We all know that trimming our hair regularly helps to keep it healthy and prevent split ends, but if you want to grow your hair longer that can seem counterproductive. But did you know that trimming hair can actually help it grow longer? I know, I know, that sounds crazy. After all, you’re cutting a few inches of your hair off, and that surely makes your locks shorter, not longer, right? Well, yes, but by doing so you’re also helping hair to attain a longer length. Here’s how:

Why trimming hair helps it grow longer

According to the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (pg 155-75, 1978), hair can sometimes appear to grow very slowly or even not at all. Now, hair can grow only to its terminal length and, once reached that, nothing will make it grow longer. Even if you trim it, it will only grow back to that same length again. But there are times when hair appears to stop growing before it reaches its terminal length. In reality, your hair keeps growing but because it keeps breaking, it just doesn’t seem to get any longer. In other words, your hair breaks faster than it grows and so gains no length.

As your hair gets farther and farther away from the scalp, the cuticle (the outermost, protective, part of the hair that’s made up of several layers) starts to thin down. That’s because as the hair grows, it is more and more subject to damage from heat, styling tools, environment, combing etc.. And all this damage strips away the protective layers until only one is left. The inner cortex now has almost no protection and so the hair breaks and split ends occur. Because of it, cutting off the tip of the hair (ie the part that’s so thinned down it doesn’t offer much protection anymore) reduces or even stops breakage so that your hair goes back to growing faster than it breaks.

How much and how often should you trim your hair?

That depends on the damage. If you trim your hair regularly, then cutting off only one or two inches should be enough. If you haven’t had a trim in a while, though, you may have to cut off more. In any case, if you see split ends occurring shortly after a trim, then you just didn’t trim your hair enough. But how often should you trim your hair if you plan to let it grow longer? The trick is, obviously, to trim less than your hair grows. I’d say to trim your hair every 3 or 4 months so you can cut off only half a inch or so. If instead, you are lucky not to have thinning or split ends, then trimming isn’t necessary. You may wanna do it to prevent split ends but it’s not as important so you can wait longer between trims.

Do you trim your hair regularly?

While I was brushing my hair the other day, I realized that I haven’t had a fringe in years and I missed it. Bangs are really cute and stylish and I could do with changing my hairstyle. And then, I remembered why I stopped wearing bangs so long ago: because when you get tired of them, it is no fun to grow them out! It can actually take six months to a year to grow out a fringe and what can you do in the meantime? Here are three ideas:

1. Accessorize it
Is your fringe too long? Then push it back with a headband. My favourites are those with adjustable elastics or gripping teeth that allow you to place the headband wherever you want on your head (near the hairline, somewhere in the middle etc). If headbands give you a headache, you can use bobby pins, clips, grips, combs and even head scarves. They are available in all colors, shapes and sizes and will give you a stylish look while concealing your bangs as they are growing out and keeping them out of your eyes.

2. Sweep it to the side
If your fringe is quite long, you can part it in the center and then blowdry the two parts in the opposite sides. That way the fringe will blend in with your hairstyle. You can also ask your hairstylist to cut your bangs into a side-fringe so that you’ll look chic while you are waiting for them to grow out.

3. Lift it
If your bangs are getting a bit too long and start to drape over the eyes, you can give it a little lift. How? There are two ways to do it. You can either use a round curling brush while blowdrying it, or you can backcomb it at the roots. This way you’ll like stylish and the fringe won’t impair your vision.

Do you have any more tips on how to grow out your bangs?

There are a lot of hair stylists out there who are extremely good at their job, know how to put you at ease and make a visit to the salon a wonderful experience. But let’s face it, there are also those who aren’t as gentle as they should be with our hair or, when they’re in a rush, don’t pay as much attention to details as they should. We’ve all met at least one hair stylist we thought wasn’t doing the job properly but were too afraid to mention it.

We don’t wanna be branded as rude or too demanding (and sadly hair stylists have to deal with lots of clients like that in their career), but as paying clients, we shouldn’t be really afraid of making a polite and reasonable request. If your hair stylist makes any of the mistakes listed below, then ask them kindly to stop. If you’re polite and well-intentioned, your hairdresser won’t get offended and your hair will thank you too. So, what are some common mistakes hairdressers make?

