Maintaining Your Mane

Do you brace yourself at every trim?  Do you think of your long hair as one of your top five most attractive features?  Do you define yourself in part by your long hair?  Do you take good care of it?

Long hair has been a sign of femininity, beauty, and good character for centuries.  Not all that long ago, it was a defining feature of a woman.  Today we have far more freedom in regards to haircuts and hairstyles, but many of us still love the length of the old-fashioned days.

If you’re a long haired vixen, you know how challenging it can be to maintain your mane.  When women in the old days turned down dates claiming that they were “washing their hair”, it was because it was possible to be occupied with the task all night!  In many cases, they were actually washing their hair.  Granted, plumbing wasn’t the regulated convenience that it is today, but caring for long hair continues to be time consuming.

There are a few tricks that can make it easier to keep long hair healthy and radiant.  A few changes in hair habit can make care less daunting.  Grab your brush, snap a hair tie around your wrist, and prepare to give love to your hair!

Remember how the prissy girl in the movies always brushed her hair for a hundred, five hundred, or other ridiculous-hundred strokes?  Believe it or not—it’s not a terrible idea.  Brushing your hair for a larger number of repetitions spreads essential oils from your scalp to your ends.  Aside from your scalp appearing less oily, the proteins are then spread throughout your hair, strengthening the strands.  (*Note:  Beware of the round brush!  I once had a friend jokingly roll my hair up in a round brush, and it subsequently had to be cut out.  Just be careful!*) In addition, an equal distribution of oil gives hair that sought after shine.

The thought of spreading oil around your head might make you want to start lathering up the shampoo right now, but don’t do it!  Washing long hair every other day is the maximum amount of washings long hair can take and still be healthy.  Over-washing causes dryness and split ends.  Shampoo was designed primarily for the scalp.  It robs hair of body and the aforementioned essential oils.  Conditioner was designed for more universal, all over application (with particular attention paid to the ends).

If you’re already sporting that over washed lackluster look, there’s still hope.  Infusium 23 offers a cheap, effective solution to damaged hair.  Their (repair)ologie line makes a noticeable impact on brittle, unhealthy locks.  The bottle boasts that the product “fortifies the hair cuticle to alleviate breakage and split ends”, and the product delivers!  After a few washings, the texture of your hair will become soft and smooth.  And you can find it as near as the local CVS or Walgreens, or you can order it online at Amazon.com.

There are a few things to keep in mind about products.  Don’t go crazy with just one!  Hair responds best to two or three shampoo/conditioner combos being alternated.  This discourages product build up.  Remember to wash all product out completely.  And though hot showers are ultra relaxing, after the conditioner has gone the way of the drain, give your tresses a final cold water rinse.  Cold water rinsing closes the scales of the hair.  Similarly, cold water helps to close skin pores.  Closed scales make the hair more likely to have that supermodel sheen.  You know the one—where it’s so shiny it’s practically glowing.

Once you’re out of the shower, take heed of the hair dryer!  After you have pampered your locks, why force them to endure a scorching windstorm?  Excess heat equals damage, dryness, and split ends.  If you must use the blow-dryer, give your hair a few minutes to dry on its own first, then use a dryer with an ionizer. The ionizing feature adds shine and reduces flyaways and frizz.  Another dryer asset is a “warm” or “cool” setting.

The curling iron can fry your head like an egg on a frying pan if you’re not careful.  Did you know that L’Oréal has a line of products specially created to combat the effects of the curling iron?  Their Loreal Heat Control Heat Shield Ironing Mist
not only helps retain curl, but it makes those curls shiny and enduring.  The serum leaves the crispy mess that is usually left behind protected and beautiful.

If you color your long locks, you already know it’s not easy to achieve even coloring.  In between coloring, color glazes and color conditioners can help bring back vibrance.  I use Graham Webb Color Conditioner, and it has been a Godsend.  My roots grow out fast, and I’d be touching up every other week if it wasn’t for this product.  After I use it, I get compliments on my color all day the next day.  Red hair is especially hard to maintain anyway.  Webb has all the colors covered and even has different intensities of color.  Depending on my mood, I use sunfire red or ruby red to create a more natural or dramatic look.

If you do color your hair, don’t forget to match your eyebrow pencil to your hair color!  The mismatched look is a dead giveaway that you color your hair, and there’s no excuse when eyebrow pencils can be purchased for $1 nowadays.  You never want to go lighter than the hair on your head.  It looks bizarre.  Trust me.  Match those eyebrows for a natural look.

It is just as possible to keep long hair as healthy and brilliant as short hair!  Just show your hair some love—and you’ll love the results.  I promise!