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sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 10:55 AM
Hiya everyone! I've been lurking around for a while and finally able to join :) I found TLHC about 5 months ago - around about the time I looked at my hair and decided I needed help! I used to use so much heat on my hair - up until 2 years ago I was straightening it daily, and up until 5 months ago I was blow drying it too. As you can imagine, my hair was pretty dried out. I've had 2 trims since then. My bra-strap length wavy hair is now shoulder length wavy hair and in better condition.

I shampoo and condition daily with Tresemme 24 Hour Body, and use either S.A.O, grapeseed or apricot kernel oil as a leave-in. My hair is quite fine/thin, and bizarely, my left side (I have a slightly off centre parting) can handle more oil than my right. I use EVOO x2 weekly as an overnight oiling which I then CWC out, and also do a weekly deep treatment (lately I've been doing the famous SMT's) I don't brush my hair, only comb it and usually with a wooden comb as I heard that was gentler on the hair. I do comb when it's wet but only so I can distribute oils more evenly. I leave my hair down 99% of the time, inc when I'm sleeping.

I've experimented with sulfate free/silicone free products and it wasn't successful so I'm destined to use sulfates and cones forever, I'm not too bothered though although I am concerned that shampooing so much will dry my hair out (I only use a small blob of 'poo though and I do dilute it)

Basically, I'm making this post to firstly, introduce myself and secondly, to get some input on my routine. Do I seem to be missing anything? Doing anything terrible to my hair? I want as much advice as possible :o

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 10:57 AM
Forgot to say, thanks so much in advance!

MidnightMoon
July 9th, 2013, 11:10 AM
Hi, first of all, welcome :p
Secondly, I would try stretching the time between washes, specially if you're aiming for longer hair, I do think too much shampooing can dry it out too much.
I'd also try braiding it for sleep, I do it because my hair tangles a lot and it's nice to have it in a braid than just getting caught beneath the sheets/pillow and sticking to my body and stuff

meteor
July 9th, 2013, 11:18 AM
Welcome to the LHC, Sarahthegemini!

I really like your current routine, especially dumping flat-ironing / blowdrying and introducing great oils, SMTs, CWC routine and good combs.
Since you are asking for recommendations, could you let us know how your hair & scalp feel now? If you have no complaints, maybe your routine is already spot on and you just need to keep it up and stay consistent?
Of course, if you can stretch your washes, you might benefit from it. Shoulder-length hair is probably fine being washed every day, especially since you do deep treatments all the time.
Silk or satin pillowcases/scarves are good for sleeping, but I find that stuff way too fussy.
Some people complain that at shoulder-length their ends get lots of mechanical damage from rubbing against clothes, so you might try putting hair up when you can.
My personal approach is this: "just don't damage it".
I recommend sticking to using no heat, no chemical damage, and also, if your goal is to grow it long fast, don't trim your hair too much - uneven ends are fine, trim off only split/damaged ends.

AmyBeth
July 9th, 2013, 11:26 AM
If you are trying to achieve even longer hair while maintaining its health, you might try stretching shampoos, as was already mentioned. You might also try a sleep cap and/or satin pillowcase. That can really make a positive difference over 8 hours a night multiplied by 365 nights a year!

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 11:29 AM
Hi, first of all, welcome :p
Secondly, I would try stretching the time between washes, specially if you're aiming for longer hair, I do think too much shampooing can dry it out too much.
I'd also try braiding it for sleep, I do it because my hair tangles a lot and it's nice to have it in a braid than just getting caught beneath the sheets/pillow and sticking to my body and stuff

Thanks midnightmoon! :) (Nice username btw) I really would like to stretch washes but I'm dreading the adjustment period :( I've thought about braiding for sleep, my hair rarely tangles though, do you think it's essential for damage prevention to keep itup?

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 11:36 AM
Welcome to the LHC, Sarahthegemini!

I really like your current routine, especially dumping flat-ironing / blowdrying and introducing great oils, SMTs, CWC routine and good combs.
Since you are asking for recommendations, could you let us know how your hair & scalp feel now? If you have no complaints, maybe your routine is already spot on and you just need to keep it up and stay consistent?
Of course, if you can stretch your washes, you might benefit from it. Shoulder-length hair is probably fine being washed every day, especially since you do deep treatments all the time.
Silk or satin pillowcases/scarves are good for sleeping, but I find that stuff way too fussy.
Some people complain that at shoulder-length their ends get lots of mechanical damage from rubbing against clothes, so you might try putting hair up when you can.
My personal approach is this: "just don't damage it".
I recommend sticking to using no heat, no chemical damage, and also, if your goal is to grow it long fast, don't trim your hair too much - uneven ends are fine, trim off only split/damaged ends.