1. Holding the blow dryer too close to the scalp

Most of the hairdressers I’ve met have held the blowdryer way too close to my head, which just drives me insane! All that heat (and blowdryers can heat up to almost 204°C!) is not good for hair and will just cause it to become dry and brittle! Sometimes, it can also burn our scalp. And all this damage can be very easily avoided simply by keeping the blowdryer somewhat distant from our hair. That’ll get the job done anyway, and without side effects.

2. Not treating hair gently

Hair should be treated gently and that means no pulling and tugging. I remember that when I was about 8, I went to a hairdresser who, while styling my hair, would pull and tug so hard on it, it actually made me cry! And my head hurt for hours afterwards. Needless to say, I never went there again. Another no-no is rubbing a towel all over hair after washing it. Hair should be dabbed and squeezed gently, otherwise it will get damaged, becoming prone to split ends and breakage. All damage the hairdresser will later have to fix!

3. Not listening

Don’t you just hate it when you go to the salon to get a certain cut or treatment and the hairdresser refuses to do it because he/she doesn’t think that’ll suit you or something? And then he/she tries to cut or style your hair the way he/she thinks you’d look best even if you don’t agree? This is really annoying. We’re the customers. It’s our hair and our money we are talking about and we should be able to get what we ask without having to fight for it. Admittedly, there are some treatments that may not work for everyone and in that case, a good hair stylist will warn that what you want to do may damage your hair or have side effects. After all, they know what they are talking about. But it is one thing to refuse to do a treatment because it may actually damage a client’s hair, quite another to refuse a certain cut or something simply because the hairdresser doesn’t like it! That’s just unacceptable.

4. Pushing “miraculous” hair products

It always irks me when a hairstylist tries to sell me a product that promises to repair or “feed” my hair or something. And they always seem to contain some rare or little-known extract that promises to drastically improve hair overnight. Well, that’s nonsense. Hair is dead. It cannot be repaired, it cannot be fed and there are very few ingredients (coconut oil is one of them) that can actually penetrate it. What most hair products do is coat the hair shaft and make your locks look good, but only temporarily. Pretty much any conditioner will do that so why would I spend lots of money on expensive products that make promises they can’t keep and have “miraculous” ingredients that just don’t work?! It really surprises me how little hairdressers know about how the products they use work and what they contain. I don’t expect them to have a degree in cosmetic chemistry but they shouldn’t fall for what the brand representatives tell them either and then repeat that nonsense to their trusting clients!

Do you know any other mistakes hairdressers make? Have you ever had any bad experiences? Share them in the comments!

The heat from styling tools, hair dyes, sun exposure and hair treatments such as perms are just a few of the things that can damage hair. They all harm the protective outer layer of hair, called cuticle, which over months, sometimes years, of this abuse, might become seriously worn down or even be completely stripped away. That’s when split ends occur. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, there’s nothing you can do to repair it. What you can do, instead, is improve the appearance of hair and prevent split ends from occurring again in the future. Here’s how:

How to prevent split ends

To prevent split ends, you just have to reduce the amount of damage done to your hair. Try to limit the use of your styling tools to special occasions only and, whenever you can, let your hair air dry. If you really have to use flat irons, a blow dryer and other styling tools, then use the lowest possible setting. Also, don’t hold the blowdryer too close to your hair. To prevent sun damage to your locks, always wear a hat, or even a scarf, whenever you go out in the sun. In addition, dying hair, getting perms and other harsh treatments should be done as infrequently as possible.

How to treat split ends

But what can you do when the damage has already been done? Well, since you can’t repair split ends, the best thing to do would simply be to cut them off. It is also a good idea to have your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks. This will remove new split ends, keep your hair healthy and looking beautiful. In the meantime, if you need a quick fix to hide split ends, you can apply a leave-in conditioner with silicones on your locks. The silicones will temporarily seal split ends together so, although they are still there, they won’t be noticeable.

