My hair is 4.5 feet long – I haven’t trimmed it in a year, my method for destroying split ends doesn’t sacrifice length

A SIMPLE trick for getting rid of split ends at home has helped one woman grow knee-length hair.

Zelda revealed how she manages her eye-catching tresses that measure a staggering 4.5 feet long.

Zelda Rose online

Zelda Rose online

Zelda ( @ZeldasLongHair ) has garnered over 46,000 subscribers on YouTube , where she shares hair-related ASMR content.

The 23-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, went viral on the video-sharing platform when she revealed how she grew her locks so long.

Speaking to The U.S. Sun, she revealed the challenges of maintaining her hair .

NO SPLIT ENDS

Zelda racked up over 10 million views on a YouTube Short showing the moment that she got a “big chop” in August 2023.

Despite trimming just 3 centimeters, she said it was a “big, scary deal” as she hadn’t trimmed off more than a centimeter in over seven years.

“It will probably be another six years until I trim another few centimeters again,” she said.

“Instead of getting regular big chops, I’m an advocate for everybody to use the search-and-destroy method instead.

“I spend about 10 minutes a couple of days each week to search my hair for any split ends or damage, and I trim off the hair at a healthy point.

“This way, the damage gets cut off without sacrificing the nearby healthy strands.

“It takes a lot longer, but it saves my length.”

NATURAL BEAUTY

Zelda said she’s worn her hair in protective hairstyles such as a low ponytail or side braid since she was in middle school.

She’s also avoided using harsh chemicals such as dye or bleach.

“I certainly thought about coloring my hair and doing more with it as a teenager, but my strict parents would prevent me from such things,” she said.

“Seven years later, I think it was for the best.

If I need to bend down to pick something up from the floor then half of my hair would become a broom.

Zelda

“I estimate that the ends of my hair are around 10 years old, which have been kept in good condition thanks to avoiding such chemical treatments or colorings.”

Zelda said the women in her family are genetically blessed with “thick, healthy” hair, but she’s the first to grow their strands past tailbone length.

“Especially on my mom’s side, their hair is noticeably thick but regularly colored and trimmed,” she said.

“I’m the first to grow such long hair.”

Zelda Rose online

STYLE SECRETS

Zelda was bombarded with comments and stared at for having long hair while studying abroad in Japan.

She said as a foreigner she “stuck out like a sore thumb,” however in America, her tresses don’t get as much attention.

“But when someone does speak up, it will be a short, simple comment like ‘Your hair is so long’ about half of the time,” she said.

“The other half will be one of the following 4 questions: ‘How did you grow it?

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“‘Why did you grow it so long? How long does it take to wash? How often do you wash it?’

“I always try to patiently answer their questions, but it can get repetitive.”

She revealed that she hides her lengthy locks when going grocery shopping or protects them with a wide headband.

She said having knee-length tresses used to get in the way when she bent down to pick something up from the floor as her hair would “become a broom.”

I certainly thought about coloring my hair and doing more with it as a teenager, but my strict parents would prevent me from such things.

Zelda

“If I’m trying to do yoga, I need to make sure the floor is clean before starting,” she said.

“But over time, I’ve learned tricks for how to quickly keep my hair out of the way.

“One of my favorites being to lightly wrap my braid around my neck.

“Tuck the ends into the braid necklace, and it will stay put for about five minutes. Just enough time to do some cleaning or yoga.”

What causes hair loss?

Alexander Armand is a celebrity hairstylist and the creator of hair loss oil Flourish by Alexander Armand.

“Some common causes for hair loss include stress, alopecia, hereditary hair loss, chemical treatments, high tension hairstyles, diet, and certain medications,” Armand told The U.S. Sun.

“Androgenetic Alopecia which is also known as pattern baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss and is a genetic condition that causes hair thinning 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 (telogen) phase due to stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, or major life changes.

“Hair typically grows back within a few months.

“Alopecia Areata is another form of alopecia that is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss in patches.

“The severity varies, some people may lose all hair while others may experience regrowth.

“When it relates to your diet, deficiencies in nutrients such as iron, vitamin D, biotin, zinc, and protein can contribute to hair loss.

“Traction alopecia can occur due to tight hairstyles like ponytails, braids, or buns that put stress on the hair follicles.

“Excessive heat styling or chemical treatments can also damage hair.

“Also, certain medications, like 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 if she needs it to stay out of the way for a long time.

“When sleeping, I always wear a bonnet which helps keep my hair neat and contained in bed,” she said.

“I talk about all of these topics and more in my upcoming book: The Ultimate Guidebook to Growing Long, Healthy Hair.”

Physical and digital copies of Zelda’s book will be available to purchase from Amazon later this month.

She will notify her subscribers on YouTube and followers on Instagram once it’s officially published.

“My book covers all of the most common questions I receive, such as my washing tips & tricks, haircare tools, and products, trimming your own hair, and scientifically supported methods to make your hair grow faster,” she said.

Zelda Rose online