Long Hair Mamas tribe

[brightonwoman]

Is there a long-haired mamas tribe? Is there interest in having one?
Please tell me there are other people who are as obsessive with their long hair as I am? :love

[angelpie545]

Me, me me!!! :joy: I love my long hair! I have my daughter's hair long too-except for my older daughter-I let her layer it last year. Other than that, Nope, not snipping it! I used to have waist-length hair once upon a blue moon, and I am trying to get it to grow that long again, but alas I am older now and my hair doesn't have quite the veracity that it had when I was a teenager.

[brightonwoman]

how long is it angelpie?

I was raised in a home where "a womans hair is her glory" as per the new testament. My dad believed that girls should have long hair so we did...mine was around waist length throughout my growing up years. The thing was that neither mom nor any of us sisters really knew anything about how to care for long hair. We trimmed the split ends and washed/conditioned it, but nothing special... I always had a LOT of split ends, but didn't know how to prevent them. A few years ago I started learning/reading about how to care for my hair better, and step one was to cut off ALL the split ends, which meant cutting up to my shoulder blades (which felt so terribly short!) and i've been growing it out ever since. Now I only use combs--no brushes--and that has made a huge difference for me. I also started using henna about a year and a half ago, and that has made my hair SO happy! I have found literally 5 split ends in the last 18 months because of it! (My DS got me new henna for christmas--I was totally out and figured it was a want not a need and money is tight so I didn't get more--but I just did henna last night and now my hair is soo soft again!)
I don't have any daughters (yet!) but I would let their hair grow when they were little, and then as they got older I'd certainly respect their wishes for cuts/layers if they wanted them (but they have to take care of it if they get some high-maintenance cut, :lol)
Measured from my forehead/hairline over my head and down to the end, my hair is 31", which is solidly past my waist, though not quite to my hips. My goal right now is to reach terminal length--I just want to know what it is! Then my ideal length to maintain is about 36" (tailbone length) if I can... It's never been this long before, so I'm really excited to see what it can do now that I know how to actually care for it!

[mommabear207]

i've always had long hair. i had it to my wrists but cut it years ago (or rather let dh cut it years ago and it ended up much shorter than planed lol) now its back to my the top of my hips. i grew it long orginally just because i hated going to get it cut and would rather play but now i love long hair and hope dd (to be born in Feb) will too!
I've been considering letting it grow a bit longer and then cutting the minimum for "locks of love" again but i'd also like to see how long it could grow.
my ends do get dry! once a year or so i trim the ends which helps for a brief while. i'll have to look into henna. what color hair do you all have. i'm a dark brunette. I use to have light brown hair with natural highlights from the sun but i don't get to spend my days swimming all day anymore.

[brightonwoman]

My hair is auburn/brown. I definitely have natural red tones, but it's solidly 'brown' in it's natural state. My blond DS calls it black, but that's quite a stretch :wink I've got pics on my blog but I can't post that link here cuz my blog also has a link to my etsy store so sharing the blog link is advertising as per the UA...(figured that out the hard way, oops!) but if you want to see them I'm happy to PM ya. :wink

I am told that henna comes in a variety of colors...I can go look up and see if I can find the website that has dozens of before/after pics of henna heads, so you can get a better idea of what your hair might do. It varies with body chemistry though, so just because your 'before' hair color matches someone elses, yuou can't know what your hair will do until you actually dye it--which can be unnerving since henna is permenant. :lol A lot of people just take some little hair trimmings and dye them first to get an idea of what their hair will do before doing their whole head. I was pretty cautious the first time--used a smaller amount and didn't leave it on for very long. Now I still use the same amount but leave it on twice as long. Like I said I just did a batch yesterday, and as soon as I can get some good 'after' pictures I'm going to post the process on my blog. :)

I have a bone to pick with locks of love...donate if you want to cut anyway, but if you like your long hair, well, LoL is grossly mis-represented. They sell a lot of the hair (like well over half) and the number of wigs they turn out in a year is miniscule compared to the number of donations they get. I've worked in theatrical costuming, and i've made hairpieces--I know the time and work that goes into a good, handmade, human-hair wig, and they are extrememly expensive. i understand that...but I think that LoL needs to be more open about their business practices is all. They don't have non-profit status because they consistently violate the rules for it and that sort of thing. :shrug
ok, / LoL rant. :lol

[mommabear207]

i am interested as to how my hair might turn out w/ henna. it actually sounds a lot like yours brightonwoman. most photos it looks black but its definitly brown- well i like saying brunette it sounds so much nicer besides blonds are called blond not yellow...(whats another name for black?) also is there any concerns with pregnancy or nursing and henna compounds?
as for 'LoL' i was surprised at how many donantions it takes to make one wig but i figured might as well do something with it and i know how much i would miss my hair if i were in their shoes. i didn't know they sold it too... that doesn't seem right. are there any other groups that take hair donantions?

[brightonwoman]

i am interested as to how my hair might turn out w/ henna. it actually sounds a lot like yours brightonwoman. most photos it looks black but its definitly brown- well i like saying brunette it sounds so much nicer besides blonds are called blond not yellow...(whats another name for black?) also is there any concerns with pregnancy or nursing and henna compounds?
This (http://www.hennaforhair.com/)site has the pictures of henna (http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/)--I'll also be posting my before/after pictures (plus info on the process) on my blog in a few days. :)


as for 'LoL' i was surprised at how many donantions it takes to make one wig but i figured might as well do something with it and i know how much i would miss my hair if i were in their shoes. i didn't know they sold it too... that doesn't seem right. are there any other groups that take hair donantions?
It's expensive to make the wigs, so they sell hair to pay for that I think. Still, it bothers me that they seem to try to keep it under wraps...and that a lot of the hair is going to hollywood starlets for extensions or things like that. :(
I don't think LoL is evil, just that they mis-represent themselves.
I do have a list of other places to donate all listed up on my blog. I'm not supposed to post my blog link here cuz I've got my etsy shop linked from it so it's advertising if I just put it out there...but I'm allowed to PM the link to you if you ask me for it :wink

[Kidzaplenty]

:lurk:

[Leisha]

Oooh, I have long hair and am moderately obsessive about it (meaning I have too many hairsticks and stuff and a bunch of conditioners, oils, hair masks etc :o) :D
(Lately, though, I have been definitely neglecting my hair!! It's just not easy to find time for hair-pampering now that my dd is around :wink)

It's about tailbone length now. I always have it up in a bun, though.
With me, it's not for religious reasons, but I think long hair is just very "me".


