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Cairn

Ex Member

Cairn's Combings
Jun 24^th, 2004 at 11:06pm

So then, me and my hair...

My normal routine:
Shampoo & condition every three days. I used to use a vinegar rinse every time I washed, but my hair started to turn to straw after awhile, and stays softer without it. I now only use it when needed to remove build-up.
I darken my hair with a coffee deep conditioner mixture about every two weeks, or however often I need to to keep it dark.
I never use any heat appliances, hair gels, hairspray, etc. I'll usually braid it at night, and fix it with just my fingers and a comb. Brushes are cruel and unusual torture to my hair.

My favorite hair accessories are hairsticks and cloth headbands - either the wide elastic ones, or colorful scarves and strips of fabric. I like color.

My current hair product is Redken So Long s&c. They work pretty well for me, though I personally think it's a lot of money to pay for results you could get from cheaper products.

My hair is 33^1/4 inches as of 6/21. It was 32^3/4 on 6/04, meaning it grew a whole half inch in less than 20 days! Shocked

I didn't realize my hair grew so quickly. Maybe it's all the extra tender loving care I've been giving it recently.

I am going to coffee-condition tonight and micro-trim the split-ends (I get 'em so easily...I need to find a new conditioner) so I look nice and neat when my family leaves for England tomorrow.

I'll have updates (and if we're lucky, pictures) when I get back on the 7^th. Cheers!

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #1 - Jul 8^th, 2004 at 7:05pm

6.04.04 - 32 3/4 inches
6.21.04 - 33 1/4 inches
7.08.04 - 33 1/2 inches

= .75 inches of growth in just over one month
= .15 inches/week for five weeks

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Despite the fact that I had a splendid time in England (and got some cute hair accessories as well), it wasn't much of a holiday for my hair. As I'm sure we all know, it's terribly hard to control the temperature of hotel showers. The water was quite hot most of the time, which felt nice on those chilly London nights, but wasn't so good for my hair which is used to cold water. 6 people + 1 bathroom also = very short showers.

I think I am going to forsake shampoo for a CO routine. I am going to the store tonight to find a new cone-free conditioner. I wonder what I'll come home with...

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Cairn

Ex Member

More Anti-Hair Discrimination
Reply #2 - Jul 9^th, 2004 at 12:29am

I feel like such a martyr sometimes.

At dinner we were discussing when I need to get my senior pictures taken, and the following conversation ensued between me, my sister and parents:

Stepmom: So, do you want to get your hair styled at all before having your pictures taken?
Me: No.
s/m: But it's so scraggly at the ends. It would look nicer and thicker if you cut it.
Me: . . . . . .
s/m: It would look healthier shorter.
Me: *trying not to laugh*
s/m: It would get rid of your split ends.
Me: I can trim the split ends off myself. I just did it a couple weeks ago.
Sister: Are you sure you got them all?
Me: Yes, I'm sure you got them all.
Sister: Do you even know what split ends are?
Me: *trying to refrain from throwing my plate at her* Yes, I know what split ends are. I'm not stupid.
s/m: Why don't you just go to Great Clips or somewhere and have it trimmed?
Me: Because I don't want to go in for a one-inch cut and end up having 6 inches cut.
s/m: They'd only cut off what you need.
Me: *again trying not to laugh*
sister: You need 6 inches cut off.
Me: No I don't. And I can cut it myself.
s/m: *she doesn't believe me at all* How?
Me: It's easy I've done it before.
s/m: *gives her best "that's stupid, I don't believe you at all" look*
Me: I'll do it myself. It's not that hard.
Dad: Why don't you just have it cut or styled?
Me: Because I like it long.
s/m: Well that's okay, but it would look better shorter.
Sister: *makes disgusted faces at me like I'd just said something horrible*

Lord, someone save me from this family. I'm so sick of these conversations.

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noelkara Ruby Offline Posts: 79 Boulder, CO Gender:	Re: Cairn's Combings Reply #3 - Jul 9^th, 2004 at 1:01am I'm sure they were trying to be nice in their own way .But yuck. I would have just said I don't want to discuss it.
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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #4 - Jul 9^th, 2004 at 4:15am

Thanks noelkara (and thanks for taking the time to read this, too!). I'm sure my parents were well-meaning, but my sister is just plain rude when it comes to my hair (or my style, or my interests, or my tastes...). Hopefully they'll figure out eventually that I know how to take care of my own hair. Roll Eyes

In other news...

I bought some White Rain conditioner today and COed with it. It didn't turn out quite like I expected; no tangles and nicely manageable, but not as silky as my Redken conditioner. It also feels a bit heavy and leaves residue on my hands when I run them thru the length. I also think I might've used too much on my scalp. It already feels like it could use a good clarifying. Maybe my hair likes -cones after all. Or maybe it's just adjusting to a conditioner without cones. I'll experiment with it some more to see how it keeps working. And I'll be keeping the vinegar close at hand.

