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CurlyCap
November 16th, 2013, 08:06 PM
I was due for my 6 month trim. My hair has been tangly lately, and I just couldn't deal with it any more. I usually cut my hair dry and snip off .5-1" at the end of every curl. I also go through and look for SSKs and snip them out too.

I foolishly thought that since my hair was longer, the trim would go faster. Just whip the ends around and snip! Absolutely NOT. The total cut took FOUR HOURS and I had endless SSKs lurking in the middle layer of my hair which had to go because I could see them starting to train (a bunch of SSKs lined up in a row).

I'm still happy I cut it myself. The end loss was the tiniest puddle of hair and I'm certain I lost as little length as possible. Still, I was sort of shocked how determined I was to go through such a surprisingly extensive process for the sake of my hair. It would have been much simpler to pay someone $20-30 to give me a typical 1-2" trim.

Does your hair vanity ever shock you? How, and what are you usually doing?

endlessly
November 16th, 2013, 08:11 PM
I'll admit when I first realized I had enough hair products to stock a small salon, I was definitely a little shocked, but I've grown quite used to it by now! While spending hours trimming, conditioning, and caring for your hair may be crazy to some, there's still a sense of victory that you did it yourself versus paying a "professional" to take care of it for you - something most in this world take advantage of. Plus, in the long run, think of the money you're saving...more to spoil your hair with!

Tini'sNewHair
November 16th, 2013, 09:22 PM
My husband is starting to make me look like im a crazy person now which is really annoying and i end up snapping at him pretty badly at time. Today for example, i was sitting on the floor enjoying a quiet momment while my youngest napped and my oldest was playing some computer games, i thought this is great so i started to S&D when my husband walks in and starts saying things like "I cant believe you pick at each hair strand one by one like that, you probably have OCD, that just looks crazy. I need to figure out a way to stop you, maybe you need to cut that hair its not healthy what you do"... AHHHHHHHH and last night he was commenting how im distroying our daughters hair by using a wide tooth comb :s -- I have started to S&D in the bathroom now with the door locked so he dosnt see me. How sad! Didnt like being looked at like i lost my mind, that hurt the most i think :(

Oh and the many times he caught me re-searching articles on hair care and looking on this website, he is convinced that i have an unhealthy obsession.

Islandgrrl
November 16th, 2013, 10:30 PM
I look at it this way...

I don't wear makeup. I don't buy expensive clothes or shoes. I mostly shop at thrift stores because I'm a pretty frugal girl. I collect nothing. Well, not totally true and I'll get to that in a second. I have no expensive habits such as drinking, smoking or gambling. I have no expensive hobbies.

My one indulgence is my hair. I have an impressive collection of hair hardware. But I also spend very little on product. I use suave conditioner, a buck a bottle. And cheap ACV. And coconut oil, the same stuff I cook with.

I lucky, my husband supports my hair "obsession," if you want to call it that. He's gone to hair meets with me and enjoyed making new acquaintances and friends.

There are a great many things I could be doing that are much more obsessive than CARING APPROPRIATELY FOR MY HAIR!

Long_hair_bear
November 16th, 2013, 10:37 PM
Worry not, my long haired friend! I'm atrociously vain about my hair! My hair and my neck, to be precise. I'm alittle sad about it because I'm a Christian and vanity is a no-no. I've tried to break myself of it, but I put so much work and love into my hair that I hope the good Lord will forgive me. I'd wear my hair down all the time in public for vanity's sake because I look better with it down by far, but I fear all of the breakage, knotting, and donation questions. :)

I look at it this way though.... I'm vain about my hair and neck, but I'm very self conscious of my hips and stomach. Everything works out. :)

0xalis
November 16th, 2013, 10:46 PM
I just have my mom dust my ends for me :o she actually does what I ask for, unlike hair dressers :P

I've been shocked by how in love with my hair I am right now. It's so soft and pretty~ I feel like a princess... and it's not even APL yet!
I guess I'm just really happy to be out of short hair territory and into medium. I feel a lot more like myself.

@Tini'sNewHair: That's very upsetting. I wouldn't stand for it if my darling said such mean things to me. Perhaps you two should have a sit-down.

ETA:

I don't wear makeup. I don't buy expensive clothes or shoes. I mostly shop at thrift stores because I'm a pretty frugal girl. I collect nothing. Well, not totally true and I'll get to that in a second. I have no expensive habits such as drinking, smoking or gambling. I have no expensive hobbies.

My one indulgence is my hair.

EXACTLY ME!!! ^

Not Lynn Merely
November 16th, 2013, 11:43 PM
CurlyCap, look at it this way. You spent four hours on a hair trim in six months. If you were to follow the regimen of a salon trim every six weeks, you would have four visits to the salon. Each one would take time driving to and from, time waiting for your appointment, time actually having your hair trimmed, and LOTS of money. And, it would not get all the splits that you catch. There is a good chance that at least one of those times you would end up with a hairbutcher who would take off more hair than you wanted.