(Any LHC members here?? :hide: :innocent)

Edit: I am going through a MAJOR (post-partum) shed at the moment, by the way! I hope my hair doesn't get too thin!

[brightonwoman]

(Any LHC members here?? :hide: :innocent)


me :bag: :wink

I am not growing my hair for religious reasons either, although I do feel like it's sortof spiritual in that I feel in touch with nature and my inner potential, you know?

[mommabear207]

i wear mine usually in a bun or pony tail.i love wearing it lose but then i feel like its getting in the way or tangles. i hear jojoba oil is the closest to natural hair oil but i can't find it around here anyone know what the next best oil to use would be?
is LHC referring to the international long hair club? i was going to post a link as it has a bunch of great info- if it doesn't here's the link.....
http://www.longhair.org/main.htm

[maplesugar]

I have quite long hair. It is almost to my butt. In regards to oils, I have had fabulous results with coconut oil. It has really made my split ends improve.

[columbusmomma]

May I join in?? I would love to get some good advice here! I love my long hair and couldn't imagine cutting it! Weird, I actually had a dream last night where it was short. I woke up in a panic! I just can't picture myself with it short. It's been short twice in my life. Once when I was a kid, and once in highschool when I wanted a bob like everyone else! DD's hair is growing long and I don't plan to cut it either! Looking forward to chatting with you all!:D

[ecoteat]

Hi! I have long hair too. It's to my elbows and is thick and blond with a tiny bit of wave. I love my long hair--it's been like this since high school (it was long when I was little, too, but I tried a few other styles as a kid). I think my mass of hair balances out my whole shape and I don't think any other style would look as good on me. I didn't even realize it was a little wavy until I stopped using shampoo! I switched to a no-poo routine this summer and I LOVE not having to wash my hair every day anymore and how thick and full my hair is. It's always been really thick, but it isn't weighed down so much anymore. It is a lot dryer in the winter, of course; any suggestions for adding moisture in a way that is compatible with no-pooing?

[Kidzaplenty]

Can you even go "no shampooing" if you have excessivly oily hair? If I do not wash my hair in two or three days I end up with a stinky (oily smelling), slicked back looking hair. It looks like I have poured oil in my hair and rubbed it in.

Right now my hair is barely bra lenghth and for me that is short. However, I have the massive fall out after I have a baby (when Baby is 3 months lasting to 6 months), and my hair was shedding so much that I chopped off about a foot because of the thinness and scraggly look of it.

I can't wait until I have my thick long hair back. :( I really do miss it.

Is the LHC a "real" club or just a "mindset club"? Really curious. I love long hair and think it is beautiful when cared for (and when it does not fall out every couple of years; as mine has done for the last 11 years).

[Arduinna]

I used to be a member at long hair lovers. I learned some great stuff there but I've gotten lax. I trimmed my hair due to split ends to about midback. Coloring and summers in the pool have taken a toll on my long hair so I've never been able to get it past my waist. I always end up trimming. I quit coloring about a year ago and it's been in much better shape. I do wish I could get it longer but I want it to look good otherwise it isn't worth it to me.

[PaulaJoAnne]

My hair is three feet in length. Most people do not even know this, as I cover most of the time, as per 1 Corinthians 11.
I wear a tichel style, (take a peek on the Christmas day post on our blog) though for many years wore a hanging style Mennonite veil and for a short time a cap.
I still wear the veil or cap on really cold days, so I can wear my wool bonnet.
I had an Old German Baptist Brethren one custom made for me.
I will be wearing it for Tuesdays milk run-its 25 below:cold::cold::cold:

My hair is on the thinner side, and I have always struggled to keep it from breaking. I guess I should stop using the brush as well :o)

I recently swore off shampoo, and now just wash it with conditioner.
I still have a flakey scalp, but it is no longer itchy, and the grease levels have dropped off.
I think its still flakey due to the cold temps. Summer will be telling.
I did try no poo, and vingegar rinses, but all that did was create more problems.

To the age old question, "how do you sleep with that long hair:eyesroll?"
Easy, I put it in a bun on top of my head!
Or a long braid, but that is problematic, as it wraps around my neck, or dh lays on it.
Paula

[Mama~Love]

I'll join! My hair is getting pretty long - I have a post here about, you can see pics here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=993066&highlight= .

I really just realized how special it is to have long hair, and am still learning how to care for it properly.

[mommabear207]

Hi All! I'm glad to see this tribe taking off. So sad when they peter out and die:(

Can you even go "no shampooing" if you have excessivly oily hair? If I do not wash my hair in two or three days I end up with a stinky (oily smelling), slicked back looking hair. It looks like I have poured oil in my hair and rubbed it in. [QUOTE]

my hair does this too -although the length stays clean/dried out ends. otherwise i'd love to try "no shampooing".i find my hair does better on a wash every 3 days schedule and sometimes i condition the ends between then.


[QUOTE] Is the LHC a "real" club or just a "mindset club"? Really curious. I love long hair and think it is beautiful when cared for (and when it does not fall out every couple of years; as mine has done for the last 11 years).

heres the link to the LHC (not the international one i previously posted):
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/index.php
its a forum. some great info there amongest the threads. i also like the international site as they have great tips you don't have to read tons of posts to get.


i finally learned what combs vs brushes are really for and now i usually use a comb and only use the brush to smooth and help spread oil to the length. this has helped a ton. i also gave in and purchased a Mason Pearson detangle comb and mixed bristle brush. I found them for like 1/2 the original price on ebay but as it has to be airmailed Im still waiting for it. I hear rave reviews so I am anxiously waiting.

as for sleeping i've always just laid it out above my head.occassionally in a pony tail but any kind of bump kills my neck. once in a great while i do a braid but it seems to be more effort than its worth and feels like one huge lump.

