has anyone been able to reach goals without protective styling?

[blackberry815]

I am not a fan of buns.. Just curious has anyone been able to reach their goals while wearing their hair down more than 3 times a week?

 

[Shelew]

Good question. I have been wearing fake ponytails/buns since July and whew I am getting a little tired! Interested to see what responses you get!!

 

[Carisa]

I always protective style so i am bumping this thread for others to respond...........

 

[CB1731]

I've been wondering this too.

 

[RossBoss]

Yes, I don't protective style and my hair is MBL now, even though I am thinking about cutting it. I don't do half the stuff that people do on here and my hair has thrived. I am not even consistent with sleeping with my satin scarf on my head at night. I think what has helped me out is that I do not use heat, I prefer the bounciness that only rollersets can give my hair. I also deep condition once or twice per week and keep my hair moisturised at all times. Eating good and exercising also have helped too. I am of the opinion that you do not have to protective style to grow long hair. Other races don't do it to have long hair and I feel neither should we. Moisture is the key, imo.

 

[Amoreofcurls]

....I PS once in a while, but im mainly a stretcher, and Ive been able to retain length well...The key for my hair to thrive is to be very consistent with my hair routine, I DC once a week and I keep my ends M&S at all times, and the stretched styles keep my hair tangle free, and the SSKs to a minimum...Now if im out and my hair obviously needs to be protected (from scarfs and hats) them im wearing my hair up

 

[topnotch1010]

I do the same thing. I rollerset once (sometimes twice) a week and I only ps if that's the look I'm going for that day. I know my hair isn't that long but I don't have a lot of splits or breakage from this and my hair is supposedly at the "critical length" of SL chasing APL. I moisurize my ends at night and wrap it up to maintain my curls and that's it. I don't dc or stretch relaxers. Like RossBoss said, I don't do half the stuff some people on this board do and I retain. Now, if I could only put down those dang scissors!!

Yes, I don't protective style and my hair is MBL now, even though I am thinking about cutting it. I don't do half the stuff that people do on here and my hair has thrived. I am not even consistent with sleeping with my satin scarf on my head at night. I think what has helped me out is that I do not use heat, I prefer the bounciness that only rollersets can give my hair. I also deep condition once or twice per week and keep my hair moisturised at all times. Eating good and exercising also have helped too. I am of the opinion that you do not have to protective style to grow long hair. Other races don't do it to have long hair and I feel neither should we. Moisture is the key, imo.

 

[kim1006]

About a year and a half ago, I was not actively growing my hair. I went to Dominican stylists bi-weekly and exercised about 5 days a week. My hair grew to below MBL with no protective styles. I cut it twice into short blunt bobs and now I have decided to actively grow it back because I miss the longer length. My longer hair resembled Courtney Cox's and Demi Moore's hair styles.

 

[brittanynic16]

I never protective style, and I use heat every week. For me, keeping my hair straight. conditioned and chemical free have helped me retain length.

 

[afjhnsn]

Bump :-D !

 

[lovely_locks]

I was in the military for a while, and I bunned ALL THE TIME. And my hair broke off from the rubber band down.

 

[Bigmommah]

To be honest I firmly believe that there is always more than one way to skin a cat. I think another question you should ask yourself is if you can reach YOUR goals without protective styling. Also can you reach your goals within any time frame that you may have set for yourself. Your hair journey much like most of life is about what you want for you and what it will take to get where you want to be.

 

[silkii_locks]

I never protective styled, I always wore my hair down as much as I liked. I've gone from between SL and APL to nearly MBL. For me the key is keeping my protein and moisture balance in check. I wash and deep condition once a week, I used to either rollerset or blow dry and hotcurl. Now, I just let it airdry in a bun, this leaves it wavy and bouncy and I can wear down, up or however I want until the next wash day.

 

[gadgetdiva]

My kids although they arent relaxed...they dont PS and their bonnets tend to come off in their sleep...I flat iron their hair 1x/wk (or every 2 wks depends on our schedule) their hair is MBL....I think it depends on hair type too.
The length my hair is now, in previous years it was ONLY this length when my mother cared for it...when I took over .... I was NL then wanted to cut it and went EL.

