Help for long hair?

United States
August 12, 2010 12:31pm CST
I have had long hair all my life, and I love it that way. I think it looks best on me, too. Over the years I have styled it differently, but still have not had short hair since I was a girl. However, as I have gotten older, my hair's condition has become worse and worse. So I am (once again) attempting to make a real effort to take care of it by getting trims and using products that will help it grow. I have trouble with split ends and breakage now, so my hair that was once all the way down my back is only as long as my shoulder blades now, and I lose many hairs every day. I am not really thinning, but I'm losing the nice length that I had since I guess it's not growing as fast as I break hairs. So can anyone suggest what I could do to help grow my hair longer again? Vitamins, diet, a product that you know works... I would like some ideas since the things I have tried aren't really making that much of a difference.
2 people like this
13 responses
@anncherry (406)
• Philippines
13 Aug 10
Hi shira. You can use hair fall control shampoos and such available in the market. There are also hair spa products and serums for damaged hair. If you are using a hair brush, stop using it. Hair brush cause split-ends. Also, only use wide-teethed combs when your hair is wet, or it'll get damaged. Don't rub your hair with the towel too much after shower--that'll get you split-ends, too. I won't recommend blow drying and using hair irons, damage also result from these if you use it too often. If you're inclined to the natural way of making it beautiful, I'd say try using coconut oil every week as some kind of hot oil treatment. Yes, that's every week. I know it's too tiresome, but believe me, the results are really great! (I'm telling you this because I've already tried it.) Apply coconut oil to all of your hair up to the scalp, cover it with a bathing cap for 1 hour, and when the bathing cap is removed, let it rest for a few minutes before taking a shower. I'd predict you'll shampoo it 2-3 times to get the coconut oil odor out, but it's all worth it. If you stick to this weekly routine for three months, you'd get a really nice shine--it'd be like your hair is rebonded, or that you can outright be in a shampoo commercial. ;P Of course, you'd have to continue with the routine to keep it that way. The effect wears off a month or so after you stopped. And lastly, eat a balanced diet. Nothing beats a healthy body. Your hair just follows. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Aug 10
Yes, thank you for the ideas. I'm already doing a number of these things, including the coconut oil, but I have been using it as a detangler and leave-in conditioner. Just a tiny bit is all it takes. I'll give your way a try as well and see if it helps! Thanks for the comment!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Sep 10
Oh, I see now that someone else already had the coconut oil idea, too.
@srineeya (52)
• India
13 Aug 10
helooo friend, dust is very important to short hair.. so please avoid first dustiest places then make shampo in one company for example if you are used sunsilk make sunsilk only and same way to coconut oil also... keep long hair thank u
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Aug 10
Yes, I am using coconut oil right now as a leave-on conditioner and detangler rather than use a product with chemicals in it. It works very well!
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I have been trying to grow my hair longer than it currently is too. I have been having issues with breakage in the front. Part of the problem is that my hair was getting in my mouth and getting bitten. Also, some was getting caught in my sunglasses in the car. The main culprit is putting my hair up in a ponytail too tightly and straining the hair. Also, besides being longish, I have alot of hair and the heaviness also causes breakage on stress points. I am trying to eat better. More high quality protein. Taking a vitamin daily and getting enough calcium. Also, not brushing it when it is wet and using a really good detangler helps too.
• United States
13 Aug 10
I used to have the breakage issue from keeping my hair in a ponytail as well. So I started doing two things that helped that issue. One, I ONLY use cloth hair ties - not regular ponytail holders made of elastic (even if they're covered in something soft and don't have the metal thing). So maybe the ponytail falls out a few times and I have to rebunch it, but it's much more gentle on the hair and two, For a while I didn't use any ponytail holder and kept my hair always in a loose braid to keep it from tangling on a day-to-day basis. I would brush it gently, then loose braid, tie the end with something soft and just leave it like that all day, and even when I slept, to keep from getting tangles, but mostly because I was doing a lot of things at the time that would give me a lot of tangles. I don't do this anymore since I don't get a lot of tangles anymore, but it did help me! I have found the best detangler to be the organic coconut oil, too! And it's 100% natural! I just have to use a shampoo that will clean buildup every once in a while.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
12 Aug 10
I am not sure how old you are but for many of us when we get past age 35 our bodies top producing certain things that keep our hair nice and healthy. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot we can do about it, but do know that it is normal. However conditions such as diabetes and others could have something to do with it especially if hair loss is a little excessive. You should go and have a full physical to make sure that there is not an underlying cause besides aging that may be making your lose your hair. There are foods that are suppossed to help such as nuts and turkey. There is a book called Food Cures by, Joy Bauer it has a really good chapter on hair I highly recommend that you read this book or at least this chapter. I got it from my local library but you can get a really cheap used copy on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Bauers-Food-Cures-Concerns/dp/1594864667/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281635082&sr=8-5 Also be sure to deep condition at least once a week to help with the breakage.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Aug 10
Thank you for the information. Not diabetic, but insulin resistant, but I suppose that could be playing some part in slow growth. Thankfully I don't really have "thinning" per se, in any way other than the new hairs just not growing in as fast as the old hairs are breaking. I will definitely go look for that book in my library and read the hair section and see what I can improve about my hair care. Oh, and yes, I do a three-minute deep condition once a week, always. :) I love how my hair feels afterward! Thank you for taking the time to respond.
