Enjoying healthy long hair at 50+

Latinas love long hair and feel our long manes give us feminine power.

Nowadays, unlike previous generations, more women let their hair grow and keep it long well past their 50s. This was unheard of just a couple decades ago.

Long hair at any age

Despite the myth that you should chop off your locks after a certain age, long and well-cared for locks are just as beautiful at 20 as at 50.

And, why the heck not?

In the New York Times, Dominique Browning defended her long hair at the age of 55 in her 2010 essay, “Why Can’t Middle-Aged Women Have Long Hair?”

And I simply have to agree with her!

You can enjoy healthy looking long hair at any age by following these simple tips.

Diet

Just as skin and nails show signs of a poor diet, so does hair.

According to WebMD, there are certain foods you should include in your diet to not only improve your hair, but your overall health.

Salmon, walnuts, oysters, sweet potatoes, eggs, lentils, spinach, greek yogurt and blueberries are some of them.

Also read: Skin-care tips for women over 45

Exercise

Engaging in physical activity increases blood flow, delivering oxygen to every part of our bodies.

Hair growth is also affected by how much oxygen gets to the scalp. Besides regular exercise you can add scalp massage to your beauty routine!

This stimulates the hair follicles to flush out toxins and promote hair growth.

Yoga can also help keep your hair healthy, according to Livestrong.com.

Conditioners

Leave-in conditioners or even just your everyday conditioner, can work wonders.

After shampooing, condition and rinse your hair. Then gently towel dry and rub a dime size of your favorite conditioner in your hands and apply to the ends of your tresses.

Style your hair as usual.

This practice won’t repair split ends that were already there, but after a haircut, if you stick to this routine, you will protect your hair from further damage.

I also swear by serums.

My favorite which I buy with my own money, is Garnier’s Fructis Haircare Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment for Frizzy, Dry, Unmanageable Hair (SRP: $5.99).

What is your take on long hair after 50?