[brightonwoman]

any suggestions for adding moisture in a way that is compatible with no-pooing?
oiling is a popular option...I haven't done it, but basically take an oil (coconut oil is popular, as are jojoba and even olive), and put some of it in your hair--particularly on the ends. Then let it sit a while and soak in. You know those fancy hot oil treatments you can get from salons, or at the drugstore? Same idea...only much cheaper :wink

Can you even go "no shampooing" if you have excessivly oily hair? If I do not wash my hair in two or three days I end up with a stinky (oily smelling), slicked back looking hair. It looks like I have poured oil in my hair and rubbed it in.

no-poo isn't not washing, it's using baking soda...I have found it does a really deep clean actually...with that said, it's not the best choice for everyone. I do it occasionally (ok, I've done it twice, :lol) but it stripped my hair so much that I don't want to do it often. I know two people who've told me that they ruined their hair doing it. So while it works great for some folks, it's not for everyone...
For me, one of the best ways I found to reduce oil was to wash less often. Every time you wash, you are stripping off all the natural oils...the thing is, when you strip them off, your body says "oh dear, the oil is gone, we need more" and so produces more to catch up...so the more often you wash, the more oil you'll produce. I slowly started going an extra day between washes, then when my hair/scalp adjusted to that, I went a day longer...I currently go about 7-8 days between washes, and my hair looks as good at the end as it did at the beginning--I can just feel it getting oily at the top.


Is the LHC a "real" club or just a "mindset club"? Really curious. I love long hair and think it is beautiful when cared for (and when it does not fall out every couple of years; as mine has done for the last 11 years).
Long Hair Community (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/index.php) is an online forum, basically like this one :wink I have poked around there a bit, and there's some good info...but honestly the reason I started a tribe here was because a lot of longhairs take a more mainstream approach to body/hair care, and I was hoping to find crunchy longhairs. :)

My hair is three feet in length. Most people do not even know this, as I cover most of the time, as per 1 Corinthians 11.
...
My hair is on the thinner side, and I have always struggled to keep it from breaking. I guess I should stop using the brush as well :o)
...
To the age old question, "how do you sleep with that long hair:eyesroll?"

Oh I'm so jealous--3 feet!!
My hair is fairly thin too, although it's curly, so it generally looks bigger than it really is... I've felt the desire to cover, but when I talked with my DH about it he did not like the idea at all...I feel like it's a beautiful symbol of submission and respect, but if the one I'm submitting to doesn't want me to cover, and I cover anyway, well, that kinda defeats the whole point :eyesroll so I don't cover. I do aim for modest hairstyles though--buns and twisted updos most of the time, with a few braids thrown in for variety.
I braid at night--although yes, I've wakened up a few times with it around my neck. Braiding pulls up some of the length, so DH lays on it less when it's braided than when I used to leave it loose. I think the braiding helps a lot with the breakage issues I had before too. :) Hair health is made up of a ton of little things :thumb:wink

[jocelyndale]

I have long, henna'd hair. Stick straight, baby-fine, but I braid it every night, so it's generally somewhat wavy/kinky during the day.

It's probably iliac-length, but I haven't looked at it lately. It really needs a trim--toddler-chasing and swimming have taken their toll.

No 'poo doesn't work for me. Baking soda leaves my scalp super dry, even in tiny concentrations, and it seems to make the henna fade. CO leaves my scalp itchy. So I use a gentle shampoo and conditioner and have great luck with that.

[mistymama]

I'll join in here! I love my long hair and the few times I have cut it shorter, I always end up growing it back out. Luckily, my hair grows super fast. :lol

I do get it trimmed every six months or so, also thinned and layered. My hair is super dense and thick with natural wave. Thinning and layering means it will curl nicely on it's own, otherwise I get a huge, tangly mass of not wavy-not straight hair. ;)

Right now it's to my elbows. :love Dh loves it. I've cut it shorter once or twice since we've been together and he's sweet, but he really does love my long hair.

I can't do the natural products thing. My hair gets so dry. I have best results with high end, sulfate free shampoo and a very moisturing conditioner. I use them every other day and use a repair type hair mask weekly. Also get a deep conditioning treatment anytime I get my hair cut.

So hi everyone!

[Arduinna]

Oh yeah sleeping :lol what a PITA that is sometimes. I think I wake up most of the time just to readjust my hair on the pillow. I sometimes do put it in braided pigtails for sleeping. I don't really like pony tails for sleeping because the bunch on my head or neck is annoying. I sometimes do just self bun it like I wear it during the day but I'm always afraid it will get a knot while I'm sleeping.

[PaulaJoAnne]

For those struggling with hair at night, just bend over, brush or comb all of it to the top of your head, and wind/twist it into a bun.
Then, use the 1/2 inch clippies and fix it to your head.
I have some pics of how I put up a headache free bun for daytime wear, but they are in my Yahoo Headcovering Group, so are not accesible to the general public.
There are some other ideas over here....http://www.prayercoverings.com/pages/howtomakeabun.php (//http://www.prayercoverings.com/pages/howtomakeabun.php)

[Healthy_Baby]

no kidding i was just thinking about a tribe like this a couple days ago! :lol

[brightonwoman]

woohoo, so happy to see this tribe taking off!! :joy:

[Kidzaplenty]

For those struggling with hair at night, just bend over, brush or comb all of it to the top of your head, and wind/twist it into a bun.
Then, use the 1/2 inch clippies and fix it to your head.
I have some pics of how I put up a headache free bun for daytime wear, but they are in my Yahoo Headcovering Group, so are not accesible to the general public.
There are some other ideas over here....http://www.prayercoverings.com/pages/howtomakeabun.php (//http://www.prayercoverings.com/pages/howtomakeabun.php)

Maybe it's me, but I can't get the link to work.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Don't know why it will not work. I'll look into it later.
Meanwhile, go to www.prayercoverings.com and click on how to make a bun on the side bar.
Paula

[Kidzaplenty]

Thanks! :D

[SAHDS]

I'll be a half-member, LOL. I swear, my hair has been on strike for the last year, refusing to stop breaking. It grows very fast, but is quite unhealthy. I need to get on an iron supplement to remedy this but have not yet gotten to the doc. Right now, it's about 3" past my bra strap (which I consider short) and I hope to get it back down to my waist ASAP.

