new thread
Hey there guys, I feel like I've been away forever! I've been pretty busy, but today I decided to finally update. Here are some pics to mark month 19.
The curls are taking over!!! I can't help it haha! I'm loving my hair, my only annoyance is that the top is WAY flat compared to to massive body and volume I have on the bottom. How can I fix that?
What is your current washing routine? Sometimes, as your hair gets longer you need to adjust things so the different parts of the hair (and scalp) get what they need.
Looking good!
The top will always flat in comparison to the end because the weight of the hair pulls it down. This is depending on the texture and curliness of your hair.
One thing your can do the make the top more curly is wearing your hair loose instead of a ponytail. Especially after it's wet and drying from showering. I actually liked the top straight and the rest wavy so I made sure to tie it up immediately after showering, your can do the opposite to achieve your goal of more curls.
Hi Isaac. Your hair is looking long now! Looking real good, so your hair care is paying off. I remember your initial goal was mid back length, but now I hope you'll change it to at least waist length. Hey, it's cool to see you again on the boards. I too was also away and for a year.
Well, since I have a similar hair texture to yours, the only way to get your bottom hairs to look more relax is you can try splitting you hairs into two pigtails and covering each of the whole length with hair ties, you get looser waves when you do a segmented hair style, and the more ties you put the straighter your hair will be. The other suggestion I have is going back to sulphates and cones. I'm not sure you'd want to do this since I remember you were at water only routine. The fact is, curls don't like sulphates, and especially if you clarify your hair and then do a one strand segmented ponytail, by the end of the day you'll get looser waves. Of course my hair doesn't like sulphates so I know it gets more relaxed whenever I do use it. So those are two methods I know to get hair more relaxed without using heat.
best, rowie
Hey thanks for the detailed reply. I've been off water only for a while but I use sulfate and cone free products. You think I should change that?
Well since you are back on sulfates then you have more options. You don't need to change your routine. It really depends on how you want to wear your hair.
If you want to wear your hair more relaxed with looser waves almost like a 2a-ish hair and maybe straighter hair (depending on hair) without using heat. Then you'd have to wear your hair into segmented ponytails or pigtails in bed. Kind of like how I wear my hair to bed now (Like Absalom's hair style), when I take out the bands the next day my hair is so less wavy and more relaxed.
I kinda tweaked this technique:
[video=youtube_share;CqjOU_PKwic]
In addition i'd have to go back and use products like Pantene straight line or even the "ice shine line" (products with heavy cone dosage). I like the "ice shine" line better cause it makes my hair feel more silkier and smoother. Of course I'd have to clarify my hair every month when I use cones, but I like VO5 Kiwi clarifying line. Bottom line is you'll have to experiment again to find products that will work for you in achieving a more straighter look without the use of heat, and also applying hair binding techniques like the video, you can use ribbon if you want to be old fashion to wrap the whole length of your tail (The Samurai did this method for style). These are just a small sample of techniques and i'm sure there are plenty more to be found in Google.
I now like to sleek my hair back with a natural aloe vera gel to tame the frizz (kind of like the sleeked back ponytail Raul does to his hair). Good luck finding what works for you if you decide to wear you hair like in the 2a mixed with 1c. I'll post my pic again for your reference of the texture I mean:
[CENTER][/CENTER]
I did extra work to get my hair to look like this by doing an SMT treatment the day before. You can find SMT (Snowymoon's moisture treatment) at LHC.
If you want to wear your hair more curly or accentuate your waves and curls:
Well, I bet this is easy for the both of us to obtain. Cone free, sulfate free, natural hair care, braids, curly girl method, conditioner method, etc....
All in all, it's up to you how you want to wear your hair. I'm still trying to wear my hair more natural but sometimes I do want to have sleek hair that is tangle free, and so i'd have to make adjustments in my hair care routine.
best of luck,
rowie
apparently html coding doesn't work in MLHH.
here is the video again.
Outstandingly detailed answer there, Rowie.. I am reading, learning and taking notes, my friend! :)
The only minor correction to be made is that Raul´s hair is ,about 3 inches long at the moment, and still in the very early stages of re-growing ;) But as I said, I am immensly enjoying the community and overall positive feeling and vibe this place has, and am thankful for getting to participate even though I am not technically a longhair :)
Thanks Raul. I'm so used to seeing your long hair posts that I mix it up. My bad! I've enjoyed your posts so keep it up, they are fun, interesting, and relevant to this hair board. Keep it up.
-rowie
Completely understandable, buddy! :) I doesn´t feel like that much fun posting pictures of my current hair, even though on the 27th I will post a 3 month update, hehe.
If you feel like seeing more of my day to day life, feel free to add me as a friend on Facebook, name is Raul Lenesin there :)
Hi rowie,
Thanks for such an informative post! You always have a lot of very useful info. Hope you're having a great day friend!
Ted
Thanks Ted. I also enjoy reading and viewing your posts.
always,
rowie
I think your hair looks absolutely great, and reminds me of my own hair texture when long. If you ever find a product to reduce them curls on the bottom without exposing your hair to heat or anything damaging, be sure to let me know ;)
Hi Isaac,
I really dont see anything wrong with your hair. I really like the thickness and color. I'm thinking the curls will either move down with the length or straighten out as it gets longer. Either way, I think if you let Mother Nature handle things it will be fine and you will be happy with it. Great progress for 19 months.Have a great week my friend!
Ted
You have such beautiful hair. Seriously, its gorgous.
The only way to really deal with the curls is to straiten them, but dont! They look great and make your hair more interesting. Plus, once they get longer they'll tend to straiten out on there own.
Glad you found the time for an update....and a great one it is. That is a lot of growth for 19 months....beautifully full and thick. I suspect with a little more length the curls will not dominate.
Looks great...Thanks for Sharing
WWT
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Your hair is really thick, Isaac. The reason it curls at your shoulders is due to your shoulders being in the way. Your hair has to grow sideways to get past them. With more length it will tame down.
Scott