What did 2011 teach you about your hair???

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Patience is the key to life.

Also, I learned that I like my hair curly than straight. It's so much easier.

 

[Newtogrow]

leave it alone and it will grow.

 

[yodie]

This thread truly confirms that different things/methods/products work differently for everyone. I'm really enjoying reading what each of you ladies learned about your hair in 2011.

 

[Lissa0821]

Moisturizing and sealing my ends without my fine hair looking completely flat is possible.

Baggying my ends a few nights a week keeps my ends in check

My crown area is drier and coarser than my entire head, when I became diligent to keep it moisturized and applying relaxer to this area last during touch ups it has grown back with a vengeance.

 

[PinkGirlFluff]

Gels and creams specifically designed for hold hate me. They leave me with crispy crunchy thirsty hair. Has my hair coughing like it has bronchitis.

Lace fronts and me are not friends. But sew ins and half wigs are my besties.

Now that my hair is longer it is a no no to not braid that joker up before bed. If not it will knot.

Oil only works as a great pre poo for me. But moisturizing creams make my hair buttery soft.

Some folks are never going to like curly hair on me or anyone and that's ok. That's their issue, not mine.

 

[Spongebob]

that heat is hairs worst enemy. to never use it again

 

[greight]

My hair is patient with me.

Protein is my friend. Protective styling is my SO.

 

[temfash]

My hair is patient with me.

Protein is my friend. Protective styling is my SO.

couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[**SaSSy**]

2011 taught me not to waste my money on the latest/newest products, and stick to companies and products that work. Also, less is more in terms of styling.

 

[lana]

This was my best hair year ever.

I learned that:

Mane & Tail Conditioner makes my hair grow and keeps my scalp healthy
I dust and trim when needed and my ends look GREAT!
Setting BSL as a goal, made my hair say "What you don't believe in me?" so now she is on her way to Mid Back Length and I'm not standing in her way
Wearing a bun after day three of washing until the next wash has helped my hair grow
Wash whenever my scalp is itchy
Take my vitamins! (but I already knew that, I've just actually been taking them)

This is the best hair of my life. Hands down.

 

[yorkpatties]

I learned a lot this year. Thank you ladies. This is the year I became SERIOUS about my hair. This is the year I stopped lurking when I called myself doing research on particular products and became a member and decided to go on a HHJ.

This is the year I decided to say goodbye to my hairstylists and learn to care for my hair on my own.

This is the year I decided to stop using the heat, stop using the extensions and stop using relaxers, because they were all damaging my hair in one way or another.

Maybe next year will be the year I learn to cornrow

 

[Avyn]

Dry detangling!!!! I have been wondering for 2 and a half years why I haven't retained length. I only manipulated my hair when it was wet...detangled, braided, etc. With my super fine hair that was a no no. Since doing this for just 4 months my length retention has been great and my ends are in such great condition.
Also, getting info abt porosity. My hair is fine AND porous. Knowing product PH and Porosity corrector has been my friend and has made a difference in how my hair responds to other products.

Sent from my SCH-R915 using SCH-R915

 

[firecracker]

MsJessie worked better when I had texturized hair

 

[menina]

my scalp loves to be washed more often with diluted shampoo and massaged with oils.
after a few months i have not had to deal with flakes on my shoulders.

 

[lolascurls]

First off, Let me say what I've learnt this year:
1) If I leave my hair alone in a protective style, it will still grow.
2) Hard water is REAL! It made my hair feel ridiculous after a few months of living in a different area. Shower filter needed!
3) Stop buying all these "natural products". I have my own ingredients that work, and they just collect dust!
4) WL came even without me slathering my scalp in stuff or popping pills daily! I should take my vitamins though...
5) I did not NEED that steamer afterall!

My hair can't go months without a trim . I'm now on a 10-week trim schedule and my hair's already thanking me.

My hair doesn't need a lot of conditioner to detangle. Aloe vera juice and some oil works just fine and lasts a lot longer. It also makes me wonder how much more I REALLY shed during the winter. I've shed so much less using these products.

My hair makes amazing progress when left unmanipulated! I used to do twists every week; I've gotten them to stretch to 3 weeks and even my SO notices the growth at every retwisting.

I'm sure I'll remember more later .

True for me too! I've been wearing twists or braids for most of the year and I'm about 1 inch from Hip length now! Yay!

--Maintaining my pH balance via ACV is vital for my hair and scalp
--However be careful using ACV because too much is just as bad as not using any at all
--Moisturizing Conditioners are NOT my friend
--My hair likes oil-based moisturizers best
--My hair does better when I use shampoos/conditioners in rotation rather than having staples
--I only need to clarify every 4 weeks
--Natural products may not work for me and that's okayerplexed
--My hair is growing/retaining even when I don't think it is.
--Be patient, consistent and thou shall see results

Most Important: when I do all these things, my hair can retain faster than I ever thought possible

2011 was a real growth year for me, I think 2012 will be my best year ever!!