DD's is just past her waist :joy:

[jocelyndale]

The link has an extra http:// in the code. A quick edit should fix it up!

My husband also has long hair. When wet, it's down past his bra strap. :wink When dry, it's just to the top of his shoulder blades. Curly and brown. It's really pretty. (DH came in after his shower. He wishes you all to know that his hair is actually down to his pantyline when wet.)

And our 20mo DS has a baby mullet, but I'm contemplating chopping it. It's very thin, fine hair and the rockstar mullet is just not my thing. Long hair, yes. Mullets and hockey hair, no.

[SAHDS]

And our 20mo DS has a baby mullet, but I'm contemplating chopping it. It's very thin, fine hair and the rockstar mullet is just not my thing. Long hair, yes. Mullets and hockey hair, no.

:rotflmao

This was our DS too! I finally gave in at 23 months and got his hair buzzed. He was sooooo pretty with his white-blond hair and it curled at the back... but, it was beginning to get too mullet-esque so off it went. UGH, I still have the lock and pictures...

[brightonwoman]

And our 20mo DS has a baby mullet, but I'm contemplating chopping it. It's very thin, fine hair and the rockstar mullet is just not my thing. Long hair, yes. Mullets and hockey hair, no.

My DS did too. I cut it and it came back in thicker and nicer. :thumb I ABSOLUTELY recommend cutting it. :wink

[HoneyTree]

Wow! What a great tribe.

My hair got a serious boost from this pregnancy and grew about an inch a month, strong and shiny! I'm a little worried about what's going to happen AFTER the baby's born, though--last time I had a few months of limp. But now it's to my lower back, "cut" (though I use the term loosely) in a V or U shape.

So I have a question for you mamas. I keep reading on all these long-hair care Web sites that nearly EVERYTHING causes breakage and damage. But I love buns, braids, barrettes, little claws, hair sticks and other styling aids. What works for you? Especially ponytails--if you have pretty slippery hair, how do you get anything to grip without damaging?

TIA!

[mommabear207]

I hear you HoneyTree about the After baby hair blahs! I know in just a few short months The Shedding will begin.
Re: hair accessories - I love fabric covered scrunchies! Hair Sticks are cool too but usually my hair slips out and I get frustrated so I usually do a ponytail or bun. Once in a while a french twist with a hair claw. Mainly I think its important to make sure that whatever you're using doesn't snag your hair like rubber or little crevasses that some barrettes have.
also preventing damage is key. now i comb more often than brush and i just started using coconut oil on my extremely dry ends before i shower- so far- wow! smooth and shiny. but i still think i need to get a trim as you can't fix a split end.

[jocelyndale]

What works for you? Especially ponytails--if you have pretty slippery hair, how do you get anything to grip without damaging?


I have slippery hair, too. I don't do hairsticks or hairpins right now (toddler just pulls them out or pokes himself in the eye with 'em).

Scrunchies are my friend, but I often have to make them to get them both big enough and stretchy enough. I try not to style wet hair, even though that's the BEST way for me to get it to stay. I reserve that for special occasions, when I pin up a braided bun in some fancy configuration.

When I braid it loosely at night, I tie the ends off with nylon loops. You can buy them (scunci) or make them from old stockings/hose.

A Ficcari clip is nice. I can't find mine. :crying

[brightonwoman]

So I have a question for you mamas. I keep reading on all these long-hair care Web sites that nearly EVERYTHING causes breakage and damage. But I love buns, braids, barrettes, little claws, hair sticks and other styling aids. What works for you? Especially ponytails--if you have pretty slippery hair, how do you get anything to grip without damaging?

TIA!

I like claw clippies, I do make sure to get the ones that are smooth (not the cheap ones where the plastic seams will snag my hair)
I do use the ponytail elastics--I make sure they are smooth ones (no metal joint), and I try to use really fat ones for a full ponytail (save the smaller oens for ends of braids). One of the biggest tips I've heard abotu doing ponytails is 1--do them kinda loose (so they don't break hairs) and 2--do them in different places all the time--if you have a pony in the same place every day, you'll end up breaking the hairs there. If you change it up and do different things/locations with your hair every day, then it will 'wear' mroe evenly if that makes sense. :thumb
One thing i've found--leaving my hair loose causes a lot more damage than putting it up (b/c it catches in things), so I'd rather lose a couple of hairs to a ponytail than have them all ripping on chair rungs, you know? :wink

[Arduinna]

I use the smooth elastics that are all nylon too, without the metal if I'm going to do pig tails or braids. Otherwise I generally just bun my hair with nothing, just twist it up on my head and then slip knot my hair to hold it. Once in awhile I use a big u shaped pin to hold the bun if I'm trying to dress up. I also really like to wear cappucinos to hold my hair back, it's nice if it's windy.

[Jojo F.]

:wave hey mamas!! What a great idea for a long hair tribe:D

Usually my hair is almost to the small of my back but, on ocassion I do hair shows and let them cut it. So far no more hair shows, they don't pick pregnant women:wink, and my hair is now to my bra strap. I'd like it a little longer but, I find for me it's more managable at this length.

I also tried the no 'poo and couldn't get it right. So I'd wash it if I left the house so I didn't look like a total grease ball. Now I use Nature's Gate Herbal Daily Shampoo and Conditioner but, there are stilla few ingredients I'm not too keen on.

