Long Hair- Should It Take So Much Work?

Katja, the first photo was in early September. The second was Beltaine, or April 30 this year. Thank you so much ::flowersflowers::

Supersugar, the sock curling technique is under the Hair Journals subforum. I usually tie my hair up with socks when the hair is JUST barely dry, or when the hair is dry enough to not stick together anymore. Then I go to bed with socks by each ear  I wake up the next morning in hopes that the hair will not be damp.

Love those sig tickers, ladies  

Anais

edited to add the word "the"

It does seem that some people can just shampoo & condition their hair regularly and have long, beautiful hair.  In fact, I used to be one of them.  But those people are few and far between.  And while I think excessive hair care routines and being anal about every little ingredient that goes into your hair aren't the best ideas, I think at least being concerned and conscious about the way you take care of it is very important. 

Since I joined this site and learned different hair care tips and routines, my hair's grown a whole inch and is so much healthier than it was two months ago.  So I think that even though it does become frustrating and very tedious, it pays off in the end.  And if you take good care of it now, it will still be in great shape when it reaches the long length you want.

Anais, your hair looks great!  Second-day hair is the best.  How much time passed between the first and second picture?

Norsky, I think you're on to something.

Most people overdo it with hair care. However, the longer a person goes through the process of experimentation and research, the less a person is likely to have a complicated hair routine. Ideally, a person would end up pruning their routines down to only what they actually need to do. I've cut down on a lot more than I expected. It probably takes at least 6 months for the paranoia and craze to go away, give or take, depending on a person's emotional security. I think various ingredients are intimidating to the newer folk, before they find out that many of these creatures are friendly. Once they find out the creatures are friendly, they can pick and choose whatever they want. Healthy long hair runs along three different concepts: (1) go heat-free/color-free/perm-free (2) choose gentle hair toys and grooming tools (3) minimize friction by wearing "contained" hair styles such as braids and buns (at least most of the time)

Here are some more things to think about:

It doesn't hurt to know. Everybody goes through the same process of research and detailage that longhairs do, but with other subjects. Some people learn a dead language, while others are into Star Wars trivia, or medical transcription terminology (look who's talking). Longhairs choose to arm themselves with information on sulfates, etc.. because after all, this is the stuff we're putting in our hair. (On ourselves. We're constantly exposing ourselves to chemicals, and few people care what these chemicals are. Think of it as nutritional or health study. Just like it wouldn't be a good idea to risk being uninformed about reproductive health, for some people it isn't a good idea to be uninformed about hair health.) 

The research and info also becomes second nature. I don't even think about clarifying, silicones, etc.. anymore, it just happens. Just another step in the wash. It becomes very natural, very part of you, in a Sartre-like way. Like when women look in a full closet and say, "I have nothing to wear!"

Post-growth realization and regret: Most people with "reasonably long" hair (a.k.a. between shoulder and bra strap) don't really see the need in research and uber-care.. but by the time hair reaches their bum, it will be ... oh... six, seven years old. Some people don't even keep clothes for that long. And it could possibly dawn on the person that they should have taken better care of it. In the long run, mis-handling makes a big difference. e.g. Too many people damage their hair while not realizing the purpose of clarifying. My hair was NOT soft and did NOT shine until I began clarifying. Mineral deposits from California water was the worst thing to happen to my hair (and skin). I think you'll find that most proof is testimonial. But you took the best route-- asking people who have longhair dreams.

Concerning time and hard work: I'm one of those people who tell themselves "If you do it, do it right the first time". So if I'm growing my hair to tailbone (short term goal) and then mid-thigh (long term goal), I sure-as-hell better do it right. Proper care is also the fastest way to get long hair because little damage is produced, therefore little damage has to be cut off.

Long hair definitely takes a change in care, even though it can be LESS work. (Does that make sense?) I think most people would be surprised at how much less.

Frankly I don't think I'd be where I am if I used Pert Plus, didn't clarify, or change my routine. Using Pert Plus (a sulfate), I ended up washing every day. (This is also more work, at least in my experience) Now, with CO washing and no shampoo, hairwashing is only once a week. Although my showering frequency hasn't changed, I've saved six 10-minute hairwashes during the week.It saves exposing the hair to more "wash-handling" than is truly necessary. A lot of damage occurs while the hair is wet.

That's also an extra hour a week to do whatever I want. I've been unusually productive this year. An hour a week has brought me time to write.

Anyway, here's the before-and-after. Both are second-day hair. The second shot is second-day hair after a CO wash and sock curling.

Hope this helps you.  These are good questions. I'm adding to my website.

Anais

I have a few questions and comments. Bear with me Prior to discovering this forum, I always assumed growing long hair was a rather simple achievement/goal as long as you had regular trims, didn't fry it with chemical services and had hair that had the potential to grow long in the first place (aside from those  people who just cannot grow long hair due to medical conditions, certain medications, or naturally very thin or thinning hair) However, after finding this board and educating myself on the "art" of long hair, I now realize there is much more involved-or is there?

People are talking about silicones, sulfates, proteins, etc.; the need for clarifying rinses; the dangers lurking in store bought brushes/combs. Are these tips referring to those of us with delicate/colored hair to begin with? There are people everywhere, in all walks of life that do not give their long hair a second thought (and some in fact, abuse their hair on a regular basis) and yet they still possess the ability to have hair to their ass.  Do the people on this board that take such extreme care of their hair TRULY feel they got there because of all the special treatments, or would they have long hair regardless, even if they did color, hair-dry, curl, use plastic combs bought at CVS? Would love to hear some opinions on this.