So You Want Longer Hair?
Hot tips from my hair + 65cm (yes)
If you’ve been wondering how to grow your hair longer and seeker, this post was written for you. I share everything I’m using with pictures and links.
If you’re ever in an existential funk and believe a haircut will fix everything, just call me before going to the salon.
Or come back to this letter, where I will share with you how I’ve been growing my hair for the past 7 years, including a full-term pregnancy and 3 years, 4 months and 19 days of breastfeeding (and still counting) (maybe mama’s milk is also why my son has super long hair?).
→ In this Light Letter, I’ll tell you just like I would tell a girlfriend.
It's relaxed here.
I'm no authority, and my aim isn't to bring you down.
→ Because I don’t know which one of the things I am using is truly making a difference, I’ll share with you my entire list, and you can follow your intuition and be the judge.
As per my camera roll and memories, I last got a haircut in 7 years ago, in January 2017.
I was in a crisis/survival mode. Emotionally broken. Physically exhausted. I thought cutting my hair would solve the problems. It didn’t: but quickly after this, I quit my 9-5 job, attended my first 10-day vipassana retreat, did my first 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training, and discovered kundalini yoga a few months later and enrolled for teacher training. Maybe it was needed for the complete rebirth to be possible…
I’d estimate that my hair grew +65 cm since then — at the longest point. And they seem to keep growing. Again, I’m no authority: some people experiment with cutting their hair, I experiment with not cutting them.
Does it make me more intuitive, more patient, and more calm? Maybe yes.
Here we go, I’ll share everything I’ve been using that I think is contributing to longer hair. In no particular order. Don’t judge me! Just take what feels good, and leave out the rest, ok?
I made 4 sections for you: in the morning, at night, on wash day, during the day:
I’m including pictures so that you can spot the things when you see them online or on the shelves.
We are a no-smoking, no-drinking alcohol, and vegetarian household.
We follow what we’d call a yogic lifestyle, but we are also not cultish about it. I think that what we are eating and drinking, not eating and not drinking does contribute to hair health and strength. So far, it’s working for us.
1. In the morning
Cat/Cow: reset your glandular system.
3 minutes of cat/cow gets me moving the body but also the emotions.
It also reset the glandular system, and that’s good for beautiful hair. Cheaper than therapy, and cheaper than a haircut.
I brush my hair with a good wooden hair brush: be gentle.
I want easy detangling + a light massaging effect to stimulate the scalp (and hair growth). I have the big hair brush and the travel brush for years, and they still have all their bristles!
Mine are from Aveda: the big one is 29€ but 37€ on their official website, and the travel size is 27€ here. If I would ever need a replacement, I’d also consider this one from karmameju, 27€.
I take 2 caps of SuperHair by moonjuice: you’ll miss them when you don’t take them
I take 2 caps daily (instead of the 4 caps recommended, why? because it makes your B12 level too high) — one jar lasts me 2 months.
What’s in there? Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, ashwagandha + ginseng + saw palmetto + pumpkin seed.
I started in November 2022. I gave birth in December 2020. I should have started earlier, pre-pregnancy, or even just right away postpartum.
I usually order x3 boxes from cultbeauty, 62€ but it’s currently sold out. If you order from the official website, $60, you get $20 off on your first order ($100+) using my discount code RefereeRX75UFR7 at checkout.
Styling my hair: I have 3 hair moods: 1. keeping my hair loose and down 2. tied in a low bun in the back of my head 3. tied in a small scarf.
Hair mascura to the rescue.
This hair mascara changed my life. It does what it says: anti-flyaways touch up brush, bye bye baby hair!
From got2b, it’s 6€ at the local drugstore
2. At night
Sleeping on a mulberry silk pillowcase: less breakage!
It’s good for my skin, but also for my hair. It’s just… softer.
Mine is from zara home, just under 50€ and now comes in various colors. My son also loves it, he thinks it’s so soft and always ends up sleeping on my pillow.
Sleeping with a mulberry silk eye mask if needed: less breakage, smoother skin
This is not every night, but it can help me to sleep deeper.
Because it’s also made of silk, it’s gentle for the hair and doesn’t leave a mark.
My eye mask is also from zara home, just under 23€.
