Growing Long Hair

Growing Long Hair

• Growing long, beautiful and healthy hair is not an extremely difficult process. What does it take to grow, and keep, long hair in excellent condition is common sense, dedication, and a bit of patience.

• Keep in mind that everyone has a "terminal length," the length to which your hair is capable of growing as a result of the genetically predetermined active growth period of your own hair follicles (hair grows in cycles and the length it is capable of growing is determined by the amount of time that passes during the cycle of each individual follicle turning on and off... the longer your growth cycle, the longer healthy hair can grow before being shed naturally).

• Excessive or sudden hair loss, extreme dryness or any sudden or unexplained change in your hair's condition may be due to a medical problem, often thyroid issues.

• The finer your individual strands of hair, the more delicate they are and the more careful with it you will have to be.

• Remember, long damaged hair is never as pretty as shorter healthy hair, and because healthy hair needs to be trimmed less often and doesn't break as easily, the result is much faster growth overall .

• Avoid using any heated appliances whenever possible. No blow drying, no curling irons, no hot rollers, and especially no flat irons or crimpers! If you absolutely must blow dry do so minimally, and contrary to popular belief, it is best to let your hair dry naturally for as long as possible and use the blow dryer just to finish it off at the end.

• Don't use any harsh chemicals on your hair. Definitely no perms and no peroxide!

• Be *extremely* careful to use only hair-safe accessories. Never use metal barrettes (the "French" style), the sharp edges are very hard on your hair and have tight spaces in which it may get caught and subsequently damaged. Absolutely NEVER use rubberbands, they will tear your locks to shreds when removed.

Keep track of the health of your hair and be healthy!