Join date: 26 Jan 2009, subscribed a couple days later, I think.
Hair state/length: I have thick and dense natural 4a/b hair, I believe. It is currently a TWA, in between ear length and neck length.
Goal length: I am really bad about planning out length, but for this year I hope I can get to shoulder length. (Helps that I have a really short neck, no?
) Ultimately, I would like for my hair, when straightened/stretched, to reach the middle of my back.
Regimen/Reggie:
I wash with a moisturising shampoo and conditioner whenever my hair feels like it should be done, which usually translates to every four or five days. I also make sure to pre-poo with a mixture of honey, olive oil, and a very thick moisturising conditioner, which I usually leave on 2-3 hours. I detangle with a wide-tooth comb while conditioner is in my hair and only try to pat it dry enough to stop it from dripping. I immediately add a water-based moisturiser and the last of my BT (using a comb) and let it air dry. Every morning before I go out I spray Biolage Daily Leave-In Tonic and use a pick through it. Every night I add more of the water-based moisturiser. Once a month I use a clarifying shampoo and then deep-condition it with the ORS Replenishing Pak.
This is all very temporary, as I am finding better products and techniques for my hair. I will be replacing the shampoo and moisturiser and also deep-conditioning every time I wash it. I am also going to try to manipulate it less and less, switching the comb for a Denman and generally trying to only use my fingers to style it. The only issue is having the money to do all this, haha.
Styling: It is just a TWA for now. There is nothing I can really do with it!
Heat commitment: Eventually I would like a bonnet dryer to use for deep conditioning, but at this point, I have no use for a blow dryer or flat iron/other straightening tools, so I do not really have a commitment here.
Stretching goal: if applies:
Posting goals: I think I would like to try posting biweekly about my progress, and also post a review for anything new that I try.
Albums? Links? Sorry, at this point I am totally camera-avoidant. Maybe one day!
History: I know I have always had my hair pressed or permed, since I was a little girl. When I turned eighteen I had most of it chopped off and started growing an afro, just because I thought afros were cool. I hated perms and everything that goes with having permed hair, but I was always taught it was a necessity. Once I started getting it permed, it (of course) never reached past my shoulders, but I was (of course) taught that, unless you were mixed, there is no way your natural hair could get any longer, and any black girl I see with long hair had to have bought it. Even still, every summer and winter I would get most of my natural hair cut off by barbers who always swore the most they would cut off is an inch to help reshape the 'fro (sigh). I always ended up with hair not even as long as my fingernail! My natural hair used to be in between shoulder length and armpit length when stretched, and right now I am trying to get back there, and go longer!
I was also taught that the only way I can have a lot of diversity with my hair was to have it relaxed again, but this really did not sit right with me. I forgot what I was searching for when I found LHCF, but once I saw all these people who already had long hair or were trying to grow healthier and/or longer hair, I was hooked.
Right now, I do not think there is anything specific that I need to know. I am trying to figure out my regimen and products that work best for me, so until and unless I find something else wrong, no questions here. My major battles are trying to keep my curls and finally get my hair properly moisturised.
Wow this was long!