It's Taken Three Years

But my hair is finally long again — here's how I keep it healthy.

I absolutely adored having short hair. Until I didn’t. Sure I felt chic and gamine and really fucking cool for five years, but once I was ready to finally pull my hair back into a bun again, I was decidedly DONE. Anyone who has ever felt the urge to chop it all off, had an incredible few months or years and then profoundly wished it would all grow out immediately will understand the feeling. Bob, pixie, lob, shave — no matter how drastic the cut, once you’re over it there’s nothing as frustratingly slow as the grow out period.

Luckily I figured out an array of helpful products to help my hair grow a little faster (not as lucky: losing Pomeranian-sized chunks of hair in the shower due to COVID and stress) and now it’s three years later and the ends are finally midway down my back. Success! Except now I’ve realized, yet again, how much work it takes to keep super long hair healthy. Because while it’s rewarding to finally reach mermaid status, it doesn’t mean anything if your mane looks ragged, stringy, or excessively thin.

Three years and a whole lotta love later

Sure, you could just stick with regular trims to eliminate split ends and slather your hair in coconut oil once a week but why settle for the bare minimum? (Plus that’s super messy)You have long flowing locks again! It’s finally time to enjoy the staggering array of nourishing, smoothing, shine-boosting, and strengthening products. It’s fun, it’s an adventure, it’s a must to make all that waiting and wishing worthwhile.

So if you’re like me and you’ve reached that long length after seemingly endless waiting, here are ten options I’m crediting with keeping my rib-grazing hair looking and feeling insanely healthy.