I gave myself a trim after showering (I'll admit my parents were right in that I did need to fix up the ends; hopefully this will appease them for awhile). It looks a bit neater, but unfortunately I lost all the length I'd put on in the past month, and then some. I'm now at 32 1/4 inches. Undecided

Oh well, at least now I know my hair grows quickly enough to gain it back soon.

I am off tomorrow to go on vacation - again. We're visiting my grandparents in Pennsylvania for a week. I'm so exhausted...though recovering from jet-lag is easier when going west than going east (I'm usually up very late), I'm still struggling. I feel like it's 6 a.m. and I haven't slept at all. I'm off to go repack and go to bed. See you all in a week.

P.S. You can tell I'm really tired; it's taken me so long to write this post that my hair is now nearly dry and feels considerably better. Very smooth. Still wish I'd used less on my scalp. Will see how it feels in the morning.

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #5 - Jul 20^th, 2004 at 6:35am

Well, I wasn't really planning on COing while in PA, but I ended up having to when I accidentally packed two separate bottles of conditioner instead of a shampoo and conditioner. I COed twice while there, then finally gave in and borrowed my sister's shampoo, I was so desparate to clarify.

I think that if I wan to CO, I'll have to partner it with a vinegar rinse - something I didn't have while in Pennsylvania - because it just gets too greasy too fast otherwise.

My grandmother actually complimented my hair the other day. Shocked

I had it in some bun-related updo secured with a simple black hairstick I found at the bottom of the bathroom door. She said it looked very elegant, and the way it was swept back really complimented my face shape and features. She was super-impressed, which is quite a compliment coming from such a fashion-critical old lady, especially considering the few seconds and minimal effort I put into it. Don't get me wrong, I love my grandmother, but we don't exactly share the same ideals when it comes to fashion, to say the least. It's good to know I'm doing something right with my appearance for at least one family member. Roll Eyes

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drummergirl08 Sapphire Offline Posts: 154 Gender:	Re: Cairn's Combings Reply #6 - Jul 20^th, 2004 at 7:35pm I would have thrown the freakin plate.
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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #7 - Jul 21^st, 2004 at 3:52am

LOL, thanks drummergirl.

I was out really late last night with friends and wasn't at all tired when I got home, and around 3:00 am I decided to take a shower and CO my hair. It was still a little damp when I finally went to bed. Then when I got up today around 11 am and combed my hair, I started shedding stray hairs like crazy. I felt like a molting bird. It was really annoying and kind of weird, because I usually go to sleep with my hair a little damp when I wash it in the evening, and I didn't do anything else out of the ordinary. I'm close to giving up on the whole CO thing. Maybe if I use a vinegar rinse after conditioning instead of before...

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eKatherine Emerald Offline Posts: 426 Maine Gender:	Re: Cairn's Combings Reply #8 - Jul 21^st, 2004 at 11:42am I don't think shedding has anything to do with what you do to your hair. It's an internal thing, based on the life cycle of your hair, hormones, and the season, among other things.
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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #9 - Jul 21^st, 2004 at 5:36pm

Hmm...I wonder what it could be. The humidity? Me staying up until 3 am every night?

My hair was so horribly greasy last night, my scalp was so itchy, and I had such bad dandruff that I just couldn't stand it anymore and had to shampoo. I looked like it had been a week since I'd last washed it, not one day. Eww...well, I hear conditioner also makes a good shaving cream substitute. Tongue

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #10 - Jul 23^rd, 2004 at 10:17pm

I had my hair up in a bun yesterday, and when I took it down in the evening it felt sooo soooft.

Sooo I felt inspired to experiment some with updos, and after a while got it into a nice braided bun with two of those funky little looping braids hanging down from it. I was quite proud of myself. Grin

After that I tried doing a Dutch braid, but wasn't quite so successful. Undecided

I just can't seem to get the hand positions right.

Am gonna try COing again tonight, with a vinegar rinse after. Or maybe before AND after...hmm...

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #11 - Jul 24^th, 2004 at 5:52pm

The COing went much better last night. I used a vinegar rinse both before and after the conditioner, then finished with a cold rinse. I rubbed in some Infusium23 leave-in while still damp just for the heck of it, and it looks pretty good. My scalp isn't itchy and it feels much lighter. I've still got a little dandruff, but I think the vinegar is supposed to help with that.

I was practicing some more last night and FINALLY did a decent Dutch braid! It was the first time I've been able to get all the way down the length of my hair without it coming lose. I got it on my first try and am quite proud of myself. Grin

I don't really think it looks that good on me, though; I have a big forehead and I look funny with my hair pulled straight back in the front. Undecided

Somehow I'm able to avoid that problem with French braiding. Maybe if I get it tighter against my head it'll look better...

