Well...now I know why my hair never grows.

[yuhlovevybz]

Yes I know, it GROWS, but it doesn't retain. *sigh*

Reason number 1: I spend 3 hours putting it in a hair style. I take out the hair style. I spend 3 hours putting it back in original said hairstyle. I give up, wear it OUT all natural (by now i've washed three times) and stick a bonnet on it then go to sleep.

:whipped:

Reason number 2: Last night, after reading the thread about the split-end biter, I decided to keep some scissors next to my desk. I sat there, running my fingres through my hair, and snipping off everything that felt rough. Mind you, this is flat ironed natural hair.

Lastly: Every time I'm about to do a protective style, I figure I should cut all of my hair off so I can see the results. I can't just NOT do that, I have to! So, remembering that I'm going to protective style with a sew in for the next months, I was playing with my hair in the bathroom and decided to chop 1.5 inches off of my ponytail. I don't miss this amount of hair because it springs right on back, but the fact that I cut it every time it springs right on back

Now I know I need an intervention. It's me, it's scissors, it's hair fondling. I needa stop. Has anyone else ever had this type of OCD? Tearing split ends, or cutting them, or using a butter knife if nothing else is at hand Obsessive hair snipping? How do you stop? I need rehab.

 

[JudithO]

Put your hair in braids.. will give you 1 - 2 months to breathe

 

[yuhlovevybz]

I'm ready to do big chop number 4 and call it a day. This natural mullet is still here after 2 years natural and 3 big chops and I'm getting froggy about it again.

 

[yuhlovevybz]

Put your hair in braids.. will give you 1 - 2 months to breathe

I think I'll definitely do that. I usually hate braids but I need to put my hair in witness protection

 

[MsBoinglicious]

Yea you need to stop messing in your hair. Retentions is like the #1 thing you need to gain length. If you cannot retain the ends you will not see results. Whether they are breaking/snapping/splitting off or from you cutting them. You have to stop.

Those of us who are SERIOUS about hair goals and the women on here with long hair (BSL-HL) are unlikely scissor happy folks. They cut ONLY when necessary.

Make a hair trimming regi. Cut off a certain amount of hair that does not exceed the amount you grow.

Example: You grow on avg 1/2" a month. Cut ONLY like 1/4" a month or less.
Do not cut more than you grow. UNLESS NECESSARY and you will see results!

 

[yuhlovevybz]

You're sooo right MsBoing. My problem right here is I don't have a trimming schedule. Some people say trim every 6 weeks some every 3 months, I tend to trim when I feel like I haven't trimmed in awhile and then I trim a lot because I have no idea . I thing I'm going to go through the rest of the winter + summer doing protective styling, then develope a good trimming schedule and invest in some good shears. My hair has been growing and filling in since I joined, I just need to get better self-control so that I can actually enjoy it. I'm already kicking myself for the impulse trim I just did.

 

[sherrimberri]

I search and destroy everyday. Not my entire head but a different section.everyday. I want to stop, but i always find split ends or damaged hair in every section. I definitely need to hide my scissors from myself.

 

[JessieLeleB]

OMG I was like you before I got on this forum I'm like my hair was never growing then I sat down and thought, every six months I would cut off all my hair cuz I was easier to put in braids or sew-in on top of stress my 'escape' was cutting off all my hair.
You got to put yourself on a schedule with trims, I decided every 4 months then decided to do lite trims every 8 weeks, I set it in my phone and on calendar that way I didn't do it too early.
I also found a pic online of my goal length put that on my phone and bathroom mirror that way I look at my hair a be like no cutting if I want to get to this goal.
That helps me and I cut down on my random trimming by 95%! I'm still an addict and randomly see split ends and might cut a little not alot.

 

[Kn0ttyByNatur3]

OMG, OP! We got to break you from this habit. D:

I want to see you wiff long, flowing hair.

 

[qchelle]

Girl, you need help I hope you get the help that you need lol

 

[ms.blue]

I feel you OP, I use to keep a pair of scissors at my night stand and my dresser. I would come home from work and just trim away, watching t.v., talking on the phone or just out of boredom. Last year, I was weaving and wigging it so I did not have the urge to cut and I was pleasantly surprised....that only lasted until November, when I decided to flatiron my hair. I began trimming and by the end of December, I pretty much cut off all my progress from June. I need to follow my siggy again.

 

[MzSwift]

I'm a recovering scissor addict so I feel your pain!

Joining challenges (becoming accountable to other ladies) and keeping my hair in long term PS's works for me.

Maybe you can try putting your hair in a PS on a whim. That way you can be in the process of doing the PS before the urge to cut comes along. I have all kinds of hair around so that I can put in whatever PS (curly braids, senegales twists, wig or weave) I'm feeling.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

Put your hair in braids.. will give you 1 - 2 months to breathe

I second this

 

[BlaqBella]

First off, you're too funny OP. I did the same thing (almost) for the first two years of my journey 2008-2010. And I was so OCD (too much stress) that I may have had healthier hair sooner, but experimented too much (out of frustrations), and at the wrong time.

I should've left my hair alone when I was under alot of stress. Fastforward, to 2011, I joined the hide your scissors challenge or something like that.

And around the same time I happened to switch to a new 'set' of products. And while I did see more progress (quicker)than I had in the past, I knew something was still missing.

But I kept telling myself I would trim once I reached the next goal apl. Well, 4 weeks ago today I chopped my straightened natural (I mean almost full cbl) hair to ear length, and when it was wet it looked like I did the big chop, which I never did, I transitioned (with lots of breakage, but I hadn't been ear length since Feb.2008).

