?? for all//regarding girls with "long" hair

[Shell4624]

This is what I was thinking about today... So all of us here on ths board that have achieved "long" hair...lets say full APL or longer, I believe did so with by paying attention to your hair, taking good care of it and just geniuinly giving it the attention it needs to grow... agreed??

Well I started thinking about girls who just HAVE long hair... I know we all know a few. Its almost like they are just "blessed" with long hair... AND many of them dont appear to really pay the attention and take the time to baby their hair like we members do...

What are your thoughts on this... Are there just girls out there that have long hair and will most likely always have long hair and thats the way it is, regardless of their hair care practices and the amount of time and attention they pay to their hair. OR do you think that if a girl has long hair she is doing "something" right... whether that be, frequent washes/DC or protective styles.. etc..

I hope this made sense and I hope you chime in with your thoughts on this.

 

[Leslie_C]

Most the girls I have known who just have long hair without trying only get their hair washed,conditioned, and styled at the salon. So basically, I think they are doing "something right" by using low manipulation and not applying heat too much...since they are only having heat applied every week or two and in between they dont do anything to it. One girl I knew like that in high school could no longer afford weekly salon visits in college and her once thick,long, silky hair became broken off and thin. She wasnt able to maintain it on her own.

 

[Shell4624]

This is a huge interest for me... Thanks Leslie for sharing!

 

[SimpleKomplexity]

I don't have long hair (YET hehe) But i just think genetics plays a big part in hair. Some people are just blessed to have longer hair, and they don't have to do much to care for it. Others, are doing SOMETHING right...they just dunno it yet. Some don't comb their hair much, keep it oiled and go to the salon every 2 weeks soooOoOOoo their hair looks like it's in better condition.

 

[Softresses]

I found that when I stopped lettng other people do my hair, and just kept it simple on my own my hair got into better shape on it's own. It may be that their hair is long because they don't do a lot to it.



Softresses

 

[nappity]

This is what I was thinking about today... So all of us here on ths board that have achieved "long" hair...lets say full APL or longer, I believe did so with by paying attention to your hair, taking good care of it and just geniuinly giving it the attention it needs to grow... agreed??

Well I started thinking about girls who just HAVE long hair... I know we all know a few. Its almost like they are just "blessed" with long hair... AND many of them dont appear to really pay the attention and take the time to baby their hair like we members do...

What are your thoughts on this... Are there just girls out there that have long hair and will most likely always have long hair and thats the way it is, regardless of their hair care practices and the amount of time and attention they pay to their hair. OR do you think that if a girl has long hair she is doing "something" right... whether that be, frequent washes/DC or protective styles.. etc..

I hope this made sense and I hope you chime in with your thoughts on this.

This is a good issue and Leslie points out that while there are genetics involved- the market has not been created for a person with challenging hair to be able to DIY. Economics causes hair hardship (no professional advice) and because of the many textures its hard to retain length. Yes, Hair grows and has a growing phase and a shedding phase but without learning how to retain the growth we often don't see long hair. I made alot of hair mistakes with my hair both permed and natural- The last time my hair was mid back was when my mom used to do it ( I was 12) Im over 40 now. Thats a long time !!! (LOL) I thought my hair was always going to be nape length. My hair didn't stop growing it just kept its length cause of my not knowing how to care for it and not be overwhelmed by it's density and length. I learned that on these hair boards and talking to sisters of all races and textures about their hair care. If nothing else I have attained healthy thick longer hair.If thats all I get - Its okay It's been a hell of a journey.

 

[Peaches75]

OH MY GOODNESS, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY!!! I see we are working at having long hair but I have a friend that puts no effort in her hair care but her has is just past BSL and I can't figure out why I have to work at it, I have made it to APL ( not full yet)for the first time in life and it has been a task just trying to find the products that work for my hair. Either way I'm just thankful my hair is growing but that is something I too would like to know. Things that make you go hmmmmm .

 

[AvaSpeaks]

Some people are tall and some are short.

Some women will have big breasts and some will not.

Some people have long hair naturally, and some don't.

That's just the way it is.

But I will say this, I bet that their hair always stays that length. For example, if it's always been APL, it never gets any futher. Or if it's always been MBL, it never gets waistlength.

