A SIMPLE trick to get rid of split ends at home helped a woman grow knee-length hair.
Zelda revealed how she cares for her striking curls, which are an incredible 1.47 metres long.
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Zelda (@ZeldasLongHair) has over 46,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she shares hair-related ASMR content.
The 23-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, caused a sensation on the video-sharing platform when she revealed how she grew her locks so long.
In an interview with The US Sun, she revealed the challenges involved in caring for her hair.
NO SPLIT END
Zelda has garnered over 10 million views on a YouTube short film showing the moment she got a “big cut” in August 2023.
Although she only cut off three centimeters, she said it was a “big, scary thing” since she hadn’t cut off more than one centimeter in over seven years.
“It will probably take another six years before I lose a few inches again,” she said.
“Instead of regular big blows, I am in favor of everyone using the search and destroy method instead.
“I spend about 10 minutes a few days a week checking my hair for split ends or damage and cut the hair in a healthy area.
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“In this way, the damage is repaired without damaging the neighboring healthy strands.
“It takes a lot longer, but it saves me length.”
NATURAL BEAUTY
Zelda said she has worn her hair in protective hairstyles such as a low ponytail or side braid since middle school.
It also avoids the use of aggressive chemicals such as dyes or bleach.
“As a teenager, of course I thought about dyeing my hair and doing more with it, but my strict parents stopped me from doing such things,” she said.
“Seven years later, I think it was for the best.
Whenever I have to bend down to pick something up from the floor, half of my hair becomes a broom.
Zelda
“I estimate the age of my hair ends to be about 10 years old and they have remained in good condition thanks to the avoidance of such chemical treatments or coloring.”
Zelda said the women in her family are genetically blessed with “thick, healthy” hair, but she is the first to have hair that has grown past the length of her tailbone.
“Especially on my mother’s side, the hair is noticeably thick, but is dyed and cut regularly,” she said.
“I’m the first to have hair this long.”
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Style secrets
Zelda was bombarded with comments and stares while studying abroad in Japan because she had long hair.
She said that as a foreigner she “stood out like a sore thumb,” but in America her curls didn’t attract as much attention.
“But when someone does say something, about half the time it’s a short, simple comment like, ‘Your hair is so long,'” she said.
“The other half will be one of the following four questions: ‘How did you grow it?’
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“‘Why did you let it grow so long? How long does it take to wash? How often do you wash it?’
“I always try to answer their questions patiently, but it can get boring.”
She revealed that when she goes shopping she hides her long curls or protects them with a wide headband.
She said her knee-length locks always got in the way when she bent down to pick something up from the floor because her hair “became a broom.”
As a teenager, of course, I thought about dyeing my hair and doing more with it, but my strict parents stopped me from doing such things.
Zelda
“If I want to do yoga, I have to make sure the floor is clean before I start,” she said.
“But over time, I’ve learned tricks to quickly get my hair out of the way.
“One of my favorite ways is to wrap my braid loosely around my neck.
“Tuck the ends into the braided necklace and it will stay where it is for about five minutes. Just enough time to do some cleaning or yoga.”
What causes hair loss?
Alexander Armand is a celebrity hairdresser and the inventor of the hair loss oil Flourish by Alexander Armand.
“Some common causes of hair loss include stress, alopecia, hereditary hair loss, chemical treatments, high-impact hairstyles, diet and certain medications,” Armand told The US Sun.
“Androgenetic alopecia, also known as hereditary alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss and is a genetic condition that causes thinning hair on the crown and top of the head in women and thinning and receding hairlines in men.
“Telogen effluvium is the technical term for a temporary form of hair loss that occurs when a large number of hair follicles enter the resting phase (telogen phase) due to stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, or major life changes.
“Hair usually grows back within a few months.
“Alopecia Areata is another form of alopecia, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss.
“The severity varies. Some people may lose all their hair, while others may grow new hair.
“When it comes to your diet, a deficiency in nutrients such as iron, vitamin D, biotin, zinc and protein can contribute to hair loss.
“Traction alopecia can be caused by tight hairstyles such as ponytails, braids or buns that put strain on the hair follicles.
“Excessive heat styling or chemical treatments can also damage hair.
“In addition, certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, blood thinners and some antidepressants, can cause hair loss as a side effect.”
Zelda said she styles her hair with a wide headband when she wants it to stay out of the way for long periods of time.
“I always wear a cap when I sleep, which helps keep my hair neat and under control in bed,” she said.
“I talk about all these topics and more in my next book: The Ultimate Guide to Long, Healthy Hair.”
Print and digital copies of Zelda’s book will be available for purchase on Amazon later this month.
She will notify her subscribers on YouTube and her followers on Instagram once it is officially released.
“My book answers all the questions I get asked most often, including my washing tips and tricks, hair care tools and products, cutting your own hair and science-based methods to speed up hair growth,” she said.
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