View Full Version : Interesting conversation with Longhair store owner.
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 12:16 AM
There is a health food store near my place and the owner has thigh long hair or even longer (it's always in a braid so can't see) and every time I'm there I'm stunned because her braid is so thick and she still didn't cut it. I know her since about 10 years and she is in her 40s, I think.
2 weeks ago I went there to buy horsetail and nettle juice and we started talking about hair.
I said I'm growing and would love to have hair this long and she said that I should be happy with my hair now that it's not that long yet because it's more interesting, because I still can do anything I want with it. And hers has always to be in a braid in the back because it's too long and too heavy for any other style. Buns are too heavy, no updo is possible, french braids tangle too much while braiding... She said with this thick hair, like I have too, it's impossible to do anything else from a certain length on, when you have a sensitive scalp and generally a sensitive head. It just pulls too much. And she can only wear that heavy braid because her spine isn't straight so the braid lays on her upper back and she doesn't feel the weight. Otherwise the braid would be too heavy too.
I remember I started having problems like this from WL.
Which is good to think about because it makes me enjoy and appreciate my short length more NOW and not just count months until it's long. I definitely can do any style I like NOW but won't be able to do it later. So, good to know some negative sides of very thick, very long hair on a sensitive scalp. I remember the tangling while trying to make a french braid when my hair was WL.
She also told me that she washes her hair only twice a month because it's just too tiring and when it's in a braid, sleeked back properly nobody sees if it's greasy or not.
Looking forward to talk to her again when I need more herbal juices. :)
LadyCelestina
May 23rd, 2019, 12:44 AM
Interesting perspective, yeah from what I've gathered, sometimes thick hair can be a PITA.
Do you know the german longhaircommunity, called langhaarnetzwerk?
Maybe next time you visit, you could let her know about it (or about this commonity!) if it's not too weird?
Servana
May 23rd, 2019, 02:02 AM
Interesting... It does take a special kind of person to appreciate very long hair so much that they're willing to put up with all the drawbacks.
I also have thick hair with a sensitive scalp and somewhere between waist and hip it starts hurting. I've never been able to do anything with my hair no matter what length it's been, except plain Dutch braids! Thick hair is just hard to work with in general.
How long is your hair at the moment? Definitely try to enjoy it as it is now, who knows, it may never be that short again!
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 02:04 AM
Interesting perspective, yeah from what I've gathered, sometimes thick hair can be a PITA.
Do you know the german longhaircommunity, called langhaarnetzwerk?
Maybe next time you visit, you could let her know about it (or about this commonity!) if it's not too weird?
I did, I asked her if she's at Langhaarnetzwerk or here. But she isn't. Sounded like she's not very interested in communities like that. But I will tell her more about it next time so she hopefully gets interested to join. :) She really has amazing hair. Everybody should see.
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 02:07 AM
Interesting... It does take a special kind of person to appreciate very long hair so much that they're willing to put up with all the drawbacks.
I also have thick hair with a sensitive scalp and somewhere between waist and hip it starts hurting. I've never been able to do anything with my hair no matter what length it's been, except plain Dutch braids! Thick hair is just hard to work with in general.
How long is your hair at the moment? Definitely try to enjoy it as it is now, who knows, it may never be that short again!
Defintely not :) It's about a quarter inch from APL now but it grows very fast, so, it won't take long till I'm at waist.
Aerya
May 23rd, 2019, 03:34 AM
As someone who is also impatiently growing, it's good to be reminded that the shorter lengths have a lot of advantages too! The best way to grow is indeed to enjoy each stage, not just suffer through until some vague "long enough" occurs (if it does at all). I think braids especially are good to practice now, get the technique of different styles solidly in place before the hair gets so long you have to detangle for each little step.
I have a sensitive scalp too and I'm actually looking forward to more length for the variety in styles. Now I can only do a disc bun and I have to do it a little tight to be secure. I know more weight might be an issue, but still. Milkmaid braids in particular I think will be good!
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 03:51 AM
As someone who is also impatiently growing, it's good to be reminded that the shorter lengths have a lot of advantages too! The best way to grow is indeed to enjoy each stage, not just suffer through until some vague "long enough" occurs (if it does at all). I think braids especially are good to practice now, get the technique of different styles solidly in place before the hair gets so long you have to detangle for each little step.
EXACTLY!
I have a sensitive scalp too and I'm actually looking forward to more length for the variety in styles. Now I can only do a disc bun and I have to do it a little tight to be secure. I know more weight might be an issue, but still. Milkmaid braids in particular I think will be good!
Yes, that's a style I'm looking forward to do too. Even though they gave me headaches after 2 hours too, unfortunately
Aerya
May 23rd, 2019, 04:01 AM
Yes, that's a style I'm looking forward to do too. Even though they gave me headaches after 2 hours too, unfortunately
Aw really? Like when you make two regular English braids and wrap them around? I figured that would be pretty scalp proof with no hairs in the wrong direction and the weight distributed evenly around the head. :(
blackgothicdoll
May 23rd, 2019, 04:32 AM
Minus the sore scalp I'd rather be in her shoes. Thick hair is more difficult when it is short, at least in my opinion, but my hair is another world of thick and only gets thicker as I grow out heat and dye damage. I'd be ecstatic to just stick my hair in a braid and move on with my life until it was time to wash. Washing my hair is a freaking chore, and I have to do that pretty constantly if I want to manipulate it and style it, which I have to do.
I'm sure she sees some value in her hair, else she would not keep it long. :)
spitfire511
May 23rd, 2019, 06:36 AM
I'm sure she sees some value in her hair, else she would not keep it long. :)
I was thinking this as well - if she feels it is such a pain (literally and figuratively) - why doesn't she cut it?
