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Long Hair Conditioning Secrets

Introduction

Christina Milian

When hair is long, which is shoulder length or longer, it requires a different type of conditioning methodology than hair that is medium to short. The longer the hair, the more true this idea.

There are other factors which will impact the type, the frequency and the method of conditioning your long tresses.

These long hair conditioning factors include:

1. Hair Type 2. Hair Texture 3. Current Hair Condition (Excellent, Good, Fair, Damaged, Extremely Damaged) 4. Lifestyle 5. Budget 6. Long term hair goals 7. Personal preferences 8. History of conditioning

Christina Milian

Hair Type

All hair, regardless of the length, texture or other factors generally falls into a specific type of hair which can be:

1. Fine/thin 2. Medium 3. Thick 4. Very thick/coarse

It is not uncommon for more than one hair type to appear on a head at the same time. However, there is usually a dominant type, even if other types are present.

Hair Texture

Christina Milian

Depending on whether you have straight, wavy, curly, kinky or a combination of textures, your long hair will require different types, amounts and frequency of conditioning applications.

Listed below are the primary types of long hair textures. Keep in mind that not all textures respond to similar conditioning treatments or schedules. It is very important to develop routines that work best for your own hair texture.

Straight Long Hair Conditioning Needs

Straight hair that tends to be most free of knots and tangles may or may not require pre-treatment conditioning, regular oiling treatments or leave-in conditioners. Straight hair may not be as easily damaged as other hair textures.

Evaluate your hair closely to determine if/when you need any type of conditioning. It is most likely you would benefit from rinse-out conditioning treatments applied either from the ear lobes down to the ends or leave-in conditioners applied just to the most fragile ends.

Applying any type of oil or conditioner near or directly on the roots would not be advised.

Wavy Long Hair Conditioning Needs

Christina Milian

Wavy hair has an S shaped growth pattern which means that moisture may more easily escape from the tresses. Depending on the amount of wave and bend your hair contains, you may be more prone to tangling after washing.

Wavy hair tends to be more dry then straight hair and usually benefits from religious rinse-out conditioning treatments. It also benefits from regularly scheduled deep conditioning treatments and leave-in conditioners, especially when applied from the earlobes down to the ends.

Except in rare cases, applying any of the various conditioning treatments to the scalp or top of the roots would not be normally recommended.

Curly Long Hair Conditioning Needs

Christina Milian

Curly hair has a coiled shape which means that moisture can very easily escape from the tresses. Also, due to the shape of the curls, natural scalp oils can not easily travel down the strands to the ends.

Depending on the amount of curls your hair contains, you may be much more prone to tangling after washing. Selecting a leave-in conditioner designed to work with curly hair to promote easy detangling.

Curly hair tends to range from dry to extremely dry. Curly strands which are dry may be referenced as crunchy. Long curly hair not only benefits from religious rinse-out conditioning treatments, it is usually a requirement to help with retaining moisture and helping to take ringlets.

Regularly scheduled deep conditioning treatments and leave-in conditioners are also strongly advised, especially when applied from the earlobes down to the ends.

In some cases, applying conditioning treatments near the top of the roots would be helpful to soften curl patterns right next to the scalp.

Christina Milian

Mixed Long Hair Conditioning Needs

Mixed long hair refers to hair with more than one type of texture, which is not uncommon. If you hair is straighter near the roots but has curls and/or waves along the perimeter, focus your conditioning treatments upon the sections that are most dry, damaged or tangle easily.

In some cases, applying conditioning treatments near the top of the roots would be helpful to soften curl patterns right next to the scalp.

Current Hair Condition

Due to its sheer length long hair is more prone to damage from a variety of factors. Therefore, a regular conditioning program must be incorporated into any long hair growing attempts. If

Lifestyle

Serious conditioning treatments can definitely be time consuming and often require a commitment of time. This is especially true with deep conditioning and oiling.

Budget

Christina Milian

If you decide to follow all possible conditioning options for your long hair, it can become costly, especially if you have a tight budget. Depending on your motivations, it is possible to make conditioning formulas at home with less expensive ingredients. Utilizing oiling can also be less expensive than investing in conventional products with similar ingredients.

Long Term Hair Goals

How you condition and care for your hair is directly tied to your long term goals. The longer you wish to grow your strands, the better care you should lavish on your tresses on a constant basis.

Personal Preferences

Even though deep conditioning treatments of hair oiling might be considered the very best conditioning treatments for long hair, if you personally don't like to spend the time to finger pick oil through your strands or glop deep conditioning treatments through your hair, you will think of every reason to avoid doing so.

Ultimately you need to find the very best conditioning products and schedule which provides the necessary treatment for your long hair you can enjoy. If you prefer leave-in conditioners to deep conditioners, find a way to compromise. Afterall, it's your hair and you need to enjoy wearing it and caring for it.

History of Conditioning

Christina Milian

Except in rare cases, most hair consumers have used conditioners. It is most likely that a wide range of conditioning methods have been tested including trying out a range of brands. Ultimately it is best if you create your own custom formula for how you condition your hair. Only you know what your long tresses responds best to.

Some long hair consumers find the best results by combining a number of hair conditioners at the same time. Others find a specific type and stick with it.

Long hair conditioning might include pre-shampoo treatments with warm or hot oils, diluted or full strength shampoos with a rinse out conditioning treatment followed by a leave-in conditioner. Or it might include only a rinse out conditioner.

Some long hair wearers believe in glopping conditioners on until it is literally dripping off the strands. Others believe in the theory of a little goes a long way. There is no right or wrong method for conditioning your hair.

Follow your own history of use and do the conditioning treatments, regardless of the type or frequency, that works best for you and your tresses.

Additional Long Hair Conditioning Considerations

Christina Milian

In some cases the use of conditioning products may accelerate color fading for some long hair types.

This can be true for oils as well as conventional products, especially when combined with heat. When in doubt do your research. If you hair is chemically colored, discuss how deep conditioning or oiling might impact color fading.

A comprehensive program may not be as important to you than others with long hair. The choice to commit to a consistent and complete conditioning program definitely is a matter of personal choice that should be honored.

Summary

When hair is long, which is shoulder length or longer, it requires a different type of conditioning methodology than hair that is medium to short. The longer the hair, the more true this idea.

If you want to talk more about these or other hair care articles on HairBoutique.com or anywhere else, please post a message on HairBoutique.com's Hair Talk Forums

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