I soon purchased some other products I had on my list, but still had the bronn. bros. nu expressions that gave me good results in 2011. I got joico and kenra cond. that also did well for my hair in the past.

During all this time I picked up advice like others said about trimming reggies and I will trim every six weeks unless my ends stay flawless more often. Right now my ends look good and I will still dust in a week or two. AND, my hair is growing at a crazy fast rate now.

All-in-all: I had to learn how to grow it out where I could style and look good enough for myself (while learning my needs). And, then def. come up with a 'good' trimming reggie, because OP believe it or not you're on the right track by focusing on those ends, but be patient, and learn if there's something else lacking that cause those ends to appear/feel so damaged.

Sorry for the long post.

ETA: WOW! MissAlinaRose you have my natural dream hair and style in your siggie.

 

[yuhlovevybz]

Kn0ttyByNatur3 lol me too girl. qchelle *nods gravely*

ms.blue ohhhh I want that progress! I'm about to start goin hard core with this hiding my hair because I am no good. Your progress looks good, if I could get to BSL that would be beyond miraculous.

MzSwift that sounds like an idea. I should get some things like that so that when I'm bored I can stick my hair in a p.s instead of torture it or cut it.

BlaqBella omgggggg. Girl that was more than a trim. But that sounds like the type of thing I would do, I seem unable to trim without going down a whole hairlength or so. I'm getting things step by step, I just need to put it all together and I think things can get better. I think the biggest thing is leaving my hair alone for a long time so I can get used to actually having some on my head and not feel the need to cut it every time I look at it. So protective styling it is til I get at least halfway to my goal length. I just wanna have fun with my hair again.

 

[Lilmama1011]

Yes, I use to bit it off, grab scissors and immediately have to cut the split ends. My hair as always had length but it seems to stay in the same place and 6 weeks is honestly too often to trim ends, as soon as it grows, you cutting the same length and I have a problem with my hair being even, but your grow in different places In different paces and eventually your hair will even out or get a descent length so you can even it out, but I admit it's hard, I just put it in a pony tail or any style where I can't see my ends

 

[BlaqBella]

^^ I agree that's why I will dust at 6 weeks as long as I don't have any major damage.

Well, you got a plan OP, stick with it. Goodluck.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Don't trim rough hair...trim split ends via search an ddestroy (or pre trim ala nonie). Your hair could be rough just because you flat ironed it wrong (I'm natural too and I find that sometimes the wrong products or different temps will change the feel of your flat iron), didn't use the right conditioner, etc. Really take a good look at your hair and ends if you're going the search and destroy route (I alternate btw search and also trim as I'm getting layers caught up) instead of cutting off perfectly good hair.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I also agree with putting it away. I always hard core protective style until I reach my next goal. I realize it's not for the faint of heart but I also realize I retain 100% doing this...and it helps me to not snip away (and believe me I itch to snip).

 

[lilyofthenile]

Wash, detangle, DC, length check pics and hide your hair for two months under some braids. Take care of it while it is under the braids, moisturise daily, wash weekly etc. It is MUCH better than trying to watch your hair grow like that.

 

[lana]

One of the ways that I keep track of trimming is by writing it down and then setting a reminder to "check" my ends to see if they need a trim. I only allow myself to trim about 1/4" off and I actually had to look at a ruler and learn what 1/4" really was.

Throw away your scissors. Then the next time you need a trim, buy a new pair. That should slow you down a bit.

It's about self control and you will see length retention. You guys just made me want to bun my hair until June! Not kidding. I just want to stay out of it and hit my next goal.

 

[lamaria211]

This is me i need a Hide Your Scissors Challenge for my self ive been trimming almost weekly for the past 2 months

 

[venusfly]

I too suffer from an unhealthy addiction to scissors and a rabid hatred of split ends. I am trying to cure myself of my scissor-happy tendencies so I really do understand your post!

 

[lamaria211]

i just threw away my scissors (at my brothers house to prevent myself from grabbing them back out the trash) after doing another My lat small trim for at least 3 months. now that theyre gone i feel much better. i wont buy anymore until its time to trim again

 

[lana]

LAMARia2012 - so how is it going? We need an update. Were you able to hold off on trimming for three months?

 

[lamaria211]

LAMARia2012 - so how is it going? We need an update. Were you able to hold off on trimming for three months?

Im still going! I haven't trimmed since Oct. The last time I trimmed I threw away my new scissors (just to keep from using them) and I won't buy another pair till my next trim in Feb. I'm terrified to use regular scissors in my hair so this method of trim n trash is the only thing that works for me

 

[ItsSunniDee]

I used to do something similar.. Each new year i would BC again, claiming spontaneity or whatever else i could throw in there that linked the decision to chop everything off to my free spiritedness.. Really, i was just terrified of dealing with shoulder length hair. I have since promised to stop cutting my hair aside of a trim every 2-3 months, my friends keep me on track once I start to get antsy.

To keep it fresh, I YouTube quick styles for naturals, or keywords along the lines, because not only do i not feel like spending hours putting an elaborate style together, I also know myself very well, I will take it out in 2-3 days anyhow, and my alopecia makes certain styles impossible to wear.

Jazz your simplicity up, I couldn't wear braids much before my hair fell out because I would take them out in 3 weeks and it was a waste. Experiment with accessories, ways to wear your wash nd go w/ festive scarves or ribbons, accessorize your twist outs or bantu knot outs, experiment with everything but your hair, hats, pins, scarves etc. Maybe it will help you. It's helped me a bit.