 

[shtow]

My friend has hair like this. She it when she goes to get a touch up only b/c she is so lazy. She doesn't DC, doesn't know what protein is and doesn't moisturize at all, besides greasing her scalp once whenever she feels like it which is once every 2 months. Her hair is full BSL and although my hair is shorter, people always compared me to have "nicer" hair b/c its HEALTHY! Im real scared for her tho, cuz she just started to do her own hair and is now flat ironing it herself. I dont even wana think about whats going to happen to her hair.

 

[DivaRox]

sorry-this is kinda long

My dh and I had a similar conversation when I was explaining that I was doing this and that to grow my hair out. He asked why all of a sudden I needed 4 boxes of supplies and needed to apply all of this stuff to my scalp to have long hair when I had long hair(not lhcf long-general public long or almost apl) before and I didn't go through all of this.

I think the main thing was back then I shampooed several times a week, either wrapped or spiral set my hair and always dc'd with LeKair. I had no routine, I just couldn't maintain my style for longer than 2-3 days, so I'd just redo it and I could do a pretty job with it. I didn't know I was dc'ing, I just liked that my hair detangled with that conditioner. I didn't do low/no heat on purpose, I just hated sitting under the dryer, so I'd wrap it up or set it and let it air dry over night.

I could never maintain my hair for long though because it would soon break off, or get dry and I'd slap grease on it to "moisturize" and before I knew it, I'd start the cycle all over again of growing my hair out or have to get it cut because it'd be broken off in one section or another.

So, I was doing some things right by accident and doing everything else wrong because I didn't know how to truly care for my hair. I grew up thinking grease was the solution to every problem. Dandruff?-grease your scalp. Dry hair?-put grease on it. Hair won't lay down?-slap some grease in it and go over it with a fine tooth comb. No conditioner? Just put some grease on it, it'll be fine. I think the knowledge I've found on the board and elsewhere is what will help me retain my hair this time.

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

welll... i think men are a great example of this,, sometimes men do nothing at all and theyve got long, thick hair,,, its becuz theyre not torturing it all day... i know for sure if i braided my hair up for like 5 years , only washed it i would have super long thick healthy hair,,, but i just MUST style it so its gonna have to go more slowly..... obviously genetics plays a role in how long your hair CAN grow but i suspect most ppl can grow fairly long hair ,,,,, actually for years and year as a kid into my early teens,, all i did was wear a ponytail ,, i was afraid to have anyone wash my hair ( afraid of water on my face) and didnt at all ,,maybe like 10 times in my life up to that time!!! i had the filthiest hair anywhere till i was like 13 and could do it myself ,, and of course i had my full length of hair which was long although i cant remember just how long and when i got my first relaxer at 15 i was about waistlength so that might be my terminal length

 

[tiffers]

Dh's mom's hair is about MBL, his sister and grandma have about APL hair. They don't do anything to it, matter of fact, they're HORRIBLE with their hair, but it's still long. I think it's genetics because they seriously have indian in their family. Dh's grandma is half indian and the grandpa was creole, so they all just have pretty hair without having to do anything to it.

My younger sister has always had long, pretty natural hair. She's been using brown gel to put it back in tight ponytails for years, and it's still long. Not as thick as it once was, but it's still long.

 

[The Girl]

I found that when I stopped lettng other people do my hair, and just kept it simple on my own my hair got into better shape on it's own. It may be that their hair is long because they don't do a lot to it.



Softresses

I agree my sister has MBL hair and does nothing to it most times. Lots of buns and wash and goes in the summer. She is natural, dyes and blowdries and flatirons too. When the color started breaking it off she stopped "messing with it". My other sister has WSL and I think its because she never cut it when she was younger...and yeah genetics may play a part too

 

[silvergirl]

sooo many ppl keep saying " i know so an so , she has mbl hair but she never does anything to it"

....... im thinking , because she doenst do anything to it is why she has long hair. lol.. i can def confirm that when i stopped messing with my hair, its grown and is growing like a weed.

 

[PinkPeony]

sooo many ppl keep saying " i know so an so , she has mbl hair but she never does anything to it"

....... im thinking , because she doenst do anything to it is why she has long hair. lol.. i can def confirm that when i stopped messing with my hair, its grown and is growing like a weed.