I think you are still coming out ahead. This is not an issue of vanity, but of practicality!

r00ski
November 16th, 2013, 11:53 PM
My vanity is usually standing at work, (bartender) staring at my ends when there's no customers.

monsoonstorm
November 17th, 2013, 02:37 AM
My husband is starting to make me look like im a crazy person now which is really annoying and i end up snapping at him pretty badly at time. Today for example, i was sitting on the floor enjoying a quiet momment while my youngest napped and my oldest was playing some computer games, i thought this is great so i started to S&D when my husband walks in and starts saying things like "I cant believe you pick at each hair strand one by one like that, you probably have OCD, that just looks crazy. I need to figure out a way to stop you, maybe you need to cut that hair its not healthy what you do"... AHHHHHHHH and last night he was commenting how im distroying our daughters hair by using a wide tooth comb :s -- I have started to S&D in the bathroom now with the door locked so he dosnt see me. How sad! Didnt like being looked at like i lost my mind, that hurt the most i think :(

Oh and the many times he caught me re-searching articles on hair care and looking on this website, he is convinced that i have an unhealthy obsession.

Turn around and say "well hey, it could be worse, it could be porn"

Perhaps point out that you're a faithful wife who doesn't blow all of the money at bingo, drink it all away, or help yourself to your kid's ritalin.

perhaps he needs a little perspective on what's healthy and what isn't...

(by the way, bingo might not be the best one to mention if you have an unhealthy hair toy obsession!) Quite frankly, it's none of his business what you do in your free time as long as it doesn't affect him.

see_turtle
November 17th, 2013, 06:23 AM
I am completely vain about my hair. I'm quite pudgy so my body isn't anything to write home about but I have beautiful hair and I know it. And that makes me happy. I look at it with two mirrors at least 4 times a day more if I'm home all day.

TiaKitty
November 17th, 2013, 07:14 AM
Cuddles gives me some crap, too, about looking at everyone else's hair. And taking care of mine... which I don't understand and call BS on him, because I brush mine maybe twice a day, put it up and take it down, and put it up one final time at night. I just tell him to stuff it, and repeat that at least it isn't something else, and no money is wasted, etc...

AmyBeth
November 17th, 2013, 08:55 AM
Vanity is worrying about what other people think, and trying to impress them. Pride is liking yourself or you attributes and is not at all dependent upon what other people think.
Why not take pride in your hair, you work for it and protect it, and hopefully don't do so at the expense of others, or in order to look down on others. I spend a lot of time on my hair, but I used to spend a lot of time at the salon or with a blow dryer or hot rollers and using hair spray and mousse. I'm happier now and more confident about my hair and I think it makes me a better person than when I was self conscious about "bad hair days'.

Applegirl84
November 17th, 2013, 10:07 AM
Guilty! I'm a little vain for sure. I blame it on being an artist and so naturally loving beauty and beautiful things (and I'm a Libra too). Fortunately my husband doesn't seem to care no matter how many herbal concoctions I stir up in the kitchen. I figure I don't pay for salon cuts or color (I can't believe how much my friends pay for regular highlights! :shock:) Could I be more thrifty with my time and money? Of course, but I have 3 very little children and work my butt off for everyone else in this house, so I feel I deserve to take care of myself. No one else is going to pamper me

HintOfMint
November 17th, 2013, 10:36 AM
Sometimes I think of my hair as some fancy show-poodle I've invested so much work and pride into, so I definitely feel you on the vanity and the "good god, these are the lengths to which I'll go to have nice hair???" feeling.

I feel it every time I scour shampoo and conditioner bottles for ingredients. I feel it every time I've sunk hours into researching deposit-only color for getting a richer black color into my already black hair for a difference only I will notice. And I definitely feel it when I'm tossing my hair about in front of the mirror. It's my show poodle and I love her so. :rolleyes:

Yozhik
November 17th, 2013, 10:46 AM
When I first joined LHC, there was a period I went through in the first 1.5 years where I would S&D for 30 minutes to an hour every day, if not longer. When I think about how much time that took, I think it was a little too obsessive (for me). After I got rid of most of my poor hair habits and cut off the damaged hair, though, I no longer feel the need to do that, which is better for my peace of mind. In retrospect, it probably would have helped me in the long run just to have cut of about 8 inches of my hair so that I didn't have to cut off probably 30-40% of the hairs on my head individually, but eh. :shrug: At the time, I had the down time, and it helped me fall in love with my hair. :)

Also, had anyone other than my SO seen me at that period, I'm sure they would have said I had some type of OCD, but as far as I can tell, I was just really concerned with my hair's health. :)

YamaMaya
November 17th, 2013, 10:50 AM
I'ts not vain to take pride in your hair's appearance. Vain people wake up early in the morning just to shower, apply makeup, and style their hair all before they get ready to leave the house. Me, I've never been one to wake up early just to primp. I don't wear makeup on a regular basis, only on special occasions because it just takes too darn long in the morning and I've got better things to think about, like getting a healthy breakfast, putting my hair up, and getting out the door in time for the bus :p.