I don't PS but when I am home I do wrap my hair up and put on my silk scarf ONLY because I have a tendency to play in my hair and pull it out! (I've improved trememdously) I think you have to do what works for you/your hair (listen to your hair)....if your keep your hair moisturized and DC'd using little to no heat you can maintain/achieve it.

 

[LunadeMiel]

I don't really protective. I've ben natural for 2 years and 8 months and I wore wash and goes for a little over 2 years. Now, I use heat about 2x per month. I guess it help that my shrunken hair is not even shoulder length yet

 

[blackberry815]

I am just now seeing these responses.. I think that was my first post on LHCF haha I didn't even know how to see these reponses.. Pretty funny.. My hair is growing and I still don't protective style much. I carry a clip with me and if I feel my hair getting caught in my sweater I just clip it up or throw it all forward. I think you ladies are right. Not everyone's hair is the same and protective styling is just not my cup of tea... I'm a rollersetter and that works for me. If only it didn't take me so dang long!

 

[TeeWhyAre]

Sylver2 does not protective style.

I am one of those women who ENJOY my hair. I wear it out every single day. No protective styling whatsoever. I use heat occasionally.

About Me | Sylver2(RA) | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

 

[Vshanell]

I've never protective styled and I've retained length well. I feel that low manipulation is more important than ps for hair growth.

 

[NYDee]

When I did braid outs weekly for a year my really thrived. This was before I knew it was a protective style and LHCF, I just liked the look. As soon as my hair gets long enough I will start doing that again.

 

[cmw45]

Yes, I don't protective style and my hair is MBL now, even though I am thinking about cutting it. I don't do half the stuff that people do on here and my hair has thrived. I am not even consistent with sleeping with my satin scarf on my head at night. I think what has helped me out is that I do not use heat, I prefer the bounciness that only rollersets can give my hair. I also deep condition once or twice per week and keep my hair moisturised at all times. Eating good and exercising also have helped too. I am of the opinion that you do not have to protective style to grow long hair. Other races don't do it to have long hair and I feel neither should we. Moisture is the key, imo.

So...er...not to sound like Debbie Downer ...but if you don't do most of the things on LHCF...what brought (and keeps) you here?

 

[Sugar]

I don't protective style...unless I'm having a bad hair day and then I'll wear a bun. I'm sure my hair could be longer but I'm happy with my progress.

 

[pookaloo83]

I don't PS either. Hair seems to just fine.

 

[Qtee]

I dont PS and my hair grows nicely..I even color my hair..as long as I DC, protein tx and moisturize I'm fine..Oh and I very rarely use heat..

 

[Janet']

I agree with Poka, I am not really a protective styler, but I am a low-manipulation styler and these would include any of the following: twist-outs, braid-outs, wash and go's, rollersets (you get the point)...I am not really a fan (for myself) of wigs, braids (with added hair), etc. so for me low-manipulation is the way to go and I have been quite successful with my retention thus far!

 

[Barbara]

I wish I could reach my goal without protective styles. I can make progress, but it just takes longer without protective styles.

 

[ellebelle88]

I'm actually not sure if bunning helps my hair to grow, but I will say this: less manipulation is key! Especially when your hair is prone to breakage. I got so much growth from wearing my hair in twistouts and redoing them over weekly. But now that I'm transitioning, I don't know how to make ANY style last a week besides buns. It really sucks...

 

[thebelleofelle]

For the ladies who wear their hair straight, what do you use to keep your hair moisturized??

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[Sugar]

For the ladies who wear their hair straight, what do you use to keep your hair moisturized??

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using Long Hair Care Forum App

I try to wash my hair at least twice a week. I deep condition each time (doing it right now )...that's what keeps my hair moisturized.

 

[Missjae09]

Great post OP! i've often wondered this myself... my believe is that conditioning and moisture plays a part in keeping the hair healthy and thriving. I've wondered this because I get bored with my hair and I have to be able to try different styles.. be it braidouts, twist outs rollersets, and straight! (I don't have enough hair for buns yet but I can't wait! I really want a bun of my own! lol (but i'm sure I'll get tired of it too, so a sistah needs healthy options!) ​

 

[Missjae09]

Ladies, I'm leaning toward believing that your hair type may play a part in whether or not you are able to grow without protective styles....I don't know if us 4a/b's and 4b's can reach length's past apl or bsl without protective styling... your thoughts???