you’ll be snipping off any damaged, dry or split ends. The ends of your hair can be years old—depending on the length of your locks—and they often display all the wear and tear that they’ve accumulated over multiple growth cycles. Snipping off just the ends of your soon-to-be long hair keeps your mane healthy and happy so it can go the distance.
Use a Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner
One of the simplest actions you can take to achieve healthy long hair is to swap out your regular shampoo and conditioner for one that strengthens your mane. L’Oréal Paris Dream Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner contain a cocktail of nourishing ingredients, like keratin and castor oil, to reinforce your locks and seal up split ends, both of which will help you maintain your length. This power duo is formulated to help mend and repair the last three centimetres of hair, which tend to be the driest and most damaged. Just lather, rinse and repeat every time you’re in the shower for a long-hair care routine that’s simple and effective.
Try a Weekly Treatment
The healthier your hair is, the less it will break off and split and the quicker you’ll get length. One way to strengthen your mane and maintain length is to incorporate a weekly deep-conditioning treatment into your shower sesh. L’Oréal Paris has a hair mask for every need and hair type, including L’Oréal Paris Dream Lengths Savior Mask, which is specifically formulated to help hair stay long and strong. Containing keratin and castor oil, it helps to mend damaged split ends to preserve long hair. Apply the mask to wet strands in the shower and leave it on for two to three minutes to let it work its magic. In addition to a great mask, adding a leave-in treatment to your hair care routine like L’Oréal Paris Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream will help to strengthen strands and mend split ends for an overall healthier mane.
Give Your Scalp Some TLC
Since your scalp is where all the action happens when it comes to hair growth, there’s a simple step you can take to kick-start your mane into growing: Give yourself a scalp
massage. Applying pressure to your scalp in circular motions helps to boost circulation and increase blood flow, which will in turn help to strengthen your hair as it grows. While a rubdown on dry hair works, to take it a step further, massage your dry hair and scalp with coconut oil. Full of essential vitamins and fatty acids, coconut oil nourishes your scalp for optimal length.
Fight the Urge to Bleach
It’s no secret that healthy hair is more likely to grow long than unhealthy hair, and one of the best ways to keep your mane in optimal condition is to avoid taking it more than two shades lighter than your natural hue. If you have a dark mane and ultra-blonde hair is what you’re after, you might have to compromise on length—or try extensions that match your platinum ‘do.
