I love having long hair. I love braiding it, fiddling with it when I'm bored, and tossing it into messy buns and claw clip hairstyles. Beyond the simple joy it brings me, the look also suits me best. That's not just a personal opinion; I've had multiple friends and hairstylists tell me to keep my hair long and, I quote, "embrace a late-60s, early-70s vibe." So, that's what I do.
The only problem is that my hair is naturally dry, and I add insult to injury when I get it highlighted on a semi-regular basis. I know bleach isn't good for anyone's hair, but it's particularly devastating to my fine, fragile strands. After leaving the salon, it's only a matter of time before I experience intense damage and split ends.
Last year, it got so bad, I could visibly see my long hair getting shorter and shorter. For every inch it grew, it lost two to breakage. It got to the point where my hair was inches shorter than it had been before without any scissors going near it. As a beauty editor, I knew it was time to get serious and set myself up on a strict haircare routine. I'm happy to say that after six months, my hair is back to its former glory (even better if I do say so myself). Ahead, see 16 strengthening products I swear by for longer, healthier hair.
This is what my hair looked like six months ago. It was rough, dry, and damaged.
This is what my hair looks like now. It's stronger, longer, and shinier—not to mention thicker.
I think my pre-wash hair oil routine is what made the biggest difference in the state of my strands. I rarely skip it. Actually, the only times I've skipped it in the last few months have been when I was traveling and couldn't take my products with me. I start by stimulating my scalp because I heard that boosting circulation is the best way to encourage faster hair growth. In the past, I would just use my fingers and give myself a quick scalp massage. Now, I use this handy wooden comb. I simply run it from the front of my head to the back, making sure to apply firm yet gentle pressure. It takes all of two minutes to do.
Next, I reach for a hair oil. This is one of my all-time favorites. I've waxed poetic about it before, so I'll just keep it short and sweet: It makes my scalp feel calm and balanced (not dry and itchy), and I swear it's a big reason why my hair is so healthy now. I apply a few drops directly to my scalp and massage it with my fingers. I'll add a little to the mid-lengths and ends of my hair, toss it up in a bun, and let it sit for a few hours before shampooing. The magic is in the formula, which combines a number of Ayurvedic ingredients. There's dashmool, a combination of 10 roots known to nourish and strengthen the hair. There's ashwagandha, which boosts scalp circulation. Finally, there's castor oil, which is a tried-and-true damage-reversing ingredient.
Here's the other hair oil I love. Technically, it's a hair serum, but it works just as well as a traditional oil for moisturizing my scalp and hair. It's formulated with biotin and niacinamide, Centella Asiatica, and ginger extract. These ingredients thicken hair and offer antioxidant protection. This one is incredibly lightweight, so it won't weigh hair down. Trust me, I have incredibly fine hair, and this never makes my hair look greasy. It's so undetectable that I sometimes keep it in my hair while I'm out and about running errands.
About once or twice a month, I'll skip my pre-wash hair oil routine and use this innovative product instead. I already raved about how it significantly cut down on my split ends, but I can't help but bring it up again. It's that good.
I've spent years trying to find the perfect shampoo and conditioner combo. Keep in mind that I have long, fine hair, so what works for me might not work for you. That said, the products I use are high quality and suitable for many different hair types. I rotate them out depending on what I have on hand and how damaged my hair feels at that given moment. Let's start with a personal favorite—Crown Affair's The Ritual Shampoo. It uses coconut surfactants to lift oil, dirt, and grime without stripping moisture. It also has Tsubaki seed oil, which the brand uses because it's lightweight and moisturizing. It's truly the epitome of "gentle yet effective."
I can't forget about the matching conditioner. This one has the same moisturizing ingredient as the shampoo with the addition of beetroot extract. It strengthens weak strands and promotes new growth, which is exactly what my hair needs.
Another shampoo I use and love, this is the one I reach for after salon visits when I see the most breakage and split ends. It contains the brand's proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku. It's a healing protein that's identical to the hair's natural keratin. In other words, it strengthens hair with every wash.
The conditioner is just as good as the shampoo. What I love most about it is its texture. It doesn't weigh my hair down, yet it feels luxe and expensive. Oh, and the scent. I can't pinpoint exactly what notes I smell when I use it, but it's incredible—warm and grounding yet fresh too.
Here's my third and final shampoo pick. It's powered by three hero ingredients. The first one is Karmatin, which is a proprietary ingredient that bonds the hair and smooths it all at once. The second is aloe vera, a classic moisturizing ingredient. The third is magnolia bark extract, which calms and soothes the scalp. This lathers up into a rich and luxurious foam that's easy to work into tangled hair. I use it a lot in the summer when my hair seems more fragile from sun and saltwater exposure. That said, I'll use it in the winter too, especially when my hair is more static than normal. After all, static hair is dry hair.
The conditioner adds marula, moringa seed oil, and murumuru seed butter to the mix. Together, these ingredients create a rich, buttery texture and provide shine, softness, and moisture.
Hair masks are a MUST when you're working with dry, damaged hair, and this is one of my all-time favorites. It contains avocado, kiwi, and a spinach, so it's like a green smoothie for your hair. Avocado is full of fatty acids that condition; kiwi is full of vitamin C for antioxidant protection; and spinach is rich in flavonoids that are crucial for hair health. It's bright green and creamy and has good slip. Whenever I use it, my hair feels stronger and softer and looks healthier and shinier. It's definitely a forever thing—one of those products I'll keep using for as long as the brand makes it.
My second "forever" hair mask is this one from Fable & Mane. It's a combination of coconut cream, banana, and mango butter. Together, these ingredients hydrate, moisturize, and improve strength and fullness. They also make this hair mask smell fruity, nutty, and sweet. It makes me feel like I'm on an expensive tropical vacation every time I use it.
The third and final hair mask I keep on rotation is (no surprise) a Crown Affair product. Along with Tsbubaki seed oil, which moisturizes, strengthens, and boosts shine, it includes yuzu extract. This ingredient increases elasticity, meaning you'll see less breakage and split ends. It's not sweetly fragranced or super buttery, but it works magic on my hair. Each time I use it, my rough ends are so much smoother and more hydrated. I love it.
I've been trying to use heat tools less often, but it's been difficult since I like my hair to look its best, well, all the time. On the days when I can't help but reach for my hair dryer or flat iron, I use this heat protectant first. It provides heat protection up to 450 degrees, and the formula includes kiwi oil, willow bark extract, and prickly pear fruit extract. Together, these ingredients hydrate, smooth, and protect my hair. Editor's note: Lately, I've been using this Heatless Hair Curler Set ($9) from Amazon. It's by far the best heatless curler set I've tested, and it never slips out of my fine hair while I sleep. I highly recommend it.
Once my hair is styled, I try to go three or four days without washing it again. I use this hair oil to keep my ends smooth and moisturized—no conditioner necessary. Ever since I've been using it, I have less breakage and fewer split ends. Plus, it smells so good that my boyfriend noticed and asked me to keep wearing "whatever perfume" I had on.
To keep my roots healthy and encourage thicker, denser hair, I use this hair serum. I've sung its praises before, but it's so good, I feel the need to do it all over again. Thanks to ingredients like curcumin stem-cell extract, red clover, and mung bean, it inhibits DHT and prevents hair loss and shedding. Over three months, it dramatically improved the density of the hair around my temples. Click here to see the proof.
