There are some things that I am going to say about long hair...

[Enchantmt]

Oh you're back, huh? LOL!

I was thinking about you the other day, Tryn... Hadn't seen you in a while.

I am going to finally "speak", but it will be at Off Topic. I feel it's a more appropriate forum.

I'll be front and centerstage in about 15 minutes, as I have until midnight to hit the Post Message button

What ever line of business u are in, if its not show business/public relations related where you get to build up suspense/pr for someone or a product, your talent is wasted. Hurry up gurl some folx have to be at work at 7 am. (hint) All these folx on line at midnight waiting for YOU....smh...

 

[rai]

Instead of waiting why don't we continue to share our thoughts about long hair?

I know that the Monistat thread initially made me feel as if we could be a bit impatient. However, once some other members shared I saw a different perspective. Some of us have a sense of urgency.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and talk about me: When I was relaxed hair growth wasn't a problem. My hair grew fast and thick and relaxed easily. I didn't sweat any rare breakage because my hair snapped back fast.

When I was in college I started encountering a lot of folks with varied natural hairstyles. This intersected with my growing political awareness and relaxing just didn't make sense anymore. So I chopped all of my hair off one day. From past shoulder length relaxed to a short do. I went about my life with my kinks minus curl definition UNTIL my boyfriends sister turned me out on some Nexxus stuff. My curls were on POP!! but don't touch em our you might scratch yourself or something. It never dawned on me to let my hair grow.

Grew out of that phase into two strand twists, learning to corn row again, and just love my fluffy fro.

Enter my beloved nappy website (where I'm moonchild). . .hmmm, I started to think. Maybe I should just let it grow which also led me here my loved whatever hair site. And yes, it became a focal point for a while because it's something I've never done: deliberately work towards healthy hair growth. Everyone has a vice: a slight obsession with natural hair and all that entails is one of mine.

I look best bald to be honest. All my features really come to life when I have no hair but man! It's been a long time with the low cuts. I grow a year or so, get a nice big bush and then cut because my heart breaks or I need a cleanse or I don't like the health of my hair.

That's where I am now....again....
~sigh~
but not really cause my hair is doing what it does. And I do get impatient sometimes (despite the screenname) but mostly I am patient. And I think in the end, most of us are. Only HERE in this space we can be obsessed and impatient and be co-dependent and crazy together.

When I leave this site, life goes on. I moisturize cause it makes sense, but I don't have rulers. HOWEVER, I don't knock those who do. I get it, I'm just lazy and not that committed.

So yeah, Black women and hair? It's a big sociopolitical, cultural, psychological thing because in GENERAL, many of us grew up staring at the long pigtails on the girl in front of us and watching the hair of OTHERS blow in the wind. I tell my baby girl that her hair reaches for heaven. My big girl sprouts the hair I envied when I grew up. And we wall exist together.

I want to eventually grow a big behind head of natural hair. I want the ease of buns. I want hair that a man's hands can get lost in while we make love. I want a braid that hangs low. I want MY hair to keep on reaching for heaven. I want to oil it and braid it then tuck it up like I watched Amina Baraka do when I was in college.

I've done short hair for over a decade. I've worn it kojak clean, I've done everything but loc it up. I've had a big fro, puffed it etc. I've never allowed it to grow long enough to put it into a ponytail or a bun. I'd like to do that but it's gonna take discipline and focus cause I cut in a minute.(Swore I'd never cut again when I went kojak last July but here I am back to a pinch of hair. AND I LOVE It!)

So that's my story. And yeah, the little girl who longed for long thick ponytails lives in me somewhere. Nothing Ever Really Dies, right? But she doesn't rule me and she lives alongside the woman who loves kinky, coil hair. And a girl can't rule a woman.

I get all of you. I understand the urge. I don't know you though. Only you know whether or not you're being ruled and who's ruling you inside. And whether your perm or not, cut or not, color or not. . .it would be my prayer for ALL what I pray for my daughters:

That you're happy. That you feel good inside. That you're at peace.

