MY SECRETS FOR LONG AND HEALTHY HAIR
I often get asked about my secrets for long and healthy hair. And it never fails that each time I get asked that question, I feel a little surprised. If there’s one thing I would never in a million years guessed anyone would ever say about me, it’s “she has great hair!” Let me explain..
My hair is naturally curly and fine. Growing up, I hated it! Especially because my sisters were lucky enough to get the beautiful, silky, thick Asian hair gene. I was so jealous.
So all through my teenage years, I was convinced that if I didn’t get my haircut, it could be long and look great. I also constantly styled it and got really into the whole ombre thing at one point too. (I haven’t dyed my hair in probably 6+ years though!) Naturally, my hair became damaged and unhealthy. On top of that, when I was on Accutane (you can read all about my skincare journey here), my hair became extremely dry and thin as a side effect. Like, I was pulling out chunks of my hair in the shower.. Needless to say, I was scared.
that's when I realized that I've put my hair through a lot and something had to change.
My goal was to have long, healthy hair. Was it possible at this point?
It takes patience, educating yourself on hair-health, and breaking some bad hair habits. But the answer is yes. Throughout my journey to long, healthy hair, I’ve learned so much that I wish I knew sooner. So today, I’m sharing all my secrets to long and healthy hair and how I got here.
1. use the right products
Finding the right products to use is key to promoting and protecting healthy hair. I learned that you definitely get what you pay for with some products and not all hair products/ingredients are regulated. Certain hair products leave a film on your hair and scalp – causing build-up, breakage, and clogged hair follicles which prevents hair growth. So, do your research! Learn about what’s in a product and how it affects your hair before purchasing.
Since my hair is fine and tends to be on the drier side, I use hair products that give my hair lots of moisture without weighing it down. So here’s what I use: this shampoo and conditioner for both moisture and strengthening. And once a week, I’ll use this scalp scrub to remove product build-up and this hair mask for extra moisture.
For styling products, I use this brush and then apply this Nutritive blow dry primer/heat protectant on damp hair after showering and this hair oil after styling – focusing especially on my ends! Between washes, I use this dry shampoo. (I’ve tried a lot of dry shampoos and honestly, they all seem to do the same thing for me. So I like this one for the price and scent.)
And finally, for hair tools, I use this curling wand the most and this hair dryer (if I’m not air-drying my hair). But I also love a few other curling tools! See below for the full round-up.
*I’ve also been taking these Nutrafol supplements since July 2021 and have seen a huge difference in my overall hair health! Would 10/10 recommend trying if you struggle with hair growth or hair loss.
HAIR PRODUCTS I LOVE
HAIR TOOLS I USE
2. get trims every 6-8 weeks
One of my secrets to long and healthy hair starts with getting my haircut religiously, every 6-8 weeks, from Piper at Salon Visage Knoxville. Doing so, I’ve learned so much and have grown my hair longer and healthier than ever.
Even though it’s a myth that getting your haircut makes it grow faster, regular trims will prevent unhealthy split ends and breakage. As a result, your hair will appear to grow longer in a shorter amount of time because the hair will break less. Finding a hair dresser that can educate you on your hair and help you work towards your hair-goals is really important.
That’s why I’m so thankful for Piper. She knows exactly what my hair needs and helps me understand how to take better care of my hair. Throughout the years I’ve been getting my hair cut by her, she’s become an amazing friend. Giving me the tools, knowledge, and product recommendations to reach my hair goals.
3. be nice to your hair
Another one of my secrets to long and healthy hair is that I’m a lot nicer to my hair and scalp now.
My hair is naturally curly so it can be harder to manage, especially when it’s wet or tangly. At times, it’s tempting to force a brush through my tangles or rough-dry it with a towel after a shower. But, resist! Hair is far more fragile and susceptible to damage when it’s wet.
I’m very careful when drying my hair: gently press the water out and let it at least partially dry before putting in product, blow-drying, or brushing. And when I’m ready to brush my hair, I use this hair brush that helps gently detangle my hair – starting at the ends and working my way up to my roots.
I also opt for hairstyles that extend my blow out or curls to avoid putting heat back on my hair after I’ve already styled it the day before. Thankfully I can typically get two days out of curling my hair just once. I’ll do a top-knot or low bun/pony-tail on the third day before washing again. Then sleep in a loose braid or bun with a scrunchie to avoid waking up with major bedhead/ruining my curls.
And to give my hair a break from heat/styling altogether, I air-dry my hair completely and let my hair go naturally curly any chance I get. (Easier to do in the warmer months since I’m not really worried about catching a cold!) I always see such a big difference in my overall hair health after wearing it natural/avoiding heat for a while.
4. use hair extensions for volume
Yep! This is one of my biggest secrets for long and healthy hair! Who knew?!
I recently discovered and have been wearing these hair extensions for added volume.After a few friends convinced me and doing research about the best clip-in hair extensions I wanted to try them for a while now!
and here's what I think of them
There are a lot of options when it comes to hair extensions. I have this 20″ seamless set. I’m really happy with them and they’re comfortable to wear! They’re also unnoticeable and match my hair color perfectly, which is something I was nervous about. (You can get more information on finding the right set and shade of Luxies here.)
For the most part, I only need to wear one of the widest wefts and two others on the side. And I cut them to the length of my natural hair to blend better, since I wear them for volume, not so much length. But I do like the fact that you can add length to your hair instantly if you want to!
Hair extensions make getting more of your hair cut off SO much easier, because you can always wear them to add length back – if that’s something you’re worried about.
my secrets for long and healthy hair
And, there you have it, friends! Those are all of my secrets for long and healthy hair. It takes time, patience, and educating myself on total hair health to get my hair where I want it to be. But it is SO worth it. And it was a lot of work to recoup the damage I did to my hair when I was younger. Now I take these strides to keep my hair healthy, because I don’t ever want that to be the case again.
So what do you think of my secrets for long and healthy hair? Do you have any tips for long and healthy hair?
About Madison
I'm Madison - a northern gal planting roots down south. Musings by Madison is your guide to classic style, beauty, home decor & more. Rooted in passion for encouraging others to curate a closet, home, and life they’re proud of and inspired by each day.
Learn more...
