.::SIGH::.WILL WE WEAR PROTECTIVE STYLES FOREVER??

[alibi]

Is it just me, or are you guys tired of wearing protecive styles???

If this is the best way to grow your hair out, will there come a day when we can just wear it out, long, and flowing everyday? Or do we always have to wear these styles to protect our length? Isn't the whole point of growing your hair out so that you can enjoy the length? Who knows it's long when it's always up? I'm so tired of this bun, I don't know what to do! Anyone out there feel the same?
Any suggestions???

 

[DatJerseyDyme]

I think the idea behind wearing protective styles is to get to your goal length in a shorter period of time because your ends aren't exposed and you don't have to trim as much. When I get to my goal I won't wear protective styles as much as I do.

 

[Isis]

When I reach the length I want, I'll wear protective styles off and on. I'm practicing wearing protective styles that look good so I'll want to wear them after my goal is reached. Some of the ladies on this board (like Mindymouse) have really inspired me with pretty bun looks and other updo suggestions.

 

[asummertyme]

yep i agree , when wearing the protective styles we dont have to trim as often and we keep our ends healthy, when i reach my goal, i will wear my hair both up and out....i noticed that when i have my hair out in the house even for a litlle while i feel guilty like my hair might be rubbing abainst my cloths and breaking.....i know i am a little over the top with this....lol

 

[adrienne0914]

as i get closer to my goal, the more work wearing my hair down becomes. i do enjoy it, but it takes a long time to do myself. when it was shorter, i could wash, condition, blow dry and curl in about 1½ hours. those days are over...

also it gets caught on stuff, and i feel like long strands are everywhere. for every long strand that i see, that's a spot on my head where i have to start over.

i think it suffers from friction damage to. i could see my ends becoming thinner, and my hair not looking as healthy eventually.

at this point, i'm happy just wearing it down occasionally because i would hate to get to my goal and suddenly have to trim often and be striving again...

 

[Allandra]

I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing protective styles for a long time because I don't like wearing my hair down that often.

 

[skegeesmb]

I like protective styles. My hair is getting longer, and I don't like my hair stage right now, my sides are about an inch past shoulderlength so the hair won't stay behind me, it moves to the front and itches my collarbone which is annoying.

And I don't want attention from the men I work with. Once I wore my hair down and all the men at work (in the area I work in I'm the only female, and the other females in the building are spread out) had a heart attack, one guy said to me: "I really like your hair like that, it's so purty"(faking Louisiana cajun accent). After that day my hair was right back up in its bun.

I wear my hair out for special occasions like if I'm going to a concert or to the club (which, since I've been married has gone down a bit). I will wear it down when most of my hair will stay behind my shoulders without itching me, but right now, I don't want to deal with some of the unwanted attention my hair gets me.

 

[Guest]

When the Bun Challenge is over, I want to wear my hair down more. But I don't know If I'll make it cause even when I've tried to wear it down, by the end of the day it's in a ponytail holder..

I wore it down sunday people are so used to my bun they kept staring.

This one lady

who is bold/crazy anyway said "Is all that your hair".

It should be a compliement but for some reason this frosts me.

 

[Karonica]

I don't wear them unless my hair is shedding really bad, or I've lost alot of hair due to tangling or something in that nature.

 

[Boadicea]

I have had really, really long hair before (longer than my goal of tailbone length) and I can remember it always being pinned up somehow which is why I have no pictures of it, only stories and memories (since it was mercilessly chopped off). I didn't mind it at all because it was long, thick, and healthy. Other girls in my school with hair as long as mine, and wore it down daily, had chewed up, thin, dry ends. I can remember being in first grade and wanting to take my scissors and trim the hair of the girl in front of me because her ends looked as if they were attacked by tiger.

Like others, I'm going to wear my hair in protective styles until I reach my goal and when I do, I will wear it down or up as my mood changes. But since I want healthy hair, I would be against wearing it down for the majority of the time because I have enough truoble with my bra-strap length hair getting caught under my pocketbook strap.

I don't mind wearing protective styles, and generally am not bored by them. When you sit back and think about it, in the grand scheme of things, wearing your hair in a protective style for a year isn't a very long ordeal at all.

Only a few more months.

