Looking after long hair

[BsshBossh]

I'm over 40 now and the quality of my long hair is getting worse - straggly, dry, thinner, but I don't want to cut it yet as the length really suits me. I need to nurture it better - condition it more, take hair vitamins (do they actally work???), get more regular trims.

What do you do to look after your hair and scalp? How can I improve the health of my hair and scalp?

I am 41 but do not colour my hair yet.

I have long hair, in good condition.

Mainly because I now wash it every other day, rather than every day. And I leave it to dry naturally if I can. And I use conditioner without silicone. REN hair conditioner is perfect, imo.

I have it cut 4-5 times a year.

Could you try washing it less? less washing means less hair drying, and less damage.

Okay, my action plan (thanks everyone):

• Hair oil before shampooing
• Conditioner on ends only
• Hair oil after if needed
• Leave my hair to dry naturally or use cool setting
• When washing hair, only wash the scalp
• Get more regular trims
• Brush ends first rather than from top, using fingers and wide-toothed comb
• Keep my hair up more often as the wind doesn't whip it to shreds!

Nuzzle, am reading your expert advice with great interest! What's your opinion on silicones? Am persevering in my quest to go silicone free, but haven't found products that don't make me into a dry frizz ball.

It's best to avoid products with too much silicone, as this can encase the hair in a 'tube', which can then cause the hair to overheat when blow drying (or straightening).

I have long, very thick, curly, dyed hair.

I get it cut about 2x per year.

I never, ever brush it. I comb it with a wide toothed comb when it's wet.

About once a fortnight, I put a deep conditioning treatment on it, wrap it in a carrier bag (attractive, yes) and then a towel which I heat in the microwave a few times over the course of the evening.

I have never had split ends, I do eat a protein rich diet for weight maintenance more than hair health.

I do use a hair dryer as it would take hours to dry otherwise. But I dry it curly with a diffuser so never use straighteners.