The hair post.

[halimede]

Hair post, as promised to trickofthedarkFirst up, my number one definition of great hair is healthy hair, be it fine, thick, wavy, curly or straight as a board. Obviously if you like the teased up, heavily hair-sprayed look your mileage may vary, and that's fine. But the silken cascade of flowing tresses thing (think Mary Sue) is what my hair tips and tricks are

Comments

[azurelunatic]

I'm here via trickofthedark too. I've been thinking about growing out my hair -- well, more than thinking, as it's *checks* shoulder-blade length now. Braided at night, check, conditioners that work, check (I'm switching to Aussie Mega conditioner from Pantene), no hairdryers, check (I haven't blow-dried my hair on a regular basis since I think 1992, and haven't blow-dried it at all for another 5 years), but I do probably use the wrong kind of brush and do brush it wet. Then, I have slightly curly hair, and if there are any tangles at all when it's wet, they'll dry in and be even more of a bitch to get out when dry. But I do brush from the bottom.

Since I'm a serious geek, half the time I'll use a spare palmtop stylus as a hair stick...

[amphigori]

Chalk me up as another visitor routed here by trickofthedark.

Ever since I've moved to New Zealand from Seattle, I've had the Worst Hair Ever (tm). My hair is starting to go curly (as my mom's did when she was my age) so I've gotten used to the unwanted waves, but now it's gone frizzy. HORRIBLY frizzy. Frizzy like I've never seen on anyone's hair. It's horrible. WHE(tm).

Problem is I have short hair and because of the natural wave (not curls, more like lots of cowlicks) if I air dry my hair it looks rotten. I have curls in my bangs (they form a "c" shape) and curls near my temples so my air-dried hair looks like curly/wavy/matted hair from a thrift store doll found mooshed in the bottom of the bin.

I have to blow dry my hair to look at all presentable for work. Is there any way to make hair drying less evil? Or should I just content myself with looking like a a bag lady forever?

[tiferet]

Well, I have to dye my hair, and fairly often if I don't want roots; it's salt and pepper and it grows fast and I loathe the natural colours, they're aging.

But I have been very pleased with Oshima Tsubaki camellia oil shampoo; have you ever tried it?

I can go without washing my hair for several days using the camellia oil shampoo. It is really remarkable.

[ketaki]

How strange wha LJ drops into my lap/life at times when most needed!

It is my sister's wedding in a few months and right now, our major worries involve hair growth and it's fall-out rate!!

My hair has always fallen out. It is thin, sleek and up to my shoulders, but I wash it thrice a week and use no conditioner. My sister does the same, but she used to have extremely thick, long hair. This was when we lived in a tropical country, now it has gradually thinned and she is worried that it is either stress related, or weather related.

After reading your post, I'm convinced that there is something she can do about it.
Would you have any tips on how to stop this problem, or what causes it even? It has been a mystery to us for several years.
(She uses Henara shampoo, which I personally think is quite strong, I go for Herbal Essences, which is not the best shampoo but there is nothing else affordable and comfortable enough for me)

I'm also from the land of trickofthedark, so please forgive my nose-poking!

Love
Ketaki

[halimede]

Hi! I'm dreadfully behind on answering comments, and won't be able to catch up for a while, but your comment jumped out at me as needing an answer soonish, so here goes

[ketaki]

Oh, thank you. I have passed on your advice to my sister.

She's not sleeping enough, her diet is regular and quite a lot better than mine now that I consider it! It shows on her skin, which has a glow, but her hair still persists on shedding. Can this be heredity? My mother has very scanty hair and my father lost his at a young age...

Your tea tree idea sounds brilliant for me. As does the regular sleep advice.

One myth I'd like to figure out though. Is it true that keeping your hair tied decreases hair loss? I always find that when removing the hair band, a lot of hair falls out with it! (am going to need a wig soon :D)

Thank you for your quick reply,
I'm very grateful.

Love
Ketaki

[trickofthedark]

I've too have been losing hair when I use hair elastics and I think it's the metal bit on the elastic that breaks the hair or snags it and pulls it out. So gentler hairtoys could help. It's also always seemed to me before that heaping handfuls of cheap conditioner prevent my hair from breaking off in the comb. Halimede's oil recs seem more natural though. Thanks to Halimede I've been set on the right direction and I'm been finding lots of helpful sites. I'm still poking around what's out there, but here, these might help you:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com//showthread.php?t=11688
http://www.tlhs.org/carwet.html
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com//showthread.php?s=5a3ccc63af8a5425d061e9b9758455fb&t=5090

And three cheers for Halimede!