Braiding my hair before going to sleep: the 108 sacred strokes (how relaxing).
I brush my hair again, of course, and braid them. It’s helping me to get rid of the emotions of the day. It’s the easiest way I found to deal with my hair at night, and it gives me these waves I like in the morning.
Using silk scrunchies instead of anything else.
I invested 12€ in a duo of silk scrunchies and I don’t regret it. It’s part of my bedtime routine now, for braiding my hair. Here in black, here in light beige (12€).
3. On hair wash day
I’d say I intuitively wash my hair every 2.5 days. Morning or evening, it depends on my schedule — if in the evening, then I do the massaging + oiling routine.
Massaging the scalp to activate hair growth
I got gifted a beautiful wooden gua sha from Japan by Marie from
. I use it on my scalp to release the tensions and stimulate the blood flow before my pre-wash routine.
Oiling my hair: taking good care of your lenghts with oil.
30 minutes to 2 hours before washing.
For the scalp: I use a homemade mix of almond oil + a few drops of rosemary essential oil, and massage it into the scalp. Rosemary oil is the ultimate hair growth oil (you can go down the TikTok rabbit hole about it).
This youtube shorts said this coconut miracle oil from OGX, 9€ helps protect our hair on wash day, and that’s why I started using it… (never seen it in a drugstore, I ordered it online). Finger-comb it into the hair (for me, the bottom half of my length). This is so good for my lengths and ends! So rich and nourishing.
A side note it’s a very thick oil (think: coconut oil) — you might need a double shampoo — if you’re looking for a lighter version, buy and use the mist instead.
Hair serum for scalp health and hair growth stimulation
I started to use a hair serum last November, and this bottle is still half full. It was on my 2023 favourites list. I only use a couple of drops on my scalp, twice a week, as a spa treatment, you know. It has rosemary, lavender, chamomille and a special ingredient called Follicusan helping with hair growth.
It’s from the German brand Elizabeta Zefi, 80€.
Washing my hair: in 2 steps
I’m sorry not sorry, but the natural bar shampoo that you get at the local organic store doesn’t work for me. I have been using this set — Dream Long — since 2019 (I think? I remember having it in my Paris studio), I don’t think L’Oréal needs more money, but hey, I said I’ll be honest just like with a girlfriend, so here we are. At the local drugstore or supermarket (I use the shampoo and conditioner).
Drying my hair for less breakage
I use a microfiber hair wrap, but not the way you think about it. I first use it to squeeze the water out of my hair, just like I’d do with a cotton towel, and then only I eventually wrap my hair turban style in it. Here is the one I’m using, from H&M home, 8€ (product code 1057729002) (this one is cute too).
I love being in Dubai because I don’t need to use a hair dryer.
When I’m in Hamburg, I use it using cold / warm mode alternatively.
I never go to bed with wet hair.
4. During the day
I drink good quality matcha, and I found articles online saying that matcha is good for hair growth. Remember, I last cut my hair in January 2017, last drank coffee in July 2018, and became consistent with drinking good matcha in 2023.
If you are in Germany, order Lowinsky’s 30€ — I can also recommend Yoshien (I get this 100gr bag).
I drink water, and by that I mean: just water. Maybe it helps? $
If I need to focus (let’s say: I’m writing and editing), I put my hair up in a bun. Bringing the hair on top of the crown helps me to focus.
“Our hair fashions might be just a trend, but if we investigate, we may find that we have been depriving ourselves of one of the most valuable sources of energy for human vitality.” Yogi Bhajan (source)
Voilà
I will come back to this post and edit it if I missed something, or if I add some new products to my routine — I’ll also answer any additional questions you have.
A thought: it’s kinda funny that I’m writing this while travelling, because I didn’t bring my shampoo and conditioner, hair oil and serum with me… and I can feel the difference.
I hope you got inspired, and that you will call me next time if you feel a bit funky and crave a haircut. Maybe there is another way around?
Maybe try going your hair with my tips, and send me a before/after picture in a year from now? Deal?
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Love you, thank you for reading
Ardas Chandra
I’ve saved this post and will call you. You know 😅
Thank you for sharing your awesome tips with us! 🤩 I’ve recently chopped off quite of bit of my hair. Maybe I should have called you 😀