new thread
I just thought that I would share some tips that I have learned over the years. If you can avoid these issues your hair will look more healthy.
1. Don't trim hair for the first two years when going it out.
2. Don't dye or color hair.
3. No perms. (These aren't popular at the moment)
4. No dreadlocks ( they ruin your hair in the long run)
5. braids ( I don't do them, but they may not harm your hair if done right)
6. No heat treating such as hair irons etc.
7. If your not sure about cutting it short again don't do it!
Follow the 2 week rule. If you have even one doubt, don't
do it.
8. Don't let women use you as a living doll! ( this is concerning your hair)
not even Henna dye? from what i gather its actually beneficial.....i plan on dying black or darker brown with a hint of indigo.
Good advice.
Here's some other comments:
Don't make your ponytail too tight. Especially, if you keep pulling your hair to tighten the tail, you risk breaking lots of individual hairs
Braids - not sure if you were for them or against - again - too tight can be damaging, but a loose braid, especially worn at night, can be very good, as it helps to reduce tangling
Be gentle with your hair - brushing or combing too hard can do a lot of damage
Be careful to use only shampoos, conditioners and oils which suit you. There's a lot of info about if you are looking for the right products (or are considering CO (Conditioner only), WO (Water only), or even not washing at all. Look here on this board for other peoples' opinions, or try other boards as well, such as The Long Hair Community at
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/
where there is a specific products section. At a guess, about 10% of the people there are men, but the women are also very supportive of men who are wanting to look after their hair.
*** No dreads? If I got them and kept them for about 4 years or so then chopped them off. Would my new hair be damaged? Might be a noob question.. sorry.
Thoughts on thoughts...
And unless you really want a blunt cut, don't trim it after two years, get a pair of hair quality scissors and cut split and damaged strands individually (this helps with tangling).
Protect your hair, both when it is short, and as it grows, because that hair you are growing out now, will be your length in the future. Braiding, ponytailing, bunning, hats and hair coverings are IMPORTANT! Given enough exposure, the sun will damage your hair.
Hairtoys and Tools
Moulded plastic items should have the ridges filed or sanded off, metal items should have the edges filed or sanded smooth to the touch. Elastic type items should have no metal parts. Wood and horn items should be smooth and snag free.
Hair Maintenance
Find a routine that keeps your hair and scalp happy (using less products/different products/different routines can make a dramatic difference in shed rate and hair condition.) Brushes typically do more damage and cause more shedding than fingers or combs (especially for curlies). Detangle from the bottom up, comb or wash after detangling.
After two weeks, if you still want to cut it, check in on a longhair board for alternatives.
For cuts or trims or anything that may cause damage. Having someone respectfully playing with your hair can be pretty nice.
1. Don't trim hair for the first two years when going it out.
I've had two in my first 18 months, and had no problems. I felt that they would be beneficial, and I believe they have been.
However, I agree with the rest of your post.