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Spikey
February 9th, 2020, 06:39 PM
This is intended to be just like any other texture/length/color thread, but for people with significant taper. Everyone's hair tapers slightly, but if the end of your braid is tiny compared to the start, this is the thread for you! Whether you've cut in heavy layers on purpose, you're nearing terminal, or just growing out damage like me, this is your place to talk about bunning, styling and caring for hair with thin ends. :)


I'll start:
Curly hair hides it well
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38097&d=1565994782

But a good chunk of my braid is thinner than a pencil! The top is 3+ inches, the bottom too small to measure.
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40212&d=1581296932

I find cinnabuns difficult to manage, the tension and twist get messed up and the thin outer rings are super tight while the inner rings are barely twisted. LWBs are a little hard too, because one side ends up being fatter than the other. But I find the majority of buns are easier to do with taper, even at BSL I could manage styles most have to wait until hip for.

leayellena
February 10th, 2020, 02:12 AM
1/3 of my hair is tapered. huh! if it wasn't for your thread I would still think I have half of my hair tapered. thx so much for the thread. hehe benign neglect is the best! you get surprised by your own hair haha.
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40215&d=1581325503
this month's length shot:
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40122&d=1580977339
my tapered ends never stay straight! otherise you'd see it's already ftl/u-thigh. :rolleyes:

MusicalSpoons
February 10th, 2020, 05:18 AM
Oh hello*! This is the thread for me! I shall come back with pics at some point though my ends are slightly better since a trim at the beginning of the year. I think mine is a combination of pre-LHC neglect and nearing terminal - I mean, *hope* it's a combination and that it's not all because of nearing terminal :lol:

*said as an expression of surprise, as it is exactly what popped into my head when reading.

Sarahlabyrinth
February 10th, 2020, 05:26 AM
Yup, this is my thread! My taper seems to begin at around BSL. I'm not sure if my thin ends are due to dye damage, age, terminal length or several large sheds during the last several years. It's likely all three (though I hope not terminal length) combined with fairytale ends. I wish it were not so, but there it is. :)

lapushka
February 10th, 2020, 04:19 PM
I have artificial taper; the picture is in my signature, so constantly here. It is a purposely cut V-shape. I just love it. Some people think it is natural taper. :D

Zesty
February 10th, 2020, 05:28 PM
Great idea for a thread! I certainly have taper but I don't think I have a pic of it braided as far as it'll go to show it properly. I expect it's simply because I'm nearing terminal.

The only time it gets too obvious for my tastes is when I try to do a coronet braid. Otherwise, I don't know, the gradual taper looks kind of romantic to me? Of course I still have moments of insecurity (and that's when I tend to post on the LHC to complain! LOL), but overall I don't mind.

Bri-Chan
February 10th, 2020, 05:45 PM
I also have taper! Because of the damage I think. I will take a pic the next time I braid it

ExpectoPatronum
February 10th, 2020, 07:00 PM
Oooh! I belong here. I have a taper that's both natural (I think) and caused from layers. My braid starts out a little less thick than my wrist, and tapers to almost nothing! And my hair is only MBL. I feel like I won't be able to grow long with my taper, but you all give me hope :)

Ligeia Noire
February 10th, 2020, 07:05 PM
I finally have some taper too!
I love it because it helps me bun and it looks so nice all wurly, always enjoyed fairytale ends, we needed this thread.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38868&d=1572311706

Spikey
February 10th, 2020, 08:47 PM
So many replies! I love all the pictures too. Make sure to post updates every few years so we can watch the thickness travel down! :rollin: What styles can you do that you couldn't otherwise? What styles don't work with thin ends?

butterflybutton
February 10th, 2020, 11:57 PM
This is the thread for me!
I have quite a severe taper from bsl to classic, mostly from bleach damage but also from natural taper, likely reaching terminal and the very last remains of my pixie layers

Entangled
February 11th, 2020, 07:30 AM
How’s this for taper?

https://i.imgur.com/Lc8JTrr.jpg

I’m had plenty of time to come to terms with it. When I was at MBL and showing the first signs of taper I was really upset. Now I just see it as natural, though I’d be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t admire those with less tapered braids.

Bri-Chan
February 11th, 2020, 07:39 AM
I find it really cute!

lapushka
February 11th, 2020, 09:22 AM
Significant, Entangled, but it looks super cute in a braid! :D

Bri-Chan
February 11th, 2020, 04:20 PM
My huge problem I think is the ex sidecut (akmost shoulder length now). In fact I cannot braid it for more centimeters because one of the lock of the braid is too thin
click (https://i.imgur.com/QwilBsz.jpg)

littlestarface
February 11th, 2020, 04:31 PM
I finally have some taper too!
I love it because it helps me bun and it looks so nice all wurly, always enjoyed fairytale ends, we needed this thread.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38868&d=1572311706

LOL that is not taper lmao

Ligeia Noire
February 11th, 2020, 05:02 PM
LOL that is not taper lmao

So, you are saying my ends are as thick as my mid section hair?

saff.cel
February 11th, 2020, 05:05 PM
So, you are saying my ends are as thick as my mid section hair?

:popcorn: *Waits for more luscious braid photos from Ligeia Noire*

Zesty
February 11th, 2020, 05:37 PM
I think virtually everyone beyond a certain length has at least *some* taper, it's just natural. :shrug: Some just have more or less than others.

