Paging Adrienne and any others who...

[Jenai]

Used braids, weaves, etc. in order to obtain their goal length hair. Do you feel that you would have not been able to obtain your current hair length without using these particualr methods? If you did use one of those meothds are you concerned about hair breakage and loss of length once the braids, weaves, etc. come out? I am asking because it just seems as if most women on this board have used some sort of method like this in order to get to a certain length. Would simply pampering your hair, limiting manipulation, and conditioning well have done the same thing for hair length?

Since discovering the hair boards, I have tried follow everyone's advice about gentle treatment of the hair, conditioning, and limiting manipulation. While my hair is a lot healthier, it is not much longer than if I would have gotten a weave for two months. My hair length is at the "proving grounds" sort of speaking -- the longest that it has ever been as an adult. It is 8-10" in the front and sides and 3-6" in the back, so I am wondering if I can obtain my goal length without using braids, weaves, etc.

Also, any ladies who are also in the same boat with me as far as wondering about obtaining length please chime in. /images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Guest]

Hi Gigi,

I wonder about that too. I'm in the process of trying to get my hair to become longer by another 3 inches or so, without braids or weaves. I am giving myself a few months to decide whether I make any progress towards my goal by the methods you mentioned: more pampering, conditioning, and above all, LESS MANIPULATION! /images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm still in the experimental stage, though, so it's too early for me to give you any information that would really answer the question. Hopefully by February or March I should be able to tell you if I'm making any progress in retaining those elusive, extra inches of growth. It's a very interesting question, though. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pebbles]

Hi Gigi,

When I wore braids, my hair grew out much faster than it would have if I had not worn braids, simply because in braids there wasn't much I could do to it to mess it up. When I had free access to my hair in the past, I always had the tendency to try new things to do to my hair or to try new products that eventually led to breakage. My hair is between 6"-8" long, front to back. It's never been longer than this, but honestly, I never had the desire to grow it out longer either.

My hair is at that "put-up or shut-up" stage also. Now comes the test! Can it grow longer? I asked this very question this morning on another post and from the answers I got, all indication is that we can be encouraged and "keep hope alive!" With proper care and handling, it will happen. God bless and good luck!

Have a blessed day!! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[carmella25]

gigi

I wore extensions for years and all it would do is make me bald. So i took them out. I guess everyones hair is different.

 

[adrienne0914]

GiGi, this is a good question! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

when i first started trying to grow my hair, it wasn't long enough fora bun. it was 3-4" on top, and 5-6" toward the back. i could make an onytail, but the edges stuck straight out. so in order to be able to make a bun, i felt i had no choice but to do the braids because my only other styling options at that time involved using heat.

with the braids, i was able to retain much more length than with the bun. i still am. that's why braids are my first style of choice... if my scalp would cooperate.

anyway, the answer for me is probably no. i don't think i would have been able to cross at least the first hurdle without the braids.

adrienne

 

[lshevonne]

I've wondered the same thing. I don't care for Braids so I hope with a little tender care my hair will grow. I've taken up the no heat rule. I think this has help my hair 100%.

 

[Kitkat]

<font color="blue"> My braids experience is similar to Pebbles and Adrienne's; I probably wouldn't have achieved the length I have now without them. I wore braids for a year the last time that I braided. I hadn't discovered this board or really paid attention to my hair care. So I was doing all of the wrong things for my hair, which could never possibly have led to growth. Now that I know how to retain the length that I achieve, I might put them in again next year for a few months. I am a big supporter of braids to grow the hair. While you have them in, you can't pull, twist, play with, or otherwise manipulate your hair, so it has no choice but to grow. For me, removing them carefully to avoid breakage and treating my hair well made the difference. </font color>

 

[hairfanatic]

Hi GiGi,

I don't beleive you have to use braids, etc., to grow hair. But...if you want to gain length faster, it helps because you are not constantly manipulating the hair. Also, not all braids and weaves grow hair. If the braids are too tight, done wrong, it can be a disaster.

 

[Armyqt]

GiGi, if you get bored with wearing protective styles, girl there are some nice wigs out there. I have one. Just an option.

 

[Faith]

I have been in braids for 3 years straight now and I would not have achieved this length without braids. The reason I say this is because my hair is 3-4" longer now than it was 3 years ago before I chopped it all off and went natural.

 

[Jenai]

Okay, so we have "yes" and "no" as far as using braids, weaves, etc. I pick, twirl, mess with my hair too, so I have been putting a satin bonnet on it as soon as I get home from work. It has helped tremendously. When I used to get weaves, I gained length fast, but my scalp would itch sooo bad and my hair would be very dry after the weave was removed and it would eventually break off. Maybe with the knowledge that I have gained from the hair boards, I can keep the length.

Cynthara, Pebbles, and lshevonne
"put up or shut up time" defintely. I think I will wait a few months to see if I can retain any additional langth. If not, then I guess it will be time to weave. I have a pic of my weaved hair. I will try to get it posted as well as pics after it was removed, and pics of my curent length.

Adrienne
I was hoping you wouldn't say that. /images/graemlins/shocked.gif Seriously, I am glad to hear that once you obtained the length, you were able to keep it. That is encouraging.

Armyqt
Good option. Where did you get your wig from? Did you wear wigs everyday?

 

[beana3]

good thread gigi!! i've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've really been considering weaves as a hair option, but im not exactly sure how to care for the hair underneath. maybe braids would be better since i can slap conditioner on the braids and it will hopefully penetrate. I'm clueless about this whole thing.
I think that braids and weaves done RIGHt can do wonders for helping maintain length

 

[stelladata]

Last Aug 09 when I decided to get my hair relaxed. I won't be going back anytime soon due to the fact that she was just too expensive and everyone in her salon who came to get their hair done all had burnt looking edges including her! and to top things off she tried to leave the mizani perm in my hair "just a lil longer" even as it was burning because she said she was trying to give me that bone straight look even after repeatedly telling her, NO.

I am long over due for a trim now and after I heard that horror story of what some Dominican salons do with deep treatments I don't know how long I am gonna hold on to my ends.

 

[Mahalialee4]

Last Aug 09 when I decided to get my hair relaxed. I won't be going back anytime soon due to the fact that she was just too expensive and everyone in her salon who came to get their hair done all had burnt looking edges including her! and to top things off she tried to leave the mizani perm in my hair "just a lil longer" even as it was burning because she said she was trying to give me that bone straight look even after repeatedly telling her, NO.

I am long over due for a trim now and after I heard that horror story of what some Dominican salons do with deep treatments I don't know how long I am gonna hold on to my ends.

Oh OH....what do they DO?...CURIOUS?

 

[2inspireU]

Oh OH....what do they DO?...CURIOUS?

They are mixing conditioners with a little bit of relaxer to take away some of the thickness of natural haired clients.

 

[stelladata]

They are mixing conditioners with a little bit of relaxer to take away some of the thickness of natural haired clients.

YUP! which results in breakage and before you know it you have a twa again. I don't know specifically which ones but a thread on here caught my attention and I have witness suspect behavior at Dominican salons so i'm good. I heard it was mostly with the deep conditioner (that's why they stay forcing ppl to get em HMph!) anyway, I need a trim badly And I don't know of any hair salons now a days that i can rely on. UGH