Retaining length for fine hair ladies

[nikolite]

I had to stop the twists because they would combine and tangle when I kept them in longer than a week. With braids I can wash condition as much as I want and they don't combine. Much better for my strands.

Same here. Because my hair is fine and thin, I'd put it in small twists which would take forever, not last very long, and cause horrible tangling. I couldn't go more than about 10 days max.

I'm doing braids too now, which I love. I wear them in a bun or claw clip updo, or under a half-wig. I can wash in them, protein treat in them, everything--but without the tangles or the breakage. They take double the time to put in than the twists, but last more than 4x-5x the amount of time. I may do twists again someday, but I'm tired of them now. Plus they were much cuter at shorter length when they would fall around my ears and chin, not so cute around the neck/shoulders, IMO.

 

[Bublin]

Don'ts:
No baggying.
No airdrying otherwise i will have tangled dry hay for hair.
Creamy/thick conditioners work for me. Watery ones don't provide enough slip for combing.
Wash once a week. Anymore and its too much manipulation, any less and there is too much product build up and my scalp starts to itch.
Do not wash in sections.......in theory it should work but my hair is crazy tangly whenever i try it. I just wash one side of my head then the other, tipped to the side. So i guess i work in two sections but not braided.
During the washing process i do not pile my hair on top of my head, i am constantly running my fingers through my hair and detangling - thats whilst shampooing, whilst rinsing it out and whilst rinsing out conditioner.


Do's
Detangle on dry hair before washing.
Cut right back on protein it dries out my hair and it breaks even easier.
Blowdrying.
Braiding or flat twists without extensions. Wear as is or use for a braid out. Will re-do the braids every evening.
Always use a shower comb. Never use a fine comb on my hair at all.
My hair loves butters on a daily basis, doesn't get on well with anything i can pour out of a bottle.
Serums before i blowdry. My hair loves cones.
Silicon Mix conditioner - just discovered it and my hair loves it.

 

[ElegantPearl17]

Bumping for more advice...............

 

[Tif392002]

Mainly protecting and caring for my ends. Moisturising, light protien and protective styling have taken my hair a long way...

 

[Tif392002]

Mill Creek makes a really good natural protein conditioner, I have it in my stash, I like it, left my hair really soft, I found it at Marshalls, but you can get it at any health food website...here are the ingredients

View attachment 65064

Biotin, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Citric Acid, Organic Essential Oil, certified organic aloe vera gel, Peppermint Oil, Quaternium-15, Sodium Chloride, Corn Oil, Citric Acid, retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), botanical fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Ceteareth 20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), Deionized Water

yep this is what i use... i like the stuff.

 

[lushcoils]

More tips please.

 

[LaidBak]

Even when my hair feels soft, healthy, and is shiny, I lose hairs in the sink. Its maddening. Not shedding either, but tiny broken pieces. I feel doomed to short hair. Gonna try some henna and see if that helps.

I was retaining really well for a while (about 6 months) and during that period I was
-filtering my shower water
-steaming weekly
-using a hard protein at ever relaxer (Aphogee 2 Step)
-misting my hair, sealing with coconut oil, and sealing my ends nightly with mango butter
-Using light proteins as needed to control the balance

As soon as that routine got interrupted (I moved overseas) I lost everything I gained. I went from CBL to EL.

 

[constance]

Beehive twists have allowed me to retain all my length. A good leave in has also helped. I'm considering self-installing a weave but I'm worried about the tension on my hair (even with a net). Decision, decisions. I'm getting a lil' bit tired of my wig.

 

[natstar]

Constance what are behive twists?

 

[havilland]

Subbing!


For me what has worked---

hiding my hair in protective styles;

deep conditioning weekly; (I use light protein on wet hair post poo or moisture based condish on dry hair prepoo)

misting with protein based leave in and seal with oil daily;

not over moisturizing (hair hates too much moisture);

very little heat (every other month or less);

and stretching relaxers. (I texlax once or twice a year)


Sent from my iPhone while out living my best life!

 

[toiatoya]

subbing. i NEED this lol

 

[Nix08]

Finger combing/detangling

 

[WyrdWay]

Beehive twists have allowed me to retain all my length. A good leave in has also helped. I'm considering self-installing a weave but I'm worried about the tension on my hair (even with a net). Decision, decisions. I'm getting a lil' bit tired of my wig.

constance
I would also like to know what beehive twists are

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[constance]

Constance what are behive twists?

Usually people braid their hair in a circular pattern around their head starting with the outer edges and moving inward toward the crown. I twist my hair rather than braiding bc it is faster and requires less manipulation. Here's a LCHF link (if it doesn't work the title of the thread is "How do you braid in a beehive pattern").

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=538099

 

[gn1g]

I retain length most when I where my hair in one braid daily. Allow my ends to get slight wet in the shower (no shower cap) my ends like being wet. No heat.

