Have been trying to grow my hair. . .
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Long Hair Happenings
Forum Name: Long Hair Support
Forum Description: Growing it long takes commitment and support.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=30673
Printed Date: November 01 2025 at 1:25pm
Topic: Have been trying to grow my hair. . .
Posted By: Kristine391
Subject: Have been trying to grow my hair. . .
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 4:25pm
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Hi all! I've been a member here, but haven't visited the forums for a long time, so I had to re-register. I've been trying to grow out my hair for several years now, and it's naturally just almost to the middle of my back. I don't blow dry except on special occasions (2x a month) or straighten either, but I do use Clairol Herbal Essences XL4 on my roots as my natural hair color grows out (medium/dark blonde). I've been taking HairTopia for about 2 years, Viviscal, and other nutrients not found in the HairTopia and have found that it has just encouraged hair growth (after experimenting with not using them). I just recently stopped trimming my hair, and have found that this seems to be the only way to get my hair to grow longer. I was told by a stylist I need to trim, but it never grows past a certain point when I do that? Anyway, just wanted to stop in and say hi again to all of you who have been so helpful to me!! Kris  |
Replies:
Posted By: Katja
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 5:47pm
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Hey, I think I remember you! That's great that you've found a way to get your hair to grow longer. And don't listen to stylists when they say you need trims- they just want to profit from keeping our hair the same length. ------------- "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." -Woody Allen |
Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 4:06pm
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Hi Katja! I remember you too I believe, and I agree about the stylists because the proof was in the results. I do have a question. Is it possible to color your hair (not re-color over already colored hair) as long as it's low ammonia, fairly gentle and doesn't leave my hair in any weakened condition (that is obvious to the eye) and still grow it long? My goal is to grow my hair to my waist, or just above. This is my past, and looking at my hair, it is definitely not as thick or healthy looking as most everyone on this site's, but taking into account I used to have severe hair loss and breakage where I could not grow my hair past my chin, or just to my shoulders. It would break off, and then there were definite signs of severe thinning. This was caused by stress, nutritional deficiencies and anemia. I had been told I had Androgenetic Alopecia, but I have not lost any hair in 9 years, my hair growing longer and longer and not falling anymore, as well as tripling in the thickness department. I don't blow dry, use heat appliances, and put it up in a loose ponytail/bun after it's been air dried for several hours (it's still damp, but then it's time for bed). I will blow dry and use a Ceramic Pro Straightener on only special occasions, maybe 1-2 times a month (I think I'm repeating myself here), but I have noticed that my hair is growing wildly now. Just several months ago it would not grow because of the hair trimming - this just caused my hair to split at the ends and the length remained the same. Now that I've stopped cutting it, there is none of that. I have dark blonde/light brown hair and have gone prematurely gray at 25, but only about 20-30%, so I really feel as if I need to color my hair. I have been told that Natural Instincts is gentle, but it doesn't do much for helping with shine or the way I like the color to be. If I had a darker brown or lighter color, not the color I have now (which is just mousy), I would not color or think of it. I am going to try the conditioning for shampoo method with vinegar rinse (I used to do this about 4 years ago) for clarification. We're going to Jamaica in 2 weeks, and I'm worried that my hair will fall out. I went to a beach house 2 years ago, and I had hundreds of hair fall out after ever shampoo, so I'm concerned. I came home from vacation with terrible looking and feeling hair. As soon as I got home, however, my hair stopped falling out immediately. I don't know if I need to use a vinegar rinse to help avoid this, or if the water was the culprit? Sorry this was so long. You all are such a wealth of information. Thanks! Kris |
Posted By: eKatherine
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 7:02pm
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To answer your first and last questions:
I color my hair with permanent hair color, and it's in good shape. The key, as you know, is never overdyeing. I think it was the stress of travel that caused you to shed last time. I always come home from a trip exhausted and immediately get sick. ------------- 
Just looking for a few good hair slaves - is that too much to ask? |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 14 2005 at 4:00pm
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Hi Kris! Welcome back! Your hair is looking good! Whatever you've been doing to it, keep it up.  (good to hear you've discovered the secret to actually growing your hair longer  )------------- |
Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: May 15 2005 at 1:03am
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EKatherine, I think you're absolutely right. I have a highly
reactive problem when it comes to stress and hairloss, so that was
probably what factored in. Also, I try to color every 2-3 months,
only the roots, so I'm not touching any of the colored portions, and
I'm glad to hear that you're doing the same and getting good results. :) Hi Dave!! So good to see ya - you have been SO helpful to me in the past, and taking your suggestions helped a lot. I think that although it will take patience and time, the hair growth will come eventually. I started thinking about how if I don't want to have unhealthy, long hair, I better start treating it as if it's going to be around for a long time and treat my hair accordingly. I really have noticed a huge difference when I stopped blow drying and straightening/curling for the most part and putting it up in a loose bun/ponytail at night when it's just a little damp (it takes so long to dry, so I end up washing it at about 6:00 p.m. and putting it up at about 11:00 or later then going to sleep). I wake up the next morning with more fullness, and just put it in a ponytail that has a wave to it, or wear it down with several very small clips and a scarf to tie my hair back to keep it out of my face (I wear it like a headband). This seems to decrease the stress to my hair, and since the breakage is almost non-existant, I think this is the way I need to keep it up. I've only been doing this for several months now if I can remember correctly, so I'm hopeful that continuing this way will allow me to grow it long. I know you had said before if I could grow it long in the past, I could most likely grow it long in the future - that helped a lot to know that. Thanks for the kind words! I have always been so inspired by your hair (I loved the pic of the line of you and the others brushing one another's hair!). Take care! :) Kris |
Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: May 16 2005 at 7:13am
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Though eKatherine is likely right, that it was the stress that made you
shed hair last time, do you bring your own shampoo and conditioner or
use what the hotel provides? You may benefit from bringing your
own stuff in small bottles if you don't already. ------------- Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 4:41pm
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In re: to the shampoo, I remember just switching over to a new shampoo
and conditioner with vitamins included. The name of the products
were Hair Fitness, and the lady who developed them had very long,
blonde hair and stated she colored her hair and the hair products she
developed made her hair grow long, fast and encouraged healthy hair
growth and lessened hair fallout. They did NOT work at all for
me, and this may have been the cause. I did use the shampoo and
conditioner/vitamins before I left, but only for a couple of days, so
these could have been part of the problem (stress included). Good idea about bringing my own products in smaller bottles - space savers are good things. :) Kris |
Posted By: rainfrogg
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 5:56pm
| Kinda off topic but I was just wondering what haircolor your dyed hair is? I absolutely love the color, it looks really good! Are you a cool skin tone? |
Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 2:00am
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Hi rainfrogg, and thanks! I use Clairol Herbal Essences XL4 Sheer Diamond (Extra Light Cool Blonde) which is supposed to minimize any red or gold tones (in the picture it looks more golden - it looks a little more ash in real life). Yes, I consider myself to have a cool skin tone (I don't have any pink undertones at all to my skin, more golden and yellow). Kris :) |
Posted By: norskygrl21
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 9:04am
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Hi Kristine and Rainfrogg- Just so you know, if you do not have pink undertones you are actually a warm skintone. Warms are yellow and gold/orange based. Cools are blue and red/pink based. ------------- 2C-Fine-Normal, 23 inches wavy Base of ponytail circumference: 4 inches Goal: BSL, Approximately 2 to 3 inches from current length |
Posted By: laststar
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 1:07pm
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Welcome back Kristine, your hair looks awesome I hope you get
alot more lenghth, I have used hf37 and that seemed to work
pretty well for me. My hair is almost as long as yours and I
would like it elbow / waist lenght, how long do you want
yours? anyway good luck, Starfighter |
Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 4:43pm
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norskygrl, thanks for clearing that up! I was told I had "cool"
undertones by a makeup consultant and to look for the cooler shades of
colors when choosing hair colors, etc. and to also use colors in the
ash spectrum as opposed to golden, etc. Hi Starfighter. :) Thanks! I also used HF37 for awhile and it works great, but I decided to switch over to HairTopia since the capsules seem to give me no problems with my stomach (I have an ulcer which occasionally bothers me). I notice the aminos really make the hair grow FAST. I also am using Viviscal - I stopped taking them for awhile and noticed a marked difference in my hair...it did not seem as healthy at all, and my husband even noticed, so I started taking them again, but one per day instead of two. It can become quite pricey. I also want my hair about waist length, so I'd be interested in hearing how your hair growth goes. Please let me know.
I'm noticing that the longer it gets, the more I really have to care
for the ends, i.e. I started using a deep leave in conditioner for just
the ends, and this has really helped with tangles which I tend to get
at the ends of my hair. I'm hoping I can get the length without
cutting, as I've done so many times before.Kris :) |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 9:08pm
(I have nothing of real "value" to post here... but I cannot get over how amazing your hair is, Kris...) 
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Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 6:55am
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I have to agree with norskygrl that I thought you looked like a warm
tone too, and the shirt color and hair color you had chosen (in your
old avatar) was very flattering on your golden tones. Your hair
looks great in your new avatar too, love the curls!
------------- Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com |
Posted By: rainfrogg
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 6:48pm
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From what I've learned as far as skin tone, I think it's more the eye color, lip color, and hair color that determine it rather than pure skin color. I am a cool tone, yet my skin looks 'tan' sometimes or golden. The key though is to look at the underside of your wrist, if its blue, you're cool, if it's green, you're warm. If you can wear really bright or 'true' colors, youre cool, if you wear earthy, more natural tones, youre warm- although there are always 'neutral' people, they can wear anything. I really like your hair color though, it fits you perfectly. Your eye color and roots look like my color so I might try out the color you have .
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Posted By: Kristine391
Date Posted: June 16 2005 at 2:38pm
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Thanks Dave, Susan and Rainfrogg! I have a terrible time with tangling, because my hair is naturally curly/wavy. My hair in the avatar was just air dried the day before when I washed it, which I try to do most of the time to eliminate any heat styling damage (if I blow dry, curl or straighten, I tend to have quite a bit of breakage). Thanks a bunch for the information on warm/cool tones - I didn't realize that and it will help me pick colors (makeup, clothes, etc.) for the future. (the underside of my wrist looks more green, so I would say I'm a warm tone). :) Kris |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: July 06 2005 at 6:43pm
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What's new Kris? (I am still catching up with
threads on the boards, after having been away on vacation and having
computer problems for a few weeks). Anyway, tell
us more about your tangling issues. How do you wear your hair
most of the time? How often, and by what means, do you detangle?
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