Hair

[edamame]

ATTN: Long-haired Ladies and Germs

This is a note for you. I admire you, I really do. I honestly don't know how you do it, how you put up with your long hair day in and day out and keep it looking nice all the time.

I am still growing mine out for charity and it frustrates me daily. It seems like it's always tangled and rough and never looks nice

Comments

[elvenresistance]

When I had mine down my knees, I did similar to what judithiscariot notes. I shampooed and conditioned, let it air-dry, and no brushing until it was dry. I didn't use a comb in the shower -- actually, that was a good way to snarl mine to no end. I didn't really rotate the shampoo or conditioner, except with the "oh, hey, this is on sale this week" idea. I had a lot of ponytail holders, as well.

Now that my hair is short (for me, at shoulder-blade length), I have found that Sunsilk's De-Frizz line works well for me on humid days. That's the time when my hair frizzes the most and annoys me.

[edamame]

Geek-wave is actually a bigger problem for me than frizz. Although, what starts as geek-wave often turns to frizz...I guess it's geek-frizz at that point. I am not familiar with Sunsilk, I'll have to go check them out.

[elvenresistance]

I saw below about being fussy about the animal products thing. I usually am, but I don't know about Sunsilk. It's a Unilever brand, if I remember right. The other one that I'm using these days is a Costco product; they say that they don't test on animals, but I don't know if it contains animal by-products.

After I get my hair colored and styled in the next month or so (it's been 3 months and my hair is noticably needing scissors again), I'll probably get some shampoo and conditioner from Aveda. According to their own stuff, they are supposed to be very animal-friendly. I can let you know what I think of their stuff, if you want. I'm sure it will be pricey, like their makeup line is.

[jennifoot]

As having lived with super-long hair for many many years and having donated twice (for a grand total of 38 inches donated yay!), I have to say I actually still prefer my long hair. Day to day, It is usually braided one day and then in a ponytail or big barrette in the back the next day. I prefer a french braid in the back because it is easiest for me and least likely to cause that annoying pulling feeling.

When my hair is shorter, I tend to blow it out straight and leave it down. When it's super-long, it gets caught in EVERYTHING (including getting rolled up in car windows and seatbelts) so it is much more comfortable having it pulled back or up.

Sometimes, I'll put it in a ponytail, braid that and then wrap it around the base of the ponytail, securing with clips, to make a very neat looking bun.

I will still continue to donate, but will likely only do that once I start sitting on it again.

[jennifoot]

OH, and Leave-in conditioner is a MUST if you do not have a brush/comb that doesn't pull your wet hair.

[edamame]

Dang girl! You are a donating queen! That is awesome.

I do use leave-in conditioner, and I also have a really wide-tooth comb that doesn't pull my wet hair, I know that brushing your hair wet is a sure way to break it!

[jennifoot]

Actually, *combs* break and knot my hair more than a good brush will. Though, I have to buy a lot of brushes before I find one I like (and as soon as I find one, they stop making it so I have to buy even more when it comes time to replace it)

I rarely have split ends and my hair is baby-fine (but I have a lot of it). I guess it all depends on your hair type as to what instrument you should use on your hair

this is what I currently use but that is only because I could no longer find my favorite which was made by Conair

[xsecantx]

I think it's just DC climate, for serious. I moved out here and have barely thought about my hair since. Bangs help immensely with looking "put together" more easily as well. Wet/Dry flat iron FTW.

Granted, in the last week, my hair has reached "need haircut now or will punch someone in the face" length (aka below my bra clasp in the back) so these comments are somewhat null and void. I'm stoked for my haircut Saturday, I do not deny.

[edamame]

Hm, I didn't think about the climate issue. Most of the places I've lived have actually been pretty humid so I just assumed it was my hair that was the problem.

I am loving having bangs, I do exactly what you said...quick shampoo in the sink, a few minutes to dry and straighten and voila! The rest still looks like crap tho.

[tomorrowsangel]

I dont blame you. I was sooo tired of my hair. But your hair always looks awesome. I have never seen you on a bad hair day!

[edamame]

Aw, thanks babe, I appreciate the kind words. I am sooooo envious of your cute short haircut. And I am really this --> <-- close to cutting mine off too.

[anonymous]

This sounds funny and kind of like an ad, but give Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditioner a try. Seems to work for me, my hair has gotten longer than I realized and really hard to manage with anything I used, it was driving me up a wall. I went back to using the Garnier Fructis stuff and I had way fewer knots + actually got compliments on my hair again.

[edamame]

I am very picky about my products, they must be vegan and not tested on animals in any way. I looked up Garnier, and unfortunately they are owned by L'Oreal who do test on animals, so I can't buy their products. Thanks for the recommendation though.