Do any of you have Jeanne Rose's Herbal Body Book? I'd like to try more of her hair washes, conditioners, etc. because anything I have used (acne) from there works & is totally 100% natural.

If you all like I could write a hair tip every week or so from her book. Let me know!!

[Aleo]

Hi long haired mammas!!!

I have always used my hair long, as a kid my hair was curly and blonde, so my mom was not going to cut it lol Now my hair is wavy, long and i'm LOVING IT!!!
I don't use much on my hair, but I love accesories and I also like braiding my hair to the side. It's around 2 inches above my elbows.

[grahamsmom98]

I'm 5'2" and my hair hangs down below my knees!

I wear it up in a figure-8 bun on the back of my head most of the time (and always to sleep) or a single braid down the back. It is straight with the slightest wave on the underside. I also have bangs that I wear sort-of side-swept.

I use rosemary shampoo & conditioner on mine with a little no-more-tangles after I wash it. No special treatment for me!! My hair is very strong (it's killed several vacuums) and thick.

It is a deep red colour (think Irish Setter without the copper highlights). I have some silver/white coming in now (I'll be 50 in March), but I prefer to think of them as platinum! :wink It gets nice blond highlights in the Summer.

I plan on continuing to let it grow until dh says he thinks it is time to cut it. No, not because of any control issues. It's just that he has to look at me and I want to be attractive for him! It's no big deal on caring for it, so it doesn't matter to me. He loves the look of it and how it feels when I use it on his body! :love

I do like having long hair, though I realize that many people think of me as "Oh, you're the one with the really long hair!" Um, yes, but I am a lot of other things, too!!! :wink

[brightonwoman]

I'm 5'2" and my hair hangs down below my knees!

I wear it up in a figure-8 bun on the back of my head most of the time (and always to sleep) or a single braid down the back. It is straight with the slightest wave on the underside. I also have bangs that I wear sort-of side-swept.

I use rosemary shampoo & conditioner on mine with a little no-more-tangles after I wash it. No special treatment for me!! My hair is very strong (it's killed several vacuums) and thick.

It is a deep red colour (think Irish Setter without the copper highlights). I have some silver/white coming in now (I'll be 50 in March), but I prefer to think of them as platinum! :wink It gets nice blond highlights in the Summer.

I plan on continuing to let it grow until dh says he thinks it is time to cut it. No, not because of any control issues. It's just that he has to look at me and I want to be attractive for him! It's no big deal on caring for it, so it doesn't matter to me. He loves the look of it and how it feels when I use it on his body! :love

I do like having long hair, though I realize that many people think of me as "Oh, you're the one with the really long hair!" Um, yes, but I am a lot of other things, too!!! :wink

:Bow

ooo you are so cool! Knees, irish setter red (mine is close to that with the henna...i love it!)...oh you are my new hair idol. :lol

[jocelyndale]

My hair is very strong (it's killed several vacuums) and thick.

In our house, we run over the floors with the hardwood attachment first. Only after I've done that (stopping to clear it several times) do I use the powered vac head with the beater bar. And I still have to disassemble the beater bar from time to time to clear coils of hair from the swivel ends before the hair burns and melts the plastic, freezing the swivels and earning me a call to Sears for warranty repair.

If I ever have more than one room carpeted, I'll spring for the Dyson animal. Until then, I'll keep my Kenmore canister (purchased the extra long warranty, too, because the salesman swore my hair wouldn't kill the beater swivels. He was misled, of course, but Sears still gives me new bars under warranty.).

We have one room with wall to wall and two rooms with room-size area rugs. I know a lot of folks who use carpet rakes, but I could only find rubber ones and we can't do rubber. Back when I had a cheap upright vac, I would get on the floor with a very large scrub brush and use that to collect the hair. (Replacing beater bar means I have to touch the rubber belt, also not a good thing.)

[Miss 1928]

Hi!

I feel like I might belong here, even though I don't really think that my hair is that long now. Only to the middle of my back. It's currently sort of dark auburn, but I used to color it half blonde and half red. That was fun for about 4 years, but I think I'm done with that look now.

I used to have virgin hair (burnette) that hung down to mid-thigh. Well over 3 feet.

But that was a long time ago. Sigh.

Between then and now I've had it bobbed and grown it back dwon to my butt and then cut it short again, then long again. You get the picture. People are always telling me; "Oh, don't cut your hair." but I've learned that it does grow. (Mostly because I'm lazy about getting it cut because I mistrust almost all hairdressers.) I probably will never have it as long as mid-thigh again, but I do think of myself as a long hair person.

[brightonwoman]

you know, i think everyone's perceptions of 'long hair' are different...I used to think it wasn't logn until it hit the waist or so, but DH says he thinks it's long if it's past the shoulders!

I figure, you belong here if you think you belong here! :love

[Miss 1928]

Thanks!
Yeah, I thought the same as you. But there are so many out there, including many fashion magazines, who think like your DH and that "long" is anything past the sholders.

When I was younger and had more time I used to do all kinds of creative hairstyles. I also used to participate in a lot of different costumed events, and it was always fun to do my hair (and the assistance of a hairpiece or two :wink) into a period hairstyle, 1300s, 1500s, 1850s, 1890s, and every decade of the 1900s. -- Faking a 20s bob when you have over 3 feet of hair is a challenge. :lol

Now, it's usually (boringly) up in a bun held by 2 claw clips or just held back by 1 claw clip. --Is that what they're called? Did they used to be called butterfly clips? You know, the ones with the spring? Anyway, they're my very favorite hair accessory.

At my last haircut (August) I got it layered in that way that everyone seems to have now and I must admit that I do not hate it. (I say this because I usually dislike contemporary hair cuts. I've avoided a lot of them by just having long, straight, all one length hair.) I acutally sort of love how I look when, on very rare occasion, I do a blow out and let it all hang loose.

