Long Hair Don't Care

Featuring LHDC Reader: CorporateNapps

 

Where do you live/where are you from? Houston, Texas

What length is your hair?  The longest part is just past my shoulders and the shortest meets my lips.

How long have you been on your hair growth journey?  My last relaxer was August 2005. I wore my hair loose natural until January 2009, when I decided to loc.

What length was your hair when you began your hair journey?  During the time of my last relaxer, my hair was about the length that it is now, just past my shoulders. With loc'ing comes a great deal of shrinkage, intertwining and coiling of the inner parts of the hair/locs. So a lot of the length was eaten up by the meshing process.

Featuring LHDC Reader: Pink Pearls

 

What length is your hair? My hair is Mid-Back Length

How long have you been on your hair growth journey? I've been on my natural hair journey for six months. However, my healthy hair journey began 4 years ago when my family and I were relocated to South Korea. During my time overseas, my husband relaxed my hair, while I managed the daily maintenance. I also began stretching my relaxers from 8 weeks to four months. I used less heat by flat ironing twice a month, and air drying.

What length was your hair when you began your hair journey? When I began transitioning, my hair was bra strap Length

Featuring LHDC Reader: CelinaStarr

Where do you live/where are you from?

  I’m from the USA.
 
What length is your hair?  My hair grows in a “u” shape.  So my hair is hip to tailbone length.

How long have you been on your hair growth journey?   I started taking care of my hair and actively growing it out in 2007.

What length was your hair when you began your hair journey?  I started at bra strap.  My shortest length ever was about shoulder length in 2004. 
 
Did you transition?  If so, for how long?  I transitioned for 3 years.  My last relaxer was in May 2006 and I got the last of my relaxed ends cut off in May 2009. 

What are your best practices for transitioners?  Conditioner washing, low manipulation, and keeping the hair up as much as possible to prevent damage.
 
What is the best thing about your natural hair?  It's low maintainence.  I don't have to spend hours getting it straightened or running from the rain.
 
Do you trim at all?  I get my hair trimmed as needed (at least once a year).    
 
How do you cleanse your hair and how often? What products do you use?  I mostly water wash and sometimes conditioner wash.  Lately, I’ve been conditioner washing with Giovanni conditioners and using some as a leave in.  I sometimes use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  I sometimes wash as much as daily or as little as once a week.  It depends on my lifestyle and physical activity level; I tend to sweat a lot.  I very rarely shampoo, because it dries my hair out and I don’t use cones or heavy hair products like gels.  On the rare occasions that I do shampoo I usually use Burt’s Bees shampoo or another sulfate free shampoo.

READER MAIL!!!!

Reader: Hey Sis,
Ok, yesterday I got my second touch up since starting my hair journey, and again I was very happy with the improvement and the comments were wonderful. (8 weeks I had a special event and travel planned so I couldn’t wait 10 weeks this time) My best friend saw me with my freshly flat ironed hair and said “Girl your sides are NOT too short!  Your hair is beautiful, looks  like it was cut that way!  I can definitely see that my sides are growing out and filling in.  The rest of my hair continues to thrive.  I am past APL with the rest of my hair. 
 
My new protective style approach continues to utilize a French twist/roll instead of a bun, but I no longer pull my sides up.  I start out with a low twist instead.  Actually looks better than the old way.
 
Your suggestions are really making a difference. Along with prayer of course.   I will continue to keep you posted.

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UPDATE to yesterday's reader mail

Update:

 

Last night I deep conditioned with LeKair Cholesterol Plus, aPHogee Karatin 2 Minute Reconstructor, and coconut oil. I put it on my dry hair, rolled it in a bun, tied it down and went to bed.

 

This morning I washed it with diluted Alterna Hemp Organic Straight Shampoo, didn’t feel like I was really getting it clean so I used it not undiluted (for real I just like the lather, makes me ‘think’ I’m washing).

Love-Hate....one reader's relationship w/ her hair

Love Hate

When The Dream was christening his debut album with the title “Love Hate” he must have had a Black woman’s relationship with her hair in mind. I have literally hated my hair these past few weeks and even though I hoped above hope that straightening my hair would reignite my fire; it only fizzled when I compared growth progress pictures from September 2009 to April 2010. I looked at the pictures and exclaimed, “not one inch, not one dang inch! All the crap I’ve been doing to my hair and you mean to tell me I haven’t obtained not one freaking inch of new growth!” Well, to say the least I was something like discouraged. It all made me reflect upon the days when I had an inch of hair and my hair stayed fly! Why am I subjecting myself to this madness; clearly it isn’t paying off!

READER MAIL!!!! (Personal Hair Consultation Testimony)

Reader: Can I just say…..Hallelujah!!!  I finally found my hair mojo!  Thanks to the personal hair consultation.  Using the suggested method of moisturizing instead of water based moisturizers is exactly what I needed!  I would probably not have gotten to this conclusion alone.   The website is so rich in information and I was trying everything, but the personal consultation based on my specific needs, my specific hair challenges was just what the doctor ordered.  Now  after I moisturize and pin my hair back up in a protective style chignon roll, when I take it down, my ends are no longer crunchy.  They are moist, smooth and beautiful.  

Thank You!!!

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To get your very own personal hair consultation, click the "Personal Hair Consultations" banner on the right-hand side of the blog in the sidebar!

Progress pics posted!

I'm not sure what was going on, but I've got the progress pics from the other day's READER MAIL!!! posted!  Check 'em out here!

READER MAIL!!! Pre-order your copy of Curly Like Me!

I know y'all remember the interview we did with Teri LaFlesh a few months ago...well her book is available NOW for pre-order!  Check it out!

READER MAIL!!!

Dear LHDC,
 
In true Momma form, my natural girlfriend styles her daughters hair in natural hairstyles. She does these twists that I just love and after my niece CUT MY DAUGHTERS HAIR this weekend (deep breathing) instead of her typical bushy braids (I canNOT cornrow but I try) I decided to try twisting my girl's hair myself. Here is what I did:
 

• I wash her hair because it was a bushy mess
• Put conditioner and coconut oil in her hair for moisture
• I parted her hair in rows as if I was going to braid it
• I then took small square sections (parted with my fingers) and split it in two (for twist, instead of the three sections for braids)
• I twisted the pieces together then pulled the pieces all the way up (tightening the twist) each time, so twist, pull/tighten, twist, pull/tighten... (I've found that if you don't tighten it will unravel)
• Once I got to the end I just wound her ends around my finger for a little twist/spiral action.