Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
My Best Tips for Growing Out Your Hair + My Hair Story
In 2020 I had a pixie haircut with the sides cut ultra-short. It was cute, but not ideal when you cannot go to a salon. During the COVID pandemic, a lot of people had no choice but to grow their hair out because of so many salons being forced to close. I moved to Florida during the pandemic and was able to visit a salon (their COVID rules were a bit looser than other states) but I was tired of the frequent cuts and decided to grow my hair out. I learned a lot during the process too. Read on to learn my best tips for growing out your hair plus learn about my hair story, which may be your story too!
My pixie cut in 2020 and my long hair in 2023
I used to be a cutter… a hair cutter. For many, many years, I’d grow my hair long and then all of the sudden I’d get an impulse to chop it off. I love my hair long and have done some research on understanding why I always cut my hair off after growing it for so long. The only thing I could come up with on my own was remembering that every time I did it, I was experiencing some incredibly stressful and “out of control” life situations and cutting my hair short seemed to be some sort of way I could control at least one thing. I also always understood it was hair and it’d grow back.
I love testing shampoos using sample sets
In my research, I learned that this hair cutting process actually happens to a lot of people. Cutting your hair short can be an impulse that some people act on when about to go through some life changes. Unfortunately, many of my life changes were very painful and I took it out on my hair. After doing even more deep thinking, I traced my habit back to the year right after my parent’s divorce. I had very long, auburn hair that was beautiful and many people agreed. I was always complimented on my hair. One day, shortly after my dad remarried, my new stepmom decided to take me to a salon and have my hair chopped off and permed. I was 8 years old.
I get the right hydration with Pureology
I loved my hair long and always had my mom around to help me brush and style it. When my mom left, it was up to me to figure out how to fix my own hair. I roped my dad into trying to help me with my hair, and he did his best (he even learned how to braid from me and my Barbie) but it was never as perfect as my mom made it. My stepmom had sons with short hair and had extremely short hair herself, so I figured she simply had no idea what to do with my hair.
She left my hair care completely up to me and told me if I kept it looking like a “rat’s nest” (as she so “lovingly” described my hair), she was going to get it cut off. She was definitely not a born caretaker. Since I was so young and did not have the internet around to peruse hair tutorials and was not old enough for fashion magazines, I failed and she followed through on her threat.
Learn how to create heat free waves using my one minute tutorial below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
I remember the salon she took me to, Force 2000, and the ladies at that salon seeming to reluctantly cut and perm my long natural wavy auburn hair. That was the 1980’s, but now days, perms ARE NOT recommended for younger people. According to WebMD, studies have shown that “children between 10 and 13 years old using chemical perms have a higher risk of breast cancer. Gheesh, the more you know now days, right!?
I love Pureology Color Fanatic glosses
I went along with it because my stepmom hovered over me at the salon the entire time. She acted like it was the best thing I could ever do for my hair, so I tried to show her I was okay with it. I was a kid who thought adults knew best, so I acted like I was fine. I did not cry or speak out because she did not allow for that. Showing any kind of emotion was frowned upon in our house.
Weirdly enough, perms have a ton of maintenance in the beginning, so I have no idea how I managed to take care of my newly permed hair. My third grade photo with my frizzy short permed hair just doesn’t look like me at all and it’s sad to see. I guess I didn’t take care of it as well either. Thank goodness she didn’t make me get it cut even shorter!
I use Moroccanoil Treatment before blow drying and afterwards
Fast forward to my pre-teen years. I was able to grow out my hair again when I was old enough to read through all my beauty magazines and figure out how to deal with long hair. I grew it long and played with it as often as I could to practice making it look perfect.
I curled it, flat ironed it (there were no flatirons so I used an actual iron!), and did as much as I could to make it look good in the fear my stepmom would have it cut off again. She made fun of my hair no matter what I did to it (she always told me it looked like a rat’s nest), but at least she didn’t make me cut it again.
Long story short, I ended up cutting it off again in high school when things got really bad with my step mom. I grew it out, then cut it off again in college, right as I exited a sorority which was not a fun experience for me. My grades were falling and so much felt out of control as I was trying to figure life out, so I cut my hair short and spiked it up as I left my psychology college degree plan and entered an art program. I grew it out again, got married, and cut it off again. Sometimes my drastic hair cuts came during happy changes too!
My Marc Anthony hair mask works!
