new thread
Hopefully I haven't posted this pic before; but if so, please forgive me! At least I believe I haven't talked much about this topic before, as best I can recall...
The longer any of us decide to grow our hair out, the more we begin to realize how many YEARS the lower portion of our manes have been exposed to a lot of wear & tear, wind & weather and other elements, etc. -- and taken its toll on how good or bad it looks at the bottom.
I realize that not everybody wishes to grow their hair out to extreme and/or terminal length (as I do) -- or is willing to see such thin ends because of that decision ("Fairy tale ends", as the appearance is sometimes described); but regardless, there have been a few things that I've found that have helped me out very nicely along my journey... I'll talk more about those sub-topics in a few follow-up posts underneath this thread...
- Ken
Probably the single most good advise tip that I've learned along the way during my long hair journey, that has helped me PREVENT split or damaged ends, is that of using beneficial hair oils. Kukui nut, Jojoba oil, pure Almond oil, and in this pic, even plain old "everyday" OLIVE OIL (yes, the same kind you use for cooking or put in your salad dressing) all are excellent oils for protecting the lower half of our manes (I never apply any oil into my scalp, as that gets plenty greasy enough on its own). I've also tried Coconut oil and Shea butter; but we each find our own preferences according to our liking and experience, mine being either Olive or Kukui nut oils (although I do confess to putting in a drop or 2 of pure Lavender oil into my olive or kukui nut bottles, because I like the "clean" fragrance of lavender).
In this pic my hair might look a bit "greasy" -- but this is because my hair is still damp (I had just take a shower less than an hour ago, including had thoroughly shampooed & conditioned my hair before applying the olive oil).
To apply any beneficial oil into your hair:
simply pour out approximately a coin-size amount into the palm of one of your hand (less or mere, depending upon how thick, long, or numerous your hair happens to be), rubbing your hands together before applying it into your ends and lower portion of hair.
It also helps to sort of twist and twirl your hair (again, focussing on the LOWER half of your hair), as well as finger-combing at first... Eventually you can run a regular (but large-toothed) comb through it -- which helps distribute that beneficial oil up the hair shaft a bit.
I usually only do this oiling ritual / routine once per week, doing Water Wash Only or Conditioner-only "shampooings" in-between my weekely thorough shampoo days.
Also, there are plenty of days in the week that I do absolutely NO wetting of my hair in the shower, prefering to just dry-brush my hair on those days.
- Ken
Same day, same olive oiling after my weekly shampoo day (so again, my hair is still a bit damp in this pic -- it will look less "greasy" after another hour or so of further air-drying)...
Besides helping to prevent split ends, to me, beneficial oils also give my hair a fuller, more luxuriant, thicker feel to my mane -- and helps with better manageability, too!
Whenever I do find split ends, however, I snip off the ugly bastard (just above the damaged part of the hair end). Approximately once or twice a month I go on split end "SEARCH & DESTROY" missions... my idea of a "haircut!" (LOL)
I hope you've found the info I've shared here helpful, and thank you for reading my little "sermon-ettes!"
- Ken
"When was your last haircut?" "Ummm, when I cut more than one hair at a time?"
S&D is the say to go when your strands age out before they are cut. My oldest strands are 8+ years old, so they have accumulated a lot of wear and tear...for something that is only a tenth of a millimeter in diameter to start with! When my ends get tangly it is time for some more S&D. Get some good point source light (I use a 1200 lumen LED floodlight-doesn't put out the heat an incandescent or halogen would, more convenient than the sun), sharp hair scissors (never used for anything else) and cut out the white dots and frayed ends.
Otherwise, I keep it up most of the time, certainly when I am at work or doing physical activities.
Picture is of my ends, after some S&D...I never get everything...you should be able to see some frayed ends, white dots, or where the color changes lighter indicating that the hair is cracked internally.
Hi Trolleypup,
That lamp sounds perfect; but I guess I'm both lazy and "old-fashioned", in that I enjoy using the Search & Destroy method backlit by the winter sun (or the steep angle of early morning or late afternoon lighting)...
And yes, I agree with your statement that we never get 100% of the split ends during the S&D!
I definetly need to use something on my hair ends, I'm just not sure what.
I've been reading the on line reviews for alot of these products and notice a trend accross all these products, between smelling bad (or wrong), being fraudalantly packaged, mis-advertised, etc.
So what is a long hair to do?
Food grade plant oils are usually fairly inexpensive and easy to find.