I have quite a bit. My hair is very healthy but I don't have exceptional hair genes so I'm sure terminal is looming.

https://i.imgur.com/dh99R8rl.jpg

I normally leave that tassel quite a bit longer though. :)

Anyway, it certainly makes tucking the ends behind a bun a lot easier!

lithostoic
February 11th, 2020, 05:57 PM
My taper is what I dislike most about my hair. I have it no matter what I do. It starts at around collarbone length and gets drastically thinner. My ponytail circ is over 3 inches but I feel like that's a dumb way to measure my thickness because just a few inches down from that is like half as thick. My braids are tiny.

littlestarface
February 11th, 2020, 06:39 PM
So, you are saying my ends are as thick as my mid section hair?

I mean your hair is thick asf to almost all the way down its so full. your the last person I would think to see here and say taper but I mean when I see taper i'm thinking like my thin hair and it gets even more thin at the bottom like less than a finger thin.

Ligeia Noire
February 11th, 2020, 06:52 PM
Well yeah sure, I see your point, my taper started at calf but so what? It is still taper, some have more, some less, some have it at waist some at calf, it is still taper.

FennFire911
February 11th, 2020, 07:32 PM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/186365761@N08/shares/86cgrw

Well this is mine as of tonight. I don’t like it very much. Braided, my tassel is BCL. I don’t mind some faerie tale ends but this drastic taper has got to go. I’m going to be micro trimming until the thicker part is a lot more grown out.

lapushka
February 12th, 2020, 04:12 AM
So, you are saying my ends are as thick as my mid section hair?

If you look at Ligeia's signature/braid, you'll see a bit of taper going on. It's not just always that visible. ;)

MusicalSpoons
February 12th, 2020, 04:34 AM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/186365761@N08/shares/86cgrw

Well this is mine as of tonight. I don’t like it very much. Braided, my tassel is BCL. I don’t mind some faerie tale ends but this drastic taper has got to go. I’m going to be micro trimming until the thicker part is a lot more grown out.

It looks very much like the lower 2/3 of my braid, with the top 1/3 of mine being about the same thickness as yours starts with.

Khristopher
March 23rd, 2020, 08:23 PM
I've been wanting to take pics for this thread because it's too fitting :cool: This is some days ago after heavily oiling overnight, my hair drinks up the oil tough.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/eb6e929194116bc1a325b63b687760dd/15ca2402b07a57a9-f9/s540x810/d4a8a3033df770c7a93a8e68c671aed68e0316e2.png
I haven't taken an official lenght pic but I'm pretty sure I've already hit knee. My taper begins more or less at bra strap lengh and gets heavy after waist. I don't like it much but I've learnt to live with it and see its positive side. And having whips for braids is fun! My cats play with them lol

Entangled
March 23rd, 2020, 09:26 PM
I've been wanting to take pics for this thread because it's too fitting :cool: This is some days ago after heavily oiling overnight, my hair drinks up the oil tough.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/eb6e929194116bc1a325b63b687760dd/15ca2402b07a57a9-f9/s540x810/d4a8a3033df770c7a93a8e68c671aed68e0316e2.png
I haven't taken an official lenght pic but I'm pretty sure I've already hit knee. My taper begins more or less at bra strap lengh and gets heavy after waist. I don't like it much but I've learnt to live with it and see its positive side. And having whips for braids is fun! My cats play with them lol
Very fun! And when your ends naturally taper, you can get the effect of an accent braid in a bun without even having to do an extra braid!

Sorry for the black bars. I wanted to get comparable angles to this picture, which I posted back when I was scared of developing taper. It looks now more or less like I was afraid it would, but I’m not bothered by that anymore!

https://i.imgur.com/b4ZTMn6.jpg

jane_marie
March 23rd, 2020, 09:34 PM
I've been wanting to take pics for this thread because it's too fitting :cool: This is some days ago after heavily oiling overnight, my hair drinks up the oil tough.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/eb6e929194116bc1a325b63b687760dd/15ca2402b07a57a9-f9/s540x810/d4a8a3033df770c7a93a8e68c671aed68e0316e2.png
I haven't taken an official lenght pic but I'm pretty sure I've already hit knee. My taper begins more or less at bra strap lengh and gets heavy after waist. I don't like it much but I've learnt to live with it and see its positive side. And having whips for braids is fun! My cats play with them lol

Holy crud your taper is so pretty! That is such a cool look in pigtails! :heartbeat

Khristopher
March 24th, 2020, 12:10 AM
Very fun! And when your ends naturally taper, you can get the effect of an accent braid in a bun without even having to do an extra braid!

Sorry for the black bars. I wanted to get comparable angles to this picture, which I posted back when I was scared of developing taper. It looks now more or less like I was afraid it would, but I’m not bothered by that anymore!

https://i.imgur.com/b4ZTMn6.jpg
That's true, braided buns look extra complex so that's a plus
And goodness, your braid is looking amazing! :crush: I'm glad you grew into at last tolerating your taper, it still looks very subtle and balanced.

jane_marie Thank you so much :o

MidnightMoon
March 24th, 2020, 02:30 AM
I've been wanting to take pics for this thread because it's too fitting :cool: This is some days ago after heavily oiling overnight, my hair drinks up the oil tough.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/eb6e929194116bc1a325b63b687760dd/15ca2402b07a57a9-f9/s540x810/d4a8a3033df770c7a93a8e68c671aed68e0316e2.png
I haven't taken an official lenght pic but I'm pretty sure I've already hit knee. My taper begins more or less at bra strap lengh and gets heavy after waist. I don't like it much but I've learnt to live with it and see its positive side. And having whips for braids is fun! My cats play with them lol

Wow, I had no idea your hair was so long!!
The length alone makes me ignore any taper you might see :p