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #12 - Jul 25^th, 2004 at 5:23am

My stepsister, upon finding me still awake at 1:15 am:

"You need to cut back on this crazy writing thing. You've been at it all day. I know it's your passion...but the passion can wait until after some sleep."

Well actually, I hadn't been writing all day, and no, it can't wait until morning. Not when you're totally in your zone and the creative juices are pulsing. When your muse strikes you just gotta go with it. Time is irrelevant when you're a writer. But at least she was right about it being my passion.

I coffee deep-conditioned today. mmmm, rich smoothness. Grin

I love it. And I didn't get coffee all over the shower this time.

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #13 - Jul 28^th, 2004 at 10:29pm

So I drove all over town today trying to find a Nalgene water bottle for my upcoming backpacking trip in Colorado. I couldn't find one anywhere! Grrr...honestly, they've gotta have them somewhere around here. So many people have them.

I tried my hardest to stay away from the haircare sections in all the stores I went into, but finally gave in at Jewel. I did manage to stay away from the shampoos and conditioners though, but ended up walking away with a can of Hollywood Beauty SuperGro Natural Herbal Formula hair treatment...stuff. It's got just about every type of oil imaginable in it. Hopefully it'll make my hair softer and shinier in time for my senior pictures on Friday. I'm a little hesitant to use it on my already oily scalp, but maybe if I pair it with my tea tree oil shampoo it'll be okay. Having an oily scalp and dry hair is such a nuisance...

My main problem right now is that I have no regular hair care routine. I've been experimenting with a bunch of different methods and just going with what my hair seems to like and need one day at a time. This isn't so bad when it's summer and I've got plenty of time to play around with it, but I'd like to get into some normal routine by the time school starts. I'm also a little worried about going backpacking next week. We'll be spending a couple nights at the base camp where there will be showers, but I've heard rumors that they're strict about water usage and only permit 2- or 3-minute showers. Then we'll be on the trail for five days and four nights with very little in the way of hygeine. It's no-trace camping, which means we can't leave anything behind - wrappers, trash, even toilet paper. Tongue

Well, I can manage all that, but I don't wanna be stuck on the 18-hour bus ride home with nasty hair because of limited shower time once returning to the base camp. I'll probably be more focused on getting the rest of my body cleaned first. Roll Eyes

I think I'll bring my Redken s&c to use before heading out on the trail - they seem to keep my hair clean and manageable for the longest amount of time - and my tea tree oil shampoo to really clean with when we get back.

...On a different note, I actually find it very funny that I'm even this concerned about the condition of my hair, of all things, when I'm going to be camping in the Rockies for a week - something I've dreamed of doing my entire life. Just a few months ago I couldn't have cared less. I'm not a self-image-centered person by any stretch of the imagination and never will be, no matter how good my hair looks. Wink

And if I do start to sound too focused on my physical appearance, someone please slap me and tell me I'm turning into my sister. That oughta keep me on track right quick. Roll Eyes

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Cairn

Ex Member

Re: Cairn's Combings
Reply #14 - Jul 29^th, 2004 at 8:08pm

Just measured my hair: 32 7/8". That's 5/8 inches of growth since I trimmed it on July 9th.

Got another lecture from my stepmom last night about my hair and my senior pictures tomorrow. She really wants me to get it cut or styled, but of course I'm not going to. She actually thinks that my hair looks ugly. Okay, I can understand if long hair isn't her personal style - I'm not a big fan of her curly helmet hair cut myself - but I really do take it as a personal insult when she so blatantly insults something I put so much care and effort into. This is my look, this is who I am, and if she doesn't like it, too bad. They're my senior pictures anyway, not hers.

It just really makes me mad that she can't just respect my choices concerning my personal appearance. I know she loves me, but she's never once complimented me on my hair. Maybe she doesn't realize just how much effort I put into it, but should she have to?

Anyway...to get ready for my senior pictures tomorrow morning (the way I want to), I washed last night with my tea tree oil herbal shampoo. No conditioner - I was still very soft from my last coffee CO. Then this morning I used some of the Hollywood Beauty SuperGro oil stuff I bought yesterday. It worked great, and my hair's very soft and smooth. I did put a bit too much on my scalp, though (it was my first time using this kind of stuff and I wasn't sure how much to use), so I was kinda oily and sticky. I used a tissue to rub off some of the excess and brushed in some baby powder, and it looks okay now. If it's not any better by the end of the day, however, I think I'll do a vinegar rinse to get rid of the buildup.

Besides the oily scalp, I think my hair looks better today than it ever has. So soft and smooth...I dusted off all the split ends too. I'm very pleased with it, even if no one else is.

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