How to Grow and Care for Long Hair

Styling
- Heat damages hair, so avoid blowdrying as much as possible, and stay away from the hair straighteners!
- Try to wear your hair up as much as possible, as this keeps hair out of harm's way
- Use hair accessories which do not damage your hair - snag-free hair elastics without metal, hair sticks, hair forks and smooth clips don't damage hair
- Don't always pony-tail your hair - this weakens the area where the band rubs if done every day

Washing
- Try to extend the number of days between washes, as hair can be damaged during washing. If you wash every day, try to gradually stretch this to every other day or every 2 days. Your scalp will adjust and produce less oil, so your hair will not look greasy.
- Don't rub your head when washing - treat your hair gently.
- Don't comb your hair until it is dry - wet hair is more stretchy and delicate. If you comb your hair before washing and wash gently, it should not become too tangled.

Combing
- Use a smooth, wide-tooth comb to comb your hair. This is less damaging to the hair than a brush. Make sure the comb does not have a 'seam' in the middle - if so, sand it down with a nail file.
- Don't comb your hair excessively - too much combing physically wears away at the hair strand.
- Start from the ends of your hair, and comb gently as you work your way up to your scalp.

Every Day
- Try to always think about your hair - don't let it get caught in seatbelts and under bag straps (this is why putting your hair up every day really helps).
- Don't go out in the wind with loose hair - this really tangles hair.
- Try braiding your hair at night, or putting it in a low bun. This prevents it tangling during the night.
- A satin pillow or sleep cap will also reduce tangling at night, as there is much less friction from hair rubbing against it than with a cotton pillow.

Trim
If there are a lot of split ends and breaks, the best solution may be to have a trim. Trim as little as possible - even 1/4 of an inch can make the difference. If you go to a salon, be very clear as to exactly how much you'd like the stylist to cut, or else as a family member or trusted friend to cut for you. Use sharp scissors - you can buy special hair scissors inexpensively at beauty stores.

Cut out the damage
If you only have relatively few damaged ends, you may prefer this method. With sharp scissors, cut just above the damage on each individual hair. This preserves as much length as possible, and is also useful as damage doesn't just occur right at the ends of the strands.

Diet
Make sure you are eating a varied, nutritious diet. Hair is made of protein, so make sure you have an adequate intake. Eggs are a particularly good source, especially for vegetarians. If you are vegetarian, make sure your iron intake is good and you are not anemic. Low-grade anemia is common in women who are vegetarian, so you may need to consider a multivitamin/multimineral supplement or iron supplements.

Scalp massage
Scalp massage helps hair grow by stimulating circulation to the scalp. Gently massage your head with your fingertips, working up from the base of your neck. Head massage is particularly relaxing if you have a partner to do it for you!

Hair vitamins
There are many vitamins marketed especially for those growing long hair. Nutrients that are particularly important for hair growth include biotin, silica and MSM. Hair vitamins are especially helpful if you do not eat a varied, healthy diet or have to follow a restricted diet due to illness.