Length VS Play... Where do YOU Stand?

[Stormy]

Well, I picked the second choice since I don't plan on wearing protective styles forever and a day. I like wearing protective styles. It's a nice change up, but can get boring as well if worn for too long. I wear them mainly for three reasons; 1. to recover from a set back and 2. to reach a goal and 3. just for convenience.

In the past whenever I was waiting for a thin spot to grow back protective styling always helped me. And... the longest my hair has ever gotten is right at shoulder length and I really believe it could have grown longer had I did some protective styling a little longer instead of always letting it brush against my clothes and manipulating it so much. Once I reach my goals I'll cut back on protective styling, and when I do wear my hair in protective styles it will just be for convenience.

 

[Stormy]

Oh! I forgot to say great thread!!!!

 

[Prayin4FullWL2012]

When I first came on here, I was just getting my hair healthy because, I came from Black Hair Care Forum.
I choose to have long hair. I was trying to find out why is it, that I can't get pass APL, what is the big secret? And the big secret is PSing, and No perms. Right now I haven't had a perm for 8 months and I have been hiding my hair under my wig. This is the longest that I have went without a perm. Another reason I like to where PSing is because, under my wig is a shower cap, which allows me to baggy at the same time. Now when I do get a perm or when I did get a perm in the past, I would wear my hair for two weeks in wraps and then put my scarf on always before I go to sleep. I told my DH that I feel like a muslium women because only he see's my hair and that is at night when I take off the wig to put on the scarf. And because I have been doing this I am finally seeing my hair inch it's way down to BSL. I can't wait my year to be up because if is where I want it to be then I will perm it and go for another year without a perm.

 

[Lucia]

Well I voted other cause I did use weaves/wigs to help me retain length, but I really didn't need to just for the length I just wanted to get to my hair goals faster. So I do beleive in PSing to get to a certain length or get passed the hump esp shoulder length. I don't think most can pass SL w/o PSing JMO.

Now I don't use weaves or wigs I just PS for work cause it will get in the way of what I have to do and b/c I'm after a hairgoal. I'm planning on doing 50/50 up/down once I reach my next goal of HL. Some of ladies on this board have very long hair and don't PS ever too.

 

[loshed]

I stayed in twists for a 6 month stretch a year ago and got totally burnt out on them. I have a bad case of hand in hair disease and got tired of not being able to indulge myself whenever I wanted. Now I wear a shrunken fro styled with clips and whatnot. I know I'm not retaining as much length as I would with protective styling but it still grows at a pretty steady clip and I'm not on some race against time to get to my goal.

 

[Vashti]

Once my hair becomes SL I feel that I will be able to do more with my hair. I don't do much in the way of PS because my hair is so uneven right now but once I achieve my goal length I will definitely want to enjoy the fruits of my labor by wearing it down, flat ironed or in a nice updo.

 

[LittleLuxe]

I am so glad you made this topic!

I've been feeling the same way as of late. For me it works like this. I let my hair get into a state of disrepair while wearing weaves and extensions because I loved having the long swingy careless way I could wear fake hair and not stress about dealing with my real hair.

I decided to take care of my real hair because 1. I was mistreating a vital part of myself and that didn't feel right and 2. I was very comfortable spending time pampering and catering to other parts of myself, enjoying being 'natural' (no fake nails, no fake lashes, no BSS tackies) but I wasn't doing my own REAL hair? Nada. So I made that choice.

But I didn't make that choice so my hair would be hidden round the clock and I'd only see it during the wash day of taking it from one protective style to the next. While this works for some women and I'm happy for them I just don't want to live my life that way. It really does seem like a trap. It's not as if when you reach that magical length your hair won't be less susceptible to damage.

You'll still be living the same life, under the same circumstances, with the same daily stresses. Why bother protecting your hair 100% of the time when it's not going to be any safer whether it's necklength, mid-back length, or waistlength. Personally I just want to swing my hair and be happy. Some of the women I respect with long hair don't hide their hair at all (Indian, Brazilian, Asian, Caucasian) they swing it low, wear it proud, and just have fun.

Works for me!

 

[brg240]

I'm tired of playing in my hair, it's really troublesome. Okay I'm tired of detangling hair. So I'm going back to buns. :/ And I'd like to reach a goal, it feels like I've been stuck at the same place for like a year D: So while much of the time I've been doing ps I've been manipulating it too much. :/ Anyway I always wore buns before I even decided I wanted my hair longer. I just wish I was motivated to try those really cool buns instead of the boring braided bun I do.