Said mine,
P1

Thanks so much for sharing. That was deep and beautiful! I wish you happiness, joy and internal peace too!

 

[Blossssom]

What ever line of business u are in, if its not show business/public relations related where you get to build up suspense/pr for someone or a product, your talent is wasted. Hurry up gurl some folx have to be at work at 7 am. (hint) All these folx on line at midnight waiting for YOU....smh...

Well, the deed is done; the task is finished... let the rock throwing commence

I should have either been an educator or a comediene

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

Okay all you ladies on the edge of your seats! Blossssom's long awaited post is in the 'Off Topic' forum!

Headum up and move em out!

 

[Enchantmt]

Here is the link in case you cant find it easily.

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=65421

 

[imstush]

Patient1........Awesome Post!!!!!

 

[hopeful]

Thank you. From my heart...thank you. I have a sense of urgency, I will admit it. Urgency to have a head of healthy hair, not long, just healthy, before it all falls to the floor. Rather relaxed or natural, I really do not care at this point. But that urgency does not equal desperation or obsession. Before I was trying this and that, I had a beautiful head of shiny hair. It wasn't long...but it was so pretty to me. I came to the hair boards not for myself, I came because my sister put a relaxer on my four-year-old daughter's hair and I had no clue how to stop the breakage. I started doing things that I had never done before, and I swear my hair is in worse condition than it has ever been. The things that work for some people like CO washes, protien treatments, stretching relaxers has NEVER worked for me. It seems to me that when I relaxed every four weeks, and washed once a week, and flat-ironed, colored, wrapped and blow-dried...that I had a healthier head of hair. When I didn't know all of the "wrong" stuff, it was the right stuff. And it worked. I truly believe that the STRESS of dealing with my hair is contributing to my scalp condition and general well-being. My DH has told me countless times..."Baby just cut it short, wear it natural like you had it when I met you"...and I had become convinced that he was a "hair enemy" secretly out to thwart my attempts so I wouldn't become TOO CUTE. But you know what? I think I need to listen to my husband.

Yes, you should listen to your husband, he sounds so sweet. Sounds like my husband, in the end they just wants us to be happy and peaceful. Bet he misses the calmer, poor peaceful you even more than the short, natural hair.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Does anyone know what the name of this thread was in the offtopic section?

 

[rai]

Here is the link in case you cant find it easily.

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=65421

that is the link for the off topic post

 

[Mizani_Mrs]

I know this subject is pretty much dead because everyone said what they had to say months ago. But i think that blosssom didnt even have to speak, just by her opening up the forum and starting to get the ball rolling i think everyone chimed in and discussed the topic at hand. Blosssoms job was done without her even elaborating further. Way to go.... U big Ole pimp....

My point of view is we are ALL black women who have an interest in hair care. we all love our hair. There is no need to divide us any further. There shouldn't be Relaxed vs. Naturals. Longhair vs. short. 2b's vs. 4b's, those who are patient and let their how grow naturally vs. those who like to try different things to achieve fast growth. We are ALL here for one purpose...to have healthy hair.... I may take a hair pill for skin/hair health, and I may use a dab of surge or WGO but that's as much I am willing to 'promote' my fast hairgrowth... If another person chooses MTG, monistat, etc etc...then so be it...they've made the conscious decision that they want to speed up their growth. Is that so bad? Maybe they are overachievers in everhting they do, not just hairgrowth. It doesn't automatically mean that they are struggling with self-hate issues. The deep concern is not what products/methods you try, I just hope and pray that your reason for fast growth is simple as you love hair or you're probably an over-achiever in all that you do... as opposed to you must have long hair in order to feel beautiful and appreciate your looks.... Being that no one has ever posted the later reason...I don't assume it is so....

