Hi ladies ! Well this is the perfect thread to officially introduce myself. Why? Because I have been an obsessed LHCF type since I was 7 years old! My mother whose hair is in the 3 range and waist length told me when I was 7 that certain types (aka my type) of hair couldn't grow long. Being an observant kid, I just didn't buy that. It seemed to me that if I could just glue back the millions of broken ends to my strands that my hair would be like Rapunzel.
Dealing with my hair was very difficult for my mom as no one in her family has my kind of hair. I had twice the amount of hair on my head as most, with very thick strands, and while it always looked like it was thriving, it never achieved length due to those breaking ends!
So thus began my obsession. At 9 I found my mom's cosmetology book and learned about the science of trichology as well. By 11 I was able to take over the washing, drying, and combing out of my hair. My mom was reduced to styling. That is when my hair began to grow. I was obsessed with reading ingredients and experimenting so I figured out the joys and curses of cones from using baby oil. This was before all the cone serums. Later between 13-16 I discovered that my hair liked products with polyquanterniums, and polysorbates and hated those with alcohols, and that glycerin was a humectant. Then I found a book that explained cosmetic ingredients; I learned which were preservatives, which were for moisture etc.
I so wish LHCF had been around then. As it was I only had my own hair to experiment with. Everyone else thought I was mildly nuts with my obsession, but it has been my dream that every girl be able to have healthy hair at whatever length she chooses. Being latina also brings up other issues, but that's another post or not!
Sorry so long, but I just finally want to say that I have been a lurker for a year and a half and I so love everyone here, and I'm so impressed with how everyone works together to achieve goals. I finally have the internet at home so I can post.
So to finish answering the question, I have learned about the science of hair through research, and reading everything I could find