Great Hair or NOT

[HeChangedMyName]

So i was talking to a friend and we both have the same realization that if your hair has to stay wet, can't be manipulated, combed, heated up, wear it out, or have any products put on it. . . .how great and healthy is your hair really?

I mean, I do all sorts of odd stuff to my hair now that I never use to. And while I never had long hair in the past, it always grew fast and recovered quickly from any freak accidents or mis-cutting.

Let's talk.

 

[loveisnthehouse]

Hmm.. this a very interesting thought of which I have never pondered before....

 

[BostonMaria]

I definitely couldn't go without any of those things you mentioned. Is that the regimen your friend is doing?

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

IMO, you're confusing healthy hair with resilient hair.

People with resilient hair may not need to take so many measures to keep it healthy and grow it long, because it pretty much takes care of itself.
But people with more fragile hair may have to do the low-manipulation, protective styling, co-washing, no heat, all that jazz.

Sometimes, even when your hair is super healthy, it's not going to be super-resilient. It may still need the co-washing, the natural products, the low heat, and the low-manipulation, although you should be able to get away with more.

No matter how well I take care of my hair, it's never going to be as tough as my mother's. My hair just isn't built that way.

 

[Solitude]

This line of reasoning is exactly why I wear my hair out and enjoy it, while still maintaining it's health (rollersets, occassional flatiron).

When I read regimens with no manipulation, constant protective styling, and no heat I'm usually unimpressed. My own growth/retention has been slow and steady, but my hair is thick and healthy and I haven't had any setbacks. A lot of people on here with fast growth who constantly PS have very thin hair & scraggly ends....I wonder how much they've really "cared" for their hair as opposed to just leaving it alone. ETA: OR people have thick, healthy hair but have no idea what to do with it besides put it in a bun.

I'm more intrigued by people who actually styled/wore their hair out and grew it.

 

[naturalpride]

Unfortunately all people can not wear their hair out all of the time due to friction and manipulation on their strands. I can wear my hair out every day and use flat irons weekly but it takes much longer for me to reach my goals and it's much more time consuming on wash days.

I perfer to just do a twist out and wear that for 7-10 days and wash again, it's less time consuming for me. I'm not in my head daily. I just fluff and go I don't use direst heat at all, maybe twice a year. I like rollersets, usually air dryed.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

I definitely couldn't go without any of those things you mentioned. Is that the regimen your friend is doing?

No. Just a thought. I just compiled a list of common things that we sometimes do to our hair in the name of keeping it GREAT

IMO, you're confusing healthy hair with resilient hair.

People with resilient hair may not need to take so many measures to keep it healthy and grow it long, because it pretty much takes care of itself.
But people with more fragile hair may have to do the low-manipulation, protective styling, co-washing, no heat, all that jazz.

Sometimes, even when your hair is super healthy, it's not going to be super-resilient. It may still need the co-washing, the natural products, the low heat, and the low-manipulation, although you should be able to get away with more.

No matter how well I take care of my hair, it's never going to be as tough as my mother's. My hair just isn't built that way.

I agree. All hair is not created equally. I understand that some protective measures may be necessary for some of us, myself included.

This line of reasoning is exactly why I wear my hair out and enjoy it, while still maintaining it's health (rollersets, occassional flatiron).

When I read regimens with no manipulation, constant protective styling, and no heat I'm usually unimpressed. My own growth/retention has been slow and steady, but my hair is thick and healthy and I haven't had any setbacks. A lot of people on here with fast growth who constantly PS have very thin hair & scraggly ends....I wonder how much they've really "cared" for their hair as opposed to just leaving it alone. ETA: OR people have thick, healthy hair but have no idea what to do with it besides put it in a bun.

I'm more intrigued by people who actually styled/wore their hair out and grew it.

me too. I'd hate to grow out long purdy hair and never be able to wear it and swang it. lol

 

[loveisnthehouse]

I have noticed that a lot of people do a lot of protective styles to go her/his hair out the desired length. But after that length is reached are people wearing their hair out after?

 

[naturalpride]

I have noticed that a lot of people do a lot of protective styles to go her/his hair out the desired length. But after that length is reached are people wearing their hair out after?

A lot of people on LHCF who have reached their goals still have low manipulation or relaxer stretching in their regimen, to maintain their progress Having healthy hair is a lifestyle change, not just a fade in order to have lasting results and success

 

[Lylddlebit]

I agree with the basic idea that great hair does what YOU want it to do. I can find the medium between what I want my hair to do and what it takes to get it. If i have to wear my hair in ways that I don't like so it will be long, then "long hair" is something I can do without. Similarly, if I have to have really short hair to have it be fly, I wouldn't that either. The good thing is that there is a medium. I don't have to go through extremes on either to feel like my hair is great and your opinion about your hair is was matters most.