Yes I think the answer is lo-mani

On the other hand look at all the things we DO or did to harm our hair:flatironing,weaves and braids(without proper maintenance),playing in hair ,wearing it out all the time,combing etc... you get the idea.

Many ladies here that are succesfully growing out their hair hear complaints that they never DO anything to their hair.Well that's the key to their success IMO... a constistent reggie and lo-mani.

HHG

 

[Isis]

This is what I was thinking about today... So all of us here on ths board that have achieved "long" hair...lets say full APL or longer, I believe did so with by paying attention to your hair, taking good care of it and just geniuinly giving it the attention it needs to grow... agreed??

Well I started thinking about girls who just HAVE long hair... I know we all know a few. Its almost like they are just "blessed" with long hair... AND many of them dont appear to really pay the attention and take the time to baby their hair like we members do...

What are your thoughts on this... Are there just girls out there that have long hair and will most likely always have long hair and thats the way it is, regardless of their hair care practices and the amount of time and attention they pay to their hair. OR do you think that if a girl has long hair she is doing "something" right... whether that be, frequent washes/DC or protective styles.. etc..

I hope this made sense and I hope you chime in with your thoughts on this.

I would agree that leaving the hair alone is one of the secrets to having long hair and it's a large part of doing something right. Many of us had long hair as little girls and our haircare was very minimal.

However, long hair does not always equal healthy hair. If her hair is healthy AND long, I feel she is doing something right. She certainly isn't doing anything to damage her hair and most importantly, she isn't worried about her hair not getting longer. The worry, doubt and fear is what gets ladies into trouble, causing mistakes and setbacks.

 

[MizAvalon]

Yes I think the answer is lo-mani

On the other hand look at all the things we DO or did to harm our hair:flatironing,weaves and braids(without proper maintenance),playing in hair ,wearing it out all the time,combing etc... you get the idea.

Many ladies here that are succesfully growing out their hair hear complaints that they never DO anything to their hair.Well that's the key to their success IMO... a constistent reggie and lo-mani.

HHG

And there you have it.

 

[HoneyA]

Yes I think the answer is lo-mani

On the other hand look at all the things we DO or did to harm our hair:flatironing,weaves and braids(without proper maintenance),playing in hair ,wearing it out all the time,combing etc... you get the idea.

Many ladies here that are succesfully growing out their hair hear complaints that they never DO anything to their hair.Well that's the key to their success IMO... a constistent reggie and lo-mani.

HHG

I used to wonder about this question too but I think you are right. It has to be the reason. My hair is growing really well and retaining length with just that, a consistent reggie and lo-mani.

 

[lonei]

I think some just do have it, especially naturally 4a/b hair. My cousins did and I didn't I had to grow mine and nurture it, they did'nt with theirs....

 

[Blossssom]

If we're talking black women, the only women I know that don't have to use Indian pastes, "scritch", Monistat and MTG are mixed with something.

Everybody else, SCRITCH away and good luck with all that because I talked to the Indian woman yesterday at the convenience store about shikakai/alma paste and she said that their hair is naturally long with or without any of that.

Riding through the inner-city last night, observing all the Latinas with their waist-length hair, I had to wonder how many of them use special "treatments" to grow their hair long and thick. Probably none of them.

And, of course, I go back to my post about black women (those of us whose hair does this) having long hair that grows north, east and west opposed to south and being happy and content with that.

But I won't ever introduce that topic again, considering how INFLAMED many members became last time. I learned my lesson.

 

[Kurlee]

I kinda agree with Blossom............... I do believe that low manipulation and a consistent regimen do help, but I honestly feel the lower down u are on the hair type list, the easier it is to grow (read retain) ur hair. Im not saying that because type 3 and 2 are better, but the looser the curl pattern, the easier the oil can travel down the shaft and the less fragile in nature, the hair. Alot of the women on the board who have REALLY long hair, i've noticed that they are 3c and down. There are a few 4a's/4b's but for the most part when i see their hair wet at the roots its a pretty loose/wavy/curly silky hair type. Btw, hair is 4a and I love it, gets on my nerves sometimes, but I love it.

