new thread
Hi, I'm back with another question. Basically, I have this routine that is really making it possible to get through the awkward stage, and without it, I certainly would feel rather uncomfortable. I have curly hair that can get pretty damn bad around this length if I don't use my routine-as I mentioned in my first question below, it's basically down to mouth in the front at this point. Anyway, the morning routine is as follows, and the 2nd half might seem weird:
I take a shower, usually just with conditioner, I tend to use shampoo only when I've been in a smokey atmosphere the night before, and need to wash it for smell purposes.
Then I towel dry it for a couple minutes, which still doesn't get it completely dry obviously.
Then I blowdry it, on a medium setting, using a brush to get some straightness going.
Sometimes either before or after the blowdrying, I do some "headbanging," as a heavy metal musician would, as this tends to help get it the way I want I think.
Then, after putting my fingers through my hair to get it the way I want it, I wear my toque for about 30-45 minutes. It's a rather soft, loose toque which doesn't give any sort of hat-head at all, but instead makes my hair seem just the way I want it, at least for this awkward stage.
Overall, my hair with this routine feels fairly healthy and although it's certainly not NEAT, it's much better than the way it looks without such a routine. The only part that doesn't feel as healthy as it should be and a kind of dry is at the bottom of the back of my hair, which sticks out below my toque during that last step, although maybe I need to use a more moisturizing condition for this. Is there any part of the routine that you would take out, perhaps one of the middle steps? I know that this doesn't exactly follow the purist approach that you shouldn't bother your hair at all, but I think I would be prone to chop it all off if it were agonizingly uncivilized each day, going to classes!
Thanks again gentlemen (and ladies)
I would take it easy on the towel drying, and maybe cut out the blowdrying all together. Although the way u use your hairdryer (i.e. strength of the air, what temperature, how close you use it to the scalp) could have an effect on my view; generally however, blow drying is a bad idea for hair quality.
Is this the first time you have grown your hair?, if so, hang in there. The 'awkward phase', is just that...a phase. If you decide to grow your hair longer then it should naturally start to become more 'civilised' as the length of the hair pulls on the hair shaft to make it more manageable, with less tangles etc. Although, once agian this depends on what kind of hair u have. After reading the routine u described, you might have a birds nest for all I know!
I suggest that you eliminate the towel drying and blowdrying or at least reduce them to the minimum. Instead, when you get out of the shower use a towel to sponge out as much water from your hair as possible by squeezing the hair inside of the towel. Don't rub your hair. Wrap your hair in a small, dry towel and leave it on for a few minutes (while you get dressed). This will leave your hair damp. Ideally you should let it dry naturally but if you had to use a hairdryer this would be the time. Alway keep in mind that to have *nice* long hair you must maintain your hair in good condition for years and years. Be gentle with it at all times. Good luck with your hair growth goals.