Ends make inches! The secret to longer hair?

[DirectorChic]

Overall the thought of leaving the hair along is a truth.

How we leave it alone could vary from person to person.

I personally need a good rinse at least a couple times a week. My scalp goes crazy is left for longer. lol.

Moisture is quite important too.

 

[Ogoma]

With the way I sweat when I work out, I shudder at the thought of going one whole month (let alone two!) with out washing my scalp and my hair.

 

[lamaria211]

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:


[*]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
[*]I moisturized my ends daily with Jojoba oil and wrapped my hair at night
[*]During the day, I wore my hair in a protective bun with the ends tucked under and away from the elements
[*]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
[*]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?

I want to tattoo this post on my forehead

 

[PinkSunshine77]

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?

Well for me when I left my hair alone, I wasn't moisturizing it at all. I wasn't trimming. I wasn't protective styling. I abused heat and without heat protectants. My hair suffered by me leaving it alone. For me, I don't have a strict regimen at all, but I need a little bit of structure as far as knowing my Hair needs moisture daily and it needs a little protein from time to time along with a trim.

 

[Babysaffy]

I wish I could. My hair smells after three days without washing it...

 

[Lilmama1011]

Since I got in the regimen of washing every week after a week my scalp would be itching but I believe her tho many people have did this and they had a lot of growth but when they went to relax it and/or wash it they lost a lot of hair

 

[lamaria211]

I'm going to stop doing my once a midweek CW and just do my regular wash n DC routine once a week I think the less handling on my hair will reduce the amount of trims I need. I was really just CWing to try and use up some products I don't think my hair needs it. We'll see

 

[Lynnerie]

Well for me when I left my hair alone, I wasn't moisturizing it at all. I wasn't trimming. I wasn't protective styling. I abused heat and without heat protectants. My hair suffered by me leaving it alone. For me, I don't have a strict regimen at all, but I need a little bit of structure as far as knowing my Hair needs moisture daily and it needs a little protein from time to time along with a trim.

Well yeah that could happen but I think the point of OP's post is to Keep it simple not just go on neglecting your hair.

I don't go weeks without washing.

Here's my routine:
Wash
2-minute protein treatment
Deepcondition with moisture
Rinse and apply leave-in
Rollerset airdry
Moisturize seal and pin my hair up.
I moisturize and seal everyday and it back in a bun or a pinned-up style. In seven days I repeat. I do not use heat in between, if I want curls I will pin curl my hair.

I think we complicate this hair growth/retention thing too much. The last time I had a ton of breakage and shedding I was in a hurry to get my hair done and I did not deep condition and I whipped out the blowdryer. Never again. There are 2 things I have to stick to and thats deep conditioning after every wash and planning wash day so I have time to care for my hair. If I gotta be somewhere and my hair is a mess I will slap on a wig.

 

[PinkSunshine77]

Well yeah that could happen but I think the point of OP's post is to Keep it simple not just go on neglecting your hair.

I don't go weeks without washing.

Here's my routine:
Wash
2-minute protein treatment
Deepcondition with moisture
Rinse and apply leave-in
Rollerset airdry
Moisturize seal and pin my hair up.
I moisturize and seal everyday and it back in a bun or a pinned-up style. In seven days I repeat. I do not use heat in between, if I want curls I will pin curl my hair.

I think we complicate this hair growth/retention thing too much. The last time I had a ton of breakage and shedding I was in a hurry to get my hair done and I did not deep condition and I whipped out the blowdryer. Never again. There are 2 things I have to stick to and thats deep conditioning after every wash and planning wash day so I have time to care for my hair. If I gotta be somewhere and my hair is a mess I will slap on a wig.

Your regi is just about identical to mine. My messy hair day save is always a loose bun haha neat and no fuss

 

[RegaLady]

Well yeah that could happen but I think the point of OP's post is to Keep it simple not just go on neglecting your hair.

.

Exactly

If it doesn't work for your, then it doesn't work for you.

 

[candy626]

I just don't buy it I when people say the don't have a smelly scalp or hair when going 4 to 6 weeks without washing...

THEY may not be able to smell it but somebody else probably could if they had to be close on em

 

[PinkSunshine77]

I just don't buy it I when people say the don't have a smelly scalp or hair when going 4 to 6 weeks without washing...

THEY may not be able to smell it but somebody else probably could if they had to be close on em

I could not go that long without washing my hair. That's why the GHE challenge was not for me

 

[MsDes]

I can't go more than a week without washing my hair. To each his own though.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

I wish I could wash once a month. That would be awesome. 2 weeks is my max though, and usually it's every week. I do leave my hair alone other than that though. I love protective styles.

Sent from my HTC Evo

 

[lamaria211]

I could go a good 3weeks without any problems (smell or itches) but I like doing my hair to much maybe I can stretch it to 2 weeks though

 

[gn1g]

I could go longer if I were not so busy trying new products.

 

[CurliDiva]

Ok I see the benefits, but I would not want to have to "ask" someone if my hair/scalp smelled! :/

Plus, it may not offically "stink" but it may also not "smell good" ....... walking around with a "earhy" smell is not a good aim even with long hair.

 

[LadyPBC]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that you don't exercise or work up a sweat. I have to wash my hair more often because I perspire when I work out at the gym. I fit were left up to me I would not bother my hair - though I love trying new styles - but I have not found a way to make my twist outs last and my hair is not long enough to fit very neatly in a bun without pulling it tightly. I love your idea though.