I only need to clarify once a month max, too! Rhassoul Clay has been wonderful to me!

My hair is patient with me.

Protein is my friend. Protective styling is my SO.

Standing ovation for that, my dear! PSing is my boo and protein's got my back!

 

[KPH]

that hair dye is the devil's brew. ugh!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcdlox]

that hair dye is the devil's brew. ugh!!!!!!!!!!

Ikr!

Sent from my ADR6300 using ADR6300

 

[sj73]

I've learned to not drop the ball on my hair regimen EVER. This time last year, I was at a healthy shoulder length and at the beginning of 2011, I dropped the ball on my twice weekly deep conditioning and had a major setback by spring 2011. I'm still recovering, but realized that no matter how healthy my hair is, I STILL need to keep up the routine to keep it that way. Still kicking myself about this.

 

[kupenda]

I'm still learning my hair. Still finding what it likes.

So far, protein is not the Antichrist.

But it will send me into reversion a week after relaxing :-/

Although I've been on this board for about a year, my HHJ, healthy hair journey, has just started a month or two ago. I was on a HFJ, having fun journey. And my retention suffered because of that

Cowashing is my friend! My hair likes cheapie conditioners in between washing

Clarifying isn't scary. It is possible to have clean soft hair without having stripped, straw hair


DCing is absolutely necessary. Until I can get a hold of the perfect moisturizer/oil combo, I must DC weekly

Protective styling is fun. I like ponytails with my ends tucked under and held down with a pin or flat clip. Easy!



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[blessedandlucky]

Highlights are not my friend. Layers are not my friend when the cut is wrong. I learned I couldn't trust my stylist to give me the correct cut even with pictures! We broke up between that and the highlight debacle. I learned that sometimes shedding has to stop on its own


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[itsjusthair88]

I learned:

+If I want to grow, I HAVE to PS all day, everyday...I did this the first 7 months of my journey and it was great, for the last 4 or 5 months I have been wearing it "out" (because now that i have a little length, I thought i was cute) and I am suffering.
+I need to take to time to see what really works for my hair; I still don't know what products actually work, how much protein/moisture balance I need, etc. I need to spend 2012 taking this time
+Lastly, just because I don't straighten my hair, doesn't mean my ends can't suffer!!! I need to learn to moisturize, seal, repeat.

 

[HauteHippie]

I've learned that...

- my hair NEEDS protein.
- Mane and Tail Conditioner + Vanilla Silk DC and other Silk Dreams products REALLY work for me.
- Shampoo isn't exactly evil. I'll use Nioxin's as needed.
- I have to seal more than the last bit of my hair strands.
- the donut bun is probably not for me. I haven't found a way to secure my ends w/o them breaking.
- surprise! steaming is okay, my hair likes the extra moisture.
- henna, cassia and tea rinses work for me AND don't require nearly as much work as I thought they would.
- safflower mayo, eggs, and honey makes for a good conditioner.
- my hair hates direct heat. August was a rough month.
- and that I must NOT let it go. If I go broke, get lazy or get all woe is me and drop the ball this year, my hair will cry.

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

I need to trim more frequently. I was scared of getting scissor happy but looks like it'll be necessary.

Sent from my VM670 using VM670

 

[AlwaysNatural]

I need to do it myself.


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[trendsetta25]

That color and my hair hate each other! I learned my lesson

 

[SatinCurls]

I'm completely gullible when it comes to hair products so I'll totally fall for anything. However, I've learnt the hard way that nothing works for my hair so might as well save money!

For shampoo I use Eucerin shampoo (great stuff), but hoping to switch to all natural once it finishes. I make my own hair treatment, hair lotion and serum. And so far brill.

Love of my life: Castor oil

 

[Evolving78]

my hair needs some form of protein and to be extra gentle with detangling my hair.

i learned that with patience an a lot of research, i can take care of my own hair. i am still learning what works and doesn't work though.

i learned that i really need to have a reggie in place and stick with it.

oh and stop product hopping. i really like Keracare, Aphogee, Mizani, and Hawaiian Silky. i will be sticking to those brands.

 

[SummerSolstice]

I learned that blonde is my color. I also learned that no matter how gentle you are when you color cleanse your hair it will still hate you later on LOL.

 

[kizzylonghair]

Consistency pays off. I CAN stick to a regimen. I CAN continually use products that work for me without being tempted to try everything new/hyped about.

There are a ton of products, methods, etc that work great for a lot of people, but you don't have to try them all. Why try to fix something that isn't broken?

My hair missed protein. It was a staple in my regimen a few years back, but since them, my hairs been lacking it and I had only focused on moisture...then I remembered how great my hair was back then. I started using hydrolyzed keratin just a couple of days ago and already my hair is stronger, springs back, breaks less...and I'm hoping this will help me hold onto moisture better/longer

Agree with all, we mu have the same hea of hair!

 

[curlyninjagirl]

I learned that my hair hates protein.

I learned that I don't have to be so rigid my hair regimen.