Renee, I think that would only be the case if you are damaging your hair through touching it, rather than actual touching. If your hair scags on your jewellery it will get damaged. Or horrifically tangled up in a three part jointed crocodile ring. In work. Not that I'd know. Ahem.
I don't think it can hurt to touch your hair a lot. I mean, your
fingers aren't sharp or rough, are they? Now if you have rough
nail edges and are dragging them through your hair, that's a different
scenario -- and one you want to avoid.
Only one bit of advice, though. You may want to refrain from
"excessively" touching your hair in "inappropriate" situations, such as
when you are talking with other people in a professional setting, or at
church... Otherwise, I say go ahead and touch your hair all you want
to.
I don't know how some people got off your topic (talking about hair being touched by others), but to answer your original question...it depends.
It is best for long hair to be touched as infrequently as possible. The more you (or something) touches it, the more chances for damage. You patting your hair to make it lay straight will not do damage. But think about all the things that your hands touch during the day (objects, soap, lotion, people, animals, etc.) and what you could be transferring to it. The longer your hair, the more careful you have to be.
When touching, the number one rule is Be Gentle
Viktoria
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It disturbs me not in the least to see a woman fuss with her hair, though I once had a long-haired natural blonde boss who spent the whole meeting nervously twirling her tendrils. She should have put it up, but thankfully there were no quizzes at meetings' ends. I may have misspelled my own name at that point!
As for me touching another's hair, it will never happen. It's wrong in my view, an invasion of another's space. Bob
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My feelings about someone else touching my hair really depends on who it is and what they are doing.
If I trust someone (usually male) and they run their fingers through my hair in a caressing sort of way, I'll melt all over the floor in a relaxed puddle.
I also like it the few times I go to the salon and someone washes my hair (unless they're really rough.)
If someone comes up behind me and pulls my hair to get my attention, I tend to get annoyed.
If someone I don't know well touches my hair for any reason, I feel like they're invading my space. Depending on what they do, it's almost a feeling of being violated.
I think touching someone's hair is the same as touching their body - it's a personal thing and we need to be sensitive to the individual.
I agree with Susan W... a little touching can't hurt your hair.
When I touch my hair too much my hands tend to get a little greasy, which I guess means that I'm also distributing my hair's natural oil onto my hands.
However, what do you guys think about other people touching your hair? Lots of people like to touch my hair when they're complimenting it (or when I'm wearing braids they like to grab them and jokingly pretend to "steer" me with them) and sometimes it seems a little gross, like... who knows what those people touched beforehand, right? But I would assume that any germs and other stuff would come out in a wash/clarify though. I don't know.
"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative."
-Woody Allen
I think the only problem is if you just got something on your hands you
wouldn't really want in your hair (like if you just ate a chocolate bar
with your hands, you're likely to get a lot more oil in your
hair). Your natural skin oils won't be bad for your hair, they'll
just make it look oily quicker like Anais said.
Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com
Viktoria
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As long as it's not compulsive and constant. If it's the nape of your neck, the hairs are finer than the rest of your head. Of course you HAVE to touch your hair because... well... it's your HAIR. but the worst touching can do (if it's not compulsive) is distribute oils and get your nape oily in a shorter amount of time.
Hey all! Just wanted to start out with saying Thank you to all of you! I love this forum...its soooo addictive!! All of you are so helpful. You all are like family!
Anyways, I tend to touch my hair ALOT. The back of my hair tends to get a little fuzzy sometimes and flips different directions so I am always "petting' it tryin to get it to lay a certain way. Is this bad? I think I have heard somewhere that touching without washing your hands can put bad stuff in your hair? (I know that sounds weird) ...Anyone know about this?
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(talking about hair being touched by others), but to answer your original question...it depends.
Amazing Grace wrote:
Bob
my LJ
All of you are so helpful. You all are like family! 
, Amber