Ends make inches! The secret to longer hair?

[ProdigalDiva]

Ladies (and gents), is it just me or is the secret to longer hair as simple as leaving your hair alone? When I really got serious about growing out my shoulder length hair, I did a few things:

1. I had my hair professionally straightened and trimmed (~1.5 inches taken off) - after that first trim, I didn't have another for 1 year... I didn't need one before then
2. I moisturized my ends daily with Jojoba oil and wrapped my hair at night
3. During the day, I wore my hair in a protective bun with the ends tucked under and away from the elements
4. I went 4 to 6 weeks (yes, 4 to 6 weeks) without washing or straightening my hair - I know this may sound gross to some, but I never suffered from smelly hair and my scalp was perfectly healthy
5. I never (and I mean NEVER) put heat in my hair in between my monthly visits to the salon

After 2.5 years, my shoulder length hair was waist length. I didn't change anything in my diet, I just was a complete stickler about protecting my ends at all cost. After all, ends make inches.

Has anyone else had success with a similar regime? Or is this just crazy talk?

 

[EllePixie]

No, you're correct, it's not crazy talk. All of the methods you state above are keys to retaining length. When my hair is long enough I plan to bun during the week.

 

[hannan]

I noticed the same thing too. You can buy the most expensive products in the world but if you keep having that hand in hair syndrome, your ends will suffer big time.

I have trouble with it myself at times but I've been trying to learn that simple is best for me.

 

[phyl73]

Yep, gotta protect the ends.

 

[ProdigalDiva]

It's funny, my hair is actually healthier straightened than it is curly. I might just be doing it wrong, but every summer I go through a phase of wanting to rock my natural curls, but ultimately revert back to the press because my ends suffer. C'est la vie. :-(

 

[naturallygoldie]

Some naturals have reported retaining more with heat. I'm glad you found what works for you. HHG

 

[Highly Favored8]

No, you are correct.

 

[silenttullip]

Yes you're right... When I leave my hair be it appreciates me

 

[iamtan]

I have to slightly disagree with you. I have retained all my length after a haircut about 2 months ago and I wore my hair out almost everyday. I too have the hand in the hair syndrome. I just simply took care of my hair (especially the ends). I spritz my hair everyday with water and moisturize and seal with oil. I hate protective styles but if you just listen to you hair and take care of it, you can retain length period!!!

Evidence
March 2011

May 2011

 

[IMFOCSD]

Yup, i have learned this about my hair also. My hair is constantly in 5-7 twists pinned in place with hair pins. I sometimes go a whole week or longer without even touching my hair at all...i use scurl on my hair 3-7 times a week depending on my lazyness lol

I have def seen a change for the better in my hair since i decided to turn into a PSaholic.

Daily combing, brushing and touching are my enemies lol.

 

[kim1006]

I believe the secret to longer hair is retaining your length. For me, that means minimizing my trims. I am extremely fortunate that my ends do not normally split, which I am positive is a result of regularly deep conditioning my hair as well as great leave-in conditioners.

 

[curlycrocheter]

I too had to learn the hard way. I straighten my hair more than just once a month though. But I learned that with my hair; curly = HORRIBLE ssk.

 

[Charla]

I agree with leaving my hair alone. I also am firmly trying to protect my ends by heavy sealing if they are exposed. I'm so strongly trying to protect my ends that I am not pulling on my ends anymore to do length checks like in my siggy. I just feel like I'm putting too much stress on my ends when I do that.

My solution? I decided to put in a semi-permanent color (up to 28 washes) (Clairol Natural Instincts) so I can guage my growth by color **movement**!

 

[Krystle~Hime]

4/6 weeks without washing? even no COwashing??
only jojoba oil on ends daily ?

 

[alopeciagrl]

I do think leaving your hair alone makes a difference. In January I started back going to my stylist. I can do my own hair pretty well but what I noticed is her flat irons keep my roots straight. When my roots are straight I feel like my hair is less prone to falling out. It has no other choice but to grow. I do keep a light oil on my ends now and lucky enough to have a stylist that only clips ends that are needed. Also no challenges like co washing although I like the results I blow dry and it's too damaging after weeks of pulling.

 

[LongLeggedLife]

Probably so. Unfortunately for me, I like to enjoy & style my hair quite frequently, the bun is my 'bad hair day' style only.

 

[TLC1020]

I agree.. When I leave my hair alone it grew leaps and bounds. All I did was bun 7 days straight, moisturize the ends, shampoo and deep condition once a week or sometimes every two weeks.

