Hi, Im new here. I have long hair since I was a wee little girl. my mom was never allowed long hair growing up so she forces us all to have long hair lol. well needless to say I cut my hair once but have grown to love long hair.

http://myspace-302.vo.llnwd.net/00323/20/30/323830302_l.jpg

my hair length varries from bra length to belly button length. It was even longer when I was younger. I take fair care of my hair as I always try to use leave in conditioner on it (with uv protection) and put it under a hat during winter, don't wash it daily.. but the winter is terrible on my hair anyways and during the cold months it tends to grow shorter then longer.  :(  I would like to grow my hair longer, as long as possible. I have read the tips on the webpage but I am looking for advice on what is best to condition my ends with after a shower.
As well I was wondering about what is the SECOND best thing to brush your hair with. I saw sugesteed a "natural" brush with boar bristles however I am a strong vegetarian and will not use a brush with boar bristles!!
Currently I just use the typical plastic brush with the little balls at the ends of the tips but Im ready to switch to something even if its only slightly better. what would be the second best brush to use on my hair???  :)

Welcome on boards! :D

I don't think you need a brush at all. :) Combing your hair with a good comb will detangle your hair just as well. My hairs' condition improved a lot in very short time when I quit brushing. If you're used to brushing, combing only sounds strange, but you'll get used to it quickly.
  So I'd suggest that you switched to combing only for a while and see what it does. Just make sure that your comb is of good quality and doesn't have seams (most cheap combs do). Body Shop sells sometimes very nice, smooth wooden combs. Also combs cut from celluloid (usually look quite a lot like ordinary combs, but are more expensive) are good.
  Another thing that will help your hair to keep its moisture is to keep it contained in an updo or a braid as much as possible. Styling long hair is really easy, and there are many instructions available online.

Welcome!

I'm with Galadriel - I don't brush my classic length hair.  I have 3 combs I use on it.  One is a plastic wide toothed detangling comb, the other two are wooden combs.  

I have a paddle brush with metal bristles and soft rubber balls on the end that I used to use and it was very gentle on my hair (and didn't cause static in the winter).  If I were to use a brush, I would go back to this one.

Dry ends, especially during the winter, are every long person's frustration.  I use jojoba oil on the ends to help keep them moisturized.  I apply a tiny bit while my hair is still wet.  I also oil the ends before going to bed, then braid and roll my braid for sleeping.  The oil is absorbed by morning and I have soft, manageable hair.

Hooray, another pallid chick joins us!  ;D

Your hair is lovely, coolslaw. What a cool mother you must have to make you and the rest of your family grow your hair long.  ;)

I suppose I agree with the rest of the folks here about seamless combs being a great alternative to brushing. I have an extra wide tooth Rachael Stephens seamless comb that I just love, and if I were forced to give up brushing, I would use that.

Personally, I don't use BBB's either...at least not all that often. What I have are 2 of the Conair Velvet Touch cushion brushes...one full size for home, and one purse brush. These honestly work better for me than any other brush I have tried. That said, I might just start using a comb exclusively in the future. *shrug*

Anywho, for moisturizing the ends of the hair, oiling is probably best. Everyone has their own favourite oil & their own method, so I'll leave that part up to you.  ;D

Thanks for the help.  I suppose I can get used to combing my hair instead of brushing.

What kind of stores can you typically find jojoba oil at?? also should I be looking for only pure or is it not avalible in that form (I know a lot of oils such as vitamin E oil, arn't pure but really a mix of like 3 things)

Jojoba oil can be found at health food stores.  I buy mine on line at www.vitaminshoppe.com.  

It is preferable that the oil be pure and not have other ingredients, however some people like to add fragrance to their oils.

Hi and welcome, Coolslaw :)

Ric Carpenter makes beautiful wooden combs. I have two of them and one is one the way. He does really fabulous work. I ordered another wooden comb just a few days ago and he's ready to ship already. You can click herefor his site.

Brenda also has affordable jojoba oil in bulk.

Anais

Ok I know this sounds weird. those combs are very pretty. They are all finished which made me think because the majority of wooden combs I see are not finished. Is it better to have a finished comb??

Ric doesn't really "finish" them per se with any kind of lacquer... they are just highly buffed and polished to a smooth muted shine.

I also have the habit of sanding the teeth of my combs smoother, using 400 grit automotive sandpaper. Just to keep my hands busy while watching movies, so that I don't bite my nails.

However, Ric's combs come smooth.

thanks alot I will be setting out to buy a nice wooden comb and some jojoba oil and hope it helps  :D

Ric uses a beeswax/oil mixture for a final coating on his wooden combs.  This helps fill in the grain of the comb making it very smooth (of course he has sanded and polished the wood to a beautiful shine!).

Just a word of caution, wooden combs should not be used on wet hair.  A plastic comb with no seams is best for wet hair.  

Like Anais, I tend to sand the teeth of my combs to make sure there is nothing to catch and/or break a hair.

thanks :)

SO far I havnt had any trouble with the shower. I never need to brush my hair wet. Im pretty good at keeping my hair straight in the shower that it tends to actually remove more knots then create them...though that may change as my hiar gets longer, Im not sure.

Im still trying to get used to the "start at the ends" thing when brushing. I was always told that even as a kid and didnt pay much mind to it  :o  Im trying now though.

I think split ends are really my doom so thats what i'll be trying to avoid most vigilantly :)

A comb is the best brush to use.  And in the winter I always keep my hair in a braid. ;)