Progress Updates From Everyone?

1. When did you first visit this forum? Were you a member or regular at another Long Hair or Hair Care forum and if so when did you first visit those? Or first Post if you lurked a while? If you did lurk for a while how long was it?

I have been visiting and posting to hair care forums since mid 2000 which was also when I made my first Hair Care Club / Group on Yahoo. A few weeks after that I started school. I started posting to HB LH Support sometime around July of 2002

2. Did you visit this forum to learn or give advice or both?

Both, although I haven't really followed any advice I still came to learn as well as share.

3. If you visited to learn have you learned anything?

I'm not sure if I learned it here or not because a lot of the people who post here also post elsewhere so perhaps some of the things they have posted here I had seen elsewhere. In any case I am in the process of starting a new routine and that includes asking people with similar hair what they use and do.

4. Have you followed any of the advice given on the forum? If yes what happened?

Not yet but again I am about to start.

5. Have you found the information that you wanted to find?

Same answer.

6. Have you noticed a difference in your hair since you found the forum?

Well when I joined here I had already gone for a whole year without a trim and now its over 3 years. So the only difference is that my hair is more uneven and has more splits and such. But this is not the fault of any forum. Its just my own laziness and lack of care.

7. Was your hair in good or bad condition before you came? Is it better now?

Same answer.

8. Have you tried any new products, recipes, tools, etc? If yes what happened? Were they suggested on this forum or another?

The only product I have used since 1998 is Revlon Flexx shampoo for Dry to Normal. Except when sometimes I grab a glob of something from whatever bottle of something my Mom has in the shower. I don't think I have used a conditioner in the past few years except for a deep conditioning treatment at school in august 2000 and possibly some conditioner that was used during a hair wash before a trim at school in May 2001.

9. In the past 5 years have you tried a new salon or stylist? If yes what did you have done? Did it turn out well?
In the period from 1996 - 2000 I was getting trims on average every 2-3 months. I was trying a new salon every time. I have not had a trim since May 2001. I never had a bad experience with my trims but I also was not being picky. I always asked for 1/2 inch and it didn't seem like they were taking more than that.

10. In the past 5 years have you cut or trimmed any of your own hair and if so what did you do? Did it turn out well?

Two days ago I did my first ever self split end trim aka search and destroy. I have only done the right front section in front of my ear so far. I did that while my computer was defragmenting.

Other than that were the times when I was 4 and 16 when I decided to cut my own hair and didn't do a good job. Then again I didn't care back then. The first time I was just playing around, the second time it was the last day of school and I was tired of my parents complaining about my longer hair. I might have done a better job if the hair scissors would have been at home. Let that be a word of caution about using the wrong scissors. I didn't care then because I didn't have school the next day anyway.
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Edited / Updated 3/27/04:
Two nights ago I trimmed my own hair using some instructions that someone at Longhaircommunity.com has.

I also tried some new products and did a Conditioner Only Wash aka CO

I did a similar post about routines at long hair community and so I bought some products that people with a similar hair type use.

Posted at LHC Yesterday:
Here is what I did. I was going to do the CWC but I decided against using a shampoo this time to see if the V05 Kiwi Lime Squeeze Clarifying conditioner actually cleans.

I coated both my scalp and length with the V05 KLS C and lightly scrubbed / massaged it in. I then rinsed it out. I then reapplied the V05 KLS C as a normal conditioner and then rinsed that out. Then I used Aussie 3 Minute Miracle for more like 4 minutes. I rinsed that out. Oh and by now the hot water was cold so i had no choice but to rinse with cold. I then applied the Knot Forgotten (Slip) detangler conditioner and then I combed it through with my widest toothed comb. Then I decided to wait a few minutes for the water to warm up so I sat down for a few minutes. After probably around 8-10 minutes the water seemed a little warmer so I jumped up and rinsed off the Knot Forgotten. Then I lightly squeezed out my hair (not twisting like a towel) and then lightly touched it with a towel. Now I'm sitting here letting it air dry like I usually do. I very rarely use a blow dryer. I've used one maybe 10 times in the past 4 years.

I have to say that I like the results so far. I am really surprised that my hair feels as clean as it does considering I applied 4 conditioners and no shampoo. My hair was dirty and now it does feel like its clean. Its got that smooth, clean yet not too dry feel to it. I'm still smelling the Aussie too, its not bad at all :)

My hair also feels light and not weighed down. Its like its fluffy but not frizzy.

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Its now been 29 hours and I still like my hair. Still easy to comb. My scalp is still tingling a tiny bit once in awhile but that's ok. I don't think its giving me a rash or anything.

Here is my routine once again.

1. V05 KLS Clarifying Conditioner - CO - First step
2. V05 KLS Clarifying Conditioner - CO - Second step
3. Aussie 3MM - Third step
4. Aussie Knot Forgotten - Fourth step

I think I'm going to only use the 3MM once in a while so some times Step 3 will get skipped. At least that's what I'm thinking at this moment. Too early to make any firm decisions.

I'm very happy so far :)

Oh and for the past two nights I've slept in a low ponytail with 2 small elastics, the covered kind on the tail. I grab the tail, put one band on securely and then slide it down to about 1/4 way from the ends. Then grab the tail by the nape again and put the second band on securely. Slide it down to about 2/3 up the tail. My hair is 29.5 inches long so it takes at least 2 bands. So far its working and with the top band slid down lower its not a lump behind my head.

Whew! Big survey, Robert. Let's see how I do.


1. When did you first visit this forum? Were you a member or regular at another Long Hair or Hair Care forum and if so when did you first visit those? Or first Post if you lurked a while? If you did lurk for a while how long was it?

A: I first came to HB before it was even HB (the predecessor site, Long Hair Videos).

2. Did you visit this forum to learn or give advice or both?

A: Well, I guess (hope?) that lately I've been more involved in giving advice, but I still learn hair-related things, too.

3. If you visited to learn have you learned anything?

A: Not so much on the styling front (that hasn't been what I've sought), but more on the "politics" of hair, especially long and very long hair in a predominantly short-hair world.

4. Have you followed any of the advice given on the forum? If yes what happened?

5. Have you found the information that you wanted to find?

6. Have you noticed a difference in your hair since you found the forum?

A: It's gotten a lot longer.

7. Was your hair in good or bad condition before you came? Is it better now? Has it grown?

A: Good (though far from perfect) condition then and now, and yes it has grown quite a bit.

8. Have you tried any new products, recipes, tools, etc? If yes what happened? Were they suggested on this forum or another?

A: I have tried a variety of new shampoos and conditioners in the past 6 years. Most I've liked or loved. One brand (Vain) did not work for me.

9. In the past 5 years have you tried a new salon or stylist? If yes what did you have done? Did it turn out well?

A: I have had stupendously excellent fortune with stylists throughout the course of my growth adventure. Though I rarely trim my hair anymore, when it's done it is done by one of two friends (both of whom have very long hair, and are thus naturally sympathetic). One of them is even licensed (cosmetologist).

10. In the past 5 years have you cut or trimmed any of your own hair and if so what did you do? Did it turn out well?

A: Not myself, but had tiny bits trimmed to even out layers as it grew out. I also dust occasionally.