long hair healthy?

Erinlynn wrote: But Dave, ive seen pictures of your hair and I didnt think it very whispy... So far no pictures Ive seen of anyone in this group fits that description... On the other hand some people with really thick hair dont look good with it shorter becasue it turns into a poof or otherwise gets in the way. But with lenght they look great.

Hi Erinlynn,

To which pictures are you referring? (probably posted at TLHS?) My hip-length hair (in the photo posted here and taken 5 years ago) is not wispy. Anyway, perhaps a more recent photo will be made available; then you can judge for yourself. Keep in mind the wispy "ends" of my hair today are around my thighs...

I agree that all the photos of you and others that have been shared here show healthy heads of hair. I also agree that the "poofy" heads can be tamed with additional length.

Bottom line is that I agree with you that hair reflects the care that it has been given, both external care as well as internal (body) care.

But Dave, ive seen pictures of your hair and I didnt think it very whispy...There are people with hair that reaches to thier tailbone or even just to thier waist (much shorter than yours) and still a foot or more of it is all whispy, dry and scraggly. So far no pictures Ive seen of anyone in this group fits that description. But these unfortunate people just dont have the hair to carry the lenght. When your hair gets as long as yours your going to get some whisping but youve still got alot of fullness for the rest of the lenght. Other people though just cant keep the thickness past mid back...

Or maybe these people just dont take care of it as well. Though, if they want long hair I wouldnt want them to not have long hair. Its just that they probably would look better with a lenght that suits thier hair type.

On the other hand some people with really thick hair dont look good with it shorter becasue it turns into a poof or otherwise gets in the way. But with lenght they look great.

Some people are lucky enough to have hair that is versatile...

Sometimes I wish my hair would curl like Keri Russells or a waterfall of curls...sigh...

okay that was an aside.

Erinlynn wrote: Okay, i have seen MANY really long haired people with nasty looking scraggly ends where the last foot and a half of thier hair (at least) is so thin and wispy you can see right through it and it doesnt look pretty. These people could stand to cut thier hair to a shorter lenght...

Erinlynn, you have described my hair "to a T."

How else do you think a guy could ever have knee-length hair? Lord knows I don't have the courage (or the desire!) to wear a bun, or any other hair-preserving style, in public.

I have contemplated whacking off the bottom 12" of my hair [which represents a very small amount of hair] for over a year now. (sorry, Uzma!) And up from there, the next 6" is quite thin, too... I despise the thinness of the ends, but tolerate it for only 2 reasons: (1) it lends itself to some interesting photographic looks, (2) I like the way it feels tickling my knees, when I wear it loose.

I would love to have thicker hair, hair that has retained a much higher percentage of its original thickness, but that just isn't what I have. The ends are probably 10 years old now and I didn't then know how to take good care of my hair.

So where's that toad, anyway? I think he's around here somewhere...

Okay, i have seen MANY really long haired people with nasty looking scraggly ends where the last foot and a half of thier hair (at least) is so thin and wispy you can see right through it and it doesnt look pretty. These people could stand to cut thier hair to a shorter lenght. But I dont think every person with long hair has unhealthy hair. Also, people with long hair but not super long hair are fairly common and usualy have healthy enough strands that thier hair isnt too thin. So its ridiculous to say you need shoulderlenght hair to be healthy hair.

it seems like in the beauty industry nobody wants people to have long hair. as lyris said some people can benifit with that much cut. but not everyone. i want healthy hair and long hair. why can't i have both? today i'm going for a trim. i know some people have decided not to cut there hair no more and that's fine because it's there choice. i shouldn't go preaching go get your hair trimmed to everyone. there hair might be in better condition than mine!

In my opinion a lot of the hairstyling "advice" we are given is really intended to get business for hairstylists (classic infomercial technique). Bangs, layers, regular trims, streaks, curls, straightening, braiding, vitamin treatments, whatever it takes to get everyone coming in regularly.

I read that quote recently from P. Begoun's book, Don't Go Shopping For Hair Care Products.... I totally disagree with that statement. It sounds like she thinks no one in the world should have long hair, because it must be unhealthy! A lot of people have unhealthy hair, regardless of the length. With the proper styling techniques, products, etc, one can mask their damaged hair quite nicely. :)

i found this article. it why doesn't anyone think long hair can be healthy?

Holding On to Long Hair
If your hair hangs down to the middle of your back or longer, consider cutting it to shoulder length. Those ends you think will get healthier if you just cut off an inch every now and then are not going to heal. The damage is more than just at the very ends. Hair becomes damaged just from being around a long time. Cutting off several inches will give you great volume and make your hair look incredibly healthy. It really will look like new.


Paula Begoun