Also, I agree wearing long hair down all the time is kinda bothersome. Like a couple people mentioned things get caught in it or it gets caught on/in things. :/

 

[Sianna]

Wow more responses!

I guess part of the reason I would so willingly accept a shorter length, for the freedom of playing in my hair ie: wearing it as I please, is because A.) My hair has always been really short, so for me even SL would actually be long. And B.) I don't want my hair to be super long in the first place. APL, BSL tops! Takes too much product and would probably drive me batty just to take care of it.

I will do protective styles because I like them or if I just feel my hair needs a break, but I just think it'd sap all the fun out of having longer hair if I felt OBLIGATED to do it for the sake of preserving and or extending my length. I guess I just don't like restrictions.

 

[halee_J]

Nice thread! I enjoyed reading so far

I voted other because I do believe to attain my ultimate goal of WL I will have to be doing proctective styling majority of the time. Especially to get past SL to APL. I don't think you have to live in PS more like 70/30, in addition to the other HH practices: regular DCing, moisturizing and sealing, gentle detangling etc. which are just as important. I do believe that the more you PS the more you will reatin, so the faster you'll reach your goal. Which is why I try to PS as much as I can. Once I hit my goal I hope I can get away with 50/50, to maintain. I started wearing half wigs last October but stopped 'cause its really hot and muggy. I'm going to get back to it though I'm going to start wearing cornrows underneath and see if that helps. I want to be at least full SL before I relax again.

 

[Miss_C]

Great thread OP. I'm pretty conflicted on this. I'm in an awkward stage. I guess you could say I'm obsessed with getting from SL to APL (been stuck at SL for years sigh ) so I've been PSing for months with weaves and then buns when I take out the weaves. The buns look so WACK to me, cuz I'm transitioning too (dang, I'm all over the place lol) so I have straight pieces, undefined curls, and my hairline is fuzzy, so....just a HAM lmao. And I work at a really nice lounge where you always see girls (caucasian, AA, hispanic, whatever) with their hair swinging. I feel sooooo plain....
So I decided to flat iron last night to go to the club and my hair was as big as diana ross' (with straight ends) by the time I got to the door and it wasn't even THAT humid . But with all my DCing, CWing, and M&Sing, my hair felt soooo soft and yummy, and I hardly lost any hair to the heat, even though it got huge later!
So I guess I said all that to say...what? I guess I'll stick with ps'ing with buns, maybe get a few halfies for when I go out/wanna feel cute. I have to get over this SL hump to APL, just to remind myself that my hair WILL grow. I've noticed health progress, but I want that length!

 

[vestaluv1]

I went for the first option.
I think I've had my hair out for two or three days in the past year. I'm not sure when I'm gonna stop wearing protective styles as often, but its working for me now. For me, its not just about retaining length; its also about saving time by just wearing wigs.
I'm not sure what my goal length is , but when I get there I think I'll abandon the protective styles a bit and actually enjoy my hair after all the work I put into growing it out.
Until then, I'll be using protective styles to reach my hair goals.

 

[Bnster]

Me I will wear it in PS until I reach my goal length. But that does mean that I will not wear it down occassionally. In the house I give my hair a break. The only thing I do for PS now is doing a tucked in ponytail, I use to do phony ponys. Again once I reach just beyond my goal I plan to really enjoy my hair with reason though. Done too much to lose it.

Why can't I have this mind set in keeping off the weight. erplexed

 

[blessedandlucky]

play all day! life's too short. live in the moment! it really is just hair.

 

[Dragone]

The only psuedo-PS I can do properly are twists, and now that those look pretty good up in a ponytail I have no issue with PSing most of the time. I was super excited about growing tremendous lengths and swanging my hair everywhere but I just want it 'done' and out of the way without damaging it.

 

[Sianna]

Me I will wear it in PS until I reach my goal length. But that does mean that I will not wear it down occassionally. In the house I give my hair a break. The only thing I do for PS now is doing a tucked in ponytail, I use to do phony ponys. Again once I reach just beyond my goal I plan to really enjoy my hair with reason though. Done too much to lose it.

Why can't I have this mind set in keeping off the weight. erplexed

You and me both!!!

 

[kizzylonghair]

Once I reach my goal, I will have it swinging in the wind at all times...
All in moderation really, u must enjoy it and SHOW it OFF .