Thank you meteor! My hair and scalp feel fine at the moment, but I've only recently settled on my current routine so I'm a bit worried that in the long term, it could be damaging (the daily 'pooing) I'd really like to stretch washes but the adjustment period will be really hard to cope with. I'm happy to hear that daily washing isn't too bad if I continue with regular deep treatments. I'd definitely like to get a silk cap and my pillowcases are satin :)

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 11:37 AM
If you are trying to achieve even longer hair while maintaining its health, you might try stretching shampoos, as was already mentioned. You might also try a sleep cap and/or satin pillowcase. That can really make a positive difference over 8 hours a night multiplied by 365 nights a year!

Any reccomendations for where I could purchase a sleep cap? :)

jacqueline101
July 9th, 2013, 11:43 AM
I'd stretch washes and try some oils. Do you have splits try s&d or a trim.

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 11:44 AM
Welcome to the LHC, Sarahthegemini!

I really like your current routine, especially dumping flat-ironing / blowdrying and introducing great oils, SMTs, CWC routine and good combs.
Since you are asking for recommendations, could you let us know how your hair & scalp feel now? If you have no complaints, maybe your routine is already spot on and you just need to keep it up and stay consistent?
Of course, if you can stretch your washes, you might benefit from it. Shoulder-length hair is probably fine being washed every day, especially since you do deep treatments all the time.
Silk or satin pillowcases/scarves are good for sleeping, but I find that stuff way too fussy.
Some people complain that at shoulder-length their ends get lots of mechanical damage from rubbing against clothes, so you might try putting hair up when you can.
My personal approach is this: "just don't damage it".
I recommend sticking to using no heat, no chemical damage, and also, if your goal is to grow it long fast, don't trim your hair too much - uneven ends are fine, trim off only split/damaged ends.

I've thought that putting my hair up might be best, as mechanical damage was a concern. Would wearing a loose pony be ok? Or woukd that be damaging too?

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 11:48 AM
I'd stretch washes and try some oils. Do you have splits try s&d or a trim.

I have no splits as I had my ends trimmed about a week ago. I've tried many oils (s.a.o, jojoba, grapeseed, apricot, evoo, avocado, coconut, amd argan) and liked all of them, especially s.a.o, grapeseed and olive. I never really got on with coconut though, but I really want to like it so I'd love to experiment more. Aside from overnight/pre wash oilings with coconut oil, are there any other techniques that might be succesful?

Vivalagina
July 9th, 2013, 11:49 AM
If you want to stretch washing, try just skipping 1 day a week. Then if that goes well, add in another day. You don't have to go from daily washing (7x/wk) to every other day (3-4x/wk). :) And if sulfates and cones work for your hair, I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are lots of members with beautiful long hair who use them without issues.

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 12:06 PM
If you want to stretch washing, try just skipping 1 day a week. Then if that goes well, add in another day. You don't have to go from daily washing (7x/wk) to every other day (3-4x/wk). :) And if sulfates and cones work for your hair, I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are lots of members with beautiful long hair who use them without issues.

This is a good idea, I'll try one day a week where I skip the shampoo (perhaps just co-wash that day?) After reading so much about sulfates, I'm a bit scared my hair's going to suddenly start misbehaving but I guess if it's working okay at the moment, I should continue.

MidnightMoon
July 9th, 2013, 12:12 PM
Thanks midnightmoon! :) (Nice username btw) I really would like to stretch washes but I'm dreading the adjustment period :( I've thought about braiding for sleep, my hair rarely tangles though, do you think it's essential for damage prevention to keep itup?


Thanks :D
Hm I'd say yes. During sleep because even if you don't get tangles, it might be rubbing against your pillow/bed/etc without you noticing. We spend 1/3 of the day in bed so while you're asleep you might me producing some damage to it wihout knowing.
Wearing it up while you're not asleep is important too, I forgot to mention it...Because you avoid it getting caught in chairs/doors/etc, the rubbing against the car seat or a chair, and even getting it in contact with dirt.
I really feel my hair softer after wearing it in a bun all day long than when I wear it down and have to detangle it and all.

sarahthegemini
July 9th, 2013, 12:32 PM
Thanks :D
Hm I'd say yes. During sleep because even if you don't get tangles, it might be rubbing against your pillow/bed/etc without you noticing. We spend 1/3 of the day in bed so while you're asleep you might me producing some damage to it wihout knowing.
Wearing it up while you're not asleep is important too, I forgot to mention it...Because you avoid it getting caught in chairs/doors/etc, the rubbing against the car seat or a chair, and even getting it in contact with dirt.
I really feel my hair softer after wearing it in a bun all day long than when I wear it down and have to detangle it and all.

