Does "Dusting" Really Work?

[a_ caribbean_dream]

I honestly don't think there's anything better than an old-fashioned trim.

My hair grows nicely and really well when I stay up on my trims. However, I'm trying a different path to see if I can end this year out with a bang--which means getting as many inches possible by Jan 9th.

I am usually faithful when it comes to getting my trims when I need them but I'm going to try holding off for a trim for another two months to see how it affects my hair. I have dusted a lot of the knots and and splits I found after blowdrying a few days ago.

My question is for those who mainly dust their hair--are you successful? Is your hair healthy.. (ie. no thinned out disgusting ends)? Do you wind up having to cut off more hair during trim time because of just dusting period? How long have you been just dusting your hair?
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[Vshanell]

Normally I only dust my hair. When your hair gets to the point where it's healthy and the ends are healthy and free from splits and breakage I think dusting is all that's necessary. How often you choose to dust is up do you though.

 

[BeautifulFlower]

Trimming helps to keep the ends looking neat. But when growing your hair out trimming constantly will definitely hold you back. You can not worry about neat ends and length at the same time. Think: grow, grow, grow, trim, grow, grow, grow, dust. As long as you've been protectiving your ends and keep you hair in shape, trimming is getting rid of healthy hair that you've worked hard to get.

I just looked at some old hair pictures of mine. This is when I was going to the salon at least once a month (when I wasnt in a weave or braids) for two years. My hair stayed at the about neck and top of shoulder length for a long time but it looked healthy.

When I stopped going to often, stopped trimming off healthy hair, and started caring for my hair, when I did go back, they would all be like, "Da*n, girl your hair got so long. What you been doing?" After every relaxer, I dust and thats it.

The thing about splits is hair does not split at the same time or at the same length. When one splits it does not send a message to the other strands to follow suit. The seek and destroy method has worked well for alot of girls.

You should give it a try.

 

[locabouthair]

how much are you supposed to take off when you dust?

 

[mscocoface]

For the last two years I have only dusted and my ends look fine to me. Dusting is just basically skimming the ends with the scissors. The very tips or at least that is how I have been doing it.

I mainly do this when I am in braids or twists medium to large ones. Then I just clip the very end not even a 1/8th of an inch in some areas.

 

[luvinwife]

I have been only dusting my ends for a while now and my ends are perfectly healthy and are not thin. I have trimmed only 1 time this yr and since then, I have been taking care of my ends to the point where they are so healthy that i didnt think that trimming was necessary.

 

[Nicole1976]

I think dusting is a good idea. But if you have damaged hair then I think a good-ole trim will work best.

 

[a_ caribbean_dream]

Trimming helps to keep the ends looking neat. But when growing your hair out trimming constantly will definitely hold you back. You can not worry about neat ends and length at the same time. Think: grow, grow, grow, trim, grow, grow, grow, dust. As long as you've been protectiving your ends and keep you hair in shape, trimming is getting rid of healthy hair that you've worked hard to get.

I just looked at some old hair pictures of mine. This is when I was going to the salon at least once a month (when I wasnt in a weave or braids) for two years. My hair stayed at the about neck and top of shoulder length for a long time but it looked healthy.

When I stopped going to often, stopped trimming off healthy hair, and started caring for my hair, when I did go back, they would all be like, "Da*n, girl your hair got so long. What you been doing?" After every relaxer, I dust and thats it.

The thing about splits is hair does not split at the same time or at the same length. When one splits it does not send a message to the other strands to follow suit. The seek and destroy method has worked well for alot of girls.

You should give it a try.

THANK YOU!, this probably the best advice you could've ever given me about dusting. I feel like I been so wired to think that if the ends of my hair have a few splits or doesn't look blunt and super thick- it's not healthy.

But because I want to maximize my growth I have to stay away from the salon for awhile and dust, then go for a trim and have to worry about them trimming too much...

 

[BillsBackerz67]

Normally I only dust my hair. When your hair gets to the point where it's healthy and the ends are healthy and free from splits and breakage I think dusting is all that's necessary. How often you choose to dust is up do you though.

