new thread
I had one of those moments recently where I just felt that my hair was longer. Sometimes it's hard to notice because we're watching it everyday.
Lately I'm noticing more tangles than ever before. It's gotten to the point where I've had to leave the house still with tangles. I can think of several possibilities.
The biggest problem is my wavy hair as these pics from today show. In a couple of these it had been brushed lightly and in one just finger combed.
I'm thinking the waves are just harder to detangle than straight hair because the waves are going in more than one direction.
I think what may also be affecting it that I've now been 8 months without at trim. I was wanting to wait a year like last time but I'm thinking a small trim could really help my tattered ends and perhaps save more damage.
Finally on to braiding. With steady practice, it's easy to get better fairly quickly.
This is the braid I've been wearing out (yes I wear it to work!) It is formed by starting braiding with the strand on my left side. There are two things I don't like about it: it tends to veer off the right side. It also doesn't leave a balanced nice look to how my hair is showing at the base of the braid.
This pic was actually taken last month:
Recently I've tried beginning to braid with the right strand. I'm finding it overall hard to get a balanced looking braid but I love the way it is in the area where the braid is leaving the head. Notice tons of escaped hairs but I still like the look near the neck area. The braid leaves the head in a more fluent way.
Your hair has gotten quite a bit longer, Jason. You notice it less because you see it every day. I can see a difference. As for dealing with tangles, and to minimize damage, you might go to a pick which has widely spaced long teeth. I know you use a brush, which may not be as gentle on tangles. A little jojoba oil may help too. Keep growing it.
Absalom
the advice of Absalom. Or, finger-comb 1st and then follow-up with a wide-toothed comb. If all doesn't still work and your back is to the wall a "slight" trim in your case may be in order.
For the same reason as yourself, I also had my back to the wall and several weeks ago had my slight trim. It worked wonders and with luck another won't be needed for at least a year and a half. I believe it was your 3rd photo down which showed the matted clump of tangles.........which I was finally having to deal with myself all over the place. A "trim" for me is a last resort measure when everything else fails.
My best to you in getting the problem solved.
Justin~
Wow! Nevermind how you feel, you definitely look like a longhair now. That is an AWESOME self-braid there. I gave up on braiding, because while I managed to do it, I couldn't manage to do it *quickly*. I couldn't wear one to work, not because anyone would mind how it looks, but because I'm always rushing out in the morning and can't afford the time it would take to make a comfortable all-day braid.
That's probably part of it.
And this is the rest of it! A long time without a trim and besides what damage exists in the ends, you have a larger range on lengths which give more opportunities for tangling.
Is your hair long enough for S&D? I've found that a good S&D session does wonders when my hair starts getting excessively tangly.
And...nice braids.
Super hair is growing to even super lengths! DON'T trim it! Just leave it alone. Remember, hair grows from the scalp, and not from the ends.
Your hair just looks Great! Jason. really good. Hope things are good there, at least in the pictures the weather looks great too! take care
Both braids are quite an acheivement I would say. They look very good. Very neat and out of the way for activities. In some ways it is reminiscent of the Napoleonic era British sailors. I don't know!?
I imagine the slight trim you are talking about would make a big difference in the tangles. It used to work for me back in the day. The color is unique and radiant as always.
Wavy hair does tangle easier, and curly even more. I hardly even comb mine now. Glad the wide tooth comb worked out for you. That is all I ever use.
Your hair is just outstanding now.....the texture and colour are fantastic. All your patience and good hair care has really paid off......you deserve to enjoy showing it off !!
Thanks for Sharing
Walter White Tail
You're a real inspiration to those of us slowly and patiently waiting. Definitely awesome hair!
Your website is pretty cool too! =)
-James
Another excellent update, Jason! Your hair has certainly grown in length (wasn't it just below the shoulders the other day?) and in beauty as well. You have that almost subtly wavy hair that just looks amazing, and with your uncommon (well, referring to the exact color) hair color, wow. Congratulations on a splendid update, and I'm not being superfluous when I say that I hope to have an update as sweet as this one in the future. And you have to admit that even with their tangles, waves/curls are rockin' in the end. ;P
Brilliant braids, although, like you, I prefer the look of the right-strand one. This strand-you-start-with idea is new to me; I'd never thought that the strand you start with would make much of a difference. I almost always start with the right strand and am generally somewhat plased with the result, but I'm definitely going to experiment with the left now.
Wearing braids to work - ironic image, isn't it? I'm not sure what you do for a living, but I just get the idea of the clean-cut blue-collar guys doing a double-take when they see a longhaired guy, with a braid no less, walking casually into a cubicle, whistling with his cup of coffee. I've got to do that one day, assuming my hair will ever braid quickly - it takes a fair deal of detangling and wetting to get my hair anywhere close to braid-able status.
Have you tried pigtail/double braids before? I get the idea they'd look really cool on you. And what of that braided half-tail I believe you tried once before?
Best of luck with everything, my friend.
Peace
Thanks, dude. Believe my you're well on your way. Your last update was fantastic.
It might just be the fact that I'm right-handed and that somehow affects my hand movements as I make the braid. I formed the triange of three strands slightly differently on that second braid so that is part of it too.
I do accounting in an office environment. At first I thought I'd never wear a braid but I just decided, who cares? No one has said anything. I think everyone is used to me being kind of wacky with my hair so they probably feel it's normal for me. *grin* I usually only wear a braid with day two hair as freshly washed hair is much harder to braid.
I haven't tried double braids yet. I tried to do another half-tail braid for this update but it just wasn't coming out right. I need to work more on that one.