I just found this site and I'm enthusiastic that I can find some good ideas.  My hair is brown, wavy/curly and about 12" long.  In the back it hangs past my shoulders, in the front past my chin a bit.  I never really tried to grow it, just got sick of cutting it and after a while I realized I liked it long, so I never cut it again, except the trim every few months.  I never do anything to it except brush and shampoo it; I like it natural and I want it healthy.  
    It is getting long and I want it longer, but I'm having trouble with how to fix it and it's harder to maintain as it gets longer.  So I searched the internet looking for ideas and found this site.  
   
I'll be searching the board for answers to my questions, maybe I'll list the big ones here and you all can help?
   
I don't like leaving my hair loose at night because it gets messy, but I don't like rubberbands; what can I do with it?

    I'm looking for styles too.  I like to pull the top half of my hair back and leave the bottom down, but I often get some hair caught in the rubberband.  Rubberbands are supposed to damage your hair, so what can I use?

One more: I'm thinking of getting some ChapStix, but (this may sound silly)  I'm not sure how to use them.  What styles can you use them for?

I do have female family members who might be able to help with these things, but they don't like my hair long so I don't like talking to them about it much. I think I found a good place here for people who appreciate long hair!

Welcome!
Your questions are good ones.  Many of us braid our hair for sleeping - it does a good job containing your hair and can give you nice waves at the same time.

Rubber bands are not good for your hair.  You should use covered bands to minimize damage.  You can find these at most drug or discount stores in the hair accessories area.  There are also small plastic like bands that are not as damaging to the hair as actual rubber bands.  

ChapStix are great for a single bun or a small bun made with just half your hair.  Gollan (another member here) has a pic of his bun. He used two sticks, but a bun can be held with one.
http://gollan.pwaresearch.com/hp/hp_jul04_cs2_back_1816_800w.jpg
The Bun hairstyle is achieved by coiling the hair into a basic bun and then "stitching" the bun to the hair against your head using an in-and-out sewing motion as you instert the hair sticks in a crossed design. You may find your hair is more controllable by putting it in a small, neutral ponytail holder first and then twisting the hair until it begins to coil naturally (make sure you hide the ponytail holder under the coils).

Welcome!  

Making a bun takes some practice, but once you get it you can create one in seconds.  Here is a site where I learned to make the basic bun (the video at the bottom of the page is very helpful):
http://www.haarkram.e-something.de/bun_instructions.html

Cynde

Thanks for your responses.  I use "ouchless" rubberbands, the ones without the metal clasp thing, you know?  I call 'em rubberbands, but I guess they aren't regular ones.  I used a regular one at work once because I couldn't find one for hair.  That didn't work at all; it was hard to get out and pulled a bunch of hair with it.  After that I bought a ton of hair ones and left them in my desk.  :-*

You guys ever use "alligator" clips?  I tried one today and it worked alright.  How much hair do you need to make a bun?  I like having my hair on my neck, so I'd leave the lower part loose...

oh, one more thing.  What do you hold a braid with at night?

Forgive me if my posts are naive.  Most of my family want me to cut my hair, so I don't ask these questions much.  I'm surprised at how liberating it feels to ask them to people who empathize.  Thanks again.

Welcome to the boards and Goodluck!

Don't worry about asking questions - that's what we are here for!  Most of us found this site because we had a question that needed and answer.

As for how much hair do you need for a bun..... I usually tell people that it depends on how thick your hair is.  The thicker the hair, the longer it needs to be.  If you are going to make a bun with just the top hair, you would not need it to be as long as if you were using all of your hair.  

Just play around with your hair and a pencil to see if your hair is ready for a bun.  A hair safe ponytail holder will make you first attempts easier.  Good luck and let us know how it goes for you!

Hi.  I like to use mini scrunchies to hold my braided hair at night.  They're just like regular soft fabric scrunchies, just smaller which makes them perfect for the smaller ends of braids.  I also like 'em 'cause they're really soft when you lay on them.

Good Luck & Welcome!

Hi and welcome to LL! :D

I think BB and Sakina had good answers to your questions. As for the alligator clips, I like to use them when I make a bun. I used to use hairsticks, but my bun got bigger since I started to use them and I discovered that, at this point in time, the clips are more comfortable.

