Rapunzal2Be
April 18th, 2010, 07:31 PM
Well, it's my one year anniversary of joining LHC, and I'm very happy that I joined!
Here are my photos from when I first joined:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/April19a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/April19.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/april19b.jpg
16.5" long, 2.5" pony tail.
And here I am now (well, March 30th, actually):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/DSC_0176.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/DSC_0175.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/Photoon2010-04-18at2120.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/Photoon2010-04-18at21203.jpg
22" long, 3" pony tail.
Obviously I still have a long way to go until I have long hair, but I'm happy to have hit APL at least :cheese: and I know now that I have the patience to grow to my goal, and even enjoy the journey along the way.
My hair has grown about six inches this year; I got about .5" cut last May, and haven't cut or trimmed since. Despite my best efforts at growth boosters, my hair doesn't seem in any rush to grow, but honestly I'm okay with that because my hair has never (well, not since childhood) looked so good! It's been a rough year for me, as well, including leaving my husband, adjusting to being a single parent, moving from Germany back to the US, having to move in with family, and well, just starting over. Considering how much I shed normally, and the fact that I always shed more under stress, I'm glad to have hair left on my head, and for what I have to be looking so fantastic (by my standards, anyway!!).
I attribute my new head of healthy hair to:
* Giving up the flat iron (good riddance, I've found that my hair can actually dry almost poker straight on its own if I comb it while wet and just a quick finish with the hair dryer)
* Air drying and use of the hair dryer for a finishing touch only sparingly
* Giving up the hair dye and bleach and going to Henndigo!!! I use BAQ henna and indigo and it has drastically changed the quality, shine and strength of my hair. It now shines like glass, is stronger than ever, and in almost an entire year without a trim I have ZERO split ends
* Supplements. I take a lot, and I notice a BIG difference in my growth between when I'm taking them and when I don't (I often get lazy for months at a time and stop taking them, but both my health and my hair growth suffer for it).
I take: Centrum Multi, folic acid, biotin, gelatin, MSM, acidophilus pearl, fish oil, Super B, and Diatomaceous Earth daily. And I take saw palmetto twice per week.
* I get growth spurts after using a mixture of sulfur and coconut oil on my scalp overnight, but I do it only about once every month or so because I tend to get a big shed the day after.
* I've reduced my overall shedding (which has always been a LOT!) by using ACV in a spritzer bottle sprayed on my scalp once a day and by brushing my scalp with either a BBB or my tangle teazer once per day, as well as using cool water to wash and rinse my hair now. I still shed more then average, but it is a lot less than before.
* I've given up on expensive shampoos/conditioners like Nioxin, Redken, etc. and now can't get enough of (lots of) V05 and Suave conditioners, Suave Clarifying shampoo, Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo, and Jason Scalp Normalizing Shampoo. I alternate between them all and wash usually twice per week, COing otherwise.
:D I want to thank everyone here for teaching me so much about hair care (who would have thought that my cousin who had waist length hair and told me her secret was cheap conditioner and lots of it, was really onto something!!!;)), and for inspiring me with your beautiful photos, videos, tutorials, and tips, and for helping me to realize that my baby fine, thin hair can - and will - be beautiful, long, and natural.
Here are my photos from when I first joined:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/April19a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/April19.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/april19b.jpg
16.5" long, 2.5" pony tail.
And here I am now (well, March 30th, actually):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/DSC_0176.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/DSC_0175.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/Photoon2010-04-18at2120.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/DanielleD1/Hair/Photoon2010-04-18at21203.jpg
22" long, 3" pony tail.
Obviously I still have a long way to go until I have long hair, but I'm happy to have hit APL at least :cheese: and I know now that I have the patience to grow to my goal, and even enjoy the journey along the way.
My hair has grown about six inches this year; I got about .5" cut last May, and haven't cut or trimmed since. Despite my best efforts at growth boosters, my hair doesn't seem in any rush to grow, but honestly I'm okay with that because my hair has never (well, not since childhood) looked so good! It's been a rough year for me, as well, including leaving my husband, adjusting to being a single parent, moving from Germany back to the US, having to move in with family, and well, just starting over. Considering how much I shed normally, and the fact that I always shed more under stress, I'm glad to have hair left on my head, and for what I have to be looking so fantastic (by my standards, anyway!!).
I attribute my new head of healthy hair to:
* Giving up the flat iron (good riddance, I've found that my hair can actually dry almost poker straight on its own if I comb it while wet and just a quick finish with the hair dryer)
* Air drying and use of the hair dryer for a finishing touch only sparingly
* Giving up the hair dye and bleach and going to Henndigo!!! I use BAQ henna and indigo and it has drastically changed the quality, shine and strength of my hair. It now shines like glass, is stronger than ever, and in almost an entire year without a trim I have ZERO split ends
* Supplements. I take a lot, and I notice a BIG difference in my growth between when I'm taking them and when I don't (I often get lazy for months at a time and stop taking them, but both my health and my hair growth suffer for it).
I take: Centrum Multi, folic acid, biotin, gelatin, MSM, acidophilus pearl, fish oil, Super B, and Diatomaceous Earth daily. And I take saw palmetto twice per week.
* I get growth spurts after using a mixture of sulfur and coconut oil on my scalp overnight, but I do it only about once every month or so because I tend to get a big shed the day after.
* I've reduced my overall shedding (which has always been a LOT!) by using ACV in a spritzer bottle sprayed on my scalp once a day and by brushing my scalp with either a BBB or my tangle teazer once per day, as well as using cool water to wash and rinse my hair now. I still shed more then average, but it is a lot less than before.
* I've given up on expensive shampoos/conditioners like Nioxin, Redken, etc. and now can't get enough of (lots of) V05 and Suave conditioners, Suave Clarifying shampoo, Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo, and Jason Scalp Normalizing Shampoo. I alternate between them all and wash usually twice per week, COing otherwise.
:D I want to thank everyone here for teaching me so much about hair care (who would have thought that my cousin who had waist length hair and told me her secret was cheap conditioner and lots of it, was really onto something!!!;)), and for inspiring me with your beautiful photos, videos, tutorials, and tips, and for helping me to realize that my baby fine, thin hair can - and will - be beautiful, long, and natural.