Curly hair, about shoulder length, trying to grow it out.

[Saryn Jumail]

So I cut my hair yesterday for the first time ever. Well, the first time I myself have ever cut it, it's been cut before. But I cut it dry, and cut each curl individually, and it turned out absolutely beautiful. It's wet right now, so here are some pictures of it now, but I don't have any of it dry yet.

http://imgur.com/1H57sXg
http://imgur.com/zL1FPCG


My issue is, I can never seem to get it past this length. I always end up with very awful dead ends, and when I do get it cut, there's always about four inches cut off. It doesn't look nice curly when there are all of those dead ends; I end up with curly roots that just tapper into straightness. Here are some pictures of my hair previously.

http://imgur.com/TOqU2aP
http://imgur.com/6qgiCWB
http://imgur.com/AIzIxk3
http://imgur.com/JmQzDe9
http://imgur.com/G2xf4jP

Does anyone have any tips or hints on how to keep my hair nice at the ends? Also, I have a very set permanent part in the middle of my head, so any advice on how to get rid of that would be appreciated.

and just for fun, here's a picture of my mom's hair when she was a bit older than me. I think it's absolutely beautiful.

http://imgur.com/iujr3AX

[Firefox7275]

What is your full routine and what are your hair properties (coarseness, porosity, elasticity)? How are you specifically caring for your ends? Do you heat style or dye? Do you have hard water/ are you clarifying and chelating as needed?

[Wildcat Diva]

Well, aren't you so pretty!?! Lovely. Have you looked into the LOC method for keeping moisture in? There's a pretty recent thread on it, I believe if you search.

[Saryn Jumail]

What is your full routine and what are your hair properties (coarseness, porosity, elasticity)? How are you specifically caring for your ends? Do you heat style or dye? Do you have hard water/ are you clarifying and chelating as needed?

So I don't know what my hair properties are, it's pretty springy. It does like to accept moisture, so I'm assuming pretty porous.
I wash my hair with a sulfate free shampoo, then I condition it with Yes to Carrots conditioner (I've found that the ingredients are really similar to Devacurl onecondition, which works well on my hair but is expensive). I use a microfiber towel to dry my hair, and then I put in a leave in (usually something cheap), a gel (usually aloe vera), and an oil. So I guess I do follow the LOC method, Wildcat Diva. Sometimes I use a cream instead of a gel.
I do not heat style, and I do dye my hair every once in a while.
I use a lot more conditioner/oil on my ends, but other than that...
I think we do have hard water here, but I don't really clarify/know how to.

[Magalo]

4 inches cut off is almot a year worth of growth. No wonder it look like it is not growing. Cut a half inch next time. Are you wearing your hair up?

[Saryn Jumail]

It was so damaged up the shaft of the hair that if I didn't cut enough off, I was afraid that it would just still be damaged. I definitely only cut off about an inch in most places.

[joflakes]

I have no suggestions, but your hair is beautiful!

[Aingeal]

Maybe try clarifying and an smt once in a while. I find if my curls are losing spring they are thirsty. I would also recommend wearing it up in a protective style more often.

[lapushka]

Well, aren't you so pretty!?! Lovely. Have you looked into the LOC method for keeping moisture in? There's a pretty recent thread on it, I believe if you search.

I'll link the LOC method below for you:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=118167&highlight=method

[Firefox7275]

So I don't know what my hair properties are, it's pretty springy. It does like to accept moisture, so I'm assuming pretty porous.
I wash my hair with a sulfate free shampoo, then I condition it with Yes to Carrots conditioner (I've found that the ingredients are really similar to Devacurl onecondition, which works well on my hair but is expensive). I use a microfiber towel to dry my hair, and then I put in a leave in (usually something cheap), a gel (usually aloe vera), and an oil. So I guess I do follow the LOC method, Wildcat Diva. Sometimes I use a cream instead of a gel.
I do not heat style, and I do dye my hair every once in a while.
I use a lot more conditioner/oil on my ends, but other than that...
I think we do have hard water here, but I don't really clarify/know how to.

You really could do within knowing your hair properties: there is information on the Live Curly Live Free site but note that the porosity tests are junk science you need to look at how hair behaves. Or have a hair analysis from Goosefootprints on Etsy. TBH if your hair is coloured and damaged the ends at least will be high porosity and low elasticity.

You could do with purchasing a chelating shampoo for the hard water.

For damaged hair use proven ingredients like coconut oil, hydrolysed protein, ceramides, 18-MEA and panthenol. You don't say what leave in conditioner so can't comment other than to say apply to dripping hair not towel dried and ensure it is rich in fatty alcohols and cationic surfactants. Nor do you say what oil. Aloe vera is a potent humectant and may well dry out/ cause frizz in porous hair in low or high dew points .

