Classic Length 2010 Challenge Part I

[jupitermoon]

I got my first two sets of hairsticks yseterday but just opened them today. I got them from www.crystalmood.com .
Since I've never used hair sticks before I decided to give them a try and I love them. I want more.

Here they are:

Here are some hairstyles with only the two sticks holding my hair and nothing else:

<----Slighly blurry pic but taken with flash on low light setting. My hair is dark and hard to photograph with bright objects inserted. Any pointers on how to take better pics would greatly be appreciated.

I wasn't expecting hairsticks to work for me. I'm impressed. Now, I'm into collecting hairsticks.

 

[Mz.MoMo5235]

oooh!!! so pretty!

 

[jupitermoon]

oooh!!! so pretty!

Thanks Mz. MoMo.

My hair is so dark and the sticks are lighter so I had trouble photographing this. When I used the flash it showed my hair in great detail but washed the sticks out but when I didn't use flash like in the pictures above you can see the sticks in detail but not the hair. How do I overcome this?

 

[jupitermoon]

Oh no.

Since my hair is so dark I tried using a low light setting with flash and it worked. Now I have to delete all of my pics and post better ones.

ETA: Not today, lol!. My camera's low on power. Better luck next time, lol!!!

 

[Dragon_Of_Vaeros]

I love those!!! They look beautiful in your hair!

 

[Candy828]

CelinaStarr - Those sticks look beautiful in your hair! Thanks for the link... off to take a look!

 

[schipperchow1]

I finally have some pictures. My hair is just-out-the-shower dripping-on-the-floor wet, washed with conditioner without product applied.

The longest bit, that annoying V tail in the middle, is at mid pants pocket length (MPPL ). The other bits I pulled on are slightly shorter, reaching about 1/3 of the pants pocket. So there has been a little growth this year, compared to my last straightened picture in mid-December 2009, when the longest bits were top of PPL. I trimmed 1-2 inches in mid-January.

I put this sopping wet hair in a banded ponytail. Look at how my hair compresses into nothingness when wet, especially the ends.

That's when I need to remind myself of Lucia's immortal words... I'll work on "thickening up" rolleyes those ends AFTER I reach classic length... maybe.

so i'm not going to straighten until sept or oct. org i said i wouldnt post pix til then but i took a pic because i felt like i was having a really good hair day lol. then i couldnt help but to have some stretched curls pix so this is where i naturally wear my pants (like i said, i think i wear my pants a bit high)... and no laughing at mah gut! lol

Length check. I've reached my goal of slightly below pants pockets:

Last month it was at the top of pants pockets:

I bought a measuring tape last month and realized that my estimated measurements were totally off. As of now I have about 5-6 inches until classic length. I totally underestimated my inches because I thought I only had 1-2 inches a few months back.

I've been taking pics of my progress for a year now. Here's my August 2009 pic:

^^^^This time last year my hair was slighly below waist length and now it's slighly below pants pockets. That's about 8.5 inches of growth:

So it appears that my hair grows about 0.75 inches a month. I had a mini trim this year plus breakage happens during combing and hair styling so it's hard to retain every bit of length. I measured from the top of my pants pockets (last's month length) to slightly below (my current length) and I also got around 0.75 inches.

Happy hair growing everyone. I can't wait to see everyone's progress pics.

OMG!!! I just peeked in Such gorgeous hair & Yamilee & CelinaStarr are at my goal length!! Congrats!!

 

[jupitermoon]

I've been looking around for hair sticks that I would someday like to own and here are some links that I've found (or was informed of by others):

http://www.ketylo.com <---I've heard so many good things about these and want to order some soon. The Dymondwoods are waterproof; so, they're good for wet/damp bunning. These are a favorite at the Long Hair Community. These are gorgeous but simple sticks.

http://www.crystalmood.com <----This site has recieved mixed reviews over at the Long Hair Care Community, but I like my sticks from them and had no issues. There's a sale going on now and many of the sticks are less than $10 (many less than $5).

http://www.dressytresses.com/ <----So many pretty sticks and long lengths too (which is great for thick, curly, coarse hair like mine).

www.longhairloom.com/stickshome.html <----Beautiful and offers Ketylo sticks with toppers

www.longlocks.com/ <---- I've seen a few people at the Long Hair Community with these. These sticks are so gorgeous but EXPENSIVE and from what I've heard shipping is very slow and it can take a few MONTHS to recieve an order. Those that have these sticks say that they're worth it though. As for me, well a gal can dream, lol! I will continue admiring these from afar.

Esty shops with beautiful hairsticks and good reviews:

Hairjems

Timberstone Turnings <----These look okay to me but a lot of people over at the Long Hair Care Community love these. I think the poster Mwedzi, a member on this forum with very beautiful hair, has one.

