So frusterated I could cry...

   Hey all.... I've been a member of this board for what seems like forever.  Back when I first joined I had a horrible highlighting accident...and then this hair dresser bleached my hair 3 more times on top of that - all in one day.  As I'm sure you guessed my hair was hidious!   Back then my hair was 16 or 17 inches long.

My problem...

It is now 2005.  I believe I joined this board in ... I think 2002 maybe?!  My hair is now only 20 inches.  thats only THREE inches of growth.  My hair is fine and thin.... and all the "hidious" part has grown out and its all my natural hair color.  But the damage is still there.  I don't understand why my hair won't grow!! 

Yes, I do use a straightener and a blow dryer.    I know thats bad.  But my hair is THIN....I have to have some sort of volume to it.  My hair doesn't hold curl...it just lays there flat.  I'm sure one of you will mention layers...but I just think they are bad considering I already have some damaged hair and its harder to keep up with split ends on layered hair. 

My last trim was March 7.  I go every two or three months but only because I HAVE to ....  I believe that healthy hair looks better than long damaged fried hair. 

I use big sexy hair S & C.  I also use loreal mega moisture conditioner some times.. as well as, the heat control leave in cream by loreal.  I DON'T use any mousse, (makes my hair feel yucky) hair spray or anything like that.

I take 5000 mcg of biotin and 800 I.U of vitamin E a day.  I work out daily as well.

Sounds hopeless doesn't it?  What am I doing wrong??? Please help!

Susan W wrote: You silly!  I just looked at your hair page and your hair is beautiful!  It does not look damaged to me.  I agree with eKatherine that you just trimmed off all the bad stuff and you're now into better hair, and it is growing, so keep your growth from now on and you will have long hair in no time!  No, layThaters are not a good option for thin hair that you want long, they will make it look thinner.  If you really want more volume, but not damage, why not cut out the straightener, and just use the blow dryer on a cool setting?  Straightened hair is going to be flatter than unstraightened hair anyway, and this will be much less damaging for the future.

Hi.. (o:  That hair page was from last year... *frowns*  As you can see I haven't updated! But anyways...you see how my hair looks in the top picture?  Thats how my hair normally always gets if I don't trim every two months...which I just don't think is pretty.

In addition to what's already been said, are you using silicone products?  (Anything in the ingredients of your products that ends in 'cone).  If you are, buildup can contribute to breakage as well after lots of cone use.  Clarifying once in awhile will fix that problem, and you can continue to use the silicones.  You can use a diluted vinegar rinse to do this (I use 1tablespoon in 1 cup of water...others here use more concentrated), poured over my head, then washed out.  You can also use a clarifying shampoo for the same purpose (use once every 2 weeks to once a month). 

Sounds like my hair.  I dyed it monthly for a year and I also bleached it twice and dyed it within 2 days over the summer.  It's been over four months since I did anything to it but I still have some damage, and my hair has only grown about 3 inches in the past two years.  And most of that growth came in the past 4 months, after I stopped coloring it.

Although I've looked at your site and I think your hair is gorgeous, I know from experience (as you obviously do too) that it takes awhile for hair to recover.  Especially from chemical processes.  But I definitely say stop the blowdrying and the ironing, or at least don't do it as often.  There are plenty of natural ways to get the same results without the damage.

Good luck!

Looks great as it is.

Viktoria wrote: GoldieLocks has a point when she suggests wearing your hair up. Perhaps you can make the "flatness" work for you instead of against you? Can you change "flat = ugly" to "flat = sleek and elegant"? And I agree with everyone: your hair looks great. You have made wonderful progress.

Without the blowdryer and flatening iron my hair looks kinda wavy/thin/flat.  Its frizzy and unappealing....

I don't know what to do...I'm starting to think long hair just isn't gonna happen for me.

Amber - Have you thought about extensions?  I use clip-on extensions to make the bottom of my hair fuller and longer.  I am waiting on a order of synth. hair from Plastikhaar because a lot of girls on the extension board have had amazing results.  I have been wearing clip-on extensions for two years now with no damage to my own hair.  Like you, I can not wait for my own hair to grow so I wear the extensions. 

Here is a couple of links for you:

http://www.plastikhaar.ch/wholesale/

http://talk.hairboutique.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=34

Kimbearly has a good suggestion, I think. I have no experience with extensions myself, but I can imagine it is less damaging than using heat and chemicals on your own hair. Perhaps it will do the trick and give you the fullness you crave?

I so much hope you don´t give up, there is really no reason to!