Wanted to add that my first statement was not a shot at the OP. I'm jealous because the regimen won't work for me. I finished my workout yesterday evening and pressed my palm against my edges - it came back wet (not damp). Of course if my 4z edges are wet they are not laying down but doing their own thing (not the most polished look) but I'm working out so I live with it. When I work up the courage I'm going to put a head full of braids (no extensions) in my hair and bun it. That's a good protective style while working out huh?

 

[karenjoe]

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. :-(

me2... I had bsl as a child the ends was or are sooo skinny...
I was trying to transition the ends looked so bad. I didn't chop them off
I went back to relaxer

My hair is better when I blow dry once a month before my braids

I understand the "no hair smell" too. I wash once a month or maybe 6 weeks... I dont use the flatiron unless I wanna see if i need a trim. then I put heat protective on then the flatiron ends only every 2 or 3 mos.
when i try natural the ends are bushy fuzzy....., etc

 

[karenjoe]

I just don't buy it I when people say the don't have a smelly scalp or hair when going 4 to 6 weeks without washing...

THEY may not be able to smell it but somebody else probably could if they had to be close on em

some people don't have to wear deodorant everyday.... I'm one. you can smell armpits before anybody...
I had a friend that used my brush.
I could smell her hair or her smell in my brusherplexed she washed her hair every week & she had dandruff.

I wear wigs on my hair. I do work out, sweat like a pig. I think braiding help w controlling the odor. I also moisturize my scalp w various good smelling things too. I think that help too
if i can smell my hair in my pillow I've gone way too long..

when I take my rows down ( even if I flushed conditioner thru it)
it doesn't smell fresh.
I think if I wore my hair down, yes there would be an odor after a few weeks
I'm "holding in" the stinky.

 

[CurlsOnFire23]

Couldn't you clean your scalp with Witch Hazel?

 

[Poohbear]

OP,you just quoted my Regi, and iam nearly waist lenght too. it definately works.started this two years ago due to laziness. now i'm sticking to it. heat every wash day,which is once a month, and buns there after.

RENIBELL, before you started growing out your hair with this heat regimen, did you have splits and knots? If so, did you cut off a few inches to start off fresh and then start this regimen to grow out, or did you hang onto the split ends and was able to retain length anyway?

I ask because my natural hair is similar to yours and I currently have splits and knots from wearing my hair in its natural state, and trying to decide whether to cut off a couple of inches or not. I want to start straightening my natural hair once a month to grow my hair out and leave it alone. I want waist length hair next year!

Sent via Android LHCF App

 

[Poohbear]

Couldn't you clean your scalp with Witch Hazel?

I would think the witch hazel would mess up your straightened hair style and cause your roots to revert.

Sent via Android LHCF App

 

[yaya24]

2013 my goal is to go 2 weeks between washes.

EDIT::: this did not wrk for me. Weekly washings ftw.

 

[HoneyA]

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?

It's not crazy talk. Leaving it alone produces very good results. Low manipulation worked well for me when I had processed hair, I sometimes went 4 weeks without detangling. I did wash during the 4 weeks but I just didn't detangle. Used lots of oil before the wash to achieve that. I can't go longer than 2 weeks without washing my scalp though because it gets itchy and I start seeing flakes and I hate that.

I am focusing more on my ends even more now that I am natural. Protecting my ends and low manipulation took me from SL to WL when I had processed hair so I'm sticking with that method.

 

[Vintagecoilylocks]

I would love to master a regimine that required fewer washings and detangling sessions. Just seems when I tried to wash less I was still taking hair down and spraying or something to keep up moisture levels. So I just wash often to keep it simple.

 

[RENIBELL]

RENIBELL, before you started growing out your hair with this heat regimen, did you have splits and knots? If so, did you cut off a few inches to start off fresh and then start this regimen to grow out, or did you hang onto the split ends and was able to retain length anyway?

I ask because my natural hair is similar to yours and I currently have splits and knots from wearing my hair in its natural state, and trying to decide whether to cut off a couple of inches or not. I want to start straightening my natural hair once a month to grow my hair out and leave it alone. I want waist length hair next year!

Sent via Android LHCF App

Poohbear, sorry for the late response, but yes I had a healthy trim"about 2.5 inches" each time, and after each trim, I had so much retention. Like you, I tried to hang on to my ends, but a scissor happy stylist got her hands on them. And after that, my retention was amazing, so after a year I went to her again lol, another 2.5 and now I'm waist. It's hard to cut, but its worth it when it grows back quicker and stronger.

 

[Incognitus]

Poohbear, sorry for the late response, but yes I had a healthy trim"about 2.5 inches" each time, and after each trim, I had so much retention. Like you, I tried to hang on to my ends, but a scissor happy stylist got her hands on them. And after that, my retention was amazing, so after a year I went to her again lol, another 2.5 and now I'm waist. It's hard to cut, but its worth it when it grows back quicker and stronger.

RENIBELL Ok, I've always wondered about this. Why do people say cutting hair makes it grow back quicker? I mean, how does cutting make it grow? [sincere question, not being snotty]

 

[RENIBELL]

RENIBELL Ok, I've always wondered about this. Why do people say cutting hair makes it grow back quicker? I mean, how does cutting make it grow? [sincere question, not being snotty]

Incognitus, LOL, i also dont believe the more you cut the more it grows, but i belive healthy ends equates beautiful lenghts. the only way to ensure healthy ends is to regularly trim or protective style. i guess my ends were not so healthy , so my retention improved after the trim not that my hair grew more Hope this makes sense

 

[Incognitus]

RENIBELL Ok, I understand. Currently, I've been plagues with SSKs and a few split ends. To make matters worse, my SSKs are often inches from the end of the strand. How does that even happen? erplexed The last time I did trimmed or even dusted was like 6 months ago. I just don't understand how I can keep nice ends.