This is what I am doing now and I'm loving it

 

[SuchaLady]

I dont bother my hair really at all. I wash, deep condition, moisturize and seal, and bun. Im wondering if the manipiulation from the moisturizing and sealing is possibly decreasing my progress though. I got a pretty big trim in January and for some reason it doesnt seem as if it has grown as much as it should. I am certain the health is okay though. I deep condition for hours EVERY week and use little heat. Maybe I need protein?!

 

[KittyMeowMeow]

ITA with OP. I think it takes more care and protection to retain length as the hair gets longer. Everyone's hair retains length while they are in the TWA phase because the hair isn't that old, but getting past SL, APL, etc may take a more protective regimen for many. I was stuck at various lengths for years pre-LHCF, and reducing the damage in my regimen was what got me past various points.

 

[gn1g]

Do you put anything on your scalp?

 

[topnotch1010]

Yes you are correct OP. Protecting styling is the best way to retain length. It's not the only way but I do agree it's by far the best way.


Sent from TopNotch1010's iPhone using LHCF

 

[naijamade79]

Wow, you are my inspiration.....that's a lot of growth in two years, it took me almost three years to get to two inches away from APL (I did have two set-backs though). My protective style is now box-braids so lets see how this goes.

 

[lana]

Since I do not like protective styles (on me) I use flexirod rollers, which keep my hair in pretty spiral curls each day. I have retained length by being gentle with my hair and washing my scalp whenever it's dirty. I fully believe in always deep conditioning the hair. I bun my hair whenever I feel like it, but I prefer to wear it down and rolled into spirals.

But each person needs to find what works for them. In the beginning of my hair journey I was not retaining length as a natural because I straightened bi-weekly. My ends were breaking as fast as my hair was growing. So I texlaxed...straighter hair, less breakage, less heat straightening and I hit my goal length! I found out what worked for my hair.

 

[pookaloo83]

My solution? I decided to put in a semi-permanent color (up to 28 washes) (Clairol Natural Instincts) so I can guage my growth by color **movement**!

Exactky what I'm doing! That's the only way I can track! My ends are kinda bronzy but those dark brown roots are getting longer and longer! Charla

 

[Charla]

Exactky what I'm doing! That's the only way I can track! My ends are kinda bronzy but those dark brown roots are getting longer and longer! @Charla

Cool, Pookaloo! When I mentioned what I was planning on another hair forum, nobody seemed to really had thought of doing that before. I just applied my dye about an hour ago, and I'm happy with the color. I only applied it to the front half of my hair since it was my first experience and I'm hiding my hair under halfwigs anyway. But the color contrast is very obvious for my purposes.

 

[Eisani]

I have to slightly disagree with you. I have retained all my length after a haircut about 2 months ago and I wore my hair out almost everyday. I too have the hand in the hair syndrome. I just simply took care of my hair (especially the ends). I spritz my hair everyday with water and moisturize and seal with oil. I hate protective styles but if you just listen to you hair and take care of it, you can retain length period!!!

Evidence
March 2011

May 2011

I don't disagree, but once your hair gets to the length where it's rubbing against your clothes and other surfaces, your ends will be subject to more damage so for some it's important to keep those ends up and out of the way, especially for those of us in colder climates where our hair may get abused by wool coats, sweaters, etc.

 

[Geminigirl]

I am almost three years natural and I have been battling my ends, which is why I am making quick weave caps to PS. I can't seem to make it to apl so I am trying something else. So we shall see. Ill be glad when I am able to just bun my real hair. I was trying chunky twists pinned and those are ok to, but I like the thrill of hiding my hair.

I haven't decided on a solid regimne. I may just leave it alone and wash and steam dc in my cornrows.

Droid typing leads to typos for me

 

[Softerlove]

And low manipulation, pink curling, washing my hands before I touch my hair, and keeping my little fingers out of my hair has worked wonders. Within 5 months my retention has been great.

Yes you are correct OP. Protecting styling is the best way to retain length. It's not the only way but I do agree it's by far the best way.


Sent from TopNotch1010's iPhone using LHCF

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I am almost three years natural and I have been battling my ends, which is why I am making quick weave caps to PS. I can't seem to make it to apl so I am trying something else. So we shall see. Ill be glad when I am able to just bun my real hair. I was trying chunky twists pinned and those are ok to, but I like the thrill of hiding my hair.

I haven't decided on a solid regimne. I may just leave it alone and wash and steam dc in my cornrows.

Droid typing leads to typos for me

Yep It does the same for me.

 

[ProdigalDiva]

Do you put anything on your scalp?

When I was growing it out, I oiled my scalp maybe once every couple of weeks. Can't remember what I was using though... it's been several years since I used this regime, now I'm just maintaining length.