Aliarose

Night Blooming

Lfaigen

Quecraft<---A lot of people like these. I tend to like hairsticks that are very girly with colors like pink and purple but I am so happy that I didn't overlook these. There are many beautiful sticks here and according to posters at the Long Hair Community and on this forum these sticks are not only inexpensive (many being less than $10) but beautiful, well made, and sturdy.

 

[yamilee21]

CelinaStarr, how do the sticks hold your hair up by themselves? I am going to need a step by step pictorial to understand that. I have tried hair stick styles by using pencils and Chinese chopsticks for practice, but nothing stays up longer than a few minutes.

 

[schipperchow1]

I love hairsticks, especially the ketylos!!

 

[jupitermoon]

CelinaStarr, how do the sticks hold your hair up by themselves? I am going to need a step by step pictorial to understand that. I have tried hair stick styles by using pencils and Chinese chopsticks for practice, but nothing stays up longer than a few minutes.

I insert mine using a weaving motion gathering the hair against my scalp and the bun. I watched a few youtube videos and read the instructions from websites. Here are the sites that I found helpful:

This is how I do it:

www.longlocks.com/how-to-use-hair-sticks.htm

www.dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/hair-bun/

http://www.howcast.com/videos/239122-How-To-Use-Hair-Sticks

You can also start by inserting at the tip opposite the direction that you want it to go then then turn it around and weave it through:

http://hairstyling.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_use_hair_sticks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1y_56ncI70

http://www.youtube.com/user/StoneSoupStyle#p/u/1/tjDD2r7kz5c

^^^^I just tried this technique just a few minutes ago and it works pretty well. I like this method too.

Some people do it like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XOm2MfrRZY


The trick is to just weave it through. They're surprisingly easy to use.

 

[Spring]

Celina I love the hair sticks in your siggy :heart2:

 

[jupitermoon]

My sticks from www.dressytresses.com arrived today. They are longer and thicker than the ones from www.crystalmood.com . I find the longer and thicker sticks even easier to use on my thicker hair.

Here are the hair sticks:

I played around with them:

^^^^Lol!!! I was feeling creative.

Only the sticks are holding my hair and nothing else.

 

[jupitermoon]

I need to vent. Sorry.

Here's my attempt at the Chinese bun:

It was a complete fail and I couldn't even get it to stay so I used a few Goody Spin Pins to hold it.

Anyway, I don't know what possessed me to wrap my hair around the topper. Doing this can cause the topper to break plus hair can get caught in it.

Well a few of my hair did get caught and I had to cut them. It was only about 2-4 strands. I showed my mom and she said that there was barely anything there, but I just hate experiencing breakage even if it's just a few strands. I'm so disappointed in myself for being so careless.

I've read multiple times on various hair stick sites not to wrap hair around the toppers. I don't know what I was thinking... Just a word of caution for all. Toppers are not part of the usuable length and are really just for decoration.

 

[Toy]

Those hair sticks are gorgeous and so is all that beautiful hair.

 

[jupitermoon]

Those hair sticks are gorgeous and so is all that beautiful hair.

Thank you. I enjoy playing around with the sticks and using them. Breakage freaks me out though. Im feeling a little bummed over the few strands that were carelessly lost, but I learned. I was having a little too much fun and decided to wrap my hair around the beaded topper part.

 

[Toy]

Dont feel Bad we live and we learn i had a single strand knot today and i kept dwelling on it and looking at my hair driving myself crazy then i told myself i will be ok.Hope you feel better your hair is still beautiful!!!

 

[Lita]

I got my first two sets of hairsticks yseterday but just opened them today. I got them from www.crystalmood.com .
Since I've never used hair sticks before I decided to give them a try and I love them. I want more.

Here they are:

Here are some hairstyles with only the two sticks holding my hair and nothing else:

<----Slighly blurry pic but taken with flash on low light setting. My hair is dark and hard to photograph with bright objects inserted. Any pointers on how to take better pics would greatly be appreciated.

I wasn't expecting hairsticks to work for me. I'm impressed. Now, I'm into collecting hairsticks.

Fits your hair perfect!



Happy Hair Growing!

 

[Lita]

Flat ion just a little & it started to revert (Fast)
Will try to get a better picture...(very humid today in the big Apple)

In the 2nd photo is the v shape of my hair & my hand is at the tip its the longest part!



Happy Hair Growing!

 

[jupitermoon]

Flat ion just a little & it started to revert (Fast)
Will try to get a better picture...(very humid today in the big Apple)

In the 2nd photo is the v shape of my hair & my hand is at the tip its the longest part!



Happy Hair Growing!

Yay, we can see pictures!

Lita, your hair is super duper long and pretty. Congrats. Can't wait to see more and thank you for sharing.

