Getting Gorgeous Volume and Movement with Long Hair
I've had long hair for my whole life. Ever since I was a little girl, I had very long tresses, and I was always afraid to cut them off, as they had become a symbol of feminism of which I was reluctant to give up after all those years.
Long hair can be really gorgeous and quite the envy of all, but it can also be limp, lifeless and without shape and definition if you use the wrong products and get the wrong kind of haircut. Let's talk about how you can get your long hair to have more body, volume, shape and definition, without lobbing off your treasured tresses.
First off, it's extremely important to keep your hair healthy and in tip top shape when you are either growing it out or tend to like to keep it continuously long. It will quickly become prone to breakage, splitting and drying if you aren't careful with how you treat it. It's extremely important to get frequent trims if you want to keep it in tip top shape.
This doesn't mean you have to get even a whole inch cut off every time. A good rule of thumb that I like to follow is to get it trimmed once every six to eight weeks. This can be a half an inch trim, or just a "tipping" where the stylist only cuts off the damaged tips of the bottom of the length of your hair.
This keeps it healthy, and you also get to keep your length without your hair looking dry, dull and lifeless since you are keeping the ends in great shape.
You may not be a fan of layers, but if you want to have body, and don't like hair that just tends to "hang" at the sides of your face, then you will need to ask your stylist to cut in lots of long layers in the front and back of your head.
This is particularly helpful if you like volume and lift in the back of your head, since you'll notice you can more easily pick the back hair up, making the front look more full.
It provides for a lot more movement as well, and you can really have some fun with using a large barreled curling iron on the layers, making them flip up our out for even more volume and a style with movement and shape.
Just be sure to tell your hair dresser that you still want to maintain your length in the back, you just want longer layers to create more flow and movement. Also, ask them for a recommendation of a root lifter. Root lifters are typically hair products that act almost as a hair spray for your roots.
Before blowing your hair dry, preferably with a higher end salon model ionic ceramic technology dryer, which dries your hair in less time, leaving it smoother and damaging it less, is when you use the root lifter.
You will split your hair into little sections, exposing the scalp area, and at each opening, you will spray the root lifter right onto your scalp.
I like to also use a conditioning spray or leave in conditioner to add extra smoothness and moisture to my hair, and you will definitely want to use some sort of styling cream as well. This is all personal preference as to what you've found works best on your hair though.
Blow dry your hair in sections, starting with the bottom first, using a clip to hold away the top portion of your hair as you blow dry the bottom part. Then, you will blow dry the top part near the crown as well. Your hair should be totally dry by the time you are done.
You can "set" your style by giving it an ice cold shot from your dryer with the cold set button. This helps to set more voluminous styles, and help hold them through humid conditions.
Long hair can be really gorgeous and quite the envy of all, but it can also be limp, lifeless and without shape and definition if you use the wrong products and get the wrong kind of haircut. Let's talk about how you can get your long hair to have more body, volume, shape and definition, without lobbing off your treasured tresses.
First off, it's extremely important to keep your hair healthy and in tip top shape when you are either growing it out or tend to like to keep it continuously long. It will quickly become prone to breakage, splitting and drying if you aren't careful with how you treat it. It's extremely important to get frequent trims if you want to keep it in tip top shape.
This doesn't mean you have to get even a whole inch cut off every time. A good rule of thumb that I like to follow is to get it trimmed once every six to eight weeks. This can be a half an inch trim, or just a "tipping" where the stylist only cuts off the damaged tips of the bottom of the length of your hair.
This keeps it healthy, and you also get to keep your length without your hair looking dry, dull and lifeless since you are keeping the ends in great shape.
You may not be a fan of layers, but if you want to have body, and don't like hair that just tends to "hang" at the sides of your face, then you will need to ask your stylist to cut in lots of long layers in the front and back of your head.
This is particularly helpful if you like volume and lift in the back of your head, since you'll notice you can more easily pick the back hair up, making the front look more full.
It provides for a lot more movement as well, and you can really have some fun with using a large barreled curling iron on the layers, making them flip up our out for even more volume and a style with movement and shape.
Just be sure to tell your hair dresser that you still want to maintain your length in the back, you just want longer layers to create more flow and movement. Also, ask them for a recommendation of a root lifter. Root lifters are typically hair products that act almost as a hair spray for your roots.
Before blowing your hair dry, preferably with a higher end salon model ionic ceramic technology dryer, which dries your hair in less time, leaving it smoother and damaging it less, is when you use the root lifter.
You will split your hair into little sections, exposing the scalp area, and at each opening, you will spray the root lifter right onto your scalp.
I like to also use a conditioning spray or leave in conditioner to add extra smoothness and moisture to my hair, and you will definitely want to use some sort of styling cream as well. This is all personal preference as to what you've found works best on your hair though.
Blow dry your hair in sections, starting with the bottom first, using a clip to hold away the top portion of your hair as you blow dry the bottom part. Then, you will blow dry the top part near the crown as well. Your hair should be totally dry by the time you are done.
You can "set" your style by giving it an ice cold shot from your dryer with the cold set button. This helps to set more voluminous styles, and help hold them through humid conditions.