I suppose that I belong here mostly because I love to talk about my hair. :D

[HoneyTree]

Thanks for the gentle styling products suggestions, mamas. I especially can relate to the ponytail in various places suggestion--I am a creature of habit, and thus my buns and ponytails always end up about the same place, and the breakage is not far behind! But I also do way more damage with let-down hair than with put-up hair, so :shrug.

I've found one way for hairsticks to work well in my hair (and my toddler is just now three, and will leave them alone, but the next is due any day now, so my hairsticks days are numbered!). I put my hair up how I like it, some bun configuration, and then I put one of those big, thick, no-snag black Scunci ponytail holders around the base of it just once. Because my hair is dark, you can hardly see it around the bottom of the bun. Then I can thread the hairsticks through, usually going through the bun, past the ponytail holder, then coming out the underside. It seems like the ponytail holder holds the shape just enough that the hair won't slip out of the hairstick style.

[SAHDS]

you know, i think everyone's perceptions of 'long hair' are different...I used to think it wasn't logn until it hit the waist or so, but DH says he thinks it's long if it's past the shoulders!


Isn't that funny? I always complain about my "short hair" even though it's almost to my elbows (actually, it may be at my elbows). I just want it back down to my waist so desperately.

[mommabear207]

yeah it always seemed weird to see books at the hairdressers where long hair was shoulder length -to me thats short. i can't imagine having short hair by those standards. i always wondered what they called hair past the shoulders especially waist or longer- really really really long hair? long long long hair?

i guess one handy thing about being short waisted is that my elbows are past my waist - though my hair is finally back to tailbone length. but i have a good 6 inches till i'm back to my wrists- i wonder how much longer it will grow past that!
i also needto work on varying where i wear my hair up but it feels so weird everywhere else.

[Poddi]

Yay a tribe I belong to! I started growing it out from a bob about 4 years ago. My hair is about tailbone length now, and has been that length for a year. I keep trimming it hoping to thicken the ends, but it's just not happening.

Most of the time I don't do much with my hair, just wear it loose and throw it into a bun when I need to do work. I love hairsticks and have a rather large collection. Sometimes I think I keep my hair long just to use hairsticks. :) I have no patience with hair dryer so I let it air dry. Never colored or permed it. Luckily I have naturally easy hair so it usually looks pretty decent itself. It's strong and shiny with no splits. One of my sons inherited my hair and I can't keep my hands off his head. :D I hope he decide to grow it out, when he can take care of it himself.

I did try all sorts of things for my hair, unfortunately I never found my holy grail method. Right now I mostly use shampoo bars, but I have to lather up 3 times for each wash or I get itchy scalp. A little too much trouble.

[kat5143]

Glad to be here!

I have super thick, wavy underside, ash brown, belly button length hair and although my family members think its long "mermaid hair", I consider it just medium length and would so love for it to finally get back to my waist at least. Alas, when I am pregnant, my hair seems to stop growing like it normally does.
I "no-poo" about once a week with baking soda and vinegar/herbal rinse followed with an oil treatment for the ends when its still slightly damp (it helps wavy be more curly than messy). For just playing around with the kids all day, I do a loose bun held with a smooth elastic (no metal) band. for going out in public I usually use a clip and do a half up ponytail. At night, I just pile my hair on top of my pillow when I sleep and sometimes tuck the ends under my pillow when cuddling babies or dh.
My daughter is 4 yrs old and has never had a hair cut but sadly, her hair has just now reached her neck and is still almost "baby mullet" on top. I think she has her dads super fine, platinum hair. She tells me about the someday that her hair will be long like mine, for now we just use baby barrettes and super tiny claw clips to make what she has feel special too. My son has my hair type and dh keeps it very short like his own. I am excited to see what my next daughter will have when she is born (if anything, my other two were bald at birth)

[mommabear207]

:wave
so a quick question for those of you who apply oil (like jojoba) to your hair- how do you apply it? do you mix it with another oil or base?

[magstphil]

hey all!

I am really hoping I can stay in this tribe. I am on bed rest and my hair has become so matted I might have to chop it all off. :bawl It took me so long to get it to grow and NOT tangle up right away.

I have very curly and resistant hair. It's long to me but short to everyone else I am sure. I feel robbed because when it is wet (and not a matted mess :irked:) it is past my bra strap but when it is dry it is barely past my shoulders.

If I do have to chop it off the plus side is I get a new start and can try starting off with no-pooing and such. But I still have to start all over :bang

Wish me luck!

[JessicaRenee]

Mine is shoulder-length right now but I'm growing it out.

[mommabear207]

GOOD LUCK magstphil! I don't know how bad it is but you might be able to tackle it with a good comb and baby oil or coconut oil. I used baby oil to comb my dreads out and I use coconut oil to moisturize now- although since i've been no-pooing I haven't needed to so much.

[PaulaJoAnne]

hey all!

I am really hoping I can stay in this tribe. I am on bed rest and my hair has become so matted I might have to chop it all off. :bawl It took me so long to get it to grow and NOT tangle up right away.

I have very curly and resistant hair. It's long to me but short to everyone else I am sure. I feel robbed because when it is wet (and not a matted mess :irked:) it is past my bra strap but when it is dry it is barely past my shoulders.

If I do have to chop it off the plus side is I get a new start and can try starting off with no-pooing and such. But I still have to start all over :bang

Wish me luck!

No need to chop it off. Get some coconut oil, rub it in, and gently comb it out.
You can keep a little bit rubbed in while you are in bed, and it will keep it from getting ratty.
Get better!
Paula

[sugareemoma]

Wow mamas, I am impresed by your ability to grow out your hair so long. I always let my hair knott/dread when it starts getting past my shoulders. I cut of my dreadies when I was in labor and had a bob/bowl cut for a while. i am trying to grow it out so that it will be long and straight. What advice do you have for growing long healthy hair? I have never used shampoo, only baking soda and vinegar (or sea salt on my dreads sometime). Do you think braiding hair will keep it stronger longer?