We all have the right to voice our opinion...so just cause i chime in and say that the monistat idea is bad...or i may crack a joke....that dont mean that I am knocking you...i'm just stating my opinion....

 

[texasqt]

I know this is a year old and all but - This should be a sticky!!!
It was a good - no great read!!!
Lots of insight into our hair growth reasoning and more...WOW! Some really deep stuff! (going to read blossom's thread)

(I really don't know how I came across this or what I was doing before!)

 

[Britfem27]

I know this is a year old and all but - This should be a sticky!!!
It was a good - no great read!!!
Lots of insight into our hair growth reasoning and more...WOW! Some really deep stuff! (going to read blossom's thread)

(I really don't know how I came across this or what I was doing before!)

Really? I looked through it due to the suspense but it did not bring up anything I had not heard before and I found it to be a bit "old hat".

 

[texasqt]

Really? I looked through it due to the suspense but it did not bring up anything I had not heard before and I found it to be a bit "old hat".

Well, I guess I'm behind then. It was an eye opener for me.

 

[tsiporah]

Yeah, you should wait...enjoy the attention that the President gets hours before the State of the Union address...lol...

LOOOLLLLL!!! (Even though I'm late.)

 

[tsiporah]

Interesting thread. My question is, why does the suggestion of using Monistat bring up an epiphany?

I am curious. Why don't people get an epiphany by the idea of glueing other people's and animal's hair on their scalp? Why don't people get an epiphany by the idea of using relaxers whose main ingredients are sodiym hydroxide or calcium chloride, same as the main ingredients in Drano? Why don't people get an epiphany by the idea of using products made for horses on their scalp? Why don't people get an epiphany by the idea of ingesting mega vitamins for the sole purpose of growing hair, with no scientific studies on the long term effects of such vitamins?

Why is one method okay, but another not okay in the search for longer hair? Will the people chiming in be willing to give up relaxers, mega vitamins, controversial hair products and weaves, and just let their grow at their own pace or will this be an exercise in futility?

Ahmein! Ahmein!--- I like to keep it simple...I used to go around trying stuff when some one mentioned it, but I found what works for me and I stay simple.

 

[Britfem27]

OH no disrespect intended texasqt. I was just a bit peeved when I got to the end erplexed

My comment was a bit abrupt- apologies- there was no need for that.

 

[StrawberryQueen]

b u m p i n g!!!

 

[Blaque*Angel]

WHAT A THREAD

 

[ShaniKeys]

Can't hardly wait to read it

 

[bLackButtaFly]

Instead of waiting why don't we continue to share our thoughts about long hair?

I know that the Monistat thread initially made me feel as if we could be a bit impatient. However, once some other members shared I saw a different perspective. Some of us have a sense of urgency.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and talk about me: When I was relaxed hair growth wasn't a problem. My hair grew fast and thick and relaxed easily. I didn't sweat any rare breakage because my hair snapped back fast.

When I was in college I started encountering a lot of folks with varied natural hairstyles. This intersected with my growing political awareness and relaxing just didn't make sense anymore. So I chopped all of my hair off one day. From past shoulder length relaxed to a short do. I went about my life with my kinks minus curl definition UNTIL my boyfriends sister turned me out on some Nexxus stuff. My curls were on POP!! but don't touch em our you might scratch yourself or something. It never dawned on me to let my hair grow.

Grew out of that phase into two strand twists, learning to corn row again, and just love my fluffy fro.

Enter my beloved nappy website (where I'm moonchild). . .hmmm, I started to think. Maybe I should just let it grow which also led me here my loved whatever hair site. And yes, it became a focal point for a while because it's something I've never done: deliberately work towards healthy hair growth. Everyone has a vice: a slight obsession with natural hair and all that entails is one of mine.

I look best bald to be honest. All my features really come to life when I have no hair but man! It's been a long time with the low cuts. I grow a year or so, get a nice big bush and then cut because my heart breaks or I need a cleanse or I don't like the health of my hair.