Do you have split ends? How do you deal with them?

Developing a few good habits can greatly improve the appearance of your hair and prevent a lot of damage. Here are a few good ones that will help you keep your hair healthy:

1. Protect your hair from the sun: the sun’s UV rays cause a lot of damage not just to our skin, but to our hair as well. It causes it to become dry, frizzy and brittle. And if you’ve dyed your hair, it’ll make the color fade faster too. And the worst part is that, once hair is damaged, there’s nothing you can do to repair it. So, it’s important to prevent damage from happening in the first place. How? By covering up your hair with a hat or a scarf whenever you go out in the sun. And don’t waste money on hair care products with SPF. Sadly, they just don’t work.

2. Minimize heat: heat can seriously dry out your hair so try not to use styling tools too often and, when possible, avoid using a blowdryer but let your hair air dry naturally. If you really have to use a blowdryer, use the lowest setting and don’t keep it too close to your hair. In addition, make sure you apply a heat protective product on your locks before using any styling tools as this will help protect them from the heat.

3. Trim hair regularly: even if you are growing out your hair, it is still important to get a trim at least every six to eight weeks to keep the split ends at bay.

4. Clean your combs and brushes: combs and brushes get dirty too when used often and so they need a good cleaning every now and then. After all, you don’t wanna use a dirty comb on your just washed and clean hair, do you? Cleaning your tools is easy: you just need water and shampoo. You can also use an old toothbrush if they need a more throughout cleaning.

5. Eat healthily: there is only so much hair care products can do for you hair if you don’t eat healthily. A healthy and balanced diet rich in Vitamins such as Biotin and Vitamins A, B and C, Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium and protein will keep it healthy and improve its appearance.

What other habits good for hair do you have?

Dying your hair is fun, but also expensive. The color always seems to fade away so soon and before you know it, it’s time to go to the salon again. And in this disastrous economy, dying your hair is sadly and quickly becoming a too costly habit for a lot of people. But don’t fret. There is no need to stop dying your hair. Just follow these tips below which will help make the color last longer and save you some money:

1. Use a gentle shampoo
A lot of shampoos on the market contain harsh cleansing agents, which are very effective at removing all traces of dirt, oil and product buildup on your locks. Unfortunately, they can also strip your hair color off! For this reason, shampoos targeted specifically for color-treated hair are often recommended but the sad truth is they don’t work. Despite what the label says, these shampoos can still contain harsh surfactants and strip off the color they claim to protect! Instead than trusting the label, read the ingredient list: avoid shampoos with harsh surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate and C14-16 olefin sulfonate and opt for those with gentle cleansing agents such as Cocamidopropyl Betaine.

2. Don’t wash hair often
Even if you use a gentle shampoo, or even if you use just water, a little bit of color will fade away anyway whenever you wash your hair. Because of this, don’t wash your hair too often or you’ll soon have to go back to the salon to have it dyed again. Whenever you can, opt for dry shampoo or, if you have blonde hair, baby powder. They will absorb the oil in your hair, making it look (although not feel) clean.

3. Dye hair at home
These days there really isn’t any need to go to the salon to dye your hair. You can simply buy hair dye in any supermarket or beauty store and do it yourself. It can seem a bit daunting and scary at first, but it really isn’t. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the box very carefully and chose a shade that is not too different from your natural color. In addition, apply some vaseline along the hairline and ears before you begin to avoid stained skin. Oh, and don’t use all the dye but save a bit of it to touch up your roots when they’ll start to show up again.

4. Touch-up highlights at home
Dying hair at home may be easy, but if you want highlights, it’s best to go to the salon. Attempting to do that yourself may go terribly wrong. However, you can safely touch them up at home. Just buy a color that’s really similar to that of your highlights and follow the instructions on the box carefully.

Do you know any other tips to save money on hair color?

