January 16, 2024
Long hair is the dream of so many girls: long, swishy, soft, and silky, framing the face and giving it that sophisticated goddess allure . However, there's a danger lurking all around these locks: the dreaded split ends . It's a good idea to get a haircut every three to four months, but we all know that hairdressers are considered the number one enemy of those who want to keep their hair longer. This is actually a misconception , as it causes hair to become damaged, frayed, and split ends to form.
Cristiano, our legendary hair stylist , confirms: cutting them regularly, even just a few centimetres, is essential to keep your hair in order and make it grow quickly .
Besides being patient , we thought we'd put together a guide for our long-hair lovers, to help you become the new Federica Panicucci or Kim Kardashian, who show off enviably long blonde and raven hair.
Long hair: how to get it?
First of all, remember: patience. There are no miracle methods because hair growth is a physiological phenomenon that can't be radically changed: it depends on the health of your hair and scalp, a favorable environment, the products you use, and...even the moon. However, you can speed it up and use a few little tricks to minimize hair loss . Here are our tips:
Use a suitable brush
Long hair is prone to knots, and if you accidentally try to untangle it with the wrong brush, you risk doing more harm than good, pulling out strands or weakening it. Choose brushes made from natural materials , like wood or bamboo, and with the right shape for your hair type and the style you're aiming for.
Brush your hair properly
Did you know that you may have spent your entire life combing your hair the wrong way?
Read this step carefully to save your long hair: forget about brushing from root to tip. When your hair is dry, brush starting from the ends and then gradually working your way up to the scalp; this will help you avoid breaking the lengths and creating further knots that are even more difficult to untangle.
Be careful even when your hair is wet : to detangle it in the shower, use only a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. When your hair is damp or wet, it is even more fragile and prone to irreparable damage!
Take care of your diet
If you feel like your hair isn't growing anymore, it's probably due to a poor diet, lacking in amino acids, proteins, or vitamin D , which are essential for cell turnover and hair growth. Eat more eggs, especially the yolks, and introduce salmon, herring, and canned tuna into your diet, and you'll see your hair take on a whole new look.
Of course, the results will be visible after some time and – above all – with consistency, but if you think you need an extra boost, consider taking supplements designed specifically to give you the vitamins and elements necessary to keep your hair strong and healthy.
Be careful of the sun and smog
If you find yourself in a city with a constant cloud of smog or spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, be careful. Just like our skin, which needs to be protected with creams containing sunscreens and shielding from microparticles, our hair should also be protected from these agents, such as protective oils , such as Alfaparf's All-in-1 Fluid.
For extra protection from the sun's rays, wearing a hat is always a great solution, especially in spring and summer.
Banish the straightener and limit the blow dryer
Mechanical stress certainly doesn't help your hair! If you use a straightener or brush every time you wash your hair, it's inevitable that it will break, or at least not grow: damaged hair doesn't grow.
There are many techniques and accessories (such as some types of curlers) that can help you get a perfect style even without heat . The results can be truly surprising!
Use “protective” hairstyles when you sleep
After your evening skincare routine, remember to show your love to your long hair: don't wear it loose, but opt for a loose braid or high bun (always loose). This way, your hair won't rub against the pillow, preventing tangles and breakage.
If laziness assails you, you can collect them in a silk cap , a material that does not damage the hair with rubbing, or even use a pillowcase made with this precious fabric.
Pamper your hair daily
Conditioning is a must for every shampoo you use, and once a week, apply a mask to your hair, making sure it's nourishing and hydrating. The longer your hair is, the less natural oil it will have, because it's further from the scalp. That's why we need to think about this, using the right products to maintain proper hydration.
Don't tie your hair too tightly
Among the main enemies of long hair we also find elastic bands.
Some models, in fact, can break hair (especially fine hair with a metal insert). Excessive and repeated tension can also cause premature hair loss, causing, in the most severe cases, so-called traction alopecia.
Try to keep your hair loose or gently gathered , using clips, clips or delicate elastics (such as scrunchies)
Focus on treatments that stimulate circulation
Stimulating blood circulation in the scalp is the most important secret to achieving very long hair.
You can make DIY treatments with natural ingredients (such as the very famous rosemary water), or purchase cosmetic products that accelerate growth , such as:
- Alfaparf semi di lino scalp renew tonic , energizing anti-hair loss tonic,
- Kérastase anti-hair loss serum , which in addition to preventing hair thinning, stimulates circulation and hair growth thanks to caffeine and ginger root.
Anti-hair loss tonics for microcirculation
While you wait, use extensions
Going from a pixie cut to a Rapunzel hairstyle can take quite a bit of time, so we hope you've considered this. 😉 To get to your desired length a little faster, hair extensions can be a huge help.
Choose ones that attach to other strands with clips, so as not to damage the scalp and allow the hair to grow in the meantime. Many stars do this , otherwise those almost instantaneous look changes would certainly not be possible.
3 Secrets to Growing Hair: Our Cristiano's Pro Tricks
Hair grows about 2 cm per month, but what do you do if it seems like it won't grow anymore, or if it eventually breaks and gets damaged?
Don't panic, it's normal: each of us has a "predetermined" hair length, and even if we let it grow forever, some of us won't reach past the middle of our backs, while others might even reach their hips. The key is to always keep your hair healthy, eliminating damaged areas and using the best products to pamper it. Naturally, we hairdressers have our own little tricks, so here are a few that will be useful to you.
- Massage your scalp while washing your hair: Have you ever experienced how relaxing it is to have your hair washed by your hairdresser? Besides being so pleasant, massaging your scalp with a circular motion of your fingertips helps reactivate microcirculation , keeping it healthy.
- Exfoliate your scalp once or twice a year: scrubbing your scalp is even less harsh than scrubbing your skin, because it's a delicate area, but it helps oxygenate your hair. Try Kérastase's Soothing Scrub;
- Come to the salon for dusting : it's not a torture procedure; it involves cutting off only the damaged part of the hair . With this type of cut, you don't just cut a finger at the ends, but you file the lengths by removing the damaged part of the shaft , thus cutting very little of the hair.
To have very long, strong and healthy hair , try our leave-in products too.
