Why Long Hair?

Long hair can be a bit of a bear sometimes to keep clean, or so some seem to think. Really it isn’t that hard.

For the longest time, I piled all my hair up on my head to wash it, but I have since found out that that is not only unnecessary but not that great for my hair. A better way to wash it most days is to lean over so that your head is at about waist level, and just wash the hair nearest your scalp. The stuff going all the way down your back really doesn’t need washing that often… once a week or so, unless you get something in it. The shampoo going down it as you rinse is quite adequate the rest of the time.

You don’t really have to wash it daily either, unless you have that much trouble with an oily scalp. Mine does best being washed every other day.

I’ve been told by some people that a creme rinse is better for long hair than a conditioner, but I haven’t the foggiest notion what the difference is, and since I’m on the kind of budget where I get shampoo and conditioner at Walmart or Target, I never see creme rinse.

Whichever you use, just remember that it kind of goes on the opposite of how you shampoo. The ends of your hair need conditioner or creme rinse more so than the hair near your scalp. Once again, if you can avoid piling it on top of your head, that’s better for your hair. Just work it through your hair as it hangs loose, then rinse.

If at all possible, let your hair dry naturally, and don’t brush it wet. Hair dryers dry out your hair and leave it prone to breakage. Wet hair stretches, and that makes it easier to break. I get up early when I need to wash my hair before going somewhere, just so that it has as much time as possible to dry naturally. You can even use more than one towel if you have to. Just switch the damp one wrapped around your hair for a dryer one.