[LionessMom]

jusr been lurking looking for ideas for my hair. my hair is down to my bra strap. was 3inches longer than that but i had alot of damage from using too much BS. i had terrible split ends. my prior style was a rounded slighter layered cut. so in order to get all the split ends and make it one length they had to cut of 3 inches. i am kinda sad b/c of how long it was but it looks so much healthier now and tangles way less. it will grow back out. that is what hair does. lol.

i have been using herbal concoctions i made myself to wash my hair. honey, comphrey, echinacea, rosemary, chamomile, lavendar oil, Tea tree oil, oregano, and some other stuff. basically i simmer all of the loose herbs in enough water to cover them plus a 2 cups. then i strain, then add the honey until it is well mixed. then strain again. then pour it into my jars. after it cools i add the essential oils. i let it sit for at least a week. i shake it well before i use it. i have been pouring some in a cup the diluting it. i scrub my scalp with it and let it sit. then i rinse, then i rinse again with 1 tsp vinegar and 3 cups water. then a final rinse.

my hair feels very clean and soft. it is shiny now and i have a lot less flakes and itching.

to make it grow: i have read in my Jeanne rose herbal body book that Peach kernels, Jaborandi, nettle, rosemary and southerwood are good to help. also scalp massages with olive oil.

[sugareemoma]

jusr been lurking looking for ideas for my hair. my hair is down to my bra strap. was 3inches longer than that but i had alot of damage from using too much BS. i had terrible split ends. my prior style was a rounded slighter layered cut. so in order to get all the split ends and make it one length they had to cut of 3 inches. i am kinda sad b/c of how long it was but it looks so much healthier now and tangles way less. it will grow back out. that is what hair does. lol.

i have been using herbal concoctions i made myself to wash my hair. honey, comphrey, echinacea, rosemary, chamomile, lavendar oil, Tea tree oil, oregano, and some other stuff. basically i simmer all of the loose herbs in enough water to cover them plus a 2 cups. then i strain, then add the honey until it is well mixed. then strain again. then pour it into my jars. after it cools i add the essential oils. i let it sit for at least a week. i shake it well before i use it. i have been pouring some in a cup the diluting it. i scrub my scalp with it and let it sit. then i rinse, then i rinse again with 1 tsp vinegar and 3 cups water. then a final rinse.

my hair feels very clean and soft. it is shiny now and i have a lot less flakes and itching.

to make it grow: i have read in my Jeanne rose herbal body book that Peach kernels, Jaborandi, nettle, rosemary and southerwood are good to help. also scalp massages with olive oil.
Wow, thanks for all the advice. I currently use bs/acv about 2-3 times a week and do a olive oil or grapeseed oil scalp massage once a week. I do not know whee to find Peach kernels or jaborandi but I have nettle and rosemary that I use in teas. Next time I will make a cup of tea for my hair!
Do you think baking soda and ACV usually leads to split ends? How many days a week did you use it and how long were you no poo?
I have been no poo for two months now and haven't had any problems and hope I dont!
Also is it a myth that hair grows longer if you trim the ends? I just don't get how that could make it grow longer, maybe look better. Does hair try to self repair and use its nutrients to try to fix the split instead of for growing, like an injured plant?

[brightonwoman]

Also is it a myth that hair grows longer if you trim the ends? I just don't get how that could make it grow longer, maybe look better. Does hair try to self repair and use its nutrients to try to fix the split instead of for growing, like an injured plant?

Well, the trimming itself doesn't make it grow longer, since hair grows out from the top, however trimming can help it be healthier.
When the end is split, if it is not trimmed off it will continue to split on up the shaft further and further. This means that if you catch it early and trim it, then you'll have nice solid hairs...but if you don't get it then the hair will split way up and may break off, or at the very least youv'e got a weak, frizzed, split hair going way up (possibly all the way up).
If you keep the splits trimmed when they are still tiny, then your hair will be stronger as a whole. With no super-splitters to make it break off at higher points, it is likely to be able to grow longer.
So trimming ends isn't helpful per se, but trimming off split ends IS helpful. A lot of long hairs do 'search and destroy' missions where they use tiny scissors and search through their hair and trim individual split hairs. I used to do that, but since I've been usign henna I have very little need of it. I've had less than a dozen split hairs in the year I've used henna. :thumb So I've stopped regular trims, and just check over for split ends occasionally.

[GooeyRN]

Mine was down to my butt. I had it cut in early October, and donated it to LOL. My hair is currently bra strap level. I don't really miss it, since it was so much to handle with a baby and a 3 year old. It took up to 45 minutes just to detangle it after washing it, and I had to wash daily. Then I put it in a bun so the kids did not grab and pull it. It would never fully dry, so I ended up with a major itchy scalp. I am growing it out again to donate again.

[Kidzaplenty]

OK, I am not sure if this has been given, but I did not see it.

I know it is said that henna is great for hair, but it is also something that many are ripped off with (fake henna products, or low grade).

So, the question begs to be asked, Where can I find the best stuff at the best price (since cost is a big factor for most)?

Also, since I have nevered colored my hair and only had it permed twice (and that was years and years), I have no idea what I am doing. Any advice or tips would be great. Thanks!

[mommabear207]

i have been using herbal concoctions i made myself to wash my hair. honey, comphrey, echinacea, rosemary, chamomile, lavendar oil, Tea tree oil, oregano, and some other stuff. basically i simmer all of the loose herbs in enough water to cover them plus a 2 cups. then i strain, then add the honey until it is well mixed. then strain again. then pour it into my jars. after it cools i add the essential oils. i let it sit for at least a week. i shake it well before i use it. i have been pouring some in a cup the diluting it. i scrub my scalp with it and let it sit. then i rinse, then i rinse again with 1 tsp vinegar and 3 cups water. then a final rinse.

my hair feels very clean and soft. it is shiny now and i have a lot less flakes and itching.

to make it grow: i have read in my Jeanne rose herbal body book that Peach kernels, Jaborandi, nettle, rosemary and southerwood are good to help. also scalp massages with olive oil.

i'm interested in making my own "shampoo" concoctions- how do you decide which herbs to use? how much honey and EOs do you use? also why do you let it sit at least a week? thanks:thumb

[LionessMom]

i'm interested in making my own "shampoo" concoctions- how do you decide which herbs to use? how much honey and EOs do you use? also why do you let it sit at least a week? thanks:thumb

i looked all the herbs up in a book i have. i have jeanne rose's herbal body book. i also research them online. the honey i kind of eyeball. i would say a 1/2 cup of honey to 2 cups of herb rinse. also i only use a couple drops of each EO's. i let it sit to let the EOs blend.

