Fairytale hair: healthy, long, + strong

As I begin my (painfully) long journey to the icy blonde locks of my dreams, I'm realizing how difficult it is to go from hair like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, to a mane more like Elsa's from Frozen.
(Check out my previous red color in my Tell-All post).
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My new mission: rid my head of the red - and the best way to do that I'm told, is to grow it out completely and chop away my Ariel moment.
Here are some tips to eating and treating your way to longer and stronger hair...

(If you guys want to see a post on what I did for my beautiful cousin Bella's hair and makeup,
let me know in the comments below. That's her natural hair - can you believe it?!)

+ Tip number one, and arguably the most important: HYDRATE!
Though taking care of our hair from the outside can help maintain a healthy appearance, it is no secret that water is the simple answer to so many beauty dilemmas we face. Try sneaking in an extra glass before each meal, and replacing whatever water you may lose while sweating when working out. My favorite way to make sure I stay hydrated? Download the smartphone app Plant Nanny - it calculates how much water you need based on your height and weight, and reminds you to drink up with a cute plant you keep alive based on how much you drink throughout the day.

+ Just like it's important to hydrate your hair from within, nourishing your body with the right foods can make all the difference in growing strong strands. Biotin, or vitamin H, is an absolute must in your diet when growing healthy hair and nails. Lucky for us, this vitamin is naturally found in so many delicious foods we eat. Eggs, avocados, salmon, almonds, bananas, mushrooms, soybeans, and even peanut butter can bring you one step closer to the happy, healthy hair we lust.

+ Every week or two, I love pampering myself with a hair mask. I've tried a bunch, but the one I always seem to go back to is SheaMoisture's Strengthen, Grow, & Restore Treatment Masque. The peppermint oil in the masque gives your scalp that tingly, clean feeling, and actually stimulates hair growth. While you wait for your hair to grow, make sure you leave the locks you already have shiny, moisturized, and tangle-free.

What hair growth tricks do you love?