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I started growing my hair out my senior year of high school last year. I hopefully won't be cutting it all four years of college. 14 months in, I'm pretty much through the awkward stage now, and am really loving my hair. It's very thick and reminds me of a lion's mane. Sometimes the ends get wavy/frayed, but the roots are straight. I think it's because oils from the top of my head can't get to the bottom, causing dryness on the ends. Anyone else have hair like this? What could I do to help this?
I wish I had hair like that! Oh, to be young again!
Best advice, as it sounds like my hair too. Don't shampoo more than once a week, and use conditioner, insisting on the hair ends. Use conditioner as often as you like and you can have a rinse when you like if your hair gets sweaty. That's how I made it through summer.
Others on this forum may have alternatives to using shampoo for the health of your hair... My hair is almost completely greyed and white, so I use shampoo specially formulated for my kind of hair. Once a week.
Another tip - rinse with cold water. You hair will be lovely and soft, silky and smooth. You will love it!
Anthony
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I would add the following:
When shampooing, focus on the "top" of your head (where most of the "grease" is). When conditioning, focus more on the ends.
You may be washing it too often, or being a bit harsh with the routine. Cutting down on the frequency of washing, using cooler water, and using a milder product (or sometimes just water) will likely help, but it will take time to see the results. The "new you" must grow itself out from the roots.
Bill
Yes, it's a "learning curve" sort of thing, isn't it? I enjoy water-wash only days, doing it more often now than when I first grew my hair out during the '90s, not owning a computer or knowing of MLHH back then. Also, everybody's hair is so very different -- what works well for one person doesn't necessarily work well for another.
I didn't know anything at all about beneficial oils for the hair ends until AFTER my infamous Y2K haircut, for example; yet nowadays I can't image being without some Olive oil, Kukui nut oil, Almond oil, or Jojoba oil to keep the lower half of my mane from drying out and getting split ends.
- Ken
Have you tried to apply oil to your ends ?
You can try olive oil (or any kind of oil like argan/almond oil. Apply oil after you wash it, while hair is damp ( some people also apply it when hair is already dry). Just make sure not to put a lot of oil or it will look way too greasy .
I've already experienced that dryness in the ends too, the first thing I maded was to buy a bottle of argan oil when my old conditioner was already empty and works like a charm, especially in curly hair like mine, it works for straight hair too.
Try to give your hair sometimes a break, don't wash too often like we do when we're short haired, I wash my hair once after 3 days and like Dave said, focus more in the top of your head for getting rid of the dirty.
As for the conditioner, apply it only in the ends of your hair, try not to get it close to the roots, it can cause dandruff and dirt.
Remember as always, patience is the key for a nice long mane.
Cheers!
For the dry ends, be sure to give your hair a full brushing once a day with a good quality boars bristle brush. Brush all the way from the scalp to the ends. You might want to cut back on shampooing, too. I actually only shampoo about once ever couple of weeks. In between, I massage my scalp with baking soda, followed by a rinse of vinegar. Since I started doing this my hair has been looked more moist and voluminous than it had in years.
Very nice. Looks like you aren't far behind me. as others have said you can buy various oils that help keep hair moist etc.
All of college! That's so awesome. I haven't had a real haircut (only trims) since freshman year and my hair is nearly to my waist now.
"Sometimes the ends get wavy/frayed, but the roots are straight. I think it's because oils from the top of my head can't get to the bottom, causing dryness on the ends. Anyone else have hair like this? What could I do to help this?'
Those waves are called texture. It is not due to your hair being dry. In fact if you add moisture, you will probably see more texture.
Embrace your hair's natural texture. It look me years to accept mine and my hair is better for it!
Great start - good luck with the rest of your journey!
Great Hair... love the thickness... keep it up, thanks for posting! The Spaf Man