If you don't want to do your hair yourself, you can get a wash and set at a salon once a week (or every two weeks) and just keep your hair in a protective style or ponytail.
Your ends DO NOT need a trim every 6 to 8 weeks. Trim your ends ONLY IF there is damage and/or you want an even tapered look. Otherwise, you are cutting away your growth. Hair is not a rose bush, so trimming will not increase length if you do it more often.
Moisturizing the hair is one of the most beneficial things you can do to maintain and retain length. Find a good moisturizer not only for your hair, but your scalp. It will take some experimenting to find out how often your particular hair needs to be moisturized. Try every 3 days, to start. Moisturize your scalp at least once a week.
Speaking of the scalp, daily scalp massages work wonders for the hair. This increases circulation and feeds and nourishes the hair. Work the pads of your fingers (never use your nails) in small circles (clockwise, and then counter-clockwise or vice versa) around your scalp. Then gently tug on your hair in small sections.
Another way to stimulate the scalp is weekly brushings. Find a gentle brush (100% boar bristle, or a paddle brush are good starts). Make sure that your hair is completely detangled first. Sit on the edge of the bathtub and place your head between your knees. Comb your hair over your face with a wide tooth comb. Begin brushing your hair, and follow up with your other hand (the one not holding the brush) to smooth down the hair after each stroke. This will also prevent static in the hair.
Pre-shampoo treatments and hot oil treatments deliver nourishment and moisture and help to strengthen the hair and add shine and body This can also help you retain length. Try extra virgin olive oil, jojoba, or meadowfoam. Apply it to your hair until it's saturated, and then put on a shower cap. Leave it on from 10-45 minutes and then shampoo your hair.
When shampooing, the right shampoo makes all the difference. Also, shampooing your hair correctly doesn't hurt. Never pile your hair on top of your head. Always detangle your hair first and leave your hair down. Massage the shampoo into your scalp and rinse. This will decrease tangles and breakage.
Deep conditioners can also help reduce or prevent breakage and damage. You can leave them on for the time stated on the bottle, or even longer. You can also mix these with a pre-shampoo or hot oil treatment for more moisture and strength.
For styles, protective styles (styles in which the ends of your hair are hidden from view) can allow you to retain more length in the long run. Many ladies have used protective styles to grow their hair to waist length in as little as 2 years. While not for everyone, you can experiment and see if protective styles are right for you.
Take hair measurements and document how long your hair is now. Keep your hair moisturized and in a protective style for two months and then measure your hair again. For the next two months, wear your hair down and compare the lengths. This can help you decide if protective styles are something you should seriously look in to or if they don't benefit you at all.
Using less heat also allows your hair to remain healthy and long. This also prevents damage to the hair.
