new thread
Hi everyone. Long time no post. I hope you guys can help me out here. I'm in my 14th month of growing my hair and I am seriously considering cutting it. I have tried everything to stop split ends. I've oiled, stopped shampooing, changed shampoo, just used conditioner, had a trim, haven't straightened,air dried, finger combed and even search and destroy and yet I still have terrible split ends and my hair is exceptionally frizzy. It rests on my shoulders normally but on a particularly humid/rainy day it lies just under my ears.
Not to mention the fact that I had much higher hopes as to what my hair would look like... I have always wanted long hair and it would really hurt me to cut it but I am battling to grow it out.
I really think I need some motivation here.
Thanks everyone
Hi Kyle ...
First make a decision not to cut it for awhile to really think about it first.. You don't want to jump into something too quickly. What took over a year to achieve can be destroyed in minutes..
Secondly; if you post a picture we may be better suited to help. Sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit ... and it may not be as bad as you think..
Have you tried using some gel to help with the frizzies? It seems to have helped me get through the humid days.. It sounds like you're in the awkward phase of growth so gel should help.
As far as the split-ends go ... this may seem like an odd question; but are you taking a good multi-vitamin? Sometimes not enough of the right vitamin intake and complexes (B) can be seen through hair (and nails for that matter). Most people can get them by eating a well balanced diet; but others cannot due to absorption issues through the GI tract, in which supplements may be of benefit. In any case, I really hope some of this helps.
Remember. . . . when you do find something that works ... stick with it because it'll all be worth it one day..
Take care and good luck..
Tristan
I was like you a few months ago, just keep with it and you'll start noticing the length.
Hi Kyle,
The last time you shared a pic here, I don't remember seeing your hair look anything other than in GREAT condition; but, just for the sake of answering your question, I will assume that it is as bad as you say it is (even though I believe we are often our own worst critics)...
First of all, I think Tristan has an excellent point about making sure you're getting the best proper nutrition. I am by no means an expert on this topic, --- other than I have always eaten a well-balanced diet, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as plenty of protein (my problem is just that I like to eat too much of it - lol)....
Secondly, whenever you do shampoo and condition, there is a CORRECT way to do so, --- meaning, according to people who have studied Cosmetology, they advise as follows: 1) shampoo with warm water, working up a lather by massaging your scalp, using the pads of your fingertips; 2) rinse, followed by repeating step #1 if you feel it needs it; 3) rinse again VERY thoroughly to make sure you get all of the shampoo residue out; 4) apply conditioner liberally (I do not put conditoner on my scalp, but just on the lower half of my hair, since my scalp produces plenty of natural oil on its own), combing it through and leaving it in the hair for at least a couple of minutes; 5) rinse out the conditioner in COOL water (this is important, since cool water helps close the cuticles and cuticle plates of the hair, thus trapping some of that much-needed moisture inside)...
Other than following the above method, I try to stretch my shampoo days as far apart as I can tolerate (for me personally, that usually tends to be only 3 - 4 days apart). I usually only apply beneficial oil onto the ends if they are noticeably dry after my shampoo day.
Other than the above suggestions, I believe split ends are actually genetic, --- in that some people don't have problems with splits at all, whereas others have to be on constant "Split End Patrol" (like me)!
Worst-case-scenario... you may have to make a choice between one of the following "lesser of two evils": 1) ignore what split ends you get, while still trying your best to take good care of your hair; 2) trim your hair back to a length that you remember experiencing less problems with splits.
Some people also swear by Water Washing Only. I am not one of those people, since I like the feeling of freshly shampooed hair once in awhile; but I assume one of the other members who do WWO may reply and advise such. This is an individual choice, --- and we all have different types of hair, as well as different degrees of oiliness to our scalps, etc.
There is no reason in the world you should have to cut all your hard-earned long hair back to short (unless you truly wish to do that). The worst-case scenario that I predict you may eventually decide upon is that maybe a more "medium-length" might work out to be the best compromise, --- if for some reason you find that your genetics won't allow you to grow to the length we often call, "super-long"...
HOWEVER, in the meantime... I hope you're not just being overly critical of your hair, because of being in the middle of the awkward stage!!
Please keep us posted, --- and I hope some of these ideas have helped!
- Ken in San Francisco
Ken, you should change your name to Hair Guru.
Could we get a pic of the damage?
Hi Kyle
I'm saddened to hear your having so much trouble since you've made so much progress. Please try and resist the urge to cut it as you'll regret it and only feel worse. I wish I could suggest something but you've already tried just about everything. In the end it may be your type of hair is the way it is.
If I have any ideas after posting this I'll do another post or send you an e mail. but for now I want to urge you not to chop it off.
Hopefully one of the others may have ideas.
Kevin
Hi Kyle
Can you post a pic? Then we can probably offer some practical advice, rather than just moral support. But on the moral support front you need to know that 14 months is bang in the middle of the awkward stage. By the time you get the two year mark a lot of these problems iron themselves out.
In the meantime though I'm really sure I can help you out if you can just post a good recent pic, so get hold of a camera and lets see the mane.
I have dry hair and my ends of my hair used to split at the ends . What I do now is were a shower cap to bed, it helps a lot .....
Apart from what everybody already said, if nothing helps, maybe you should try a hairstyle like dreadlocksm, for example?
I could be VERY wrong, but I think that dreadlocks will be good with your hair...
By the way, good tips there, Ken! Thanks.