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
12 Aug 10
Hello shira0524 You may have a vitamin diffecncy. I am not sure which one could B1 or B12 vitamin. Like you said it could be your diet or genenics... family history. Have a lot females in your family lost there hair at early age and if they did you could ask what they to prolong it from happening to you. You could be over using the hair dryer, curling iron or gels on the market could be drying it way too much making break. I hope this helps. Thanks and have a great day! Sincerely unique16
• United States
12 Aug 10
My mother and grandmother have some thinning, but I don't think anything out of the ordinary. I have to be honest and say that I really do not eat nearly as well as I should. So I have been thinking that as a minimum I should (for my general health) start taking a multivitamin - I guess I should concentrate on the B vitamins then, too. I hardly use a dryer or straightener and I use organic coconut oil as my leave-in conditioner every once in a while to keep the tangles out and to keep from having to use too many chemicals. So I will look for some good vitamins I think, and start there. Thank you for your response!
@genevy04 (793)
• Philippines
13 Aug 10
Shira, I think your hair is too stressed out already. I also have long hair, and i'm taking care of it in the simplest way possible. I don't use hair conditioner everyday because I think it will give me hair fatigue. What I do is use hair spa treatment every week, to give my hair that pampering and give back the softness and shine for the whole week. Taking vitamins also does the a very big role on our hair to jeep it's health. Our hair is just like our body. It shines when we are well nourished. It dulls when we are stressed. So keep in mind that your hair reflects your self.. And to make your hair thicker, try brushing it a hundred times. Some say that's a myth but I say it really does work. In that way, our scalp is massaged, promoting a healthy scalp and a more shiny hair. For more useful tips on achieving healthier hair, you can visit this website: http://www.boloji.com/women/02001.htm
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Aug 10
Thank you for the great ideas. Yes, my hair is pretty stressed. I think it's looking a little bit better now than it has in a while, but I still need to do more to get it growing better. I will check out that link, definitely, and look into trying a weekly spa treatment.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Sep 10
IN addition to the Hair, skin, and nails vitamins, putting coconut oil on your hair, esp. the ends, waiting 10 minutes and then shampooing once a month is a big help. Also Once a month using a different shampoo. The same shampoo all the time can create a build up in your hair and/or the folicles (root areas).
@tayd88 (205)
• Malaysia
13 Aug 10
hi, I tried some Himalaya hair care products which made from natural ingredients.I guess it help my hair to get the supplements to control my hair loss problem.Or if there's hair specialist on hair loss treatment ,i'm sure they can do something about your damaged hair.Maybe expensive a bit but what to do.That's life.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
12 Aug 10
You should concentrate on your diet. Take protien rich food. And do not use hair dryer. It will make the condition worse. And remember not to comb your hair when it is still wet. This too adds to the split ends and weakens hair. If your hair is normal to dry, try an warm oil massage once a week. If it is oily, once or twice a month is ok. And keep trimming the split ends. And stress too is a major cause of hairfall. If nothing works, you should meet a dermatologist.
• United States
13 Aug 10
A deep conditioning treatment, once a week, get a really good one it can be found in places liek wal mart targe, but do that and it hsould help wake up follicles if that doesn't work try a root thickner which is going make your roots thicker and appearing as if your hair is fuller. If those don't give you results I would check with a hairdresser maybe your hair has become that damaged. good luck.
• Philippines
12 Aug 10
me i also had the same problem before long time ago , i use to have long hair i had it since i was in prep all i do is just go to salon and trim it, but when i get to HS my hair started to change used to be smooth ,soft and it has volume back then my friends and teachers always notice how lucky i am to have a beautiful hair i feel so flattered and happy because to be honest i dont do any treatment just using loreal shampoo and conditioner but then it changes when i get to HS my hair become frizzy, and falling hair everytime i wash it and dry it , every month i trim it but then my mom notice that my hair looks differently its not shining and not as healthy as it is before so my mom brought me to the salon and they did something i think they did spa, hot oil and cut my hair to a bit shorter and that was my frst time cutting my hair ever coz i love my hair long but have no choice they said too many split ends that cause my haor to become dry and breakage of hair and if i dont cutt it might get worse and worse so i listen to that hairdresser after she cut my hair my mom bought a haircare i always use it everyday after i dry my hair , evrynow and then my hair become healthier i maintained how my hair looks before and im so happy no all i do is everymonth my hairdresses always come to my house and do hotoil and spa and trimming now my hair stays shorter up to my shoulder i thought its not bad to cut my hair it grows quick anyway and just doing the right treatment for your hair ask anyone you know that can help you, i am a hair concious i dont want my hair looks messy and i always want my hair smooth soft and fragrance i use loreal shampoo and it works for me :) MAYBE TRY USE DFFERENT SHAMPOO if your hair will change :;)
@BigTips (304)
• China
13 Aug 10
Keep a balanced diet and pay attention to your mental health at the same time. As we are getting older day by day, it is obvious that we will lose our hair gradually. In order to improve your current condition, you'd better keep a balanced diet. Of course, Vitamins are necesiities in your daily food. Besides, I guess you may living a life under pressure. You see, pressure can make the situation become worse and worse. So, pay much attention to your mental health. If necessary, look for help from a professional doctor please! Good luck!
1 person likes this
• Kuwait
13 Aug 10
how i wish to have a long hair hair like yours, i cant make it long because i always have split ends so i always let my hair trimmed...