Hi Aimee,O.K., first off I had to laugh because your hair sounds like a cut my Mom had once and her hair is very thick and she fights this problem with her short 'do. Before I tell you how I got my hair long(and go get a cup of tea or cofee 'cause this is going to take awhile to read:))just let me tell you that when it gets down to your neck it might feel like you can no longer stand it(this is what happens to my Mom every time she tries to let it grow-and then she gets sick of it and cuts it!)but just hang in there and it will stop feeling that way!O.K., my hair is down to my hips. I started seriously growing it in '91 and I got down past my waist, almost to the hips in '94(it was at about my upper mid back when I statrted). This is what I did in the beginning:I DID NOT use blow dryers, nor any other heat applience. I noted that when I did go back to using them in '93, it did not grow as much as not using them. So back I went to not using them , and now it's to my hips. The next thing I'd suggest is ONLY use very gentle products that DON'T contain SODIUM LAURYL SULFITE-this is mainly found in shampoos, but they are in a few conditioners that I've seen. Also, don't use any shampoos or conditioners with Guar or copolymers, acrylics, and the like as they can build up on your hair and that can be dentrimental as well. In time when it getsabout chin length or even shoulder length(you decide) give it a deep conditioner -I don't really know what to recommendas I do color(lighten)the front and sides of my hair(kind of like chunking) and I need to do this once a week, but when your hair gets long enough ask a hair profesional witha good reputation how often you should do this-but if you decide to lighten your hair or even just color it, be sure to do it after each time you process it. Now, here is where some people may differ with me on this, but I only get a trim every 8 weeks or so, and I'm going to tell you right now, unless you find a salon that really loves long hair,they are going to take too much off! (My Husband recently had this happen)So, what I did, was I had my Mom snip offjust the tiniest bits at the end, and this has worked for me. Now my husband does it as we live in France now, and my family is back in the States, and it's working out.Maybe you can get a family member or friend to do the trim.Lastly, I would not do too much else to it as far as styling it in braids, unless your hair is super strong when it grows out, but still, don't do styles that can pull hair tightly too much, it can make your hair thin out if done constantly, and I just think braiding can be detrimentalif you want to get your hair to grow without breakage, but I could be wrong here. I didn't do it much, that;s for sure. Duh, I shouldn't have said lastly, because there's a couple more things I thought of. Be sure to only wash in lukewarm water, and finish after conditioning (or shampooing with no conditioner, but don't do that too often)with COLD water. This seals the cuticle and makes hair more protected that way. I personally didn't brush my hair,I just finger-picked it when it was totally dry. If you do use a brush, only use a baby brush(in my opinion). I guess there are some gentle boar bristle brushes, I even owned a baby brush made with boar bristles, I'd only recommend that personally. Of course, don't brush your hair wet, use only the widest spaced comb or pic and comb out slowly to avoidpulling out snarls. What I've started doing lately is not even combing it out when I'm done washing and I even asked people here what they thought and they said if it works, go ahead, and it prevents further stress, I think. NOW, finally, when it's longer, put it up or on the side with a scrunchie(silk or satin is best)and use a satin pillowcase,it's better for the hair than cotton. Hope this has helped you out-Good Luck!Holly
-------------
|