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how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping? (Read 8643 times)
lalalalove
Amethyst
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long.locks.loves

Posts: 6
Houston
Gender: female
how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
May 12th, 2009 at 1:07pm
 
Hello everyone!
I'm so impressed by everyone knowledge and beautiful hair,
i'm growing my hair out. it is currently at my collar bone and i'm trying to get mid to lower back length.
Could you guys tell me what you did to take care of your hair to help it grow healthy,
what you donow to take care of it and keep it in its best condition. how long did it take you to grow it out.
did you take anything that helped it grow?  Smiley
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learning from the pros Grin
 
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Midnight Angel
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Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #1 - May 12th, 2009 at 6:20pm
 
Basically, I think it really boils down to 3 things: good nutrition, good care, good products.

Throughout my life, I've maintained a pretty healthy diet and proper hydration. And I adhere strictly to a straight edge lifestyle (ie. no smoking, drinking, drug use, promiscuity)...what's good for the body/soul is good for the hair and vice versa.
   Also, I've been taking Biotin again for the past few months...not sure if that really helps the growth rate or not, but it can't hurt.

Absolutely NO heated appliances, chemical treatments or colouring. Ever. And regular trims are absolutely essential (mine are every 3-6 months). I've also given up brushes in favour of seamless combs and I never attempt to detangle my hair when it's wet...aside from working leave-in's through it by hand.
    Finding a good routine through trial and error will come naturally. I clarify, deep condition and all that good stuff at least once a week.

And, of course, Pantene. My hair's lifeline. It's super important to find quality products that work for your hair. They don't have to come from the finest salons in Paris, but they shouldn't come from the cheapo section of the drugstore either.

It's been about 4 years since I started actively growing for length again, but I've actually been growing from square 1 for almost a decade.

Anyway, hope that answers some of your q's.
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Melusine
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Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #2 - May 13th, 2009 at 12:14am
 
Hi, and welcome!  I agree with everything Midnight Angel said, and have a few more things to add.

Don't put anything in your hair that might cut it: no metal barettes, particularly those french barettes that snap, no jaw clips with exposed springs, nothing plastic with sharp edges from the two-piece molds they are made in.  Never use rubber bands for a pony tail, or the covered ones that have the metal piece.  Use only covered bands without the metal clips, and scrunchies.  I have found small black jersey scrunchies that look really chic and hold really well.  Avoid tight pony tails and putting tension on your hair in the same place every day; that can cause breakage.  Never tease your hair.

Avoid hairspray as much as possible; the alcohol content is very drying.  Some people say 100% pure aloe vera works for controlling wispy ends and for hold.  It doesn't work for me, but it might for you.  You might try sulfate-free shampoos; L'Oreal has a nice one that isn't expensive.  I am alternating between that and Matrix Amplify.  Many of us swear by vinegar rinses.  I use distilled white vinegar, 1 tbsp in 1 cup of water between shampoo and conditioner.  It makes your hair soft and shiny.  Some of us oil our hair.  I apply jojoba oil, just 1 or 2 drops rubbed between my palms, then smoothed over and combed through my hair the night before I shampoo.  It doesn't stain my pillow.

Speaking of pillows, some people swear by satin pillow cases.

I also take Biotin, 10,000 mcg/day.

My hair is very fine, wavy/curly, and medium thickness.  I have been growing it out for 3 yrs, it is layered to encourage the curl, and has grown from very short (2") to almost bra strap length in 3 yrs.  I do color it (single process, NOT bleach) and get a tiny trim (1/8") every month.  I think it's very important to find a hairdresser who is in sympathy with your intent to grow your hair.  Never let anyone cut your hair unless you are in exact agreement as to how much is to be cut.  Make him/her show you with scissors against a lock of hair how much is going to be cut off.  If I had to find a new hairdresser, (I blanche at the thought!) I would tell her/him up front that if more is cut than I want, I will not pay.

Hope I haven't overwhelmed you.  Smiley
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Drear
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1aCii

Posts: 909
Denmark
Gender: female
Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #3 - May 13th, 2009 at 10:56am
 
I'd say pretty much the same as Midnight Angel Melusine but I still have a few bad habits to kick; occasional panic and reaching for the hairdryer during those times and use of barettes with metal when I worry that jersey scrunchies don't look classy enough.    I've cut my trims down from 3 months space to 6 months between each trim.  My lifeline is Schwartzkopf's Gliss line.  I use Pantene sometimes too.  I've had layers at the bottom and sides to grow out an assymetrical bob more attractively but I may decide to lose the layers which won't be that big a hassle since I don't have that many layers.  I too swear by vinegar rinses.  Some of us use oils as a deep conditioner.

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Tanai
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Honey blonde 20"/31/33"
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Wherever it is I need to be to do whatever it is I'm doing.
Gender: female
Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #4 - May 13th, 2009 at 1:02pm
 
I'd also point out that a lot of hair care comes down to what type of hair you have. Mine is coarse and thick and can basically put up with practically anything I dish out.  Roll Eyes And trial and error. I've probably tried 20 different lines of products in the past 4 years. All with different results. You really don't know what will work or won't work until you try it.
I previously took Biotin but found it didn't improve my growth rate only my hair thickness, which I didn't need more of so I stopped taking. I also found that my hair hates natural products. Again trial and error. That's a really big part of figuring all this out. And yes most definitely like Angel said: no smoking, no drugs, and, unless you're a teetotaler, (aka read: I'm not  Roll Eyes) please imbibe in moderation.  Wink  Excessive alcohol consumption leeches minerals from the body and obviously hair. Tongue The first two are never good. And some people actually swear by beer rinses and/or shampoo.  Huh Tongue Though why they would want to smell like they came from a frat party is beyond me.  Roll Eyes Grin
Now I've gone back to a low maintenance approach. And my hair is actually happier than ever.  Huh I was never cut out to be high maintenance anyways.  Grin  Roll Eyes I currently use a brush to detangle. Though never EVER do that wet! And I've adopted the Aussie Moist line as my products of choice.  Cool
Oh and it took me 20 months to get from 20" to waist length. Thank God I'm short! LMAO  Grin Cheesy
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Drear
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1aCii

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Denmark
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Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #5 - May 14th, 2009 at 2:45am
 
As long as I don't do any chemical processes my hair can also pretty much take anything because despite it's sparsity it's very thick and coarse.  I do take fish oil capsules and I've noticed an improvement in my skin, nails and hair.  It's supposedly also good for your brain...
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Melusine
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Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #6 - May 14th, 2009 at 2:31pm
 
Fish oil with Omega 3 is good for your heart, and recent findings suggest that it may also be good for depression, which is why I take it.
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Drear
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1aCii

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Gender: female
Re: how did you grow out YOUR hair? and upkeeping?
Reply #7 - Jul 13th, 2009 at 1:25pm
 
I won't be cutting down on trims anyway.  I will however cut back on the cones, clarify more frequently so I'm on top of the real condition of my hair and so that dehydration and split ends of my hair isn't masked and hidden which is what I now think is what lulled me into thinking my hair was healthier than it was until I became suspicious and cut down on hair "care" products so I could see the real state of my hair.

The beer rinse was demonstrated on Danish TV.  It's supposed to make your hair shinier and you get rid of the smell by blow drying your hair! Grin  So most of us probably won't use that method to enhance shine.
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