 

[beans4reezy]

A lot of people on here with fast growth who constantly PS have very thin hair & scraggly ends....

Really? I've actually observed the opposite; the ladies who PS hard core are the ones with the thick heads of hair in addition to the fast growth. Lady Paniolo is one who immediately comes to mind.

 

[Rei]

I agree that most of the ladies I see who ps have super healthy looking hair and ends, I'm thinking of people like longhairdontcare....but I am often very intrigued by people who PS but also PS in a cute way like kim from kimmaytube on YT.

I agree that resilient hair ≠ healthy hair. My strands are fine with medium density, and due to it being very kinky, has a tendency to be also very dry. I went through my stage of 'why me'-ing when I see my asian friends doing whatever the heck they want to to their hair and still growing from SL to WL in the time it takes me to grow from NL to APL while PSing and taking vitamins and all that mess lol, but I got over it. As long as my hair gets there I don't care about things that I can't change.

 

[loveisnthehouse]

I agree that most of the ladies I see who ps have super healthy looking hair and ends, I'm thinking of people like longhairdontcare....but I am often very intrigued by people who PS but also PS in a cute way like kim from kimmaytube on YT.

I agree that resilient hair ≠ healthy hair. My strands are fine with medium density, and due to it being very kinky, has a tendency to be also very dry. I went through my stage of 'why me'-ing when I see my asian friends doing whatever the heck they want to to their hair and still growing from SL to WL in the time it takes me to grow from NL to APL while PSing and taking vitamins and all that mess lol, but I got over it. As long as my hair gets there I don't care about things that I can't change.

I guess my way of thinking is off. I always thought that all the PS and so forth was because people were trying to get their hair to be resilient and long at the same time. Especially when I hear people say their hair feels nice and strong after doing a protein treatment, like the protein gave their hair what it needed to get to be more resilient.

 

[naturalpride]

Each person is an individual and their hair may need something different to thrive verses someone who does practically nothing to their hair it it grows perfectly fine with heat and no deep conditioning.

Protein makes my hair feel stronger when used in moderation since I chemically process my hair and natural protein bonds are being broken that a protein treatment restores, resulting in less breakage during the detangling process. Protein/moisture balance in important to healthy hair.

 

[Rocky91]

This line of reasoning is exactly why I wear my hair out and enjoy it, while still maintaining it's health (rollersets, occassional flatiron).

When I read regimens with no manipulation, constant protective styling, and no heat I'm usually unimpressed. My own growth/retention has been slow and steady, but my hair is thick and healthy and I haven't had any setbacks. A lot of people on here with fast growth who constantly PS have very thin hair & scraggly ends....I wonder how much they've really "cared" for their hair as opposed to just leaving it alone. ETA: OR people have thick, healthy hair but have no idea what to do with it besides put it in a bun.

I'm more intrigued by people who actually styled/wore their hair out and grew it.

Really? I've actually observed the opposite; the ladies who PS hard core are the ones with the thick heads of hair in addition to the fast growth. Lady Paniolo is one who immediately comes to mind.

you know, i agree with both of you.
i've seen all ends of the spectrum:
those who do PS and it works.
those who don't and it works.
those who do PS and it's not looking too hot.
those who don't and it's not pretty.

it all comes down to finding what works for your individual head.

 

[darlingdiva]

I guess my way of thinking is off. I always thought that all the PS and so forth was because people were trying to get their hair to be resilient and long at the same time. Especially when I hear people say their hair feels nice and strong after doing a protein treatment, like the protein gave their hair what it needed to get to be more resilient.

PS'ing isn't necessarily about resilience. Some people PS in order to incur the least amount of setbacks while growing their hair. We all (or most of us) incur some sort of breakage while doing our hair (washing, combing, brushing, etc.), but PS'ing is a way to minimize that as much as possible.

Kudos to all of the ladies who can retain length without protective styling, but I (fine-haired natural) am not one of them.

 

[hair4romheaven]

I can only speak from experience..for me I am transitioning and it takes a lot for me to get my hair to look the way I want..heat, flat iron, roller sets, etc so I just wear wigs for now.
I can imagine with out chopping I would rip my hair out from excessive styling not because my hair is weak but because I an dealing with 2 textures. Thick 4a/b NG and bone straight relaxed ends.
Even before the transition I had thick long BSL hair I pS and stretched with out knowing I did it. I wore braids in the winter and relaxer twice a year. Its when i took a chance with a stylist in douglasville my hair life changed 4 the worst.

