new thread
Hey all! I haven't posted an update here in a while (several months, to half a year, at least) so I thought I'd upload a couple pictures I had taken tonight. I apologize for the size and the lighting.
Front: Sorry about the big X. I decided I'd feel much more comfortable displaying online my hair.
Side:
Back:
I'd also like to note that I've been going over a month so far without any product (conditioner, shampoo, jojoba/aloe and what-have-you) applied to my hair. Things have been turning out well! All that I've done to maintain my hair and scalp is rinse with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water after thoroughly cleansing my hair with warm water. I follow the rinse with cold (as cold as I can stand) water and then I don't touch it until the next day.
These pictures are 'next day' hair and I've been outside most of the day, so my hair is probably looking a little 'meh'. Also my hair is probably looking a little dry in the pictures, and it is, but I just love how soft and natural it feels. IÂ’ve also had consistently more good hair days, less tangles, and more cash in my pocket since going water only.
I still can't believe that I came here almost a year ago with questions about washing and now I've got my own routine down. It's amazing how time flies! Thanks MenÂ’s Long Hair Hyperboard for helping me get to where I am with my hair today, and hopefully where IÂ’ll be in the future!
"displaying online my hair" is a typo. I ment to write "displaying only my hair."
Also, for some reason my side and back pictures got re-sized to be much smaller than they actually are. If it would help I can see about getting them properly sized by my image host.
Welcome back Bimclunk, you have a nice mane there. Keep growing it.
Absalom
Thanks for the welcoming. I'll be sure to keep up growing, and maybe some day have a mane as long and admirable as yours. :)
Hello Mr X,
Those curls are looking nice and long. How long have you been growing for ? you didn't say.
The natural approach is definitely the best approach. My current regime is water wash everyday and shampoo and deep condition once a week. I can't get more natural than that, otherwise my hair turns into a rats nest. I find my natural oils don't reach the ends of my hair as effectively as i would like, thus the need for deep conditioning for supplementary moisture.
Thanks for the reply and sorry for the shyness. :D I'm not very photogenic from the front so when I get a better picture taken I'll be sure to post it up.
I've been growing now since around the time I graduated high school (with several trims in between). That was back towards the summer of 2004. Wow, I'm approaching my second year! :)
I couldn't agree more with you about the natural approach being the best. My hair tests to get kind of 'nest-like' if I go for more than a few days without washing. Actually, it's not so much a nest as it is a oil-coated/dried tangle. Recently I've decided to wash every three days. Three, because I wash at night and my hair usually looks 'meh' on the day after (as viewed in those pics), improves on the next day, and is either best on the third or starting to look like I used too heavy a conditioner.
I've also got a problem with not producing enough oil to reach the ends. To combat that I, as mentioned, go more days without washing. The apple cider vinegar rinse also seems to help in the production of more oils, and using water-only helps spread the oils further down my hair. I've also found that finger-combing works fairly well (mostly in the shower or after waking up, for detangling), but for someone with as curly hair as you that may make things poof up. =P
I'm still experimenting with how to get this method to work right [i]for me[/i]. If there's one thing I've learned through growing hair it's not to try everything at once. Either you can go cold turkey like me and totally stop using any kind of shampoo/conditioner/whatever and 'suffer' for a few weeks while waiting for things to balance out (I was desperate and in a non-caring mood), or you can try things out very slowly. Right now I'm experimenting slowly, and will try to update you guys with my progress if there's any interest.
Thank you also for mentioning my curls! :) While they may not be nearly as defined or healthy-looking as yours, I do enjoy having them. Actually, ever since I started trying to re-moisturize my hair (less shampoo and such) my curls have been becoming more and more wavy. Either this is a result of my natural oils weighing them down, me sleeping on them, or that my hair is finally reaching its more natural state. I'm not very sure, but I'm pleased with the results.
You guys probably don't have as bad of a dry-hair problem as I do. I spent nearly a year on Acutane, which is an incredibly drying drug (to prevent serious acne), and I'm sure the bottom half of my hair is still fairly damaged and will, in the FAR future probably, need to be trimmed off. At least it feels healthier, softer, and less-dry though! :)
Thanks a lot again for the reply and I'm sorry for writing these big responses!
We have both been growing for aproximately the same amount of time. I started growing my hair after graduation aswell.
I love experimenting with my hair care. It is about finding what works best for the individual and yields the best results for their hair type.
Probably the length, hence the weight pulling your hair down. My hair has morphed and transformed, just with every inch :)
Well, infact i do. I have a dry, damaged patch at the back of my head, as you're aware. This might have been result of excessive residue cones buildup, UV ray damage, poor general hair care in my early days of growing, or just a lack of moisture to the ends of my curls. I have been deep conditioning my hair once a week with GF for dry, damaged hair. It boasts to repair dry, brittle hair. So far the results have been pleasing. I also lubricate the dry, dead ends with natural leave in conditioner. It is in alot better condition now, but cost me much stress and worry a while back. My hair was just fried at the back, dry and frizzy and lacked vitality and life to the curls. I also may need to trim the damage off, a few inches on the ends, in the future. However, the rest of my hair is in very good condition and well looked after.
