Long hair

[berryflip]

I'd like to start paying a bit more attention to my hair and would like to grow it lovely and long while at the same time keeping it healthy looking.
It's sort of long at the moment but I don't really get it cut very often (twice a year probably) so it's not in the best of condition. It's quite fine too although quite frizzy/wavy so looks thicker than it is. I had it cut yesterday and I'm not happy with how much the hairdresser took off, or the shape, it feels too short.
Anyway, I read somewhere that regular trims to keep away split ends is advisable when growing hair long, but I wonder how often that would be if one is trying to grow it!
Please does anyone have any tips?

[MikeUniformMike]

Treat it kindly and just trim off the split ends yourself.

[MikeUniformMike]

You'll need decent hardressing scissors.

[MikeUniformMike]

hair not har

[Knowivedonewrong]

Ex hairdresser here and growing my own hair long.
I would go to a decent hairdresser about every 8 weeks for a trim.
Explain you want to grow your hair and maybe have some longer layers to help keep it's shape.
Use a decent shampoo & conditioner.
Phil Smith does some great shampoos, you'll find them in Sainsburys.
I use a leave in spray conditioner on my hair when I've washed it & cantu leave in conditioner just on the ends.
A deep conditioning treatment about once a month and you should have lovely looking hair.

[thetardis]

don't heat treat (i.e. blow dry). you can keep it plaited or coiled to dry like an old fashioned set - gives you waves the next day. aveda split end repair works for me between annual cuts. permanent (box) colour tends to improve condition. cheaty shine spray works a treat too, again i use aveda but ymmv :)

[Whatsitlike]

I have long hair and decided to let it grow longer, so bought a pair of decent hairdressing scissors, DH trims it every 6-8 weeks, makes an excellent job of it as I hate the faff of going to the hairdressers. I also snip off any split ends I see.

I dont anymore use expensive shampoos/conditioners ie Paul Mitchell and the like, use anything thats on offer for my hair type and only put conditioner on the ends, dont bother with hair packs/treatments (although I was a sucker for those a long time ago), but do use good quality brushes esp for wet hair. Use mousse and small amount of serum, have found some bargains in TKmaxx.

My hair is fine but lots of it, its not coloured (natural blonde) and I regularly get comments on how lovely it is and great condition for long hair.

[MissKittyBeaudelais]

I have fairly long hair. Grew it from a Pixie which I hated! I never use heat on it. No hairdryers, rollers, straighteners. Wash it every other day and let it dry naturally, even in winter.

Now, what I would say is, now that it’s long, I’ve no bloody idea what to do with it 😂 Mostly, it’s in a loose bun or pony. I have a whisper off the ends every 8 weeks or so. Because it’s fine, I recently had highlights to thicken it up a bit.

[poorstudent1010]

I get trims about every 8 weeks where my stylist literally just takes around a centimetre off, she just evens out my hair. I keep my layers long, as I’m growing out a long bob and have fine hair.

It’s annoying as I pay full price for a cut and blowdry with the most senior stylist, so essentially I pay £60 for a 2 second trim but she’s the only hairdresser that understands what a “trim” is. So many previous stylists love cutting inches off or pulling out clippers to make it “super blunt”, it’s like the fail to understand that hair will never grow if their client has full cuts every 8 weeks!

[PonteLaCorona]

You could try avoiding SLS and silicones and conditioner only wash? I have dry, frizzy, wild hair and it's the only thing that makes it manageable and weirdly keeps grease at bay. I used to have a lot of breakage around armpit length, but since I have cut out shampoo, SLS and silicones I am approaching classic length (I appreciate that isn't for everyone but it is something I want to do)

I don't trim at all. I have a few splits and I will start trimming once I get to classic. It isn't really noticable because since waist length I have had to wear it up in a bun or in a long plait anyway.

[pinacoladalover]

A friend introduced me to Avon split end serum I think is called. Is amazing does not leave residue and seems to get rid of split ends. Smells lush too. Is about 5 quid on amazon or 3 for 10. Give it a try not much to loose.

[ThePortIsSunny]

Eat well and often and take biotin or other hair growth vitamins from Holland and Barratt etc.

[Silverstreaks]

If you avoid silicones and minimise heat styling you're unlikely to get split end. I just don't get them anymore.

[berryflip]

Thanks very much for your replies everyone.
I didn't even realise that about silicones, I've just been googling it.
The problem is I do like to blow dry my hair smooth! It can go really curly when left to dry naturally.
Is there such a thing as a heat protectant that does a really good job?