[applejuice]

I have long hair. I wear it in a french roll everyday.

My hair is dyed dark, naturally very grey, and comes to my shoulder blades.

I grew it long because as one ages, one's hair becomes thinner, so I figured my hair would look fuller if I grew more of it and piled it on my head every day.

[pixilixi]

Can I join? I last cut my hair just before I got pregnant with ds (he is now 3), and my hair is at about waist level. I love having it long, and I was going to wait until ds weans before cutting it. However, I think I will get a trim to even it up before then - it's probably a ways off!

Does anyone do their hair in ways other than ponytail/bun? I usually have a pony, sometimes I plait one section from the front all the way down, and then catch it up all in a pony - or I part it in the middle, put some clips in then have a pony.

I'd love to find some other ways to wear it. I can french braid my own hair, but it's much harder to do when the hair is so long (and tiring for my arms!). I very rarely wear it down, it's VERY prone to tangling and frizzing. I wash with some yummy stuff every 2 to 3 days, and often condition the ends in between.

Cool tribe! I'll have to check out some of those links.

[PrettyHippie]

This link needs perked up! My hair is basically tailbone length. I'm a freak for my hair! It's probably the one thing I'm vain about. I go to a wonderful long hair salon in Columbus and they have been so wonderful. In the years I've been going there I've learned so much about the special needs of long hair. Any kind of elastic-type ponytail holders are a huge no-no. Apparently they case static build up that causes heat that then causes the hair to break. I'm in the process of growing out the hair around my face due to ponytail holder damage I got before I knew better. It's getting there, but it's got a way to go yet. Some of my other crunchy friends have said I should dread my hair, but I'm not going to go there. I love the free flowing feeling of letting my long hair down.:love

[FrodoLives!]

I have dreadlocks down to my butt! Whoo-eeee!:flipped

[Momma2Gianna]

My hair is down to my tailbone. I have to trim about 4" off it to get rid of splits, but other than that, no plans for a major chop. I wear it up a lot...It gets in my way when I take care of...Everything...LOL....But I won't cut it!:love

[tropicaldutchtulip]

Another very long hair momma here! I love my long hair!

[Magelet]

Do you mean the supposedly "safe" ones that don't have metal and the elastic is encased in thread are bad? what do you use to tie hair instead?

I occasionally put my hair in a bun, almost never in a pony tail, and usually in a braid. Its down to the top of my bum if it were straight, but being curly, hangs out about lower back more like. Working in food service, and covering my head, there just isn't that much opportunity to do much, so either down if I'm not at work, or in a braid or bun at work.

It definitely needs a trimming though.

I wash it very rarely. It doesn't need it much. Really I only wash it when/if it starts to not smell like lovely hair. Which rather shockingly, is VERY rare, even without a no-poo approach. My hair is very dry, and seems to do well on warm olive oil or coconut oil about every month, and brushing with a boar bristle brush occasionally. I'll get it wet maybe 1x a week, and massage my scalp well, regularly. I comb it out fairly often. I know this seems strange, and maybe even gross, but my hair really don't need washing often. I've probably washed my hair with shampoo maybe 4 or 5 times since we moved into our currant apartment, which was 6 months ago. So every month and a half-ish? and seriously, it doesn't look or smell like I'm neglecting my hygiene, it just doesn't need or want to be washed that often it seems. I do condition a bit more often than that, maybe 1-2 times a month plus a monthly oil treatment?

I'd love to do an herbal and vinegar rinse more often, and I think my hair would like it, but I just haven't gotten around to making one/keeping on in the shower. any advice on herbal or vinegar rinses for dry, curly hair?

My big thing is I hate having my hair in a braid (plait, not french, I rarely french braid. if the top of my head is covered whats the point) so much, but I have to for work, and then I always sleep in a braid so it doesn't tangle. Often that means essentially its in a braid full time for 4-5 days, since I forget to take it out when I get home. (rebraiding and combing out daily of course). but it just feels so much better down, and I wish I could wear it down more. I love wearing it down to bed, but it is such a mess in the morning! that I rarely do it.

[kelsey1]

I use to have waist length hair but had to cut it shoulder length last summer. I colored it so many times (blonde) that it ruined my hair and it started breaking off! (insert sobbing here) So, I'm growing it long again and not coloring it every again. I can't wait to have long hair again.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I adore long hair so much. I dont think there is anything as sexy as a woman with hair to her hips or even better to the floor. I have been unable to grow mine past the small of my back :( due to it being curly it just has a max limit I guess. I recently had to have it cut up to my shoulder blades because it was a mess of broken ends and so unhealthy :( It looks so much better now and I am taking care of it and going for a tiny trim once a month to keep the split ends under control.

My hair grows verrrry slow like only 1/4 inch in 2 months :( I am looking forward to the day it is long again. And with any luck and better care I may some day be able to sit on it :fingersx

[jess152]

Mine is down to my tailbone and I love it. I trim it myself when it needs, just can't bring myself to go to a hairdresser, just in case...! It's brownish with a hint of red that really comes out in the summer. My grandma always called it my crowning glory, I'll always remember that!

I also don't wash that often. Maybe once a week? I don't use anything special, whatever's on sale at the drug store. I'm lucky, because it's thick and healthy, in spite of it!

I work with food, so it is up in a ponytail, then braided or in a bun, all.the.time. Then braided loosely for bedtime so it's not all over the place in the night. It gets staticky this time of year, then all winter. Does anyone have any tips for reducing this? Some kind of oil treatment?