Hello everyone!

I have learned so much from this site, and I'm so happy to be part of it.

My self-measured length is 24", relatively thick, and layered long.
Dark brownish - not quite mink dark, but the sun turns the ends auburn.
Kinda wavy - Today is the first day since I was 6 I have left the house without drying and ironing and/or spraying/scrunching something on my hair.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.   :-/   Hopefully I'll get a pic soon and then I could get some help with ideas for styling!  You guys are the greatest!
I have used Pantene and John Frieda Brilliant Brunette, Garnier Long & Strong, but I'm always open to more ideas.  I have found that the Manic Panic hair dye actually works as a great conditioner!  I use the dark purple or black to undo my auburn ends.
For accessories, I use little butterfly clips - minimum of 6 at a time just to hold the top out of my face. I'm careful that they never pull my hair.  I'm always looking for other things to use to play with my hair.  I would love to get a pair of hair sticks, but I found that my layers make it difficult. :-?

I can't tell you how happy I am to find you all!  I constantly endure comments like "Are you growing your hair to donate it?  Don't let it get too long, then it won't be styled - It'll just be long (like that's a bad thing? :-[).   What are you going to do with your hair once it's grown out?"

Looking forward to getting to know ya. :)

LittleLuc

Welcome to LongLocks, LittleLuc.

I recommend Amish hairpins to put your hair up into a bun and then add hairsticks as decoration.  My hair is not all one length and this is how I wear my hairsticks.

A spray in conditioner or aloe vera is good hair care and gives you a bit of style feel.

Welcome!  On the other end of the stick(pun intended,lol!) my hair is all one length and I also use the Amish hairpins!  I swear by them(thanks to Sakina's comments on them)!

Nice to meet you, LittleLuc.  :)

Who knew that Manic Panic could double as conditioner?  ;D  Welcome aboard & happy growing!

LittleLuc wrote on May 14^th, 2008 at 12:49pm:

Hello everyone! "Are you growing your hair to donate it?  Don't let it get too long, then it won't be styled - It'll just be long (like that's a bad thing? :-[).   What are you going to do with your hair once it's grown out?"

I've gotten the same 'no style' thing from my sisters XD And then people kinda make me feel bad cause I'm not gonna donate it!

Welcome! And when you sue the Manic Panic does it give your hair a kinda purply tint?? That could be interesting to try!

People who have never had long hair have no idea how many different ways you can style it!  I had one or two options when my hair was shorter..... BORING!!!!  But with longer hair I have lots of options.  I can wear it down, half down/half bun, full bun, french braided (a great option for layered hair), simple braid, twin braids, braided bun, etc.  Then you have the accessories you can add - the list is never ending!!

I so love learning all the different things to "do" with my hair.  I've had it really short a couple times - I looked like Trinity from the Matrix!  Now that it's all growing, I wear side braids, full braids, twists, clips.  I'm re-learning how to do the bun - I haven't worn one since my ballet days.  I'm just out of practice!  :-)  

I looked up the Amish hair pins.  Did anyone else find it funny that there is a website to sell Amish things?   :-?

My hair kinda gets a purple tint, but only in the sun.  It looks like it's been low-lighted with black.  It blends nicely cuz the base of my hair is such a dark chocolate brown.  I guess it kinda looks like I had the ends highlighted reddish color, but that's the natural color.   :D

I looked at the ingredients of some of the products I used to use on my hair.  It turns out that hair hair apparently responds well to -cones.  I don't get a lot of build up, and I get lots of shine and softness from it.

Thank you all for the warm welcome!!
This is great!

:)

Welcome aboard!  If anybody here tells you to cut your hair, then it's probably April Fool's day...    ;D  

Welcome to LongLocks!  IMO longer hair has many more styling options than short hair, since there are so many braids and buns to try  :D