That's where I am now....again....
~sigh~
but not really cause my hair is doing what it does. And I do get impatient sometimes (despite the screenname) but mostly I am patient. And I think in the end, most of us are. Only HERE in this space we can be obsessed and impatient and be co-dependent and crazy together.

When I leave this site, life goes on. I moisturize cause it makes sense, but I don't have rulers. HOWEVER, I don't knock those who do. I get it, I'm just lazy and not that committed.

So yeah, Black women and hair? It's a big sociopolitical, cultural, psychological thing because in GENERAL, many of us grew up staring at the long pigtails on the girl in front of us and watching the hair of OTHERS blow in the wind. I tell my baby girl that her hair reaches for heaven. My big girl sprouts the hair I envied when I grew up. And we wall exist together.

I want to eventually grow a big behind head of natural hair. I want the ease of buns. I want hair that a man's hands can get lost in while we make love. I want a braid that hangs low. I want MY hair to keep on reaching for heaven. I want to oil it and braid it then tuck it up like I watched Amina Baraka do when I was in college.

I've done short hair for over a decade. I've worn it kojak clean, I've done everything but loc it up. I've had a big fro, puffed it etc. I've never allowed it to grow long enough to put it into a ponytail or a bun. I'd like to do that but it's gonna take discipline and focus cause I cut in a minute.(Swore I'd never cut again when I went kojak last July but here I am back to a pinch of hair. AND I LOVE It!)

So that's my story. And yeah, the little girl who longed for long thick ponytails lives in me somewhere. Nothing Ever Really Dies, right? But she doesn't rule me and she lives alongside the woman who loves kinky, coil hair. And a girl can't rule a woman.

I get all of you. I understand the urge. I don't know you though. Only you know whether or not you're being ruled and who's ruling you inside. And whether your perm or not, cut or not, color or not. . .it would be my prayer for ALL what I pray for my daughters:

That you're happy. That you feel good inside. That you're at peace.

Said mine,
P1

That could just as easily been my story. I just think that it is nice to have a place where you are with like minded people, and people who want to help you, regardless of your hair goals. It's important especially as women of color to maintain a community where we learn not to hate on another, but to congratulate one another. We are no longer scowling at the girl with the pigtails in front of us on the bus, now we are asking her what she does to her hair and applauding her healthy hair. I love that!

 

[sholly6]

good reading

 

[Shimmie]

Exactly one year ago, this past Friday, April 13, 2006, this thread is the one that pulled my $5 PayPal account.

All I can do is say, "thank you, precious Blosssom..."

((( Hugs ))))

 

[ShaniKeys]

Blossssom, have you said what you wanted to say already? I don't wanna miss it.

 

[klb120475]

Blossssom, have you said what you wanted to say already? I don't wanna miss it.

Okay, I had to read all 21 pages of this thread...lol. I don't know how to insert the link to were she said what she had to say...but if you go to page 19 of this thread and click on the link in Enchantment's post you can read Blosssom's post.

 

[ShaniKeys]

Okay, I had to read all 21 pages of this thread...lol. I don't know how to insert the link to were she said what she had to say...but if you go to page 19 of this thread and click on the link in Enchantment's post you can read Blosssom's post.

thank you, off I am

 

[Hair Iam]

I put fertilizer on my plants, I use a little flower in my gravy, I like showers over baths, I like express lanes over collectors, I use pressure cookers to cook, I want long health hair as fast as it can possibly be achieved. It’s all good , to each his own

 

[loved]

and black women.

I'm not going to say them tonight because I need to finish pulling my thoughts together.

Some ladies here might not like it, though, but it's been on my mind for quite some time, and I'm just going to bust out with it. But on the other hand, other ladies here might applaude it.

I'll be ready to share these thoughts later in the week, and I hope people will keep an open mind. Don't be mad, though.

Blossom - have you had time to gather your thoughts?


(I sorted by views and this thread is hilarious.)