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If you feel like you’ve tried everything from expensive shampoos and gimmicky “influencer-approved” vitamins to monthly hair trims yet your hair still doesn’t grow, you’re not alone. For years, my hair would never grow past my mid-chest, and even then, it was brittle, dry, and had endless split ends. I thought maybe if I got my hair trimmed more often, it would help my hair to grow stronger, but to no avail.
Then, about a year ago, I started hearing the name “Abbey Yung” on TikTok. I kept seeing people have insane hair transformations, going from heat damage to long and luscious in what seemed like no time. Who is this woman and how is it that she’s unlocked the secret to long, healthy hair?
Who is Abbey Yung?
Abbey Yung is a 31-year-old social media creator from California. She started posting beauty and haircare tips online in 2012, amassing over 2.9 million followers since. She’s known for her shiny, long hair and using relatively affordable products, contrary to the high-end, expensive shampoos and conditioners being pushed by other influencers.
In 2025, she officially named her haircare routine the Abbey Yung Method: a flexible 11-step routine fit for any hair type. She has numerous videos going over each step of her meticulously thought-out routine, from what to do before even stepping foot in the shower to products to use in between wash days.
What makes her routine special?
Abbey’s method has gone viral for its focus on affordability and adaptability. There isn’t just one Abbey Yung Method; there is a series of interchangeable steps to ensure your individual needs are met. This routine is especially great for people with dry or heat-damaged hair, looking to repair it so their hair can grow longer.
Her Routine
Before trying to change or personalize the routine, it’s important to understand each step and why Abbey recommends it. After reading about each of the 11 steps, you can decide which ones will work best for your hair.
To see a full breakdown of Abbey’s recommended products, see her pinned Instagram post for more.
Step 1: Pre-Shampoo Bond Repair Treatment
This step is done before your hair even gets wet, up to 1-2 times per week. Abbey prefers the Epres Bond Repair Spray that can be left in your hair for 10 minutes before your shower. However, if you’re incorporating other bond repair treatments into your routine, this pre-shower step may not be necessary.
Step 2: Pre-Shampoo Oil
This step is crucial if you have dry or brittle hair, making sure your hair gets the extra hydration it needs. The viral OGX oils are perfect for this step. Hair oiling has been used throughout history among various cultures and is known for its restorative properties for hair growth. Be sure to massage it into your scalp and work it through your lengths.
Step 3: Clarifying Shampoo
This extra-strength shampoo is the perfect reset for your scalp. Using this at least once a week (more or less, depending on your hair type) is best to go deeper than your usual shampoo.
Step 4: Non-Clarifying Shampoo
After you’ve clarified, now’s the time to go in with your usual shampoo. If you have a drier scalp, you may not want to double shampoo and instead skip to the next step. If you use a medicated shampoo, like for dandruff, this is the step to use it.
Step 5: Bond Repair Treatments
The K18 Molecular Hair Mask can probably be credited with starting the conversation around bond repair for its borderline miraculous “hair healing” effects. If you can’t splurge on this, Abbey has other dupes for this product that can be used once per week. Depending on the bond repair treatment you use, be sure to check the specific instructions!
Step 6: Conditioning
This can be broken down into three product categories: gloss, regular conditioner, and hair masks. Each time you wash, you should use one of these products depending on your hair needs. It’s common to use a regular conditioner for most washes and use a hair gloss or mask once or twice per week for extra hydration.
Step 7: Post-Wash Bond Repair
If you didn’t add any bond repairing products in a previous step, now is the perfect time! If you typically use detanglers or heat protectants after you shower, it is best to apply bond repair treatment first so it can penetrate the hair.
Step 8: Leave-In Conditioner & Heat Protectant
These should be applied after every wash, and you should also be using heat protectant any time you use hot tools to style your hair. If you’re not sure what spray is best for your hair, watch Abbey’s video breaking down all of her recommendations.
Step 9: Styling
This is an optional step based on how you style your hair after the shower. If you use any sprays, mousses, or gels, this is the step in the process where you would apply them.
Step 10: Style Sealers
These serums, creams, and oils are perfect to lock in your hair once you’ve styled it. These not only give your hair that last bit of added hydration but they also coat the hairs to give added protection throughout the day.
Step 11: In-Between Wash Care
In between the days you wash your hair are still important for protection and hydration, and this is a step that Abbey really emphasizes. You can use overnight hair masks meant for dry hair to protect & hydrate while you sleep, and you can apply oils in the morning when styling your hair for the day. If your hair gets greasy in between wash days, use a dry shampoo!
How I adapted it
The biggest pro of this routine is its flexibility and adaptability. If you couldn’t already tell, many of the steps are optional and can be swapped out because, let’s be real, you shouldn’t be using three bond repair treatments in one wash anyways. Even if it seems complicated, there are a few key themes you can take and use in your own routine: repair, protection, and hydration. You may choose to focus on just one or incorporate all three!
I, of course, purchased the OGX Coconut Oil to apply before showering and after styling my hair. Before starting this routine, I used to only use dry shampoo to refresh my hair on my non-wash days, but I think using hair oils and repairing masks has really made the difference in my hair health. I’ve also become more conscious of the products I am buying, and I now know that there are so many great affordable hair products that won’t break the bank. I’ve recently been using the Dove Bond Strength Shampoo & Conditioners (which only cost me $5 for each bottle), and I’ve been loving the way my hair has looked.
At the end of the day, each person’s hair journey will be different and unique to them. While Abbey Yung’s method can seem daunting, she does a great job of breaking it down and explaining what the key parts are.