I never thought of it that way, I'm gunna start wearing it up or trying a sleep cap to protect it. Are elastic metal-free hair bands damaging if tied loosely? Would a scrunchie be better?

Firefox7275
July 10th, 2013, 08:22 PM
Ingredients proven to be beneficial to porous or damaged hair include coconut oil, hydrolysed protein, ceramides and panthenol. Whilst olive oil can penetrate there is no evidence the oleic acid has the same affinity for proteins that lauric acid does, so cannot protect from protein loss/ further damage as coconut oil can. You don't have to use coconut oil straight up, it can work as an ingredient for a deep treatment or oil shampoo.

If your hair is already damaged it is at risk of hygral fatigue from daily washing, why do you feel the need to do that do you have a greasy scalp? If so this can be caused by excessive washing or harsh surfactants, switch to a super gentle sulphate free shampoo at pH 4.5 to 5.5 and purchase some Batiste dry shampoo. You do not need sulphates to remove silicones, cocoamidopropyl betaine works fine.

Also review your diet making it as anti inflammatory and nutrient dense as possible, over time this can alter the composition and amount of your sebum.

LAG93
July 10th, 2013, 08:44 PM
To stretch washes, what you can do is on the second day, wear it in a French braid or some other desired updo. On the third day you can take it out, put a little dry shampoo in and enjoy the waves! I used to use psssst dry shampoo, and it was the best store bought kind I could find, but now I use a mix of cocoa powder, corn starch, and baking soda and it works out well as long as I apply it with my fingers. If you aren't doing anything, try as hard as you can to not wash your hair! Be a hermit for a week and don't wash it, that's how I started! Once I let it go a week, I could then wash and go a few days before it started getting too greasy. Dry shampoo can buildup and feel gross though after a while so use that like the day before you think you will wash. Hope this helped!

Eirelin
July 10th, 2013, 10:01 PM
I have lately found myself sleeping with a Paranda in most of the time (braided way up on top of the head or French/Dutch, depending on how lazy I am before bed), and I plan on getting some silk strips or something so my sleeptime Paranda will be better than the yarn I am currently using. It seems to be best for protection (for me), especially since the elastic only holds the Paranda and none of the hair, and it leaves nice, wide waves. When I braid alone, the waves are too squiggly for my taste, and the ends are not protected, which is the whole point.

Then again, when I want curly hair the next day, I go for bandana curls, a huge fully-rolled sock bun (but my hair is not always in the mood to cooperate with a sock bun), or just a simple cinnamon bun (ends all tucked in and held with 3 fork-type pins), all perched right on top of my head so I can toss around all night. These are all great for protecting the ends of your hair at night. Pretty much anything that keeps the ends covered and not squashed with an elastic will help.

Unfortunately, the ponytail you asked about not only does not protect the ends, but it also brings up the issue of always having the elastic at the same spot all the time. This is something which I have never done because I would get too bored with the same hairstyle every day, but others here have mentioned it as causing breakage where the base of the ponytail is always placed.

Cassie_
July 11th, 2013, 02:30 AM
Just some ideas...

About hair when sleeping: I happen to have a very large silk scarf that I wrap around my pillow, but if I didn't have that, I would totally recommend a silk or satin pillowcase. I found the sleep caps did not stay on my head so well, although many have used them with great success. I also found that a braid tended to get tangled on my body unless I sprouted it from the very top of my head. But I have also found that keeping my hair loose and flipped up on the pillow works just as well, so now I don't bother with the braid. (But come winter, my dog likes to sleep around my head like a hat, so I have to braid it then.)

About stretching washes: I stretched out to once a week, I think, before I started exercising regularly. (Now back to daily washing.) But my technique was to start by stretching to every 1.5 days. As in, morning wash on Monday, evening wash on Tuesday, morning wash on Thursday, etc.

sarahthegemini
July 11th, 2013, 02:53 AM
Ingredients proven to be beneficial to porous or damaged hair include coconut oil, hydrolysed protein, ceramides and panthenol. Whilst olive oil can penetrate there is no evidence the oleic acid has the same affinity for proteins that lauric acid does, so cannot protect from protein loss/ further damage as coconut oil can. You don't have to use coconut oil straight up, it can work as an ingredient for a deep treatment or oil shampoo.

