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!

...hey all!

Thanks for the comments so far...

I only get my hair trimmed about 1/2 inch or less everytime I get it trimmed.  My hair just gets soooooo stringy if I don't get it trimmed. 

Yes, I really do need to cut out the blow dryers and straighteners. But if I don't blow dry my hair is flat... if I don't straighten my hair is frizzy! 

I really do need to take better care of my hair...I really do try!!

Oh and also... why is it that my hair has been virgin hair for probably the last year now and it hasn't gotten ANY length.  If I cut only 1/2 an inch off every 3 months or so...I should still have A LITTLE BIT of growth...right?  Like at least 3 inches a year at the least!  I examined my hair in the back of my head with a mirror standing in front of another mirror...and my hair looks like it has broken off almost the whole way to the top of my head.  )o:

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.

Hi, Amber. You have beautiful hair, but as you say, it's fine hair. I have this type too, albeit lots of it, and I've found without exception that I can't grow it long and regularly heat style at the same time. The reason is that blow drying and especially flat irons break delicate hair, usually at the ends where it is weakest. So you're probably losing inches off the ends just from breakage (and this is what causes the frayed unevenness to which you seem to be referring).

You can help a little by using a deep conditioner every dayusing a leave-in such as Redken Anti-Snap, treating hair with the ultimate gentleness -- but I have definitely noticed that if I heat style with any regularity, my hair won't grow past a certain point, period. The ends of my hair get weaker and weaker (because all that damage is cumulative, and the longer your hair gets, the older it is on the ends) and break off gradually, giving the appearance of little or no growth.

Fine hair also shows damage faster than other types, unfortunately.

You're a beautiful girl with beautiful hair, but if you want /long/ hair, something might have to give in terms of your styling routine.

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!

Hal wrote: If your hair is 3 inches longer than the last picture at your web site I'm sure it may not be what you had hoped for but I bet it looks great... Think you will be updating your site soon?  Good luck and stick with it, you'll get there.

Thats the problem....Its not 3 inches from my last pictures...  It the same length and its been a year since I have taken those pics!

Looks great as it is.

Amber your hair has gotten much better in from the top photos to the bottom ones, once all the damaged hair is trimmed off, you will notice you hair getting back to normal again. You should possibly try a hair serum to protect your hair from the hot irons you use, i recommend a brand called Proclaim (which you can get at your local Sally's) its a frizz eliminating serum which you put onto wet hair, before you blow dry and is really good.  Proclaim also do a hot oil treatment which is also good.

Hope this helps!

x

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.

Viktoria wrote: GoldieLocks has a point when she suggests wearing your http://searchmiracle.com/search/search.php?qq=HAIR - 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 http://searchmiracle.com/search/search.php?qq=HAIR - 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://www.plastikhaar.ch/wholesale/

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

I don't know if this is much help but, I began eating lots of fruit and vegetables, and started eating healthy foods. I take a multivitamin too and drink fruit juice.  I was sick and decided to start eating healthy food.  I have noticed that lately my hair is growing much faster than before and my fingernails are thicker too.

Maybe this could work for you too?

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!

Just as a little update... I went and got my hair trimmed on June 3rd.  The stylist said that my hair was in better condition this time around.  My last trim was March 7... so that is almost an inch and a half.  .....On March 7 I was at 20 inches..and now i'm only at 20 and a 1/2.  My hair must not grow at the normal 1/2 inch a month....because I know she did not trim off a whole inch.

 I'm not getting anywhere.

Renee wrote: err...i have thin hair too but it has improved a lot since biotin and MSM have also helped

I just want mine to GROOWWWWWWWWW AGGGGGGGHHH

....so frustrated u could cry.....hmmm, I had a client today who is in tears because her hair falling out in handfuls due to cancer treatments...really...I would count you 1/2 inch blessings, and be glad u had hair to lighten (not bleach ) three times ........

Hey Amber...

I know what you mean about having to use heat on your hair every day.  I blow dry daily.  My only suggestion would be to splurge and get a good dryer (flat iron too!).  I really like the dryer I'm using now (except it's a little bulkier than I'm use to).  I hate to spend a lot of $$ on things, but I splurge on my hair stuff.  I also use the Phytodefrisant Relazing Baum (which I ordered from hairboutique.com  ).  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff.  You know how humid the weather gets in WV... my hair never gets frizzy and wavy using that stuff.

My hair is in relatively good shape (dispite the attempt to perm in February only to remove the perm with another perm a week later).  I'm on the grow again after cutting in February.  I had a baby and *thought* I wanted the ease of short hair.  I'm at 16" right now with a goal of around 24".  I'm going to PM you some information that helped me and may help you. 

Becky

bedhedgrl wrote: ....so frustrated u could cry.....hmmm, I had a client today who is in tears because her hair falling out in handfuls due to cancer treatments...really...I would count you 1/2 inch blessings, and be glad u had hair to lighten (not bleach ) three times ........

