The COVID-19 pandemic bred two kinds of people over the last year: those who took matters into their own hands and relied on DIY haircuts [1] in light of salon closures and the others who decided that, since we were all supposed to be socially distant anyway, decided to grow it all out. With the possibility of a return to normalcy on the horizon this summer, more people are excited to return to their respective hair salons [2] for a trim, but plenty of others are holding onto those extra inches with what the pros are calling "Rapunzel" hair.

"When people returned to their salons after the lockdown, most of them were 100 percent ready to part ways with their outgrown pandemic hair," Devin Toth [3], hairstylist at New York City's Salon SCK [4], told POPSUGAR. "There were others, though, who embraced their newly acquired long locks and are now giving a '70s Rapunzel-esque vibe."

As it goes with any hair length, the occasional trim is always necessary when it comes to keeping your ends healthy, but according to Toth, there are two things you should keep in mind when maintaining longer hairstyles [5]: "Being very clear with your hairdresser that you only want a centimeter of hair cut off even if they think you need more, and absolutely no layers," he said. "The other thing is I recommend using [products] that are specifically made for keeping long hair long, like the Kerastase Bain Extentioniste Shampoo [6] ($35)."

Since long hair also requires a bit more maintenance, Toth also recommends being mindful of how you treat your hair. That means limiting the amount of heat you use on it when styling it. "It was a long journey getting these long locks and you don't want to fry them away," he said. "Also the length and weight of your mane will weigh your curls and even your frizz down. Don't be surprised if your hair is flat on top."

Read ahead to see some of our favourite people embracing their extra-long hair.