Warnings to the newly long

[dinaaike]

Most of us have a fair idea of what to expect from shoulder length hair. But the longer the hair gets, the more the rules change.

Are there any warnings or tips that you can offer to the newly long that you wish someone had told you, or that are not often mentioned?

 

[dinaaike]

I'll start.

When laying around with unbound hair, if you think you see a bug moving nearby, hold still and find the bug first. DO NOT, I repeat, do not slap at it or jump up and run UNTIL YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT MOVED.

It takes an adjustment to learn that as your hair gets longer, you will see it move from the corner of your eye. So before overreacting to a big bug when you turn your head, make sure there's a bug.

 

[Irresistible]

It takes more products, patience and TIME

Its a commitment that can only be changed by cutting drastic amounts of hair

But then every head of hair is its own commitment to upkeep, long, short, in between , relaxed or natural

you gotta be in it for the long term cause there is no escape!!!

Some ways its easier , like when you can leave it up and leave it alone, but when its time to 'deal' with it , yeah, be ready to do what it takes and what YOUR hair needs to be 'dealt with'

 

[Qualitee]

Take more time to detangle your hair. Since its longer it will be more tangled then it was at the pervious length. Use a good leave-in/detangler on damp hair not soaking wet. Let is sit for 10 mins+ and start to detangle in THE MIRROR with your fingers and a big teeth comb. Detangling in the mirror helps you see the knocks and dread you have to detangle with your finger instead of the comb. HTH

 

[Irresistible]

now that was FUNNY!

Hair can feel crawly/tickly too! LOL

I'll start.

When laying around with unbound hair, if you think you see a bug moving nearby, hold still and find the bug first. DO NOT, I repeat, do not slap at it or jump up and run UNTIL YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT MOVED.

It takes an adjustment to learn that as your hair gets longer, you will see it move from the corner of your eye. So before overreacting to a big bug when you turn your head, make sure there's a bug.

 

[TexturedTresses]

I'll start.

When laying around with unbound hair, if you think you see a bug moving nearby, hold still and find the bug first. DO NOT, I repeat, do not slap at it or jump up and run UNTIL YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT MOVED.

It takes an adjustment to learn that as your hair gets longer, you will see it move from the corner of your eye. So before overreacting to a big bug when you turn your head, make sure there's a bug.

lmao... that is true though. many times i would feel something on my neck or back and think its a bug when its my hair.

 

[lexi84]

lmao... that is true though. many times i would feel something on my neck or back and think its a bug when its my hair.

Yea this has happened to me plenty of times. It was so funny. but when I found out it was my hair I was ecstatic.

 

[MrsHouston]

I'll start.

When laying around with unbound hair, if you think you see a bug moving nearby, hold still and find the bug first. DO NOT, I repeat, do not slap at it or jump up and run UNTIL YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT MOVED.

It takes an adjustment to learn that as your hair gets longer, you will see it move from the corner of your eye. So before overreacting to a big bug when you turn your head, make sure there's a bug.

This is really funny and true...lol

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

lmao... that is true though. many times i would feel something on my neck or back and think its a bug when its my hair.

I'm not long yet, but lolol yesssss. You have NO IDEA how many times I've beat the everloving heck out of myself thinking that something was crawling on me.

 

[PuffyBrown]

Funny postings!

For a while I kept thinking something was crawling on my back. In the beginning I slapped myself in the back a couple times. it was only my hair. Now that I have wigged it up, I fixed that..

I really have to get used to my hair touching me. This is one reason that I kept it so short in the first place. I cannot stand that creepy unexpectant touch.

 

[ElizaBlue]

Take extreme caution when throwing a bag or straps over your shoulder. You could get whiplash or tear out a chunk.

When washing in the kitchen sink make sure the sink and the disposal is absolutely clean.

My daughter's unexpected but newly relaxed new length was down in the disposal while I was rinsing it. When I pulled it out....yuck...well just make sure it's clean before washing in the kitchen sink.

I was grinning from ear to ear when I went to get a mammogram and the tech had to pull my hair back... so she could put all of "me" under the plate of pain... that's when all the grinning came to a halt.

 

[ShiShiPooPoo]

My hair is not long (just below shoulder)...but it is getting there.

I have pulled my hair hiking my purse onto my shoulder.

I have also noticed that I have had to change my products...stuff isn't working like it used to. For instance, my Ojon Revitalizing Mist used to melt tangles out of my hair but now it does NOTHING. I am very disappointed in this. I have also noticed that my hair is starting to mat like crazy these days...

 

[MissNina]

lmao... that is true though. many times i would feel something on my neck or back and think its a bug when its my hair.

It takes an adjustment to learn that as your hair gets longer, you will see it move from the corner of your eye. So before overreacting to a big bug when you turn your head, make sure there's a bug.

You ladies speak the truth! I remember in h/s when I was a bit away from BSL, this happened to me allllllll the time! It was so annoying and I'm used to it now for the most part.

Take extreme caution when throwing a bag or straps over your shoulder. You could get whiplash or tear out a chunk.

This is soooooooooo hard to control! After class, I'm notorious for picking up my bag and just throwing it on my shoulder. I can always tell though bc my head gets pulled to the side bc of my hair under the strap

Although I haven't lost any length b/c of it, I know I have to be weakening my hair by doing it. I just haven't figured out how to remember that length is there ALL the time. I'm trying to get in the habit of flipping my hair over my shoulder before I do anything. Luckily, I'm in half wigs 95% of the time, so that synthetic hair doesn't pay that strain any mind

Oh and my warning is. . .to make sure you pay specific attention to your ends. You need to do this anyway, but especially when you get to APL and longer b/c it's exposed to more impact/friction b/c it's on your back. Be careful also to make sure to get all of hair with product, etc. It's hard as your hair gets longer to miss certain sections. That old "squeeze and apply" stuff does NOT work for me anymore.