It took me until I was 44 to understand this process. After moving away to a new state in 2020, I developed a sense of peace and clarity. Through therapy, I’ve understood how to cope better with life changes instead of always taking it out on my hair. In 2020, I decided I was going to stop a coping process that always involved my hair. Growing out my hair was actually always pretty easy, but at 44, my hair was now aging, dry and tended to be brittle.
While growing out the pixie cut, in the beginning, I got lots of hair trims. It always looked “moppy” if I didn’t get it shaped by a professional. I was using the entire Olaplex line and it worked during this growing out process. However, once my hair was really long, it needed more moisture. Here are the products that took my hair from dry and brittle to long and strong.
I love using a big curling iron for big curls
I needed lots of moisture due to my age, using heat tools, coloring my hair and living in a very hot and sunny environment of Sanibel, Florida. After trying many, many, many shampoos, masks and conditioners, I settled on the Pureology system. I used their travel set first (and had used it in the past) so I didn’t waste any money. If you can get a travel size of a shampoo/conditioner to try, you’ll end up saving money as you test your way through trying to find products that are right for your hair type.
The Smooth Moisture Thermal Hair Strengthener definitely helps my hair get straight and smooth
First I shampoo with Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo. It comes in a purple bottle and the purple bottled Pureology products are for medium to thick color treated hair, which is my hair type. The line is sulfate free, vegan and cruelty free too.
Next I use the Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner. I apply it throughout my hair and rinse it out quickly. Then I use Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat in clear mixed with a little of the color versions. Sometimes I use just the clear coat alone, but if my hair needs a boost of color, I add some of their copper or red or a mixture of both. The color versions definitely add temporary color to my hair, which is great if your hair color is looking not so great in between colorings.
My hair is now much more moisturized and sleek
While the top coat is still on my hair, I apply Marc Anthony Grow Long Hair Mask to my hair and comb in out using a wide tooth comb. I leave it in for about 10 minutes while I shower and rinse it all out. It seems like a lot, but it works for me.
See my one minute video review about the Marc Anthony Grow Long Hair mask (and how it helped me grow back some hair after I had Covid in 2024) below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
I used to simply use a hair mask by Playa beauty, but the brand was sold and then the production of the products ceased, so because I used Pureology in the past, I decided to give it a try again and it happily worked! I also like Pureology Color Fanatic Leave-In Conditioner for an extra boost of color protection and moisture. I got a sample of it and plan to buy the full size when I run out.
Sleek long hair is easily achieved now for me
I wash my hair every other day and also watch how often I heat style it. If I heat style it too much, I do see some breakage, but using some heat protectants like Moroccanoil Treatment and Smooth Moisture Thermal Hair Strengthener definitely helps. I take breaks from heat styling and on those days, I’ll wear my hair in braids for a day and then take them out to wear loose waves.
My neighbor had some issues with her hair breaking off and told me she puts collagen powder in her coffee and saw a good difference in her hair. We both use Ancient Nutrition Collagen and after a few weeks, I saw a positive difference in my hair too. There was no more little broken pieces in my shower anymore! I have my husband using it too and because I style his hair, I see much less hair loss when I style it now.
I wear my hair in braids to give it a heat break, then wear it in waves from the braids
I am currently doing my own hair trims about every two months, but know it’s getting so long that I may need help. With only having very small trims, it’s taken about 2.5 years to get it to the point it’s at right now, which is mid-back length. After Sanibel was hit by Hurricane Ian in 2023, all the salons on the island were closed for a long period of time, so doing my own hair was much easier than traveling to the next city. I’m also proud to say that despite the trauma the hurricane brought to me and so many others, I didn’t cut my hair off! I think I’ve finally broken the cycle now that I understand it.
I am also currently coloring my own hair but may need help with that soon too. Cutting and dying my own hair is a part of my creativity, but finding a great and trusted stylist will be in my future. While I am not a professional, I have always observed professionals doing hair and tried to copy them. Doing your own hair is not really hard, it’s just time consuming and difficult if you have a certain look you are going for. Stylist definitely work hard for their money, so tip them well and be loyal if you find a good honest one!
If you are trying to grow your hair out, remember to take care of your hair, get frequent trims in the beginning and make sure you are using the right products for your hair type. While what I use may work for me, everyone’s hair type is different. Be extremely patient and you’ll get the hair length you want in time!
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How I Use Beachwaver Braid Balm for Braids and Waves
Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.