Naturals - Does Your Length Randomly Hide??

[Enyo]

Ok, I'm really serious. During these last few weeks my hair is trying to hard to hide from me. I've been "wet bunning" for about 2 years now (didn't know it was a technique - ha!). Normally, I can just smooth it and create my bun. I have BSL hair so it's not like it's short. However, lately I have to brush and brush my hair in order to get enough to make the bun. I thought that maybe my hair just needed some henna to stretch it out a bit, but I applied a treatment this morning and went to make my usual bun and it was still hard to get enough hair to make it.

What's up?! I thought that maybe my hair had broken off really badly, but I brushed my hair smooth last night and it's all there (see album in my profile). It's kind of annoying me because I can't explain it. My hair looks and feels fine, but the shrinkage is militant. LOL!

 

[OhSoOthentik]

I have the same issue at times. You are not alone

 

[ms.blue]

when wet I could barely put in a ponytail that decent but when straighten my hair apl. Shrunken hair is something else!

 

[Ms Lala]

When I do a protein treatment sometimes my hair shrinks up more.

 

[Aviah]

My length hides most of the time.

 

[Enyo]

It's off and on with me. I still can't explain why I can't bun properly. It's annoying as all get out.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

My shrinkage is SERIOUS! I'm ok with it though since I'm rocking a twa lol. Not sure how it'll affect me when it's longer....

 

[Enyo]

It's just so strange. I mean, I'm used to shrinkage, but it's upsetting to not be able to do your normal styles without serious effort.

 

[JustKiya]

And I haven't figured out why, either. It doesn't SEEM to be shrinking up more than usual, but sometimes my hair is just like - HAH!! I'm 2 inches shorter, whatcha gon do now? *sigh* *goes back to a style from last year*

 

[Enyo]

And I haven't figured out why, either. It doesn't SEEM to be shrinking up more than usual, but sometimes my hair is just like - HAH!! I'm 2 inches shorter, whatcha gon do now?

YES!! That's exactly what happens. Everything is all good then suddenly a few inches have disappeared. Girl the first time it happened I was frantically brush my hair to find those two inches like I was looking for a dropped seroquel pill. LOL!

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

@ JustKiya!!!! that made me GUFFAW!!! hahahaha that was awesome.

 

[SaucyWow]

I think it also depends on your curl pattern. Tight, semi loose, etc....

 

[glamazon386]

Yep....

 

[anon123]

Yes, it does. My hair looks and feels shorter or longer depending on a lot of things. Mostly it depends on what I did to it immediately after washing. But actually, it also depends on how much I have been stretching my hair in the last few weeks. So I wouldn't say it's totally random, but it's highly variable.

 

[Enyo]

I think it's because I've been leaving my hair out after I wash, and I usually wet bun. I'll trying bunning this weekend and see if it makes a difference.

 

[YankeeCandle]

Yes, it does. My hair looks and feels shorter or longer depending on a lot of things. Mostly it depends on what I did to it immediately after washing. But actually, it also depends on how much I have been stretching my hair in the last few weeks. So I wouldn't say it's totally random, but it's highly variable.

Quoted verbatim, because it is so true for me, and my curls are not the tightest of the tight, either (I'm more "pencils" than "coffee stirrers").

It's almost like the hair has a memory (like those foam mattresses) that builds up over a few weeks of doing something, and that even shampoo washes and DCs cannot interrupt easily. So if I bunned or had two plaits for a week, DC'ed, and then washed n'go and let airdry, the curls will be longer and loopier normal. If I do wash and gos for a couple of weeks, the shrinkage is much more.

 

[AvaSpeaks]

I think some of us may just have what I call "hard to show lenght" hair. It's like we have shrinkage and something else that will just make our hair "look" shorter than it really is, even when we pull on it.

 

[DMJ's Mom]

I'm the same way even when my natural hair was at its longest at APL if I didn't put it in a bun while DRIPPING wet it would shrink up to above me neck and would be a pain to put in a bun

 

[jetbeauty09]

I am dealing with the exact same thing. I can see and feel that I have retained length in some areas but others have me guessing what is REALLY going on?!?!? LOL

The last time I let this question get to me, I relaxed and saw how deceiving natural hair can be. I refused to be fooled again.

I'm just going to keep saying to myself- ***I AM RETAINING LENGTH....I AM RETAINING LENGTH.....I AM RETAINING LENGTH***!

 

[Carrie A]

Interesting observation. I felt like my hair has been shrinking a little more than usual the past week. I've been damp bunning it for a while too. I think it's because overall I've been using less conditioner on my hair. Plus it's been overcast on and off the last couple of weeks.

 

[brittle_hair]

I'm not a natural but I get a lot of shrinkage from my NG even the relaxed hair near the roots start to curl up to the point where all of my hair starts to look shorter than before the NG. I can never tell how much my hair has grown until I actually relax.

 

[drappedup]

WOW, I have been wondering the same thing in recent weeks! I am so glad I am not alone! Wondering if I was going crazy, lol.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

yep. i just recently experienced this. i did a wash'n'go 3 days in a row, and the first 2 days i used the same condish my hair looked really big and the curls were hangin. then on teh 3rd day, i used something different, and i had to do double takes all day. my curls were basically stuck to my head!

but the good thing i found out is that i know a product is a good moisturizer if i get maximum shrinkage. which has me . ♥

 

[Enyo]

Well, I pre-pooed, washed, and DC'd my hair and the same thing is happening. It felt great, but right after I towel-dried, my hair was hovering around my chin again. Do you all think it's just getting more moisture? I've never had this type of thing going on for so long. For a few days, yes, but not for a few shampoos!

 

[Enyo]

BUMP. My hair is STILL acting a fool!

 

[JustKiya]

Ahhh! Has it gotten more humid where you are? Or is it raining a lot? That might be it.

 

[Enyo]

Yes, it has. But I can't remember it being this bad. Maybe joining a hair forum has just made me more conscious of my hair. I had to pour half a bottle of Wild Growth on it, brush it for about 10 minutes with the MP, and then dampen my ends with juice to look proper this morning.