 

[HoneyA]

Take time to take ruffles or bands out of your hair when you have it up. I've snapped of a few strands forgetting that my hair is longer now so the bands don't just slip off anymore. It takes a few more seconds for me to get them out of my hair without snagging it or pulling it out. Learnt the hard way.

 

[Evolving78]

make sure you wash your hair in the shower with head tilted back and cleanse the scalp, not the hair. let the shampoo run down the hair. pin your hair up or wrap your neck with something silk or satin when wearing clothing that could snag your hair.

 

[poookie]

Once you hit around APL, be SURE to move your hair out of the way whenever you put on a purse / any other shoulder bag. and also, if you're driving and the window's down, and you decide to put it up, move your hair / head out of the way while the window's rolling up.

i've lost hairs in both situations

 

[NYAmicas]

Co-sign on all that is posted!

 

[crazydaze911]

This is NOT from experience, but i've heard that when your hair gets past [lets say] midback, you WILL need to change ur method of roller setting, b/c your arms will no longer stretch enough to get the hair ends on the rollers.

I'm also co-signing on that purse thing - happens to me all the time - but adding the BOYFRIEND problem. He wants to cuddle on the couch or smthg and ur hair ends up under his arm and you cant move ur head cuz you'll either snap some hair off or snap your neck

 

[LadyChe]

Two Things:

1) The longer your hair gets, the longer the shed hair is. Don't freak out if it looks like you have larger balls of hair during a comb-out. Check to see if it's just a bunch of longer strands.

2) You will find errant hairs in the cracks of things that long hair ain't supposed to be.

 

[crazydaze911]

Two Things:

1) The longer your hair gets, the longer the shed hair is. Don't freak out if it looks like you have larger balls of hair during a comb-out. Check to see if it's just a bunch of longer strands.

2) You will find errant hairs in the cracks of things that long hair ain't supposed to be.

LMAO, LMAO, LMAO - this is so gross but true

 

[ladybug71]

Good thread!

 

[Fine 4s]

I noticed I've been washing my hair less frequently...it seems easier to just leave my hair alone in a protective style two weeks at a time now

 

[TexturedTresses]

This is NOT from experience, but i've heard that when your hair gets past [lets say] midback, you WILL need to change ur method of roller setting, b/c your arms will no longer stretch enough to get the hair ends on the rollers.

I'm also co-signing on that purse thing - happens to me all the time - but adding the BOYFRIEND problem. He wants to cuddle on the couch or smthg and ur hair ends up under his arm and you cant move ur head cuz you'll either snap some hair off or snap your neck

That used to happen with me and my so all the time.

 

[meecee]

As your hair gets past APL/BSL its a good idea to wash and detangle in sections. I detangle outside the shower and put my hair in 2-3 large braids before rinsing (I leave the braids in while rinsing too). This minimizes manipulation for me since I can do less combing.

 

[truequeen06]

1. Detangle and moisturize in sections.

2. Be careful when getting up out of a chair or sitting and moving your head forward. Often times I'll be leaning back on my hair and have darn near got whip lash or pulled some hair out lol.

3. Sticky lip gloss, wind, and having your hair down do NOT mix. Neither does having all the windows down in the car while going 70 miles an hour on the freeway . . . your hair WILL temporarily blind you lol.

 

[Soliel185]

Just because your hair got longer and you want to show it off doesn't mean it's suddenly developed super-human strength and can survive being worn down all the time, flat ironed every day, or tossed about in the wind. It's just as vunerable as before. Don't slack off b/c you think you've met your goal b/c you will lose your progress.

 

[Isis77]

Awesome Thread!!!

I can't wait until I have these "problems"

 

[foxieroxienyc]

1. Detangle and moisturize in sections.

2. Be careful when getting up out of a chair or sitting and moving your head forward. Often times I'll be leaning back on my hair and have darn near got whip lash or pulled some hair out lol.

3. Sticky lip gloss, wind, and having your hair down do NOT mix. Neither does having all the windows down in the car while going 70 miles an hour on the freeway . . . your hair WILL temporarily blind you lol.

I cosign with what everyone has said so far, but oooh my word, this is soooooooo true, lol. I can't drive with the windows down anymore on the freeway (what the HELL am I gonna do when I get my Corvette convertible - when gas prices go down - people?!?! lol). I mean they make it seem really cool to be rollin down the freeway in a convertible, like your hair blows in the other direction, well, mine blows FORWARD INTO MY PLANE OF VIEW. Oh and sticky gloss on your bouncy hair, not a cute look.

I've got one... When you wear your hair down when it's all bouncy and flowing in the wind, and you keep whipping it around like a show off, be careful of those rogue ends that like to end up IN YOUR MOUTH and choke you while you do that and talk at the same time....

 

[1QTPie]

If it's windy when you get into your car, gather all of your hair onto one side or you WILL CLOSE THE DOOR ON YOUR HAIR!!!

When sleeping with your man, please pin your hair up. That fool will roll right on to your hair like it's part of the bedding and scalp you.

 

[Angelicus]

The best advice is to protect your hair (especially your ends) during the relaxing process. On the length of your hair and ends, apply grease or some type of protectant on your hair. If you don't you run the risk of overprocessing your hair, leading to thin hair that you'll eventually have to cut.

...I recently had to cut off a ton of hair due to not protecting my hair (plus my hair got caught in drain during my relaxer rinse-out Just be careful when washing in the tub