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View Full Version : My Story. Growing it all out.... length/color.



Achtland
October 17th, 2011, 11:12 PM
Long time stalker/First time poster...

I just really felt I needed to share my "growing out my natural hair color" story... I guess it's because I'm at the end of my story, and I'm ready to start a new one.

It started January this year, as a resolution I decided to give up the bleach. I was not platinum but very very light blond.

Here is a picture of my hair at 6 months into my commitment for a natural lighting comparison of my natural color vs. dye.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/Copyofpetsittin026.jpg

Anyways I took the next plunge at this stage in my hair story. I decided to get a semi-permanent color put into the end 3/4 of my blond length. In hopes to match my ends w/ my natural color. It's been almost 3 weeks since then and I am very happy with the results, at first I hated it. It was really dark with almost red tones in it. Ugh, but I knew it would fade. Which it has, I really really like it now.

Here are a few length pictures within the last 10 months, it feels lengthwise like I rock back and forth. Keeping up a little too well with my trims perhaps. My length doesn't seem to change much, to me anyways. My hair is thicker from my shoulders up, I got some layers the first big cut to get rid of as much damage as possibly, I am trying to grow them out now. I prefer solid length.


http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/hairz001.jpghttp://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/hairz002.jpghttp://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/hairz004.jpghttp://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/hairz005.jpg

The last photo above is 10 months in, and my root color was just above my ears.

Picture below is right after my natural color match, keep in mind she just painted on the color, so my existing roots were virtually untouched. At this point it had quite a "brown" feel to it, seemed very auburn. I hated it at the time but it's faded out to a more light/brown, dirty blond color. Like my natural.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/tenaciousblog/hairz007.jpg


btw. ^ This is my hair about 99% dry. It always feels/looks best like this... then later on in the day it will get dry and feel like poop :(

The next step for me is the absolute best care for my hair over this winter, I really want to grow it longer/thicker/healthier and I believe matching my roots to my ends has made it a lot easier to deal with the awkward phase of growing out color. Now for the TLC!

Monthly Hair Abuse for Background Purposes:

My hair is naturally wavy so I've been letting it air dry lots lately.

I blow-dry my hair a couple times a week (mainly the roots) at medium heat. I blowdry/straighten my hair about 3-4 days out of the month I would say, this month I've only actually done it once.

I wash my hair almost every day... it feels so flat and dry if I don't. I know this has to stop but it is hard. My hair feels amazing for about a few hours after I was it, I don't shampoo every time. After a few hours it starts to feel real dry in the ends again. Is there anything to help me preserve that freshly hydrated feeling?

I feel like I shed A LOT. My rug mat in my bathroom absolutely horrifies me on a weekly basis.

I barely wear my hair up, it drives me nuts and I feel I damage my hair more when I am consistently throwing it up in a ponytail/taking it out throughout the day. Just how I feel.

I usually sleep with my hair down as well. Is it that bad?

I am always stalking LHC for tips to help me through this time, I feel the last 3 inches of my hair are so thin... I keep up with trims, I do S&D between them. I can't wait till my layers grow out, I keep telling myself that will help. My splits aren't too bad. I more so suffer from breakage in the ends. (Thanks to years of bleach I guess)

Ideally my goal is about 3-4" healthy past my chest, in the front, whatever that length is called.... Right now my length is just on top of my chest.

I would love to have this achieved by next May (my 25th birthday!) but I guess we'll see.

I'm wondering if I should do a blunt 2" trim to reach my thickness better or just keep up with my regular trims until this time? It seems no matter if I take 1" off or 2" my hair feels great till about 6 weeks, then I need a new trim. So taking off more might not help my goal. Opinions?

Next May, once I achieve my target length, I plan to balayage some highlights into the front of my hair, but for the most part I will be au naturel from here on out :)

Cheers <3

Roscata
October 18th, 2011, 12:18 AM
Welcome to LHC!
Damaged Hair: Understanding, Preventing & Rehabilitating (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79) is the number 1 article you should read.

When it comes to hair loss I've been using Neelibhringadi Ayurvedic Hair Oil (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=34344) with great results. ETA: I forgot that all that shed hair might be brakage. Do your shed hairs have white bulbs at the end of them? Because if the answer is no then you have breakage not shedding, in which case giving up heat styling, chemicals etc and cutting off damage is the only way to fix that. You might also consider Cassia treatments (http://www.mehandi.com/shop/cassiaobovatabuy.html) or gloss (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=154) (use Cassia in stead of henna to avoid the color effect) to strengthen your hair and give it some shine. /ETA


When it comes to dry hair I highly recommend overnight pre-wash coconut oilings, SMT (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128), Kimberlily's defrizz spray (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=277) and conditioner only washes (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=18) (The CO (conditioner only) washing thread (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2898)). Also you might want to read through Franny G (http://www.frannyslonghairstyles.com/haircare.htm)'s blog, especially the hair care and updos section. Good luck in your hair journey! :D

growingpains
October 18th, 2011, 12:32 AM
It sounds like you need something to seal the moisture into your hair. You should look into leave ins and/or oiling for the ends after your shower. When you oil the ends you only need to use the tiniest amount, rub between hands and apply to length. I use a leave in condish and a light oil these days. There are lots of threads on oiling and choosing the right oil for your hair.

I second the vote to check out CO'ing.

Your hair looks like it's in pretty good shape despite the heat and dye! It will look fantastic longer and healthier!