 

[Tif392002]

Very low manipulation... which is detangle and rebraid every 2 weeks for me
co wash once a week
moisturise and seal ends everyday
no heat eva
lite protien treatments when needed
use leave ins after woashes or co wash
use poo only on scalp as needed- to prevent dryness in hair

im newly natural. Neck length.

this was my response from a yr ago, nothing much has changed except... i comb n detangle every four weeks ... i notcied late last year that all the manipulation of every 2 weeks was too much, cuz my ends were see thru from the combing... i trimmed 2 inches in marchh... so now its good. since i have reallly reduced the amount of time i comb n detangle....

 

[WyrdWay]

Usually people braid their hair in a circular pattern around their head starting with the outer edges and moving inward toward the crown. I twist my hair rather than braiding bc it is faster and requires less manipulation. Here's a LCHF link (if it doesn't work the title of the thread is "How do you braid in a beehive pattern").

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=538099

Thanks!

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[Bublin]

Tif392002
You say you have a low manipulation reggie which is detangle and rebraid every 2 weeks and co wash once a week.

Please can you explain further because if you co-wash do you not have to rebraid it?

I'm really trying with the low-mani but i can't find a way. My hair suffers from build up so easily no matter how much or little product i use and styles don't last as my hair becomes flyaway very easily.

Urggh - i'm very frustrated at the moment.

 

[Curlykale]

subbing! I'm starting to think that the reason why my hair prefers oils like castor, wheat germ and coconut before shampooing is maybe because they sort of thicken/fatten the single strands and maybe add something to the structure (it slightly feels kind of stronger and has more weight).

no heat, no combs/brushes and no washing more than once a week for me.

@Bublin have you tried homemade flaxseed gel? that stuff never builds up and it becomes easier to gently manipulate my hair mid week with it: it works especially well on dry hair, it doesn't flake no matter what you already have in your hair, and you could virtually pour 5 liters of it onto your hair and it would never look as "too much" once dry. plus, it's natural and hydrating, while taming the frizz instead of awakening it(this is my experience at least). works wonders with castor oil added, which I know you like.

 

[greenandchic]

Subbing too.

* I agree with Curlykale on flax seed gel. What I like about it its easy to wash out = less manipulation. I use other gels, but flax seed is my go to. I like adding scents to it to jazz it up a bit.

* I started hennaing my hair ever other week and that's helping with breakage and retention. I experience a lot of breakage anyway and when I flake out on doing it, it shows.

* Protective styles

* Moisturize and seal daily without combing, and only finger detangle gently.

 

[Bublin]

@Curlykale - i have heard much about this flaxseed gel. I will look up some youtube vids for how to make it and give it a try.

Yes, i do love Castor Oil - you know, this past week i have not used it as i've been using my ceramides oils (gone a bit crazy with that lol) and i have noticed how quickly my hair has declined - the breakage, frizziness and unmanagablity is crazy. I guess this endorses my Heavy Sealing thread and reminds me to stick with what works.

Thanks.

eta - i bought some henna last week and intend on using it this weekend but i also purchased the Aphogee 2 step because i think my hair is major need of protein. Should i do the Aphogee first and then, say in a couple of weeks, start up with my Henna as maintainence?

 

[Bublin]

@greenandchic - my hair looks almost like yours when loose and i amazed at the length you have achieved because i feel like every little fine, porous spiral is waiting to break on me.

Here is a pic taken about 2 months ago - semi dry and no product...although i think yours is a lttle looser.

 

[Curlykale]

Bublin isn't castor oil magic lol to think I absolutely ignored it for 3 years. I started using it again after your thread on heavy sealing an whoa my hair was saying "thank you".
I hope you enjoy the gel (by the way, my preferences: I use many flax seeds because I like it thicker, and I add 1 tablespoon of castor oil and 1 teaspoon ACV per 8 oz, which I keep in a color bottle. This way it is also my moisturizer and it is ph balanced. I freeze it in cubes as well.)

 

[Bublin]

Curlykale - if you also use the gel as a moisturiser do you use a leave-in first, apply castor oil and then apply the gel? Have i got the order correct?

 

[Curlykale]

@Curlykale - if you also use the gel as a moisturiser do you use a leave-in first, apply castor oil and then apply the gel? Have i got the order correct?

when I moisturise I can use the gel only : if it already has the castor oil in, I don't need to seal, otherwise I seal it and treat it like any water based product.

the order you prefer really is up to you, although on wash days and when needed I do use a leave in as well.

 

[LaidBak]

Is flaxseed gel something you make, or buy?

 

[Bublin]

^^^i believe you have to make it but i know Aveda do one that contains Aloe Vera.

 

[greenandchic]

Is flaxseed gel something you make, or buy?

^^^i believe you have to make it but i know Aveda do one that contains Aloe Vera.

You can make yours. Super cheap and easy. Links:

Youtube/Naptural85 - Flax Seed Gel Recipe is the basic one.

Some people make variations...

NC.com/What's Your Flaxseed Gel Recipe?

Firm Hold Flaxseed Gel Styler

 

[LaidBak]

Ah OK. Thanks!

 

[Curlykale]

yes, sorry, I meant homemade (you basically boil some flax seeds in water, it's a very quick process)

@greenandchic that firm hold looks good, thank you!