 

[Evazhair]

As a child I had long healthy bsl + even hair. If I wasn't getting it pressed, it stayed in ponytails or cornrows and only got washed once a month, but combed/brushed every few days. My staples were Dax and ultra sheen products, lol. After my first relaxer, I had to go back to natural because of damage. Looking back, I have always transitioned to natural after being relaxed after a time. My hair has always grown, and could take anything when natural. As a teen, my hair thrived whenever I visited a salon regularly, relaxed or natural. In hindsight, my lack of knowledge(thanks LHCF) was the cause of me never having longterm success relaxed. Now things have shifted and my hair is the healthiest its ever been relaxed, because I do it myself, and only have my relaxer/trim professionally done. My family hairdresser says that people with long hair "aren't always messing with it". I believe it, but I too as we all do know people who can do "whatever , whenever" to their hair and it remains long and grows like a weed. Honestly IMO it depends on the individual. Some people just have to put more effort into having and maintaining long hair, and it definitely isn't solely dependent on hair type. I can tell examples of people with every hair type who support this statement , especially people with type 3,4 hip length beautiful thick hair.They do exist, and they aren't always having to "mess" with their hair either!

 

[Blossssom]

I kinda agree with Blossom............... I do believe that low manipulation and a consistent regimen do help, but I honestly feel the lower down u are on the hair type list, the easier it is to grow ur hair. Im not saying that because type 3 and 2 are better, but the looser the curl pattern, the easier the oil can travel down the shaft and the less fragile in nature, the hair. Alot of the women on the board who have REALLY long hair, i've noticed that they are 3c and down. There are a few 4a's/4b's but for the most part when i see their hair wet at the roots its a pretty loose/wavy/curly silky hair type. Btw, hair is 4a and I love it, gets on my nerves sometimes, but I love it.

Why do people seem ashamed or hesitant to say they agree with my comments, like they don't want to or something?

I've noticed over the time I've been here that people some time seem afraid to admit to agreeing with something I have to say as if it's wrong.

I don't know why that is.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

If we're talking black women, the only women I know that don't have to use Indian pastes, "scritch", Monistat and MTG are mixed with something.

Everybody else, SCRITCH away and good luck with all that because I talked to the Indian woman yesterday at the convenience store about shikakai/alma paste and she said that their hair is naturally long with or without any of that.

Riding through the inner-city last night, observing all the Latinas with their waist-length hair, I had to wonder how many of them use special "treatments" to grow their hair long and thick. Probably none of them.

And, of course, I go back to my post about black women (those of us whose hair does this) having long hair that grows north, east and west opposed to south and being happy and content with that.

But I won't ever introduce that topic again, considering how INFLAMED many members became last time. I learned my lesson.

This is definitely something to think about, Blosss. My story:

My former roommate is a cancer survivor. She is a white woman, tall, naturally curly hair. Last year her hair was short from the radiation treatments (from the year before). She doesn't do anything but wash every 2 days or so. Sometimes uses the blowdryer when she's going out. This time last year I cut my hair shoulder length. So she was about nape length and I was shoulder length. Fast forward to this year. I saw her a couple of days ago and her hair is past APL, curly thick and full. I'm struggling just trying to get to FULL APL. Even with relaxer stretches, keep my hair moisturized, wearing buns 99% of the time instead of enjoying it down, no heat, vitamins, growth aids, exercise, water, diet, finding a product line, etc. I'm doing all this stuff and yet her hair is now longer than mine...and she's TALL with NATURALLY CURLY hair!

Now I know that black women can and do grow their hair long. I know that we have seen it time and time again.

But what you've stated here gives me food for thought.

 

[Blossssom]

This is definitely something to think about, Blosss. My story:

My former roommate is a cancer survivor. She is a white woman, tall, naturally curly hair. Last year her hair was short from the radiation treatments (from the year before). She doesn't do anything but wash every 2 days or so. Sometimes uses the blowdryer when she's going out. This time last year I cut my hair shoulder length. So she was about nape length and I was shoulder length. Fast forward to this year. I saw her a couple of days ago and her hair is past APL, curly thick and full. I'm struggling just trying to get to FULL APL. Even with relaxer stretches, keep my hair moisturized, wearing buns 99% of the time instead of enjoying it down, no heat, vitamins, growth aids, exercise, water, diet, finding a product line, etc. I'm doing all this stuff and yet her hair is now longer than mine...and she's TALL with NATURALLY CURLY hair!

