chemilyx
January 15th, 2014, 10:52 AM
Hi everyone!
I'm Charlotte, and I had my long hair cut off in summer 2013. I've been regretting it for a while!
That said, it was in terrible condition (thanks to many years of dying, heat-styling and poor health) so needed to go.
I'd really like to get it long again, but this time in *nice condition*!
This is a picture from when I was 17 and my hair was in pretty good condition (despite heat-styling), and fairly close to its natural colour:
http://i40.tinypic.com/28va89g.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/mn1fno.jpg
You can tell from that that I was blessed with a natural shine, strength and vitality back then. I'd really like to get that back although I'm not sure it's fully achievable, even staying away from heat-styling and dying, due to continuing poor health. Moreover, I can't *completely* stay away from heat-styling because my hair is currently short and flicks out all over the place when I don't style it!
Since I was 17 I've played with my hair a LOT, been seemingly every hair colour under the sun, etc. So I haven't done myself many favours.
A picture from last year, before I had it cut (unfortunately I couldn't find many pictures that show just how bad the condition was):
http://i43.tinypic.com/15i9o91.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/aaem37.jpg
^ This is probably the longest it got. My hair was pink/ purple at the time. You can tell from how dry the ends are what state it was in. I was straightening it every day and dying it a lot.
Then, in the summer, I had it all cut off to this style (an asymmetrical bob. It has since become a symmetrical one!):
http://i41.tinypic.com/292u2xz.jpg
^ Funnily enough, this picture probably shows best the bad condition of it.
As for what I'm doing to be proactive about the condition of my hair:
- I'm using minimal shampoo in the shower when I do wash my hair, i.e. instead of putting a load on and really lathering up my hair, I'm just using the bare minimum.
- As always, I'm leaving the conditioner (Aussie 3MM) on for around 10-20 minutes.
- Every now and again I'll do a coconut oil treatment and massage it into the roots
- Just before blow-drying my hair, I'll use heat protectant spray and also a tiny bit of argan oil on the ends.
- I'll use the lowest heat for blow-drying.
- I'll try and wear my hair up most of the time to avoid the need for straightening.
- Dying only with henna now rather than box colours.
However, despite having it cut short last year and doing all of this, it currently feels *so* dry to the touch, the split ends are horrendous and it just looks dull and lifeless most of the time.
I've tried a CO wash, but the day after doing so my hair was greasy already and quite itchy. I've done several CWC washes, and I try to do them as often as possible but again, they make my hair greasier quicker. In general I have to wash my hair every other day because it's greasy by then. I try and leave it longer if I can bear it but I hate the look of greasy hair so find it hard!
Would really appreciate any input. Thanks guys, nice to meet you!
I'm Charlotte, and I had my long hair cut off in summer 2013. I've been regretting it for a while!
That said, it was in terrible condition (thanks to many years of dying, heat-styling and poor health) so needed to go.
I'd really like to get it long again, but this time in *nice condition*!
This is a picture from when I was 17 and my hair was in pretty good condition (despite heat-styling), and fairly close to its natural colour:
http://i40.tinypic.com/28va89g.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/mn1fno.jpg
You can tell from that that I was blessed with a natural shine, strength and vitality back then. I'd really like to get that back although I'm not sure it's fully achievable, even staying away from heat-styling and dying, due to continuing poor health. Moreover, I can't *completely* stay away from heat-styling because my hair is currently short and flicks out all over the place when I don't style it!
Since I was 17 I've played with my hair a LOT, been seemingly every hair colour under the sun, etc. So I haven't done myself many favours.
A picture from last year, before I had it cut (unfortunately I couldn't find many pictures that show just how bad the condition was):
http://i43.tinypic.com/15i9o91.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/aaem37.jpg
^ This is probably the longest it got. My hair was pink/ purple at the time. You can tell from how dry the ends are what state it was in. I was straightening it every day and dying it a lot.
Then, in the summer, I had it all cut off to this style (an asymmetrical bob. It has since become a symmetrical one!):
http://i41.tinypic.com/292u2xz.jpg
^ Funnily enough, this picture probably shows best the bad condition of it.
As for what I'm doing to be proactive about the condition of my hair:
- I'm using minimal shampoo in the shower when I do wash my hair, i.e. instead of putting a load on and really lathering up my hair, I'm just using the bare minimum.
- As always, I'm leaving the conditioner (Aussie 3MM) on for around 10-20 minutes.
- Every now and again I'll do a coconut oil treatment and massage it into the roots
- Just before blow-drying my hair, I'll use heat protectant spray and also a tiny bit of argan oil on the ends.
- I'll use the lowest heat for blow-drying.
- I'll try and wear my hair up most of the time to avoid the need for straightening.
- Dying only with henna now rather than box colours.
However, despite having it cut short last year and doing all of this, it currently feels *so* dry to the touch, the split ends are horrendous and it just looks dull and lifeless most of the time.
I've tried a CO wash, but the day after doing so my hair was greasy already and quite itchy. I've done several CWC washes, and I try to do them as often as possible but again, they make my hair greasier quicker. In general I have to wash my hair every other day because it's greasy by then. I try and leave it longer if I can bear it but I hate the look of greasy hair so find it hard!
Would really appreciate any input. Thanks guys, nice to meet you!