There are so many wrong beliefs about hair that have been circulating for decades, if not longer and prevent us from taking proper care of our locks or wasting money on products or treatments that just won’t work. So today I thought I’d set the record straight on four of them. Lets’ get started:

Myth #1: Cutting hair makes it grow faster and thicker.
False. Hair grows from the tip, not the root so cutting or trimming it won’t affect its growth rate (1/4″ to 1/2″ each month). And it won’t make it grow thicker either. I have thin and fine hair so I’d be really happy if getting a haircut or even just a trimming would make my hair fuller but obviously that’s never happened and never will. Short hair may look thicker but it isn’t. If you want thicker hair, you should try a volumizing treatment or a texturizing perm, but of course the results would be only temporary.

Myth #2: Damaged hair can be repaired.
Unfortunately this is false too. Whether your hair is dry, brittle, has split ends or is damaged in any other way, there is nothing you can do to repair it. That’s because hair is dead and once it’s damaged, it’s damaged. What you can do is to cut off the part of your hair that’s damaged and wait for your new, healthy locks to grow back again. However, you can make damaged hair look good by using conditioners and deep conditioning treatments which will add some moisture, shine and softness. Those with silicones are particularly good at temporarily fixing split ends.

Myth #3: Brushing is good for hair
Quite the opposite actually. While we do need to brush hair daily to keep it from looking like a mess and manage it, overbrushing is something we should avoid. Brushes (and combing too) when done too roughly or too often can damage both the shaft and the cuticle, leaving hair prone to breakage. Use as little strokes as possible and opt for brushes with natural boar bristles and wide-tooth combs that slide easily through hair.

Myth #4: Hair products with sunscreen offer protection against the sun rays
It is true that hair, just like skin, needs protection from the sun rays but unfortunately, no hair product can provide that. Have you noticed how products that contain UV filters never come with a SPF number? That’s because we don’t know how much SPF hair needs and even if these products did contain the right amount of sunscreen ingredients, they would end up down the drain when you rinse off your shampoo or conditioner. Leave-on products aren’t better as UV filters will be removed from hair when you blowdry it or style it in any other way. If you want to protect your hair from the sun, wear a hat.

Do you know of any other hair myths that need to be busted?

Combing hair is something we do every day. It comes so natural to us that we don’t really pay any attention to what we’re doing but we just let our minds wander while combing our hair. After all, it’s such a harmless activity so why should we be careful, right? Not really. Combing can be dangerous for hair and damage it. Now, there’s no need to panic. Grooming and styling hair in any way will cause a bit of damage. That’s normal and nothing to worry about. It’s only when combing causes more damage than usual, making hair look worse instead than better, that we have a problem. What can we do to prevent it?

How combing can damage hair

Combing, when done too roughly or too often, can be harmful in several ways. It can cause hair to break and cause damage to the cuticle. And while it is true that hair is in its most fragile state when wet and thus particular care should be taken while grooming it in that condition, combing hair when dry has its side effects too. That can cause hair to knot, meaning you will have to apply more pressure when combing. As a result, hair is again more prone to breakage. In addition, the more you comb your hair, the more damage you’ll cause.

How to prevent combing damage

Of course we can’t stop combing our hair. That would be silly and besides, like I mentioned above, a tiny bit of damage is normal. You just need to avoid causing too much damage. First of all, you have to remember to always comb hair gently without using too much force. Choosing a good comb is also very important. Opt for a wide-toothed comb (especially to comb wet hair) as they have less teeth and their wide spacing allows you to go through hair without causing a lot of damage. Sharp combs should be avoided as they can harm both hair and cuticles.

Another trick is to use a conditioner with silicones. No, they are not bad for hair. They may cause some build-up, but if you wash your hair regularly with a good shampoo this won’t be a problem. Silicones provide a sleek and smooth feeling to hair and allow combs to go through it easier, thus minimizing damage. And they help protect against the heat from a blow dryer and other styling tools as well. In addition, remember that the more you comb hair and the more strokes you use, the more damage you’ll inflict to it. So, especially if you are someone who always takes a comb around in his/her purse/pocket, don’t comb hair too often, but only when necessary.

How do you comb your hair? Are you gentle or do you comb it too much?