Now I know that black women can and do grow their hair long. I know that we have seen it time and time again.

But what you've stated here gives me food for thought.

Girl, okay!

I went into this long a$$ RANT about a year ago and Enchantment had to SAVE ME about this very discussion!

I have done the 120 day stretch; the bunning; the baggying; the no heat; MTG... you name it, I've tried it, and my hair growth has been the SAME!

At the white board I used to belong to, they told me that nothing makes your hair grow outside of genetics. I now believe them, but since I've bought all this powder, I will put it to good use

It just seems that our women (4a/b) go through so MUCH to attain what seems to come easy to others.

Of course, there are exceptions to that, but, overall, it seems we have to struggle and I ask the question yet again... naw, never mind. Ha!

 

[Serenity_Peace]

Why do people seem ashamed or hesitant to say they agree with my comments, like they don't want to or something?

I've noticed over the time I've been here that people some time seem afraid to admit to agreeing with something I have to say as if it's wrong.

I don't know why that is.

I ain't skurred! You don't scare me, Blosss. Now bend over and take your whooping like a lady!!

 

[Blossssom]

I ain't skurred! You don't scare me, Blosss. Now bend over and take your whooping like a lady!!

LOL! Thanks, hon! Whipping gladly accepted

I am SO GLAD we are one day from Friday! Just one more day, dear savior, after today, and I am OFF for the REST OF THE YEAR!

WHOO HOO! PAR-TAY!

 

[Serenity_Peace]

Girl, okay!

I went into this long a$$ RANT about a year ago and Enchantment had to SAVE ME about this very discussion!

I have done the 120 day stretch; the bunning; the baggying; the no heat; MTG... you name it, I've tried it, and my hair growth has been the SAME!

At the white board I used to belong to, they told me that nothing makes your hair grow outside of genetics. I now believe them, but since I've bought all this powder, I will put it to good use

It just seems that our women (4a/b) go through so MUCH to attain what seems to come easy to others.

Of course, there are exceptions to that, but, overall, it seems we have to struggle and I ask the question yet again... naw, never mind. Ha!

Yep. I've been reflecting about all the tons of money I've spent this year. And while I take full responsibility for my PJism and jumping on bandwagons, I know understand what you're saying. Keeping it simple seems to be the way to go, and I have done that with the bun-wearing, no-heat, airdrying, and all of that. However, I relax in only a couple of days and knowing my hair, at best I'm at APL. Six months ago I was about 1 1/2" from APL. That means that in 6 months, my hair only grew about 2 inches. That's fine because I hope I got some thickness along the way and health is much more important to me. However, this is truly something to think about. Like the OP stated, some women may just be naturally endowed with hair that grows long if not fast. I have to work at it, esp. since my hair is also very fine.

 

[Blossssom]

Yep. I've been reflecting about all the tons of money I've spent this year. And while I take full responsibility for my PJism and jumping on bandwagons, I know understand what you're saying. Keeping it simple seems to be the way to go, and I have done that with the bun-wearing, no-heat, airdrying, and all of that. However, I relax in only a couple of days and knowing my hair, at best I'm at APL. Six months ago I was about 1 1/2" from APL. That means that in 6 months, my hair only grew about 2 inches. That's fine because I hope I got some thickness along the way and health is much more important to me. However, this is truly something to think about. Like the OP stated, some women may just be naturally endowed with hair that grows long if not fast. I have to work at it, esp. since my hair is also very fine.

Yea, I see you're on the biotin... yea, did that too and had a "reaction"

I'm just happy for the hair God has blessed me with. So what I'll never be able to step on my hair like the woman in the video? Ha!

 

[silvergirl]

I kinda agree with Blossom............... I do believe that low manipulation and a consistent regimen do help, but I honestly feel the lower down u are on the hair type list, the easier it is to grow ur hair. Im not saying that because type 3 and 2 are better, but the looser the curl pattern, the easier the oil can travel down the shaft and the less fragile in nature, the hair. .

i agree with that too. theres nothing wrong with stating facts. i didnt mention it in my post because i figure it was standard knowledge.. isnt it.?.......