Long hair requires special attention because of its length. To keep them always supple and shiny, follow these few tips from hairdressing professionals.
1. Cut the tips regularly
It's a bit of a basics when you have long hair. If you want to have healthy hair, you need puncture regularly. Be careful, we are talking about tips, do not imagine that your hairdresser will cut 10 cm. Axel Joubert, hairdresser in Jean-Marc Joubert salons, recommends cutting every 3 to 6 months. Hovig Ethoyan, hairdresser and founder of the eponymous salon, points out that it is enough to cut a centimeter to remove split ends and which are duplicated. Visually, your hair will look better without doing much.
2. Choose silk pillowcases
As we know, silk or satin pillowcases have benefits for the face. These materials are in fact softer on the skin, and friction is therefore significantly reduced – in particular compared to cotton or synthetic pillowcases – which makes them an asset for sensitive skin. But these pillowcases are also a great asset for the hair. They go avoid frizz and small morning knots, because the hair slides on these materials. Frictions are thus avoided. In the longer term, they limit the appearance of split ends and therefore breakage and hair loss. In addition, this brings more shine to the hair.
3. Always use the hair dryer with a nozzle
The hair dryer is often debated. We know it, heat damages the hair fiber, making the hair more easily brittle. For Hovig Ethoyan and Magali Dondon, hairdresser and manager of the Parisian salon Miss Mag, better avoid using a hair dryer, especially in summer where they dry relatively quickly with the natural heat of the air. On the other hand, if you use the hair dryer, consider use thermoprotective treatment beforehand to limit the risks. Sylver Boll, Director of Education Franck Provost, recommends always use a nozzle when drying your hair. “The tip is a protection for the resistance, if there is none, it can burn out your hair”, He explains.
Expert Protection Heat Protector 230 ° C, Franck Provost
4. Do not tie your hair
“Contrary to popular belief, you should avoid tying your hair often, especially with strong ties”, Recommends Hovig Ethoyan. During the day, therefore, avoid scrunchies and other elastics which will tend to break the hair fiber where you put them. That's why you have a nasty bump at night when you undo your ponytail. But don't worry, you can quite do some hairstyles, only the best is to use flexible links, like scarves, bandanas, headbands, or even hats. The choice is vast! If you really want to use rubber bands, prefer the famous Invisibobble!
Elastics, Invisibobble Original
5. Choose your shampoo well
The most important thing to have long, beautiful hair is to choose the right shampoo. A person with natural or colored hair will not have the same needs. For colored hair or with strands, prefer products bearing the words “repairer” or “colored”. If you have fine hair, Axel Joubert and Gianni Coppa, founding hairdresser of R Factory salon, recommend a moisturizing routine with shampoo and treatment. Warning, if your hair is fine, use conditioners which are less heavy on the hair. Magali Dondon recommends leaving it in condition all day and then rinsing it off at night. Obviously, this is not to be done every day and rather on days when you have nothing planned. If you have thick hair, don't hesitate to use masks at least once a week.
Basis Sensitiv Moisturizing Shampoo, Lavera
6. Braid your hair to sleep
Gianni Coppa and Sylver Boll agree on the same point: it is best to tie your hair up at night (unlike the day). This will limit the friction of the hair against the pillow at night. The best is to realize a braid or a twist, without tightening it too much to avoid damaging the hair fiber.
7. Remember to brush your hair during the day
It is important to brush long hair, to discipline it, but also to remove the small knots that are created during the day. Professionals recommend doing this at least once a day, but also before washing your hair. For Gianni Coppa, the best is favor brushes made of natural bristles, whether it is boar, goat or horse hair. There are also brushes made from plant fibers such as agave or sisal (a plant from Mexico).
Sisal hair brush for 11.69 euros at Kost Kamm
To brush your hair well, consider apply a detangling treatment to the half-lengths and ends to avoid pulling too much on the hair fiber and therefore breaking it. Regarding the gesture of brushing itself, you must brush well, always starting with the lengths, then working up to the roots.
Detangling Zest with Extracts of Grapefruit and Jasmine, Le Petit Marseillais
8. Apply a moisturizing serum every morning to the ends and lengths
As you prepare your skin in the morning, Gianni Coppa also recommends paying attention to your hair before going to work. For this, you can apply on the lengths a serum or a care cream for protect your hair from external aggressions (pollution, sun, dust…), but also friction against your clothes.
Desert Date Day Cream – Nutri-Repair, Klorane
Thanks to Hovig Ethoyan, hairdresser and founder of the eponymous salon, Axel Joubert, hairdresser in Jean-Marc Joubert salons, Magali Dondon, hairdresser and manager of the Parisian salon Miss Mag, Sylver Boll, director of education Franck Provost and Gianni Coppa, hairdresser founder of the salon R Factory.
Read also: 7 pro tips to protect your long hair from the sun
7 mistakes everyone makes when brushing their hair