 

[CrownnGlori]

I can so relate to skesgeemb and asummertyme. I don't like peoples attention and comments on my hair. Don't tell me how to do my hair when yours is fried and dried and you want to hair to play in.
I too also feel guilty if its out for no reason. A special event, Sundays etc. I don't want my co-workers breathing on it

 

[nita4]

I have to agree with the other ladies, I don't mind so much. I'm lazy and protective styles are easy. When I reach my goal - I'll wear my hair out sometimes, but not often.

 

[alibi]

I see no one agrees with me!!! I must be the only idiot out there who is so tired of this

bun!!!

Maybe it's because I'm transitioning (4mos), and when my hair was bone straight my bun laid down better. Now it's so poofy...Oh well....I'm so frustrated I'm going to the BSS on my lunch break. I'm praying that I don't by a tub of perm and end my misery when I get home!

 

[Supergirl]

Adrienne,

You hit the nail on the head. I have noticed that I am USED to wearing it up so much so that when I wear it down--it gets caught on stuff,in purse straps...I don't like it going down my back touching the seat while I'm driving, so I try to keep it slung over my shoulder and it doesn't stay...

I'm not complaining--just saying with more hair, it's actually easier wearing it up.

All in all though--if you're feeling tired of wearing the protective styles, just remember that it is a short term sacrifice for a long term gain.

 

[soslychic]

ayanapooh, i feel ya girl. I'd rather not wear my hair up too, but in order for me to be able to stand it, I wear it up during the week and let it down during the weekend. I don't mind wearing it up so much during the week because I know that I won't have to so much once I reach my goal. The way I see it, if I use my naturally curly method (which involves letting air dry, spritz and add mousse and cream), this involves NO HEAT. So doing that on a daily basis wouldn't hurt once I reached my goal. And if the ends suffered a little, I figure I'll want to trim at least 1/2 inch off every month anyway just to keep it from getting longer than the length I want. So the ends should stay full. I keep my goal in mind and I don't mind so much. Also....

there are some CUTE ways to protect your hair. Did anyone watch the last episode of whoopi when courtney's girlfriend (momentarily forgot her name) had her hair braided to one side and pinned in a bun/knot kinda thing to the side of her head? Now she had some ends sticking out, but those could easily be tucked in and look SO cute WITH the ends protected. So I'm experimenting and obvserving and trying to find new ways and as my hair gets longer, I'll have more options. I just can't STAND a regular bun and it dosn't match my personality. So my eyes are open

Hang in there girl. WE gonna make it!

 

[jd_bdfly]

I actually am starting not to mind the protective style thing at all. This is exactly the opposite of how I used to feel about a year or so ago. Back then (before I was really hair aware), I couldn't imagine doing anything BUT wearing my shoulder length hair down. I always thought I looked too plain with it up.

Now I think it looks fine even though it is plainer than wearing it out. I just make sure to wear hoop earrings or other dangly earrings and at least some lip gloss and blush. Also, with trying to let my 4a/b hair stretch longer between relaxers, the protective style is the easiest way for me to avoid "fighting" my new growth. Besides, wearing my hair down all the time (in combination with other factors like frequently using heat and SHS) was probably the reason my hair never got beyond shoulder length back then.

 

[aqualung]

I wear the bun mostly, but I wear my hair down for special events (church, dates, parties). With only 2 styles in my repertoire, it's becoming less of a big deal. I get annoyed when the bun is poofy with new growth and my serums can't smooth it anymore.

 

[Karonica]

Are you all only wearing buns for protective styles? I wish I had that much willpower.

 

[Boadicea]

I'm only wearing buns (if my hair isn't in the baggie) because I don't know how to do jack with my hair.

 

[asummertyme]

tru indeed ladies, i know my sister had grown her hair out long wearing it up many years ago, and then she began to wear it down and the back of her hair around the nape began to brake and after a while it was all broken off around the nape and uneven back then she know it was from wearing her hair down constantly...i feel like a plain jane as well, i would love to wear my hair out but i dont like the lenghth it is at, and its not long enuff like someone else posted it never stays behind me , it always falls in front of my shoulders, so until then....boring buns are what i will be rockin, how about those new buns that i see everyone rockin out here in newyork....you pull your hair all the way over to the side right behind your ear, and bun it up..looks cute, i wear that stlye from time to time with some long earrings, and some makeup to make me feel not so plain...i also have a bang but i hardly wear it.....

