Quote Originally Posted by Cynthia View Post
I can say one thing: My hair is a brat with a mind of its own. Seriously. I've had a bit of heavy shedding (thus a little thinning on the ends) due to stress the past couple years as well as struggling to find products my hair likes. Sometimes it likes certain things, other times, it throws a tantrum. Thank goodness for tossing my hair up into a bun and forgetting about it. I just wish it would like products that were easier to find and that stores would keep carrying (instead of randomly deciding to stop stocking something once I find it, like it, and go back to buy another bottle... d'oh).

Be very gentle with your hair. I use an acrylic-cut, seamless, wide-toothed comb for detangling (starting from the bottom THEN working up), and I don't actually brush very often. I mainly use the comb, and with my length it's almost always up so I don't risk damaging it or having to detangle it constantly. There are a lot of different product/routines that folks use. What works for some people doesn't always work for others (and in my case, sometimes the changing seasons make me change a few things with my routine as well). The message board I usually hang out on has been down since January. They experienced a huge crash and the owner is trying to get it back up and running. It's amazing, all the different routines and products people try, it would take all day to discuss them all I'm sure.

If you're not going for super long hair, I just mainly recommend treating your hair very gently and not using very harsh shampoos all the time (although to occasionally remove buildup it might be necessary). Definitely use a conditioner. And if you can, once you have enough length to play with things like braiding, start practicing. I'd never made a bun in my entire life until my hair was somewhere around hip-length or tailbone-length. That was hard trying to figure out how to use hairsticks and make a bun. I should've started much sooner to make things easier. Luckily, I knew how to make a basic English braid, but it was hard trying to learn how to do things like french braids. Also, if you use hair-ties or anything like that in your hair, make sure they don't have seams and are gentle on the hair. I think there are "ouchless" hair ties or something like that. I've never used them so I can't comment on how they are, personally, but you don't want to do damage to your hair by constantly putting something in your hair that will rip, snag, or be rough on your hair.


I hear you there, Cynthia. I've had to start combing my hair with my fingers before I use a comb. You know my grandma, who I lived with when i was a kid, had a couple of old combs that were very large. I might look for one of them.

On the shampoo, I use one with the conditioner already in it, and It's pretty good. I have a different issue though, I have to be careful what kind of soap and all I use because I use the gray watter out on the micro farm and I also have a septic system. I have to look very closely at what's in anything that will end up in the drain water. That being said, the cats like the smell of the shampoo I use...

Thank you for posting, and the monkey people of the future thank you, as well.. they don't seem to be able to grow long hair...