How and when do you detangle? That can cause a huge amount of mechanical damage.

[Saryn Jumail]

You really could do within knowing your hair properties: there is information on the Live Curly Live Free site but note that the porosity tests are junk science you need to look at how hair behaves. Or have a hair analysis from Goosefootprints on Etsy. TBH if your hair is coloured and damaged the ends at least will be high porosity and low elasticity.

You could do with purchasing a chelating shampoo for the hard water.

For damaged hair use proven ingredients like coconut oil, hydrolysed protein, ceramides, 18-MEA and panthenol. You don't say what leave in conditioner so can't comment other than to say apply to dripping hair not towel dried and ensure it is rich in fatty alcohols and cationic surfactants. Nor do you say what oil. Aloe vera is a potent humectant and may well dry out/ cause frizz in porous hair in low or high dew points .

How and when do you detangle? That can cause a huge amount of mechanical damage.

I'll look into the hair properties thing, thanks!
What type of shampoo? I've never heard of that.
I didn't say what type of leave in because I usually just buy whatever is the cheapest/on sale. Right now it's a Garnier one, which I'm not too fond of. Do you have one you recommend?
I used to use argan oil, I'm using olive oil now. I was considering buying coconut oil, but I want to see what the olive oil does first.
Do you have a gel you would recommend over the aloe vera?

I only detangle in the shower, when my conditioner is in my hair. I use my fingers, and usually I can get all my tangles out that way.

[meteor]

Do you have a gel you would recommend over the aloe vera?

Flaxseed gel is a good alternative to experiment with: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/kinky-hair-type-4a/top-tips-for-homemade-flaxseed-gel
But it's a good idea to use fewer and weaker humectants (e.g. proteins work like weak humectants) at very high or very low dew points. I think anti-humectants, occlusives (e.g. oils, silicones, waxes) are very important to keep hair moisturized. Also very curly hair rarely gets overwhelmed by oils, so in winter-time it's pretty safe to use a lot of oil.
I'd recommend trying different variations of the Curly Girl method, and experimenting with ideas from Naturally Curly, Curly Nikki and Natural Haven Bloom websites.

[Saryn Jumail]

I have no suggestions, but your hair is beautiful!

Thank you!!

[Saryn Jumail]

4 inches cut off is almot a year worth of growth. No wonder it look like it is not growing. Cut a half inch next time. Are you wearing your hair up?

I usually wear my hair pulled back, because I don't like the way it looks when it's curly and down most of the time.

[~*~Aspen~*~]

So I cut my hair yesterday for the first time ever. Well, the first time I myself have ever cut it, it's been cut before. But I cut it dry, and cut each curl individually, and it turned out absolutely beautiful. It's wet right now, so here are some pictures of it now, but I don't have any of it dry yet.

http://imgur.com/1H57sXg
http://imgur.com/zL1FPCG


My issue is, I can never seem to get it past this length. I always end up with very awful dead ends, and when I do get it cut, there's always about four inches cut off. It doesn't look nice curly when there are all of those dead ends; I end up with curly roots that just tapper into straightness. Here are some pictures of my hair previously.

http://imgur.com/TOqU2aP
http://imgur.com/6qgiCWB
http://imgur.com/AIzIxk3
http://imgur.com/JmQzDe9
http://imgur.com/G2xf4jP

Does anyone have any tips or hints on how to keep my hair nice at the ends? Also, I have a very set permanent part in the middle of my head, so any advice on how to get rid of that would be appreciated.

and just for fun, here's a picture of my mom's hair when she was a bit older than me. I think it's absolutely beautiful.

http://imgur.com/iujr3AX



And now we get to the pictures of my youth hair.

Ah yes, I really believe genetics have alot to do with it..


My hair stayed at the same length hard to get it pastshoulder probably for most of my years on earth. I am almost 25. FUNNY, as I was thinking about this today,..

Sometimes hormones can play a big factor, no matter how healthy, no matter how much workout, no matter how young, cravings, possibly even stress, and sleep routines can play a big factor. Do any of these sound like you>??




A few tips

Tame your hair. One way..

Wash and brush in the shower.

Top bun your hair at night tight but not too tight above your head every night.. and yes, as curly as it is- deal with combing it out. Comb.


Conditioner is your best friend during this period and oil oil oil.


You may have little hair moments that aren't greasy looking.. js


So have I dealt with your hair before?



Yes dear, I hold much sympathy..



You can do it.

[Saryn Jumail]

Thanks so much! I've been going in and out of stages of caring and not caring about my hair. When I care, I care a wholllleee lot. Enough to annoy people around me. And when I don't.... my hair hates me.