These forums are for people growing out there hair.  I do feel for people who have cancer and such but you need not try and be rude about my topic.  And as the old saying goes....If have nothing nice to say...don't say it at all.  I count my blessings each day....everyone has something they don't necessarily love about themselves....

And since your a newbie....Welcome  .......but I would suggest you being helpful if you want to get along here. 

Thanks......

These are supposed to be FUN boards. Everyone with a brain is sympathetic and supportive of people who lose their hair due to maladies. If we spent every second thinking about the troubles of the world, it would not help anyone, and would eventually drain the strength of people who can be of real help. It's nice to dream!

And, R Robey, I'm thrilled to hear your are planning on growing your hair back!  Good luck, Bob

I have sympathy for anyone whose hair isn't as they want it to be... cancer victims as well as those whose stylists trim too much.

Amber, it sounds to me like the stylist is still trimming off too much.  How fast does your hair grow?  At the rate of increase (based on your last trim), if your hair grows 4" per year, the stylist is trimming off 2 of those inches.  If it grows 6" per year, the stylist is trimming off 4 of those inches.  I'd suggest considering going much longer between trims - and telling the stylist to only trim 1/4" inch - and having a trusted friend along to watch to ensure that the stylist honors those wishes (and S&D splits on your own).  If your hair grows relatively slowly and the stylist is trimming off too much, it'll take what seems like forever for your hair to get longer. 

Sorry Amberjune,  bad dayyyyyyy  , and as a newbie I really want to talk about fun things too.  I really hope your hair is doing great!!! I also want to say be careful about putting your summer hair up, as those scrunchies/elastics ect can cause breakage ugh! thanx 4 being cool.......

Bedhedgrl, I just wanted to say WELCOME!!! You're going to enjoy your time here.

Anais

amber amber amberjune! Hi...

i havent posted on here for a while but your topic evoked me to reply!

i think your hair is lovely, your face too! youre absolutely stunning !

my tip is , to stop measuring your manes growth!...i know it can be a pain waiting for it to grow to your desired length, but watching it and checking it anddddddd wanting it to grow quick can be like watching a kettle boil.

im not suggesting you dont take good care of it whilst it grows. or not to get trims....(but saying that, maybe you could back off from visiting the salon for a while, spead your visits out more, etc) as in, dont get it trimmed so often. in the meantime, just enjoy the beautiful hair and length you already have, take care of it with the products that help make you feel confident about your hair, the ones you love to use, whether natural products or not (burts bees products are yummy and always make my hair feel lushywushy!) and try not to get stressed out about it. (i read somewhere stress can cause hair loss and stun growth!)

anyway, thats my 2 cents worth over and done with.

id just like to say again, your hair in your piccy album looks beautiful, you do too....and by your chatty and friendly posts, i can tell that your personality is too!

*hugs*

Asmara x

bedhedgrl wrote: Sorry Amberjune,  bad dayyyyyyy  , and as a newbie I really want to talk about fun things too.  I really hope your hair is doing great!!! I also want to say be careful about putting your summer hair up, as those scrunchies/elastics ect can cause breakage ugh! thanx 4 being cool.......

Aww its ok.  Lucky for you I was in a good mood! haha j/k

Thanks for the advice and once again, welcome.... you'll love it here!

*hugz*

shiverpale wrote: amber amber amberjune! Hi... i havent posted on here for a while but your topic evoked me to reply! i think your hair is lovely, your face too! youre absolutely stunning ! my tip is , to stop measuring your manes growth!...i know it can be a pain waiting for it to grow to your desired length, but watching it and checking it anddddddd wanting it to grow quick can be like watching a kettle boil. im not suggesting you dont take good care of it whilst it grows. or not to get trims....(but saying that, maybe you could back off from visiting the salon for a while, spead your visits out more, etc) as in, dont get it trimmed so often. in the meantime, just enjoy the beautiful hair and length you already have, take care of it with the products that help make you feel confident about your hair, the ones you love to use, whether natural products or not (burts bees products are yummy and always make my hair feel lushywushy!) and try not to get stressed out about it. (i read somewhere stress can cause hair loss and stun growth!)   anyway, thats my 2 cents worth over and done with.   id just like to say again, your hair in your piccy album looks beautiful, you do too....and by your chatty and friendly posts, i can tell that your personality is too!   *hugs*   Asmara x

Great post...thank you for your time in writing it AND your nice compiments!  It all sounds like great advice to me!!  I def do need cut back a lil on the visits to the salon...I just don't want it to look bad!  you know...

I'm a bit poor right now (being a college student makes you feel like you a have a hole in your pocket haha) so all the yummy products I like are a bit hard to afford right now... food has to come first ! agh!  hehe ...

Thanks for all the encouragement!

*hugz*