 

[Dragone]

All the PS in the world is not going to make the strands grow out of your scalp thicker, or your hair cuticles tighter, etc etc. If you have delicate hair it's going to be delicate no matter what you do, PS is so you can have long delicate hair. If you have uber-resilient tree trunk hair strands PS just helps you get to your goal length faster.

 

[Janet']

you know, i agree with both of you.
i've seen all ends of the spectrum:
those who do PS and it works.
those who don't and it works.
those who do PS and it's not looking too hot.
those who don't and it's not pretty.

it all comes down to finding what works for your individual head.

I couldn't have said this better myself!

 

[Foxglove]

I think I understand what you were saying in the OP
Your hair shouldn't fall apart if it isn't soaked in oil and baggied 24/7

 

[loveisnthehouse]

All the PS in the world is not going to make the strands grow out of your scalp thicker, or your hair cuticles tighter, etc etc. If you have delicate hair it's going to be delicate no matter what you do, PS is so you can have long delicate hair. If you have uber-resilient tree trunk hair strands PS just helps you get to your goal length faster.

Thank you for this. This statement has helped clear things up for me.

 

[Barbie83]

OT, Dragone your siggy is soooo adorable!

 

[HeChangedMyName]

I think I understand what you were saying in the OP
Your hair shouldn't fall apart if it isn't soaked in oil and baggied 24/7

Thanks. I really thought I was seeing things wrong. But that's exactly what I was trying to say, it shouldn't take ALLLLLL the excess just to keep your hair on your head, if so, then something is definitely wrong.

I mean, I PS, I baggy, I cowash, etc., but only when i see that my hair needs it. I can't imagine feeling like I have to be doing something to my hair just to keep it in tact.

 

[Jazala]

I think everyone needs to decide for themselves how far they need to go to keep their strands from breaking.

Personally I prefer to wear my hair out most of the time so I try to focus my efforts on keeping my strands while enjoying my progress at the same time. Even though my hair has thin-strands and is fragile, I was able to retain enough to make my 1st goal on schedule.

 

[Mdmommy99]

I guess it probably depends on whether your goal is trying to get the most possible length or just trying to get your hair healthy. Because my hair is only a little past sl right now and I'm trying to get to APL, I ps most of the time because right now I'm focused on retaining as much length as possible in a short period of time. My hair wasn't unhealthy to begin with so once I reach my length goals I will probably ps less etc. and I don't anticipate that my hair will fall out of my head with a simple routine since it wasn't breaking prior to joining lhcf.
But I do understand what you're saying. I don't want to be so obsessed with my hair falling out that I can't enjoy it.

 

[JayAnn0513]

I think people do all that stuff to reach their goal length faster, not keep their hair on their head. I'm sure if I tried I could wear my hair out and grow it to BSL by rollersetting. But I'm in a hurry. So I'll hide my hair all of 2010 to reach my goal faster.

 

[TrendySocialite]

For me, it's about balance and personal preference.

I like my hair out and swingin' (well, when I was relaxed) but I also know that can come with a price. So I try to moderate that with cute PS.

My personal preference is that if I sacrifice to grow my hair relatively long, then I'm going to enjoy it, and not just on wash days or in the privacy of my own home.

My dream is to have that "sexy librarian" moment where I untuck my hair and take of my glasses and my hair swings down for all to see and be in awe of...LOL

 

[bellebebe]

i guess everyone's hair is different. My hair grows fast regardless, I notice more growth when it's in a sew in.

 

[Kash]

This line of reasoning is exactly why I wear my hair out and enjoy it, while still maintaining it's health (rollersets, occassional flatiron).

When I read regimens with no manipulation, constant protective styling, and no heat I'm usually unimpressed. My own growth/retention has been slow and steady, but my hair is thick and healthy and I haven't had any setbacks. A lot of people on here with fast growth who constantly PS have very thin hair & scraggly ends....I wonder how much they've really "cared" for their hair as opposed to just leaving it alone. ETA: OR people have thick, healthy hair but have no idea what to do with it besides put it in a bun.

I'm more intrigued by people who actually styled/wore their hair out and grew it.

me too! that's why i only follow the natural hair divas who really enjoy their natural hair in all its glory. they wear it out, twist it, heat straighten it whenever they want, etc...and their hair is long, strong and gorgeous!

I think I understand what you were saying in the OP
Your hair shouldn't fall apart if it isn't soaked in oil and baggied 24/7

thank you and amen!

 

[sunnieb]

I guess I'm lucky in the fact that no matter how I mistreated my hair, I always got back to SL pretty fast (even though I never got any longer than that until now). So now that I know how to properly take care of my hair, I'm finally seeing the health and length.

Yes, I cowash, DC, PS, etc., but I also wear my hair out when I feel like and I comb every single day. I'm not the most patient person when it comes to detangling either.

The important thing is to find a balance that works for your hair.