 

[jupitermoon]

Dont feel Bad we live and we learn i had a single strand knot today and i kept dwelling on it and looking at my hair driving myself crazy then i told myself i will be ok.Hope you feel better your hair is still beautiful!!!

Thanks. You're right. Sorry to hear about the SSK. Don't things like this just freak us long hairs out, lol?! When I showed my parents the little hairs around the topper their response was this:

Lol, but they just don't understand. It's not often that I get breakage and knots.

Anyway, I love your hair and it is so gorgeous and long. Are your joining us in the Classic Length challenge? You should.

 

[wyldcurlz]

Thanks. You're right. Sorry to hear about the SSK. Don't things like this just freak us long hairs out, lol?! When I showed my parents the little hairs around the topper their response was this:

Lol, but they just don't understand. It's not often that I get breakage and knots.

Anyway, I love your hair and it is so gorgeous and long. Are your joining us in the Classic Length challenge? You should.

How do you prevent SSKs?? (and breakage?) Is there something special about your regimen? ...or your genetics? I seem to get them all too often! Frustrating.

 

[jupitermoon]

How do you prevent SSKs?? (and breakage?) Is there something special about your regimen? ...or your genetics? I seem to get them all too often! Frustrating.

Sorry to hear about your SSKs.

I have thick coarse strands; so I think this helps prevent breakage. I also rarely use combs or brushes and just finger comb mostly. I think this helps too.

Every once in a while I my see a SSK on the ends. My beautician didn't seem too concerned and just told me that mine are from shed hairs that wrap around my hair and don't fall out. My ends aren't very curly. But are more s/wavy shaped.

Keeping well moisturized hair and not letting the hair dry loose helps. Also, since I've stopped using cones I hardly see any at all. Cones make my hair stick together thus increasing the chance of knots. I think wearing the hair stretched out in buns helps too. I never use gels, mousse, or other stylers ever and I think this helps too. I also think keeping the hair coated with conditioners helps.

I think fine hair is more prone to SSKs and breakage and must be treated delicately.

 

[Candy828]

Flat ion just a little & it started to revert (Fast)
Will try to get a better picture...(very humid today in the big Apple)

In the 2nd photo is the v shape of my hair & my hand is at the tip its the longest part!



Happy Hair Growing!

Wow great progress! Now I am definitely adding you to the list of CL for December 2010. You've been playing hide-and-seek!

 

[Candy828]

CelinaStarr - Sorry for your pain... but I understand... I am freaking out from seeing the normal shedding... I have to keep reminding myself that some hair must shed even if it's one strand! I think we are all getting more sensitive about our hair!

 

[Candy828]

Toy - I already added you to part 2.... I am not going to let you play hide-and-seek... It's been a while since I have seen your hair and I know it's beautiful!

Everyone - If I forgot to add someone I should have....Please let me know..it was not on purpose!

 

[Mz.MoMo5235]

lita!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!


on another note, i think you guys have to keep in mind that when our hair is soooo long, our shed hair looks to be more than what it is. especially if you do what i do and ball all the hair together. the longer strands make it appear to be more hair lost

 

[yamilee21]

Lita, wow that looks so very long! If your pants had had pockets, I think you would be BPPL (below pants pocket length, ).

Mz.MoMo, you are so right about the shed hair... a few long strands balled up together can look far more significant than they should, .

 

[yamilee21]

I just wanted to share a picture of "something different." I got a bit bored with the buns, so I did a lazy rollerset this weekend. By lazy, I mean I made 14 ponytails, used foam rollers, and air-dried overnight. I know foam rollers have kind of a bad reputation on LHCF, but I've never observed any damage from them, and at this length, the magnetic rollers require too much effort (plus my head can't fit under a dryer with rollers). The "tail" hanging below the rest is the section of hair that has a really loose texture; as it gets longer, it hangs ever-straighter. I usually pin it up because it looks so out of place. And yes, that is a small Flexi-8 gathering up about 1/3 of my hair.

 

[Lita]

I just wanted to share a picture of "something different." I got a bit bored with the buns, so I did a lazy rollerset this weekend. By lazy, I mean I made 14 ponytails, used foam rollers, and air-dried overnight. I know foam rollers have kind of a bad reputation on LHCF, but I've never observed any damage from them, and at this length, the magnetic rollers require too much effort (plus my head can't fit under a dryer with rollers). The "tail" hanging below the rest is the section of hair that has a really loose texture; as it gets longer, it hangs ever-straighter. I usually pin it up because it looks so out of place. And yes, that is a small Flexi-8 gathering up about 1/3 of my hair.

Beautiful...I've done this with my ponytails too & the v part of my hair always looks out of place..
I have tried blunt cuts & it still grows the same way..lol (I think its my natural hair pattern)





Happy Hair Growing!.