I just created my account after visiting this site for a few days. I was searching for new ways to fix my very long hair when I came across this site and am very excited about it. I was also very surprised to see so many people with such long hair. I thought nobody but Pentecostal/Apostolic people (which I am) had long hair anymore. Everyones hair looks so shiny and healthy. I'm hoping to learn alot from ya'll. I am mainly looking for ways to improve the health of my hair so that it will continue to grow and I love that glossy look. I have not cut my hair in about 10 years. not even a trim as I am Apostolic and do not cut my hair at all. I do try to be very careful with it since I know it's the only hair I will ever have. I felt like I was doing an OK job of it until I read some your routines and some of things everyone on here does. I now realize I have a lot to learn. I basically just wash and condition. I rarely ever use oils or vinegar or deep treatments or anything like that and doubt I would even know where to start. I usually wash every other day, almost always air dry, rarely use heat of any kind, don't condition but every few washings and pretty much alwasy wear it up. I'll figure out my hair type and length and everything tomorrow. My hair is about calf length and I am 5.4". I would say it's normail texture.I might try to get a picture on here sometime. It's fairly thick at top but gets thinner at the bottom. When it dries natural it's pretty wavey and it's a medium brown color, at least I think it is, I'm not sure about defining color. Any help on getting started in a routine toward healthy hair would be appreciated. THANKS A BUNCH!!
This message has been edited by So-Long on May 14, 2008 10:48 PM
Calf length, that is "so long"! Good to have you here. Can't wait for a photo!
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1BFii
Hair: All natural dark brown and silver.
Washing: Twice a week, scalp wash, with letting shampoo run through length. Condition from ears on down. Cold as I can stand it final rinse.
Shampoo/Conditioner: I have switched to organic. Aubrey's Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner. Nature's Gate Organics Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner.
Comb: Bone/Bakelite, never brush.
Kind Regards,
lacemitts
I'm glad you've found us! I think one of the best things to start with for you would be oiling. Just using some oil on the lower length of your hair will help protect your ends. You may need to try a few oils to see what works best for you, but a good one to start out with might be coconut oil. Coconut oil is known for helping hair retain the protein in it. This would be extremely important for you since you do not even trim for religious reasons. The stronger your hair is, the less likely you will develop split ends, which can cause breakage and eventually would actually shorten your hair even without trimming. So keeping your length as strong as possible would be the best way to care for it. If coconut oil doesn't suit you, you could try any good vegetable oil. Some of the best ones for hair are: Jojoba (closest to human hair sebum), Sweet Almond, Apricot, Meadowfoam seed, Rose Hip, even Olive and Castor oil can be good on hair. Just avoid mineral oil (baby oil) at all costs! Just apply a few drops of oil on your palms and rub them together. Then place a section of your hair between your palms and lightly press together your hands and slide down to the ends. You will have to use more oil after a couple of sections because you have so much hair. You can also use a boar bristle brush to run through the length after oiling to help distribute the oils well.
You wear your hair up, which also protects it, so that is good. I condition with every wash, and use the CWC method. There is an article on this method in the library, but basically when you wet your hair to wash, you put conditioner on the length first, then shampoo only the scalp, rinse and then condition the length again. It helps protect the length from shampoo. Like any fine, delicate fabric, washing it over and over again wears it down. Your hair is like this and doesn't need the harsh cleansing from shampoos. Conditioner is usually cleansing enough unless you use a lot of styling products.
I hope this helps get you started! Please feel free to ask all the questions you'd like!
-Fox
April 2008 Special thanks to Carlynn for my custom doll signature!
17/35.5/40+ Type 2CMii (3B underneath layer) Somewhat fine, slightly wavy (with curls on the underneath layer), Hennaed Auburn. F.L.A. Ranking, Colonel. To see more pictures, click on the gallery collection link found here: Forever Fox
My Journal: Faithfully Fox
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, they will become your character. Develop your character for it becomes your destiny." -John MacArthur
"Love makes you beautiful" - quote from my nephew at age 7
Products Used:
Ida's Shampoo Bars
Aubrey Organics S&C
Nature's Gate Conditioners
Vinegar/herbal rinses
Oils: Jojoba, Sweet Almond, Virgin Oil de Coco Creme, Monoi, Castor, Meadowfoam Seed & essential oils
Shea Butter (from which I make my own leave-in)
MP Popular Mix Brush and Pure BB brush
Wood and Horn combs
Vitamins/Minerals/Herbal supplements
Hairy facts of life - 26" long, type 2aCiii
wash as necessary with my recipe: castile soap, jojoba oil, seaweed extract, rosemary & ylang ylang essential oil
ACV rinse
oil nightly with coconut oil or shea butter
two braids for bed
23/26/going for waist (31")
"The light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane, it is mine to give to whom I will... like my heart"
2ACii, dark brown.
length april 2008 44cm
Lush Jumping Juniper shampoo bar, American Cream conditioner,
Superdrug Expertise taming serum
I currently wash hair twice a week
I am also starting to experiment with different routines and products, so no routine as of yet.
and welcome to the Loom. Its a wonderful place and everyone has great advice. Your hair sound beautiful and I can't wait to see a picture of your lovely locks. You said that you are an Apostolic/Pentecostal, so am I! Its a joy to see you on here, and hope to get to know you better.