If your hair is already damaged it is at risk of hygral fatigue from daily washing, why do you feel the need to do that do you have a greasy scalp? If so this can be caused by excessive washing, harsh surfactants, switch to a super gentle sulphate free shampoo at pH 4.5 to 5.5 and purchase some Batiste dry shampoo. You do not need sulphates to remove silicones, cocoamidopropyl betaine works fine.

Also review your diet making it as anti inflammatory and nutrient dense as possible, over time this can alter the composition and amount of your sebum.

Wow, I always thought sulfates were essential in removing cones :-O That's definitely something to keep in mind, when I went sulfate and silicone free my hair was lank and greasy but perhaps I should just try giving sulfates a miss. Thank you for that. As for daily washing - 24 hours after washing my hair, my hair becomes very limp and lank, and gradually my scalp gets oily. It just generally looks like it needs a good washing. I know it's a vicious cycle - wash more, produce more oil, wash again, etc. I know out of everything I do for my hair, washing it less is what I need to work on. Thank you for your input. Oh and I'm gunna experiment more with coconut oil :)

sarahthegemini
July 11th, 2013, 02:58 AM
To stretch washes, what you can do is on the second day, wear it in a French braid or some other desired updo. On the third day you can take it out, put a little dry shampoo in and enjoy the waves! I used to use psssst dry shampoo, and it was the best store bought kind I could find, but now I use a mix of cocoa powder, corn starch, and baking soda and it works out well as long as I apply it with my fingers. If you aren't doing anything, try as hard as you can to not wash your hair! Be a hermit for a week and don't wash it, that's how I started! Once I let it go a week, I could then wash and go a few days before it started getting too greasy. Dry shampoo can buildup and feel gross though after a while so use that like the day before you think you will wash. Hope this helped!

Your advice will be taken on board, I will be a hermit!! Or well, I'll just take advantage of when I have nothing to do :p I know it varies, but do you know how long the adjustment period lasts? How long should I expect to be greasy before my scalp starts producing less oil?

sarahthegemini
July 11th, 2013, 03:00 AM
Unfortunately, the ponytail you asked about not only does not protect the ends, but it also brings up the issue of always having the elastic at the same spot all the time. This is something which I have never done because I would get too bored with the same hairstyle every day, but others here have mentioned it as causing breakage where the base of the ponytail is always placed.

I thought this might be the case. Would a bun in a scrunchie be better?

sarahthegemini
July 11th, 2013, 03:04 AM
Just some ideas...

About hair when sleeping: I happen to have a very large silk scarf that I wrap around my pillow, but if I didn't have that, I would totally recommend a silk or satin pillowcase. I found the sleep caps did not stay on my head so well, although many have used them with great success. I also found that a braid tended to get tangled on my body unless I sprouted it from the very top of my head. But I have also found that keeping my hair loose and flipped up on the pillow works just as well, so now I don't bother with the braid. (But come winter, my dog likes to sleep around my head like a hat, so I have to braid it then.)

About stretching washes: I stretched out to once a week, I think, before I started exercising regularly. (Now back to daily washing.) But my technique was to start by stretching to every 1.5 days. As in, morning wash on Monday, evening wash on Tuesday, morning wash on Thursday, etc.

Thanks Cassie :) I think what I'll do is - not wash my hair when I won't be going out/seeing my bf, and then when I do socialise, I'll follow your suggestion and wash every 1.5 days.

Eirelin
July 11th, 2013, 07:14 AM
I thought this might be the case. Would a bun in a scrunchie be better?

Do you think a bun in a scrunchie would stay up all night? I have tried it, but I move around all night and it would NEVER stay. That is why I ended up with braids or (again) cinnamon bun, all right on top.

sarahthegemini
July 11th, 2013, 07:23 AM
Do you think a bun in a scrunchie would stay up all night? I have tried it, but I move around all night and it would NEVER stay. That is why I ended up with braids or (again) cinnamon bun, all right on top.

I think so, if I bun it on the top of my head :)

LAG93
July 11th, 2013, 09:01 PM
Your advice will be taken on board, I will be a hermit!! Or well, I'll just take advantage of when I have nothing to do :p I know it varies, but do you know how long the adjustment period lasts? How long should I expect to be greasy before my scalp starts producing less oil?

It took me a month or two over the summer before my hair was used to washing only once or twice a week. It's a gradual process and I can't stress enough to just let it go if your not doing anything! Also using a boar bristle brush will move the oils from your scalp down your hair, making the ends nice, although it seems to make my scalp more greasy, so I use it the day before I know that I am going to wash