Welcome, Ollave! 

The members of this board are great so I don't think you'll ever be short of support here. I know what you mean about being inspired after looking at this forum. When I first joined I was only going to grow my hair to my waist, but after a few weeks I changed that goal to tailbone length and will probably grow it longer than that.

Good luck growing! I hope we can help you with your hair goals.

Hi and welcome! 

   It sounds like your hair is quite similar to mine. I thought too that my hair is extremely fragile. But, during the year I've spent on this board, I've learned that there are great many things that can be done to protect and strenghten fine hair. Now that I know what my hair needs and what to do with it, I've found out that it's actually quite nice a hair and easy to take care of too! Small changes can result in huge improvements.
      Wearing hair in an updo is very protecting and good for hair. If your hair breaks when you put it up gently, the main problem lies probably elsewhere.

Maybe you could tell us in detail, how you treat your hair and what products do you use? Have you permed or colored your hair? Do you use heat styling tools or blowdry regularly?

Your hair sounds already lovely and I'm sure that in no time you'll start noticing improvement in its condition! 

Welcome!

I'm glad you've become inspired to grow your hair longer.  I think that many have visited us and suddenly realized that they really wanted long hair, but didn't know how manage it.  This is the place to find out and to get the support you need to reach your goals.  Tell your fiance' to hang around too - we can turn him into a hair minion! 

Thank you all for such a warm welcome!

Oh no, I don’t mistreat my hair in any way – no dyes, perms, hair dryers, curling irons, nothing. I had some sun damage (my hair is coppery but was turning blonde) and cut it off two months ago, hardly any split ends since then. I use Nature’s Gate Shampoo and Conditioner, vitamins, and Aveda oil. But all of the women in my family have the same problem with breakage so I just assume it is genetics. Yet I’ve noticed after just two days treating my hair like a new-born that it is even softer and looks healthier, but it certainly isn’t as thick as when I was younger. (If anyone has advice for strengthening and protecting fine hair I’d love to hear it.)

As for fiancé, well, he’s always loved my hair, and when I told him I was growing it longer and asked for help he said it might take him four hours to braid but he’d do it!

P.S. Can anyone explain how to insert an image under my username?

hello ollave ,

   welcome to the boards. you will have fun growing your hair long here with all this wonderful support. goodluck and happy hair growing!

caui

Welcome!  Everyone here is very supportive and inspiring.  I think you'll find some good ideas here. 

Cynde

Hello and welcome!  Everyone here is so helpful and friendly, I am sure you will get lots of good suggestions. 

I also have fine hair, although not as fragile as yours sounds.  Since I started using henna to dye, it has become noticably stronger.  Henna contains a protein that bonds with the hair shaft and strengthens it.  So there is one possibility.