 

[Prettyeyes]

If you are frustrated about wanting to reach your goals then weigh which is more important; playing now and retaining less or reaching that long hair goal sooner? Even when you reach you goals you still must protect it imo.

 

[Curlykale]

I keep it in a bun because I don't have the time and energy to manipulate it every day, and my hair doesn't react well to frequent manipulation / doesn't keep braidouts and twistouts. I want healthy hair, growing hair, and an easy life. If I wanted to wear my hair out at this length, everytime I achieve the perfect hairstyle I would be too tired to enjoy it. So one day I got mad and I spoke to my hair: we will play when it gets cooperative (=longer).
Another reason why I don't experiment with styling products is because I don't want setbacks.

 

[bride91501]

Well, one of my goals is to be an inspiration to other 4a/4ba girls that we CAN grow super long, healthy hair. So I've decided to PS in weaves and braids until I grow my hair to about shoulder length. At that point I'll start PSing using my own hair- buns, 2 strand twists, twist outs, braids, braid outs. If I get stuck, I'll go back to PSing in weaves until I get to APL or my ultimate goal MBL.

And when I reach my goal?? LORD......you really won't be able to tell me nothing LOL. I plan to wear the fiercest, biggest, longest afro 4b hair the world has ever seen every weekend, but I'll probably bun or wear twists during the week

 

[lovelexi]

I choose other. If I had long hair I would enjoy wearing buns and updos but as far as weaves, wigs, cornrows, flat twists go thats a for me. I was always lazy with my hair and I would wear it down everyday but I didnt retain any length that way. Now that Im on my LHHJ I see the beauty in buns and updos. I cant wait until Im APL or longer and can create beautiful protective styles with my own hair. Until then rollersets and pony's are my thing. But if I had to wear weaves and wigs to retain every inch of my hair then you can fuhgetaboutit

 

[bimtheduck]

I'm gonna keep on PSing until I reach MBL and then I'll waer my hair down a little more often, but just a little. I wanna reach WSL!

 

[havilland]

i have learned to love protective styles because of what they do for my hair, not becuase of how i look in them. i prefer my hair down, but it thrives and grows when it's up.

so i have "show" hair. like some people have "show" cars. they don't drive them to work everyday because it would ruin the car. LOL!

i take my hair down for special occasions. i have learned to love driving my "show" hair on special days only.

 

[Lanea87]

I am between both of them.....I only have time for PS most of time but I also wanna be able to let it down and SWANG!!!!

 

[brucebettye]

I loved to do different styles on my hair when it was shorter. But the longer it gets the less I play with my hair. So since February I have been wearing a bun.

 

[Hysi]

this is off topic, but i have to say you are a good looking 40!

I want to have longer hair, yes.....

My hair grew long when it was relaxed and I really didn't have a problem with it...I would cut it short...grow it out...just depended on my mood.....I went natural for different reasons other than having long hair....But I would certainly not be upset if my hair did not grow all down my back....But I would be upset if it wasn't healthy

That is why I don't really have hair length goals just yet...even though it is hard not to looking at all the lovely tresses on this forum....

I am just not a weave, wig etc type person....I commend those who can wear those protective styles...I am just not one of them....

I will probably always wear my hair out or in a ponytail for the rest of my life because I am lazy and just not fussy about my hair so much

I will check back when I get more length ...this may change

 

[I Am So Blessed]

im bunning till the end of summer, no ifs, and's, or buts about it.

im want my 1.5 inches by september. and plus im realizing that all this hair out in public makes me scared that somebody gonna pull it. I only wear it out for my boo at home.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

I actually don't mind my PS. I have my hair in ugly box braids lol..but it works for me. I don't have a problem wearing my hair down, but I know that if I want to reach my goal, I'm gonna do what I have to do.

I'd say I wear my hair out about 30% of the time. The rest is braided up. Less is more, and it's working for me. I wear it out/down when I'm going out or for a special occasion. That's about. The rest of the time, I'm boxed braided up.

I do feel that once I reach my goal, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor and wear it down and out some..but for now..we're doing just fine, braided and baggied up lol.

 

[fivetimestwo]

I voted for " Not me! I'd rather be able to play with my hair, even if that means it's a little shorter!"


I’m not really good at doing protective styles long-term, though I need to get better since I’m a year into my transition. I sometimes think “what’s the point of having long hair if know one sees it but you?”

 

[Xaragua]

I want long hair, even if i have to do protective styles everyday