InState Magazine

So, you hate your haircut. Now what? Many of us have experienced this in our life - going to

the salon, getting talked into trying a style that is way out of our comfort zone and wind up

leaving with a haircut we just can’t stand. It’s a nightmare because hair doesn't grow over

night. But there is a solution! Use this time as a chance to start all over with new healthy,

long locks. We came up with a list of five effective ways to do just that!

 

Many hair stylists will say that the first place to start with long and healthy hair is in

the shower. Most shampoos are filled with harsh chemicals that strip hair of its natural oils,

causing breakage and dull, lifeless hair over time. To avoid this hair nightmare, try a formula

that is sulfate free. These products will be more nourishing to hair and allow it to keep it’s

natural luster and shine. A great brand to try is Organix. All their products are sulfate free,

leaving hair looking and feeling beautiful.

 

Be aware of just how fragile hair really is. My stylist, Michael Locke, at Glam Pittsburgh

always tells me to treat my hair like lace. Hair is delicate and must be treated that way or

else hair can wind up with extreme breakage and split ends. This comes into play when

brushing hair! Locke always says you never want to hear “ripping” when brushing your

locks! This is bad! If hair is knotted, try using Coconut or Argan oil to soften hair and work out

the kinks more gently. This will minimize breakage, leaving ends healthy and able to grow longer faster.

 

Work from the inside out! Healthy hair comes from within, so unhealthy people will grow unhealthy hair and vice versa. Make sure to get the essential vitamins hair needs in order to grow. Ideally we would get all the nutrients we need through our food, but as college students our diets are less than perfect, so realistically that isn’t going to happen. The essential vitamins for hair growth are Iron, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin B, according to hairstylist Logan Hofbauer. She also recommends a daily multivitamin with Iron to keep hair healthy and strong.

 

Minimize damage! Yes ladies, this means steering clear of the flat iron, the curling wand, and the blow drier for a couple days a week. Though this is hard to do, try to remember that natural is better. The sooner you embrace your natural texture the sooner hair will bounce back to its original glory. Try air-drying hair a couple of nights of the week and wearing styles that don't involve heat.

 

The last rule for growing hair that people may not know is changing pillowcases. Allure magazine says that Cotton pillowcases actually create friction on hair causing stress and breakage. They recommend switching to a satin or an Egyptian cotton pillowcase. Though it may be a bit of a splurge, we think it’s well worth it to be able to finally grow long luxurious locks.

 

By using these five techniques you will start to see a difference in the shine, texture, and fullness to your hair, and in no time at all you’ll have the long, strong, and beautiful hair of your dreams!