Remembering why you want long hair

I am new to this forum and I have to say thank you to all for the wonderful tips.
It's been far too long since I have given my waist length locks regular TLC, and reading everyone's posts has really given me inspiration to remember why I have made a committment to grow my hair long. There is nothing more beautiful then long, flowing, healthy hair! (to me anyway) I feel at my best when my hair is healthy and happy.
Sooo.. back to the biotin, weekly deep conditioning and nightly braid.
Perhaps in time I will summon the courage for a trim. *lol* It's been four years.

Hi Dave

Mmmmm… yes, indeed.

I find I have built a set of rituals around taking care of my hair.

A little combing and binding ritual in the morning.
An un-binding and massaging ritual in the evening.
A deep oiling and cleansing ritual once a week.
A perfuming and adorning ritual on special nights.

These are simple things to do, but I take a particular pleasure in doing them.
It is my time to be in a special place free of care and worry.
I perform each task slowly and gently – like a form of relaxation.

Good for the hair and good for the spirit.


Lovely question – thanks for asking.


Uzma

wittils wrote: Uzma, this question is for you... Do you wear your hair up most of the time rather than loose and down? And do you think it is better for the hair to have it secured in place? I have been wearing mine in a loose french braid most of the time. I just feel it keeps it safe from the elements. But I also read that maybe one hair style all of the time can cause stress spots and breakage. Yet it's been 20 years of braids and my hair seems fine. And what is the best way to sleep on it. It seems scrunchies would cause breakage and possibly pull it out. I am asking you because I know you are careful with your hair. And Dave, I am sorry I misunderstood the question. That's what I get when I stay up too late and try to squeak in those last minutes of my day. Guess my speed reading is not so good. I hope asking Uzma will not detour this thread, but I know I can catch her here. Thanks wittils

Hi wittils,

Misunderstanding or not, your response was wonderful.

And tangential discussion is just fine. It opens up more avenues of thought, which is not a bad thing at all.

Dearest Wittils (what an unusual and endearing name)

I wear my hair loose and down as much as possible.
The only times I bind it at the nape or in an updo are during inclement weather, for work and visiting the family (also if I am in the early stages of dating a guy for some weird reason).

Personally, I don’t think that securing the hair in a tail, braid or bun is better for the hair or scalp. I get tender-headed if I do it for any period of time. Gathering hair strands together into a position that is against the natural pattern of growth may be:

(a) stretching the hair at the root, however mildly
(b) putting distortive pressure on the follicle
(c) bending the hair and hence weakening it, in specific areas, if the hair-style is worn day-in day-out.

However, if your hair is healthy and un-damaged after 20 years, than your hair is testimony to your good treatment of it. Well done, Wittils !!!

Now, with regard to the best way to sleep on it, I would re-direct the question to those with longer hair than my own.
Dave, Karen, Chris Beatnik, Grenwich, AmandaPanda, SweetPeach....others – Anyone care to advise?

I wear my hair loose to bed. Currently sleeping on a home-made satin pillow case, but off to the eastern hemisphere soon and intend to purchase a lot of silk for bedding, in order to reduce hair damage by friction.

As it gets longer, I will consider making loose side braids for sleeping in, secured with the soft leather strips I favour as hair binding material. I would not consider scrunchies or any such be worn close to the head as it could cause stretching and breakage.

I also very lightly oil the scalp with Basil eo and the hair length with Sandalwood eo, before sleeping. It a great daily overnight treatment for stimulating growth and making the hair lustrous.


Hope some of the above answered your questions – or will lead to your questions being answered.

Take care, Wittils.

Uzma

Hi and thank you for sharing.

'Wittils' comes from Wittilsbacherallee... where my mother's family lived. As a child I would get these big packages from my grandfather full of wonderful surprises and precious keepsakes.

My mother is from Germany and she always had long braided hair, very beautiful. Even as a child I remember her keeping her hair very long. Then one day I came home from school and it was all gone.

Even in her fifties and sixties she wore it long, except to frame her face she wore soft bangs. Most of the time, especially when she was out and about she wore her hair up, but it was to her waist at that time.

Then one day at a family reunion she met a woman her age and this woman had short styled hair that impressed my mom. So she decided she wanted that look and cut off all her beautiful hair!!!

After the initial excitment of the new look wore off she became very sad. That was about 5 or 6 years ago and even though she wanted her hair long again, she has kept it short.

The way I see it, time passes anyways so let it grow and in 5 years you will have what you truly desire, rather than in 5 years saying 'I could have had long hair if only...'

Again thank you for your response, I love learning from my friends here.

wittils