new thread
I’m in a reflective mood today as I approach my 18 month mark and I was just thinking of why I find this site so useful… In short this site has helped make my journey (this time around) considerably easier. The valuable bits of information I’ve gathered from this site, things that have worked for me to achieve rather healthy, split-end free hair include:
1) Use of wide-toothed wooden combs
2) Knowledge that hair is most fragile when wet
3) Refraining from blow drying
4) Washing hair with shampoo twice a week, using conditioner everyday
5) Using high quality salon shampoo and conditioner
6) Refraining from visiting a barber/hair stylist for maintenance trims when growing hair out. Just let it grow.
7) Be confident/proud of your long hair look, not shy or uncertain and others will accept you more willingly.
What do you consider the most valuable things you’ve learned at this site??
perseverance
not to be rough when drying
counbing and conditioning regularly
that i DONT have split ends most of hte time when i think it
This is certainly a supportive site. I don't think you'll find a consensus here though on some of the topics you seem to imply this site recommends:
4) Washing hair with shampoo twice a week, using conditioner everyday
I agree shampooing every day is not a good thing but I don't think many use conditioner every day.
5) Using high quality salon shampoo and conditioner
I've found Suave to be the best. 'High quality' doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work with your hair type.
6) Refraining from visiting a barber/hair stylist for maintenance trims when growing hair out. Just let it grow.
Opinions on this one are highly divergent. I think getting very small trims every 9-12 months improves hair's overall health and can aid in the growing process.
FYI - The ingredients found in most "high quality" shampoos and conditioners are the same found in much cheaper brands like Suave (the same brand I use). When you pay for a "high quality" alternative, all you're really paying for is the branding.
I didn't find this site until 1997, by which time my hair was already mid-back, so I didn't have an source of support. Thankfully, I've never needed any, but I have enjoyed sharing my experiences and advice with other men who aspire to grow long hair.
I learned:
1) it's never too late to grow your hair out!
2) there is no secret to being a longhair, just stop the haircuts (seems obvious doesn't it, then why did I feel the need to research the subject, thus finding this site? lol)
3) longhairs make a great community to hang with :)
The most valuable piece of advice a potential long-hair can get here is:
Don't even go remotely close to scissors before the 2-year mark....I have split ends like nobody's business...but I'm determined not to do anything with it until I reach the 2-year mark.. :))
The two-week rule.
oh, and respect your elders!