No problems, i write big responses too.
The founder of the Curlygirl haircare method (her name escapes me) mentioned that the less hair is shampooed, the curlier it becomes. It may be more specifically the lack of silicones/sulfates one experiences on this haircare method, something you'd surely be going through on a (relatively) no-product routine.
Hair is looking great....
The nose-job is a bit disappointing though ! HA!
You don't like it? =P
No product at all? Really... That's quite interesting. It's an extension of the routine I'm on, in which you avoid shampoos and condition frequently, using clarifiers such as your own cider vinegar to "wash" the scalp. I've been on my method for 5 months, but I have to say that in one month your hair looks better than mine already. :( Amazing! I've got to do some more research on your routine.
I'm assuming you mean your hair was washed the day before the pics, but if this is your "meh," I'd die from envy to see your "yay"...
Keep up the excellent work, dude!
If you'd like to know where I researched the idea, the Long Hair Community has a great thread about it: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=19345
I'd also like to mention that I exaggerated a tad when I said no product at all for a month. About two weeks ago I cracked and did a CO "clarify" with some Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut conditioner to get out some residue I thought I had in my hair. Since then things have been feeling much better. Still, I think two weeks of water only is fairly decent. :)
My only problem is that I'm usually finger-combing my hair (probably not very good for someone with curly-ish hair) to, I presume, help distribute oils. I'm also still 'adjusting' to using water only. It's definatly a more natural approach, but my body must still be used to my old routine of getting rid of most oil instead of embracing it.
You're exaggerating as well. :D I've seen your update pics and can definatly say I'm envious of [i]your[/i] hair. :)
Looks fantastic!
I have been starting to use ACV (the unpastuerized Bragg brand) a little more often myself. I like it, so far. Your results are very encouraging.
Please do show your face next time - not a thing to hide!
- Oren
hi,
your hair is growing great - nice length and texture - it looks very good ...
it's good to hear u find a hair routine and greater to hear that u dont require any products ... u must have a great type of hair ...
i tried the 'water only' routine a few days but my scalp gets greasy very fast and only water is not able to remove the grease from my scalp/hair - short said: it looked awful after a few days and started to itch =)
i also stopped using conditioner about 1 month ago cos i got a serious kind of build-up problem ...
do u wash your hair with that water-vinegar mixture or do u first wash it with water and then leave the vinegar in ur hair ?
btw: that rinsing the hair at the end of the washing procedure was a great hint - the difference can be felt right after the washing ...
greez and keep your locks growin,
ALH
Thankyou, but I don't believe it's that great. More natural if anything. :)
Your scalp probably hasn't adjusted yet. It's probably still used to pumping out excess sebum to coat your hair that's been stripped by shampoo's and (believe it or not) conditioners. I'd say give it a few weeks as I have. Right now I experience no itching and my scalp actually seems to be improving. No flakes, no excess oil, a white coating that had been on it for years is seeming to slowly disappear, and I'm not wasting money trying to find the 'perfect' shampoo/conditioner for [i]me[/i]. I've already found the perfect conditioner and it's all-natural and in unlimited supply! :)
So far the benefits are outweighing the additional adjustment period.
Also, the water doesn't remove the oils [b]completly[/b], but rather helps them spread. The rinse towards the end is, I believe, what helps remove the excess.
If you're experiencing serious build-up then you might try using a clarifying shampoo. It's very drying but should take out all of the silicones and gunk being built-up in your hair and scalp. These days I've learned that conditioner applied to my scalp causes me to itch and break out with sore bumps, so I avoid conditioner unless used on the length of my hair. I'd also like to add that the vinegar acts as a natural clarifier and should remove residue and excess oil, or so I've been told.
First I wash my hair with warm-to-cold water to help cut and get the oil moving. Make sure to wash wash wash. I'm usually standing there with water going through each side of my hair for many minutes (I take long showers).
Next I take a mixture of about one cup water and one tablespoon apple cider vinegar that I prepared before going in the shower, mix it up some more with a spoon, and run it over the front, back, and side of my head. Try not to get it in yours eye! It stings. :D I massage this into my hair and especially my scalp for a little bit and rinse rinse rinse it all out. I rinse for another few minutes.
Then I finish by turning the water to cold and letting the water run on my scalp and hair for about a minute. Usually I stand far away from the stream and tilt my head backwards to avoid the stream. I'm sure it must look somewhat silly, especially when I try to turn around and shut off the water. :D
So you've tried it? Hopefully it helped. I also recommend the apple cider vinegar rinse if you choose to continue with your current hair-washing routine.
Thanks for the reply. :)
