new thread
Hey hair bro's. Name's Brandon, and I'm new here. I found this site via a link in a hair info page. I can't seem to find anything with my exact problem so I guessed I'd post here. Ya see, I've ALWAYS had split ends.. Before, and after hair cuts. It seems like no matter what I do I'm stuck with em.
Right now my hair's touching the base of my neck. I've been putting it in a ponytail everyday, and the damage from it when I let it down is easily visible. I've always took blazing hot showers. From what I've learned, every day pony's and hot showers are very bad ideas. I've been washing my hair every two days just about, because If I don't it gets greasy, and I always shampoo and condition, typically with Aussie. Usually I wait 30 minutes or so after a shower to put my hair up, while it's still damp but not soaking wet. I don't towel dry it very much and I never blow dry or use any other heat treatments to try and make it straight. From what I've heard, putting it up while it's even remotely moist is a bad idea. So I guess I'll stop doing that.
Anyway guys, I need help here. There any way to fix these things? Or should I just abandon ship :/ I'm currently trying to get a job (18 years old) and people don't really like the idea of long hair 'round here, I barely manage to get through an interview with an "ok" on the ponytail. I don't think I'd have a chance if I just let it go wild.. Buts it's not healthy for me to do a ponytail every day... I don't wanna chop off the locks, but I don't know jack about taking care of 'em. What's worse, my living situation is extremely unstable, as I may or may not be moving sometime in the next months. I'd hate to get rid of the hair for a job and just move somewhere afterwards; thereby loosing both my job and my hair. What should I do bro's?
Hi Brandon, welcome to the mlhh:) I'm glad you found us here but sad that you are having such problems with your hair.I don't understand why you are having such split end problems with just shoulder length hair.Figured that would happen with very long hair since the ends are so much older such as waist length.I can't say for certain that pony tailing hair causes damage unless your using hair ties with metal in them or rubber bands.Best to use pony ties that contain no metal if you tie you hair like that often.I used to ponytail my hair a lot but started doing buns more or just put it up under a ball cap when at work to protect it.Not sure what kind of job your applying for but possibly wearing a hat won't work for it.You could apply beneficial oil to your ends,such as coconut or jojoba oils,but gotta be careful not to overdo it as your hair will immediately look greasy.I wash my hair the same frequency as you do,every two days, otherwise it does start to look crummy! LOL.I also never blow dry my hair as I let it air dry fully.Seriously your hair shouldn't be having such problems at the length you describe.Possibly its the way your combing or brushing your hair.I always use a wide tooth comb and brush with 100% boars bristle brushes.Hope some of what I said helps as I'm sure others will add their opinions as well.Please keep us posted and don't cut your hair my friend.Cheers
Mârk
I wear my hair in a pony every day, but have no damage. I don't have split ends either.
A ponytail is not always going to cause damage, but you have to take precautions. First, don't tie it back while it is still wet/damp! Hair is most vulnerable to damage while wet...it stretches more when wet.
Second, use a type of tie that holds well. The constant re-tightening of a ponytail can cause A LOT of damage. I use the Scunci No-Slip Grip flat ones with a silicone strip on them. They don't slip, thus no need to pull the hair to re-tighten throughout the day (thus no damage).
Try some different products to see if they work better for you....with hair products, you do get what you pay for. You might try various oils to see if that works for you.
Remember, heat will always damage hair.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies Hairball, Sunsailing.
I'll definitely look into that oil for the ends, anything to help em.
The jobs I'm applying for are really the only ones that seem to be hiring around here, which are fast food gigs. The few I've been to see long hair as a health hazard, and either don't allow hats, or have mandatory visor hats for you to wear. So tucking it under those probably wouldn't work haha. Anyway, the search always continues, and if I can pony it without killing it then I'll just do that.
The bands I've been using are actually the scünci no slip grip bands, just not the flat ones. But next time I'm in walmart or what have ya, I'll pick up a wide band pack.
As for having the split ends at a shorter length in hair, well I dunno what could be causing em. I've got extremely thick hair, if that means anything. It just sort of.. Fights itself. And when I take the bands out of my hair. The hair that is was gripping is misshapen and waved. I can brush it out, so maybe I'm over reacting about that. Maybe it's just cause I've been putting it up while it's wet. I have a wide tooth comb and a bristle brush, (Not sure what kind of bristle) and I'm always slow with em when I brush out my hair.
Anyway thanks again. I'll look into the oil and flat hair bands soon.
Ah, the old health hazard excuse.
Bet they don't have the same policy for women now though, do they? Sad how that works, isn't it?
If they truly thought that long hair was a health hazard, then they wold make female employees keep their hair short as well.
Such double standards are downright ridiculous, and essentially sexist.
I sympathise. I've always had trouble with split ends myself. My hair is very fine, and just seems to split for no reason. Mine is waist length, or a bit less (it seems to be shrinking!) and I usually wear it loose.
I'll speak to the job issue, since I'm not much of a hair expert yet :)
Your pretty young, and your going to get denied a ton for jobs (hair related or not), so dont get discouraged by that. Just keep looking for a job, I sincerely doubt that a hard working person would be denied employment completely just because of his hair. And its not too much of a problem anyway, in fast food. You just put it in a tail and wear a hairnet, just like a female employee would. :P
Brandon,
I won't repeat the same advice about hair care that everyone below has offered, though all if it is correct. However, I am curious about where you are living now and/ or where you may be moving to? There are certainly some areas that are more unfriendly toward long hair than others. I would say regardless it shouldn't matter work-wise as long as you keep it neat and out of the way. I would definitely not cut it just for a job.
Best of luck to you with your job prospects.
-Dan H.
Thank ya electross, Will, and Dan for the replies.
Dan, I live in Mississippi, in the US. Real conservative people here, and long hair is usually treated as a girl only thing. Some of the religious folks 'ere throw the "You're gonna go to hell of you don't cut that off boy!" Stuff around. Not that it bothers me. Anyway, I'm matching the hair with a goatee so that's even more of a no-no for the fast food places. Not that I wouldn't shave it, cause I would, but only if I know I'm gonna stay here. The place I'd be moving to is kinda static. Either Georgia, for college, or Louisiana, my home state, with my brother. Don't think I'd have trouble in LA with it, but I dunno about Georgia. Never been. But yea, think I'm gonna get a part time position here at an auto parts store, even with the hair, so that's good. (It's funny cause I don't know a thing about cars :P)
Will, I'd be willing to do the hair net haha. But the fast food place wanted me to shave the 'tee too. Which normally wouldn't be a problem, but I felt like they were trying to get me to leave by the point they got to talking about that so I did. Ah well.
Electross, it's the darnedest thing idn't it? I don't know why my hair splits the way it does either. When I leave mine loose it looks a little too wild at the moment haha.
I forgot about what I used during my 3.5 years of growing. I used a product by Scunci to tie back my hair. It is made out of nylon and will do absolutely no damage whatsoever.
They used to be called Scunci "Hair Hosiery", but they changed the name to "Soft and Light". Some long hair specialists recommend making ties by cutting up women's nylons...this product is exactly that. They come in black and dark brown. I got them at Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc..
If tying it back is causing any of the splits, etc.., this product would eliminate it.
Thanks man! I'll definitely check it out next time I go to town.