Hi Ken,
Do you find that not letting your hair get wet in the shower helps your hair significantly? I have recently started to do this as well. I have noticed some improvement as I think maybe even water by itself strips oils off the hair. Your thoughts are most welcome my friend! By the way, your mane always makes me more than jealous!
Ted
First of all: thank you so much for the kind compliment, Ted!
Secondly... re. your question about wet hair: for me, it seems to depend on whether my hair and scalp feels like it could use a little "attention" (an itchy scalp and greasy hair, for example, to me means either I definitely need to shampoo it -- or if not "too bad", maybe just a quick rinse under plain water, or a "Conditioner Only washing.
On days when I feel that either my hair OR JUST MYSELF "needs a break", then I try not to wet my head at all. Those are the days that I brush my hair instead of shampoo or rinse it; but, I only brush WHEN MY HAIR AND SCALP ARE DRY ONLY.
Everybody's hair and scalp is different; so, my advise is to simply "experiment"... See what works best for you, what approach works the most favorably VS drives you nuts! (LOL)
On average, usually around 3 days per week I dunk my head under the shower; but only one or 2 days out of those is a "shampoo day" -- sometimes more thoroughly so than others. The remaining 4 days per week I choose to brush my hair (keeping it dry) instead of rinsing or shampooing.
Clear as mud? (LOL)
Take care, Ted -- and so nice to see you back here, you've been missed!
- Ken
Hi Ken,
Thanks so much for saying I've been missed! I simply have been working on my collection of sports cards and other things. I had surgery a few months back and am finally getting over that as well.
I do appreciate all of your information and will put it to use where applicable to my hair type! I think I need to have my hair trimmed by about an inch or so. I have many split ends and have not trimmed it in about 2 years now. I know, not a good thing:). In fact, my hair looks shorter now than it did a few months ago! Definitely not a good thing! Thanks again for your very informative posts as always my friend! I have to get myself to bed-have dialysis tommorrow. Take care!
Ted
Hey 'Twin-Bro.' ... LOL - your hairs lQQkin' great & all that you say, is such good advice, indeed - all those stunning Indian women: ( & they have the best manes on the planet - IMHO ) can't be wrong ... I may have to increase my oiling regime, due to chlorine damage - I feel ... Cheers bud CEM.
SHOW OFF! Just kidding,lol,looks great! Hope mine gets that long,I think I need about another 4 inches.
James
Thanks, James! (and no, I-I-I wasn't sh-sh-showing off, I-I-I was just t-t-trying to s-s-stay "On-topic"... No, really! - LOL)
I realize that not everybody wishes to grow their hair out to extreme and/or terminal length (as I do) -- or is willing to see such thin ends because of that decision ("Fairy tale ends", as the appearance is sometimes described); but regardless, there have been a few things that I've found that have helped me out very nicely along my journey... I'll talk more about those sub-topics in a few follow-up posts underneath this thread... Ken
Hi Kenny - a recent topical issue for me, as I've taken up swimming again: ( after a long break from this activity, which I love so much - I just love water, full-stop ) in my local heated: ( 29*C / 84*F ), chlorinated olympic pool: ( 32 laps of a 50 metre pool = 1.6 kms. or 1. mile ) - it takes me 1 - 1.5 hours depending on my vitality on the day ) - I noticed my hair went from silk to straw in that time - & I'm now hunting for a masculine black swim cap to shove my hair in, as the damage was extreme - so all the available beneficial oils is a God-send: ( my preference being coconut oil, due to the heady fragrance + you can eat it: ( one for the mane ends & one for the belly - LOL ) ... does anyone have any tips on preventing chlorine damage ???: ( before & after swimming ) ??? - as I'm determined not to let my long hair restrict me, in any way, what I do & where & when I do it - as variety of experience is important & valuable to me ... cheers CEM.
I don't swim, but the recommendations I hear are: swim cap, and 1) pre-wet the hair under the swim cap; 2) slather conditioner on the hair under the swim cap; 3) oil hair heavily under the swim cap. The finer your hair is, the harder the chlorinated water is going to tear it up.
I don't swim, but the recommendations I hear are: swim cap, and 1) pre-wet the hair under the swim cap; 2) slather conditioner on the hair under the swim cap; 3) oil hair heavily under the swim cap. The finer your hair is, the harder the chlorinated water is going to tear it up.
Thanks 'Trolley' - great 'handy-hints' there - thx. a bunch !!! Cheers ~;0)~