Fox gave some really good tips! Also I have found what works well with my hair is damp bunning it ( I do this at night time) and then taking it down in the morning and letting it dry more. There's something about the moisture being kept on my hair, that works wonders. I had to pop on and say hello to you my sister, I too am an apostolic pentecostal .... greetings from Canada, how wonderful to 'meet' you!
Daisy 2bnii
~Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might~
Your hair sounds gorgeous! I would love to see a photo of it. Anyway, everyone here is so very helpful and nice. You will learn alot!
Leah
3bFii
23.5/25.25/Waist
CO only every 3 day.
Hebal tea rinses once a week.
Jojba with lavendar EO or EVOO with lavendar EO
Sleep with scrunchies down length of pony tail.
"There are times when only a dog will do for a friend: when you're beaten, sick and blue, and the world's all wrong; for he won't care. If you break and cry, or grouch and swear; for he'll let you know as he licks your hands that he's downright sorry and understands." -Don Blanding (1894-1957)
wow that is really long hair....cant wait to see a pic
my hair is only waist length
I am also Apostolic/Pentecostal...so if any of you who are also so would like to email me feel free to....I am always looking to make online friends to chat with.
Apostolic ladies! Hello there Mommy2one! Another Sis ... how about that! This is neat!
My e-mail is jimjan94 @ hotmail.com ... drop me an e-mail anytime!
Daisy 2bnii
~Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might~
I so apologize. My husband bought me a new lap top for Mother's Day, I have windows vista now and I think I might have to set something up, as just now it wouldn't let me e-mail you! I'm still receiving e-mails from other people that are in my contact list ...so I'm not sure what's wrong ... I'll have to have my husband look when he gets home.
mommy2one, its such a pleasure to meet another sister! I too am Apostolic/Pentecostal. Please see Daisy's post, she would love for you to email her, and you will find me at her website most of the time. We are all hoping to get to know you better!
We have several apostolic/pentecostal ladies here and it seems you've already met a few of them. This is a great place and I'm sure you'll learn so much - it seems we never stop learning something!
Would love to see a photo of your hair. It sounds lovely.
Progress from June 2006 - March 2008
2a/M/ii
Mid-Dark brown with natural red and silver highights; fringe/bangs.
Starting length 25"/62.5cm
Current length 33"/84cm
Goal 36"/90cm
Current routine: (Trying to keep it as simple as possible): CWC on the weekend after One-hour Pre-wash Treatment, scalp washes every second day, occasionally conditioning of very ends mid-week using small amount of conditioner mixed with equal amount of aloe vera gel; oiling 2-3 nights per week; updos or braids for day (usually), braids and/or sock curls for bed; S&D when I think of it, dusting every 8-12 weeks.
Shampoo: Organic Instincts or A'Kin diluted with herbal tea (rosemary and chamomile)
Conditioners: JASON Natural Biotin or Lavender Conditioner or A'Kin Protein or Moisturising Conditioner
Oils: Coconut, almond, olive, either alone or blended 2:1:1
Other: ACV infused with herbs (depending upon availability I use a selection of lavender, rosemary, cinnamon, sage, and thyme); BBB; wooden comb; pure aloe vera gel for smoothing flyaways and fixing hair in place.
Treatments: JJJ's One-Hour Pre-wash Treatment using 1/4 cup boiling water, 1 tsp oil blend, 1/4 cup conditioner.
'Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfailing beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.' 1 Peter 3:3-4
Dark brown with lots of red (natural) highlights and white sprinkles
2BNii,
Now: 25"/34.25"/tailbone(36") then classic(41.5")!!
Goal: Waist-length (30")- reached!!, eventually classic
Wash: 5/08- trying out a diluted CO as needed. Shampoo about every 4 days (5/08- trying to cut back to 1x per week) with Giovanni shampoo or Body Shop's Honey Moisturizing shampoo, very occasionally with a 'poo bar
Condition: Giovanni Balancing or Tea Tree. ACV rinse as needed
Leave-in: Shea butter in "Blessed" scent, Giovanni leave in treatment, mist with Jasmine water, pure aloe for temple wispies
Tools: Body Shop wide tooth wood comb, Conair shower comb, seam-free hard rubber comb from Sally's for styling only
Please visit Sticks and Stones Hairsticks The best place for totally custom sticks!!
Special thanks to Carlynn for my custom doll signature!