 

[Nonie]

I think when my hair is long enough to make a bun on this huge head of mine, I will have fun with protective styles. I feel Adrienne on the "buns are so much easier when your hair is waistlength" coz your hair doesn't get caught on stuff. And Hairlove's fear that some jealous witch could cut it in a crowded elevator or train, is enough to make my bun a treasure. But I also love the shock factor. I'd love the world not to quite know how long my hair is, and then for a brief moment let it down acting like my head needed a breather

and immediately put it back up.

Also, I can't think of anything more beautiful than to let it down for special occasions like on a nice, quiet romantic evening with your significant other, whether at home by a fire or out on a date. I am all for having a beauty secret that you can whip out at the right time and occasion.

 

[soslychic]

[ QUOTE ]
But I also love the shock factor. I'd love the world not to quite know how long my hair is, and then for a brief moment let it down acting like my head needed a breather

and immediately put it back up.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Karonica]

Guess what ya? I'm wearing a bun today. :skeret:

 

[Mahalialee4]

I found a way to do this that is really pretty and protective. I have several velvet scrunchies, and I love silk material against my hair. so, I took a black velvet scrunchy, and then I took a long strip of black silk that I had cut off form an old silk shirt. I proceeded to wrap the length of silk through and around the scrunchy circle. I shaped the bun so that it looked like an elaborate pretty shape, not like a boring old old O shape. I then sewed the design with black cotton thread....silk thread would work even better. This way when I put my hair through it without a ponytail holder!!!, and tucked my oiled ends around it like a bun holder and tucked the ends under, pinned it with my plastic good hair pins, it looked so lovely and thick and natural and felt so natural and soft....sigh,,,,I thought to myself. I have a lot of scrunchies left that I was not using...I could make a variety of bun, chignon styles. By the way, the pins secured it very easily, and it is as light as a feather. Now I sleep with my hair like this...prior to going to bed I just spray with my moisturizer, tie my silk /satin scarf on my head, and I could wear this all week if I wanted to. I am good to walk out the door at anytime as well. The beautiful thing about this is that it is so natural, and my bun will not dry out easily. I could wear up to three of these in my hair at one time if I wanted to create a smashing do for an elegant affair. I am going to use this to grow out my hair when it is not braided. You can wash these in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle to keep them clean and so they will not become musty from the moisturizing sprays, and tumble dry if you like.I also have crocheted some very beautiful bun covers and snoods for my hair. Hope this helps. Bonjour.

 

[Isis]

Thank you Mahalialee4 for your very creative suggestion! Your style sounds beautiful and I may try it!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
nonie said:
Also, I can't think of anything more beautiful than to let it down for special occasions like on a nice, quiet romantic evening with your significant other, whether at home by a fire or out on a date.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this!

 

[Mahalialee4]

Just a few more notes:
Okay....1. the silk covered scrunchy is completed by this time, I am assuming. Then I just gather my hair back and hold it in one hand as if I am going to put it in a ponytail holder, but instead I slip my hand holding the hair together, through the "thingy" and then 2. I just spread the hair out that is hanging out the other side, around the silk thingie and pin. You will love it once you try it and wear it a few times. What I like most about it is that it does not feel tight anywhere and there is no pressure on my hair as there is in a ponytail holder, so I do no worry about breakage and also I can spray it two or three times a day with water or moisturizer without taking it down. After I spray it, I take a cut off circle from the arms of the old silk shirt and fit it over the bun to keep the hair smooth. I only need to oil the ends every other day so this is a real keeper. Someone once said that "...Necessity is the Mother of Invention"... (I believe it ) Bonjour.

 

[Karonica]

I'm wearing my hair in a plaited ponytail with the plait wrapped in a bun. I'm actually enjoying this. No hair getting stuck to my lips or caught under my backpack straps.

 

[Vitality]

I use to only where my hair in a bun on my lazy hair days when I didn't feel like using the curling iron. However, since trying to grow and maintain healthy hair I have actually enjoyed wearing protective styles

 

[amy1234]

bumping... I'll be wearing buns for the rest of the winter until spring approaches. How do I feel about wearing buns? well, there isn't much work involved so I actually enjoy it now for some reason. I'm hoping by spring that I would have accumilated some more length by then so that I can have even longer hair .