BUT I love that she was encouraging OP to love her hair as it is - I think if we try to have a good outlook we can see the positive in each length (and the negative if we're looking for it!)
nycelle
May 23rd, 2019, 06:52 AM
If it's such a pain, why hasn't she cut it?
Either way, it's different for everyone.
lapushka
May 23rd, 2019, 07:04 AM
I agree up to a point. For me the cut-off point was waist. I can go to waist, fully blunt hem, or layered to classic/FTL. That's it for me. The layers make it *so* easy to deal with. I didn't grow on because of "weight" or some such, but because it got harder to style and I love styling it.
CrazyPlantLady
May 23rd, 2019, 07:31 AM
I often think about this, I'm an outdoorsy gal, gardening, biking, hiking etc. so I often wonder if I'll even like having long hair. :ponder: I'm currently just above APL so it's not something I'll have to worry about for a couple more years. This was an interesting insight.
AmaryllisRed
May 23rd, 2019, 08:09 AM
I know there are thick haired people with knee length and longer who absolutely do buns and braids and other updos. So please don't take her experience as an absolute.
Also I think it's always a good reminder to enjoy your hair at every stage. But I also think it can be hard to appreciate shorter lengths until you're past it.
Genne
May 23rd, 2019, 08:21 AM
I did, I asked her if she's at Langhaarnetzwerk or here. But she isn't. Sounded like she's not very interested in communities like that. But I will tell her more about it next time so she hopefully gets interested to join. :) She really has amazing hair. Everybody should see.
Hello Wusel,
I think it is very nice of you to offer her support. She may not like verbalizing or talking about her hair, as I'm sure she must get many questions daily and if she is trying to do her daily work tasks.
Maybe it would be nice to write the two online community names with links on a card and give them to her so she can think about it when she is away from work?
I've just found this community the other day and have rejuvenated my interest in moving forward with growing my hair beyond my current hip length. I'm glad to find it, perfect timing and thank you group!
Jen
Genne
May 23rd, 2019, 08:24 AM
I know there are thick haired people with knee length and longer who absolutely do buns and braids and other updos. So please don't take her experience as an absolute.
Also I think it's always a good reminder to enjoy your hair at every stage. But I also think it can be hard to appreciate shorter lengths until you're past it.
Me too, a good friend of mine who I haven't seen in a while, has hair below her knees/calves and it is very thick. She has been posting pictures on facebook lately of it up in buns and other interesting shorter-long hair styles. I think she is really enjoying learning new ways to wear it after decades of braids only.
Jen
p.s. I am on the opposite end of the spectrum but, feel the same struggle in limitations due to not having the "medium-thickness" hair.
Dung Beetle
May 23rd, 2019, 08:35 AM
I'm at mid-back now, but I suspect there will come a point when all this hair becomes too much trouble. I think at that time I'll probably go back to BSL, and feel good about getting rid of any splits and layers.
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 08:38 AM
I was thinking this as well - if she feels it is such a pain (literally and figuratively) - why doesn't she cut it?
BUT I love that she was encouraging OP to love her hair as it is - I think if we try to have a good outlook we can see the positive in each length (and the negative if we're looking for it!)
True :) I liked this very much too :)
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 08:40 AM
If it's such a pain, why hasn't she cut it?
Either way, it's different for everyone.
Yes, nxt time I would like to ask her why she keeps it so long. Maybe it's for religious reasons...? Or she has a hobby she needs very long hair for...? Cosplay...? Or her husband has a long hair ******... LOL.
Wusel
May 23rd, 2019, 08:41 AM
Hello Wusel,
I think it is very nice of you to offer her support. She may not like verbalizing or talking about her hair, as I'm sure she must get many questions daily and if she is trying to do her daily work tasks.
Maybe it would be nice to write the two online community names with links on a card and give them to her so she can think about it when she is away from work?
I've just found this community the other day and have rejuvenated my interest in moving forward with growing my hair beyond my current hip length. I'm glad to find it, perfect timing and thank you group!
Jen
Great idea :) Will do this :)
Dark40
May 24th, 2019, 04:21 PM
There is a health food store near my place and the owner has thigh long hair or even longer (it's always in a braid so can't see) and every time I'm there I'm stunned because her braid is so thick and she still didn't cut it. I know her since about 10 years and she is in her 40s, I think.
2 weeks ago I went there to buy horsetail and nettle juice and we started talking about hair.
I said I'm growing and would love to have hair this long and she said that I should be happy with my hair now that it's not that long yet because it's more interesting, because I still can do anything I want with it. And hers has always to be in a braid in the back because it's too long and too heavy for any other style. Buns are too heavy, no updo is possible, french braids tangle too much while braiding... She said with this thick hair, like I have too, it's impossible to do anything else from a certain length on, when you have a sensitive scalp and generally a sensitive head. It just pulls too much. And she can only wear that heavy braid because her spine isn't straight so the braid lays on her upper back and she doesn't feel the weight. Otherwise the braid would be too heavy too.
I remember I started having problems like this from WL.
Which is good to think about because it makes me enjoy and appreciate my short length more NOW and not just count months until it's long. I definitely can do any style I like NOW but won't be able to do it later. So, good to know some negative sides of very thick, very long hair on a sensitive scalp. I remember the tangling while trying to make a french braid when my hair was WL.
She also told me that she washes her hair only twice a month because it's just too tiring and when it's in a braid, sleeked back properly nobody sees if it's greasy or not.
Looking forward to talk to her again when I need more herbal juices. :)
Interesting story! I agree with LadyCelestina. You should tell her about the german longhaircommunity, and this community as well!
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