Welcome to LL BC!  ;D

Welcome to the board.
I use alligator too. I use little ones to succure a bun when I don't want to use a scrunchie.
Good luck with your questions and keep asking.
Meg

Welcome! :D  So when do we get to see a picture of your hair?

Welcome to LongLocks!  I don't have a good solution for the night braid thing.  I don't sleep well with the lumps and bumps.  Maybe when my braid gets long enough to have the scrunchie off my back....
In the meantime I just lay my hair above my head over the pillow.  If it is tangly in the morning a drop of jojoba oil helps me de-tangle it without too much damage.

You can get ponytail holders without any metal exposed -- mine are covered all the way around. That little bit of metal might be enough to grab some of the hair and pull it.  Also, I find that the fatter ones are gentler.  It might help prevent damage to use the fewest wraps of the ponytail holder that you can and still hold the hair.

As for holding braids, during the day I often use the little tiny rubber bands -- I wish I knew what they were called.  They come in packs of about 30 or 50 and they come in black and clear.  They are very tiny, like 1 cm in diameter.  I would never use them to hold hair up, but to hold the end of a braid they are very gentle because I leave them quite loose.  I like the way they look for work because they are simple and unnoticed.  I often need to freshen the braid during the day, but I do not want to clamp my ends too hard.  I don't know if this would hold up at night though -- I use scrunchies at night for braids or for ponytails.

Good luck with your hair, and I hope to see pics!

I tried braiding my hair at night and I like the results.  I can't do it myself very well so I asked my wife.  She did it for me, but she gets mad and says I'm a guy, she shouldn't have to do this to her husband.   :D

Any tips on braiding your own hair?

If you don't know how to braid, I'd start with braiding 3 strands of rope.  Once you are comfortable with braiding in front of yourself, then try braiding behind your back.  [I know this sounds stupid, but believe me it helps!]  

Another "trick" to braiding your own hair - DON'T look in the mirror.  That will tend to confuse you.  Just try to visualize what your hands/fingers are doing behind your head.  

If your hair tends to be "fly away", try running damp hands down the sections of hair.  This will help control the loose hair and actually enhance the braid waves!

Practice makes braiding easier.  The braid doesn't have to be perfect - especially if you are braiding for sleeping.  But after practicing a few times, you will find you get better and faster.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Welcome, BC Wyatt!

I have another question.  The Guide to Growing Long Hair talks about "deep conditioning", and I've never heard of this.  It describes leaving conditioner in over night.  What other methods are there?  The lady who trims my hair showed me a product that you leave in for 10-15 minutes; is that usually effective stuff?

Deep conditioning treatments are the way to keep your hair in good shape. They give your hair a serious moisture boost. You can find them most anywhere: retail chains, beauty supply stores, salons, etc.

The 2 that I use are made by Pantene: the Intensive Restoration Treatment and the Intensive Moisturizing Mask. They both work wonders.

Most treatments say to leave them in for about 3-5 minutes, some say 10-15, but I leave mine in for well over an hour. Whatever your hair needs, you know?

There are a lot of good recipes here on this site for homemade hair treatments.  :)
   Speaking of which, I sometimes leave mayonnaise in my hair for about an hour in the morning before my shower...only when I have time.

Anyway, my best advice is to just look around & try out the treatments that appeal to you most so you can find which ones work best for your hair.

Good luck & happy growing.  :)

How do you leave it in for a while? Do you use a towel or a shower cap or what?
Meg

A shower cap then covered with a towel works best for me.  The cap keeps the conditioner on the hair, the towel keeps the drips contained and if I warm the towel first, the heat helps with the conditioner.

I've been experiencing something that hasn't happened much before.  Whenever I bend over the sink (such as when I'm brushing my teeth or washing my face), my hair gets in the way a lot.  It's not a big deal, but it reminded me of how growing hair goes through phases.  I remember when it used to poke me in the eyes, then it would always get in my mouth, it used to be too short for a pony tail.  
     So do you guys usually pull your hair up when you're doing those sorts of things?

Hi Bcwyatt26!  Yep, I keep my hair back for all those things, especially when I'm cooking too :D

I always have to tie my hair back with a scrunchie when brushing my teeth...holding it with one hand is tiresome & annoying.

When washing my face, I use a scrunchie and a headband to block the strands that may fall (or get accidentally pushed) forward...even though my hair is all one length. I don't have layers or bangs, but I still use the headband for extra security.