chen bao jun
November 17th, 2013, 10:59 AM
I do have OCD, its been diagnosed.
I take meds, keep it under control and try to notice when I'm going overboard on something.
S & Ding does not mean you have OCD.
When my OCD manifested itself with my hair, it was with behaviors such as being unable to throw out any hair I combed out (unable like putting it into little separate baggies and saving them indefinitely) and when I was really sick, pulling out strands of hair one by one and eating them and I do mean swallowing.
Reading a hair board and taking care of your hair in an unconventional way (which is actually a better way) is not OCD.
It creeps into OCD when you start constantly worrying, thinking its thinning when it isn't, measuring every day or two or three times a day, things like that.
Just clarifying.

chen bao jun
November 17th, 2013, 11:06 AM
I also don't think its vain to s & d, instead of risking a disaster haircut.
I think its healthy that I like my hair, now, especially after taking 18 months to learn how to take care of it and turn it around from what was really bad condition.
I give glory to God, who I believe created me and created my hair, that it looks so nice--I don't think I'm better than anyone else because of it and nor do I think I created it myself. Also, I give hints to other people to help them take care of God's creation. I am not taking away from things I should be doing, like my duties to my kids and my husband, by keeping my hair looking nice. I think you are supposed to be a good steward of your appearance, too. the proverbs 31 lady wasn't walking around looking scruffy so that other people could think how holy she was. That's a kind of vanity, too, when you feel superior to other people or think they are sinners or something because they are well dressed or well-kempt, or that you are a better person because your skirt is a certain length or becuase of some other legalistic thing like that. I hope its okay for me to put my opinion here, not telling anyone what they have to think or do, but that's what I think.

Yozhik
November 17th, 2013, 11:29 AM
Thanks for clarifying OCD behaviors that may relate to hair, Chen Bao Jun. :flower:

I wasn't saying that I thought S&Ding is an OCD behavior, just that to a layperson, the type of behavior I exhibited in regards to my hair could have easily been miscategorized as that.

Madora
November 17th, 2013, 11:34 AM
CurlyCap, I can only salute your dedication to caring for your beautiful curls!:thud:

dreamingstar
November 17th, 2013, 11:52 AM
Sometimes I feel a bit vain about my hair - especially when I hear about how little some people even care about theirs. But the way I see it, I feel better now that I'm taking care of myself, why not continue to do so? Since I've been taking care of my hair, I've started taking care of the rest of me too. I'm not "obsessive", but I do pay attention. Everyone has their vices and virtues, but I prefer to think of the extra care I put into my person as a virtue rather than a vice.

HintOfMint
November 17th, 2013, 12:08 PM
Reading through this thread, it's interesting how one person's vanity is just another person's basic grooming.

leslissocool
November 17th, 2013, 12:34 PM
I really don't see how taking that much time on your hair is ANY different than straightening your hair and styling which causes damage. You are just as vain as all the women who get their hair done at a salon :shrug:..


I don't wear make up daily, nor wear fancy expensive clothes. I take care of my health: nutrition, exercise, skin and hair. Compared to beauty ideals, I'm not doing enough at all. I don't see myself as vain, rather taking care of myself.

Crumpet
November 17th, 2013, 04:32 PM
I really don't see how taking that much time on your hair is ANY different than straightening your hair and styling which causes damage. You are just as vain as all the women who get their hair done at a salon :shrug:..


I don't wear make up daily, nor wear fancy expensive clothes. I take care of my health: nutrition, exercise, skin and hair. Compared to beauty ideals, I'm not doing enough at all. I don't see myself as vain, rather taking care of myself.

I agree with this! Sometimes I feel vain for my interest in hair and skin care. In reality it is just part of taking care of myself and trying to be healthy. I exercise, try to eat well, and generally look and feel healthy. When I talk to other people, I realize how much time most other women spend on makeup, hair-drying, straightening, etc. I'm pretty low-maintenence really!

Kaelee
November 17th, 2013, 04:45 PM
What's an SSK?

I'm totally vain about my hair too. :lol:

CurlyCap
November 17th, 2013, 05:00 PM
What's an SSK?

I'm totally vain about my hair too. :lol:

Single Strand Knot (aka, fairy knot)

Kaelee
November 17th, 2013, 05:04 PM
Single Strand Knot (aka, fairy knot)

Oh, OK that makes sense. I get them sometimes and they always confound me.

HintOfMint
November 17th, 2013, 07:16 PM
Oh dear god, just realized another thing I'll do for vanity: ice cold final rinses for my hair. Granted, I'll turn the shower head downwards and then tip my head over and lean in, rather than have my entire body doused in cold water. But it's still unpleasant and I have to hold my hair under the cold water for a certain amount of time because my ends will still be saturated with warm/hot water, so I have to wait until my ends turn cold. I love hot showers, so this is torture. But it really does make my hair shiny and silky. I didn't want to believe it at first but I've experimented a lot and this actually works. Ugh.