new thread
I'm new to the forum. I've been periodically browsing through for the last year, ever since I've decided to stop growing my hair, so I've been a lurker. But this is my first post. Hello, all! :)
So, as I said, I stopped cutting my hair maybe 15 months ago or therebouts. My hair is naturally very curly and thick, but I've maintained a steady diet of cutting to about an inch or two long every 4 months or so for my whole life. I like the way it looks like this, though I'll admit that it can be at times a little overbearing. My hair doesn't grow down so much as out and then down. It's like a dragchute for my head.
I've actually got two separate issues. The first is the subject of this post. My hair makes normal swimming impossible for me. When I turn my head to breathe, I get nothing but a throatful of hair, and the hair's REALLY thick when wet, especially if wet with seawater. I haven't bothered trying a swimcap because I'm under the impression that it wouldn't fit over my hair. I've tried tieing the hair with elastic but the elastic tends to just fall off. What do the other longhairs here do when swimming?
A side issue, to any longhairs with particularly thick or curly hair, do you get knots? If so, what do you do about them, preventatively or to get rid of them? I've just been manually unknotting the hairs, which inevitably results in aching wrists, sore scalp, and at least a few hairs from any one knot being themselves knotted, which in turn makes it far more likely to be involved in a knot in the future, and that I just don't have the patience to manually unknot (though I should probably try).
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the rambling :)
I would recommend a swimming cap - keeps hair under control and preserves it from the chlorine for the most part.
i'm not sure exactly how long your hair is, but i find the best thing to do it to put mine up in a tight bun. but before you swim, get your hair wet with the faucet first (this prevents too much chlorine/saltwater soaking in and keeps damage to a minimum).
Nic,
How do you secure your bun for swimming?
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Nic Nic Nic.....
You make a wonderfull bun, I am now jealous.
peace
awww... thanks, honey!
trust me, my first few didn't look nearly that nice. it certainly takes a bit of practice. i bet you would look super cute with your hair in sticks.
peace out,
nic nic nic
I'd second Nic's sentiment.
Personally I am just waiting until mine gets longer so everything gets in a bun and so that the bun is not a tiny little bump. Then I shall rock the sticks as sticks have never been rocked before (outside of Nic's hair of course).
O.k.....I guess Ill habe to go get some sticks tomorrow and start practicing just for you nic.
peace
pictures are always appreciated...
Super terror!
i've been meaning to respond to your email. i swear!! i've only been getting a minute or two here and there online. hopefully tomorrow night i'll have more time.
hugs!!
nic
I have long, straight hair that has grown to about mid-back. I swim at least 3 times per week. I put my hair up into a ponytail, and secure the ponytail with a small rubber band (you can get them in the hair-care aisle at any Wal-Mart store). Then I shower and wet
my hair thoroughly. I then put on a silicone (not latex) rubber cap on my head, pulling it over my forehead and ears on both sides. Then I roll my ponytail tightly around a finger, and tuck the rolled up ponytail up under the back of my head and the back of
the cap as far up as it will go. And that's it! It's really simple,
and has worked for me for more than a decade. Even my straight hair
gets tangled after swimming, though. So after showering and drying
only with a towel, I usually do a little bit of finger combing to
start the hair out with its natural drying process. I only air dry. I would never, ever consider using an electric hair dryer
or "heat gun." Good luck!
Try wearing a bathing cap and your problems will be solved. If anyone makes fun of you for it, then that's their problem.
Best thing to do is finger comb and make sure you are using plenty of conditioner. If the tangles and knots are taking-up too much of your time it may be due to Split-ends which should be removed right away..........the sooner the better.
Hope this helps.
Hey, no need to be sorry. That is what this board is all about: Helping people who desire long hair.
Best of luck to you and welcome! :-)
Thanks for the quick, warm responses guys (and Nic). And thanks for the welcome, Justin :)
Swimcaps...well, I have honestly never tried. I'd been dismissing them out of hand as not being able to fit over my hair, but I don't have firsthand experience to back that up, so maybe it'll work. I'm also pretty new to putting my hair up or back. When I put it up/back, it's pretty sloppy. If I neaten it up a bit, I may be able to slip it under a cap, and maybe even cut down on those knots (which I think are generally caused by my haphazard way of balling my hair up at the back of my head).
Though simply for aesthetics, I'd of course prefer not needing a cap :) I honestly can't believe, Nic, that you swim with chopsticks in. Don't they fall out?
I've been finger combing for the past two days, and it's definitely improved, 200%, thanks for the suggestion. And wetting my hair with tap water first seems like a good idea, too. And, of course, I never use a blowdrier, either.
Thanks again!
i have never had my sticks fall out in the pool. then again, i've been putting my hair up in buns for many years, so i've got the process down pat. i suppose someone new to it may have some trouble getting them secure enough the first few times.