ITA i mean if you have 5'' of damaged scraggly ends, dusting your hair IMO is pointless. You'll be trying to rid that damage for the next year or so erplexed....I think it works best for those who already have fairly healthy hair.

 

[pazyamor]

I know I'm new...but the "seek and destroy" method has really worked for me, I already see some growth from not just trimming the whole thing...

 

[Starr1]

Well I haven't had a trim in almost 2 years, but I do dust every so often (every 2-4 months) and my hair is thriving.

 

[BeautifulFlower]

THANK YOU!, this probably the best advice you could've ever given me about dusting. I feel like I been so wired to think that if the ends of my hair have a few splits or doesn't look blunt and super thick- it's not healthy.

But because I want to maximize my growth I have to stay away from the salon for awhile and dust, then go for a trim and have to worry about them trimming too much...

No problem !

 

[BeautifulFlower]

Well I haven't had a trim in almost 2 years, but I do dust every so often (every 2-4 months) and my hair is thriving.

WOWWWEEE! Your hair...im speechless.

 

[BeautifulFlower]

how much are you supposed to take off when you dust?

1 cm or so. I grab about an inch of hair, straighten out the longest hairs and dust off enough so that the longest hairs are even. The shorter hairs will catch up eventually.

 

[Amarech]

For me dusting is useful if my hair has been traumatized and is breaking (for any reason). I dusted a lot in my first year at LHCF. My hair was damaged and I didn't want a drastic cut. I dusted every two weeks and did a regular trim with each relaxer touch up.

For my recent protein fiasco, I'm also dusting but its more like once a month. The breakage this time was just as bad or worse than it was 3 years ago but the overall health of my hair is good.

I usually take 1/8th of an inch when I dust.

It keeps things looking neat while I deal with my hair problemserplexed

 

[Softresses]

This year I got finished cutting out layers from my hair and went back to dusting. My hair does very well with dusting. I do it every 3-4 weeks and I have no split ends. I am very careful to only take 1/4 of an inch or less off. This keeps my blunt cut very fresh looking and even while still retaining length.

Softresses

 

[Royal Glory]

I dust too. It definately works.

I take of the smallest amount possible. Just enough to get rid of any rough ends. I only had one trim this year, in September. I went to the salon and thoroughly explained what I wanted to a stylist that I have gone to several times and I trust. I was pleased.

 

[Vshanell]

ITA i mean if you have 5'' of damaged scraggly ends, dusting your hair IMO is pointless. You'll be trying to rid that damage for the next year or so erplexed....I think it works best for those who already have fairly healthy hair.

Exzactly. If I had inches of damaged hair I would definitely trim it off because I'm totally aginst holding on to damaged hair. I think it only sets you back.

 

[shunta]

Normally I only dust my hair. When your hair gets to the point where it's healthy and the ends are healthy and free from splits and breakage I think dusting is all that's necessary. How often you choose to dust is up do you though.

I agree.

 

[mzcris]

I dust my ends every 8 weeks and I love it...I've seen so much hair growth and my hair is much healthier......I use to trim my ends every 12 weeks and I did not see growth like I do now...erplexed...so dusting in my opinion is better.

 

[Empress Yahudah]

I only dust my ends to maintain even ends.. since my ends are in pretty good condition I dont have a need to trim. Ive dusted twice this year about 6 months apart and I do a search and destroy when I dust also. As long as I maintain healthy ends ill do this untill I reach my goal.

But I agree that if ur ends are damaged or not in good shape then those ends gots ta go

 

[Amarech]

I am very careful to only take 1/4 of an inch or less off. This keeps my blunt cut very fresh looking and even while still retaining length.

This, to me, is the beauty of dusting.

Originally Posted by BillsBackerz67
ITA i mean if you have 5'' of damaged scraggly ends, dusting your hair IMO is pointless. You'll be trying to rid that damage for the next year or so ....I think it works best for those who already have fairly healthy hair.

I see your point. I guess if I had 5" of scragly ends just cutting it would make more sense and I probably do it. However, if all I had was 5" of hair it'd be kind of hard, which is where dusting comes in. I believe hair is constantly growing (from the root, of course) so dusting is just a way to soften the blow of the inevitable.