new thread
I've read through a lot of the messages on this board and looked at a few hair sites. It seems a lot of people have a lot of different ideas on how to grow long hair. I'd be interested in knowing if anybody has a background in the hair business or if anybody can give me some scientifically proven methods to make hair grow out as fast and as neatly as possible.
I've just recently gotten out of the military and decided it was time to grow my hair out long. I'd tried a few times but it seems my hair just isn't willing to cooperate. I have the 'Mr. Spock' type hair by the way which I've always hated and tried to get rid of. I think the only two ways of avoiding it are to keep my hair incredibly short or incredibly long. I'm going the long way. The last time I tried to grow it long, it ended up going to my shoulders and either curling up or falling out. I dread that maybe my hair just isn't the type that will grow long but I'll give it one more shot. My goal is to get it at least a foot past my shoulders.
I'd like to know if there is any truth to the vitamin B, hormone, jello theories. I've had a friend tell me that brushing it a lot will get it to grow quicker. I'd also like to know more about the supposed banes of hair growth such as combing when wet and soda (please say it ain't so). What is the effect of dying one's hair? I recently died mine from brown to black but I'm guessing it isn't very beneficial to growing hair. Should I stop? And what about Rogaine and Propecia? Can they speed up hair growth or do they just stop hair loss?
I appreciate any information you can offer.
I don't see the problem with brushing when wet. The brush tends to go through my hair a lot easier before it 'sets' into my desired shape. If I wasn't to brush when wet then my hair would constantly look bad. I would like some help with this please as well. Please can someone answer this????
i used to brush my hair when it was wet, and it did go through easily, but the problem with that is that hair is weaker when it is wet, and usually brushing it will pull and stretch it a little bit (probably a lot less so when it goes through easily, but still some) so when you brush it when it is wet, it is easier to break off hairs.
. . . at least that is what some people seem to say. and i agree. i have had hairs just break off easily when my hair is wet, without pulling very much first to let me know i am pulling on it. this does not happen as much when it is dry; it will usually stretch and pull my head, letting me know that i am pulling a hair, and letting me stop pulling for that stroke, and retry, instead of just snapping.
it is harder to brush when it is dry (for me) and the brush does not run through it as smoothly, but if i am careful and start from the bottom, etc., i think i have saved hairs because of waiting for them to dry out and strenghten up a little. on a similar note, i sometimes also do not just wait like an hour, but rather more like a day, so that some oil can get to the hair, further protecting it from brittleness, before i brush.
as for looking "bad", my hair does look a little less straight when i just let it dry without brushing. i do not think it looks bad, but if that is a concern for you, well, whatever i guess. :)
My hair is curly. To have any hope of styling it at all, I have to brush it when it is wet! I put a leave in conditioner in first (Infusium 23) and start at the bottom with a wide tooth detangler comb. Then when that goes through easily, I use a paddle brush to style. If I brush my hair when it is dry. The brush gets snagged on all kinds of knots and just makes my hair frizzy. So, for me at least, I think that brushing when it is dry is what causes damage.
Brushing wet hair stretches and damages the hair. I'd recommend a wide-toothed comb or pick (one with large spaces between the teeth) instead of a brush when the hair is wet. Start at the ends of the hair and work your way up. It also helps if you brush or comb it out dry before washing, and don't ball your hair all up on your head when you wash (even though that's how they show it in tv comercials!), let the length hang down and just massage the shampoo into your scalp, allowing suds to run down the length without rubbing at it. BTW, my hair is wavy-curly, and I never brush it, brushing makes my hair frizz. It's probably ok for straight hair, but NEVER when wet.
Brushing wet is easier, especially if you have dry hair, but it is also weaker when it's wet. It would help if you condition your hair before you brush it and comb through it with the conditioner in it, then rinse it out, then brush.
Dying hair isn't exactly healthy, but if you have healthy hair I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it looks ok after dying then it's all good :) And it wil not affect the growth, that all takes place under the scalp. If you're worried about it just don't dye it anymore. The way it sounds, your hair is pretty short, so whatever you just dyed isn't much and will grow out quickly and future growth will not be affected.
Soda? Never heard that one. I doubt it'll affect your hair. Bud soda isn't good for you :D
I wouldn't take any prescription medications or any other things for hair loss in hopes it'll make your hair grow faster. That's just not smart, it'll grow in it's own time, be patient!
Also, brushing hair can make it curl up, so if that's a problem for you try not brushing. The hair actually sticks together in nice little bunches of strands if you don't brush. I don't like brushing, makes it feel dryer too.