Hold up on the heat styling
This might hurt a little: Step away from the heat. "So much damage can be done mechanically from hot tools," cautions Bodt. "If it can burn through a tissue or your shirt, it can do the same thing to your hair."
If air drying is not for you, be sure to use a heat protectant when you use your heat styling tools. Bodt has seen a lot of client success with switching to gentle tools like the Dyson Supersonic, $399. Also, she points back to washing your hair less as a good strategy for avoiding heat damage: "Obviously, if you're washing less, you're also not heat styling so much during the week, which allows the hair to grow and do its thing."
Let your hair down
Both stylists are against tight ponytails which can cause breakage and puts unnecessary tension on the scalp and hairline. Loose buns, alligator clips, or even softer tools like Silk Small Slipsilk Scrunchies, $20, will keep you on track.
Brush gently
Excessive brushing can lead to breakage, so Bodt advises detangling in the shower with a wide-toothed comb or wet detangling brush (such as The Knot Dr. The Pro, $14.99), starting at the ends to avoid creating knots and tangles.
There are also products to address the issue of "hair fall" from excessive brushing — check out the Kerastase Genesis line, specifically the Kerastase Genesis Serum Fortifiant Hair Serum, $51, a daily fortifying treatment designed to address weakened hair experiencing breakage from over-brushing.
Treat Yourself
Finally, handle growing hair with care: silk wraps and pillowcases (like the popular Slip Silk Pillowcase, $89) decrease drag on hair and skin, and consider a shower filter to avoid hard water and mineral deposits. If a fancy filter is out of budget, check out the Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Collection, $30, a set of products designed to remove hard mineral deposits from the hair.
Happy hair growing, everyone!
