View Full Version : I've reached waist but I'm a little indifferent
RavenDream
July 6th, 2008, 06:52 PM
Ever since I was little I've wanted to have long flowing hair. I started growing(albeit very slowly and with a lot of cuts in between) in 2005 from APL. I measured today and am about 1/2 inch past waist(waist is my final goal length). I'm excited but the triumph is a little short lived.
Since going past BSL my hair hasn't been very happy. I treat it wonderfully, use oil, SMT's, and practive gentle handling. But ever since BSL it has just been hard to handle and constantly looks fried. There are tons of tangles and the ends are just dull. I'm starting to feel like I'm not meant to go past that length.
Has anyone had an awkward phase like this? I'm a little down, and feel like a slightly larger trim might be the best for my tempermental hair.
akurah
July 6th, 2008, 06:55 PM
Before you trim, try clarifying.
Teazel
July 6th, 2008, 07:14 PM
I agree with akurah, clarifying might be just what you need. My hair revels in it! :)
Riot Crrl
July 6th, 2008, 07:21 PM
Maybe clarifying followed by DT... and then... the nice thing about being at goal is that you can trim to maintain that. If you think trimming the half inch would help, you could do that. Or you could always wait a couple more months and then take an inch or two.
serenitygal
July 6th, 2008, 09:48 PM
I'd suggest a clarifying wash. To do that, use something a bit stronger than you usually use for washing. I CO, but every few months will clarify with a diluted shampoo. After conditioning, try running slightly oiled hands over the length before braiding, and add a drop or two of oil to the braid tassel. Let dry before unbraiding, and see what it looks like.
If you do need a trim, then find a reputable hairdresser and get 'er done. While your hair will, of course, be a bit shorter, you could even take off two or three inches and still hit waist again (with healthier hair) in 4-6 months.
I'm creeeeeeeeeping to BSL and have my longest layers just at bsl on the day after I wash (my hair is fairly curly, and is less so on DD2). I know I'll need a trim in the next month or so, as my ends are getting rather velcro-y. I'm a little dissapointed, but my hair will grow back and look better post-trim.
Isilme
July 7th, 2008, 04:25 AM
not everyone's hair likes oils and thick conditioners. My hair goes lank and greasy from rich conditioners and oil just makes it go crunchy. And let's not talk about proteins, dry, crunchy. tangly and very prone to breakage. Try a clarifying wash and then see if there are some of your products that doesn't suit your hair. One at the time.
Katze
July 7th, 2008, 04:39 AM
clarifying might help, but so might 'cones. For my dry, damaged ends, which were starting to act like you describe, a couple of months on 'cones smoothed them out. However, I discovered I didn't like the extra flakiness and straighter hair, so I dropped them, may go back to them.
Many people (I am guilty of this) seem to think that long hair means perfect, shampoo-commercial hair every day. I don't think that's the case, or, sadly, that it ever can be so.
You may just need to clarify or you may need to change something, or you might just be in a hair rut, you know?
Good luck. :flower:
Katze
sipnsun
July 7th, 2008, 06:40 AM
Since you are at your goal length, riot crrl made the great suggestion of getting regular trims to try to get off some of the damage. Also, maybe you could try to wear it up for awhile and see if this helps. If I wear my hair down, I constantly play with it and I'm sure that's not good for it.
RavenDream
July 7th, 2008, 09:28 AM
I should have shared my routine a bit more in my original post.
I s/c w. Biolage Smoothing 2-3days a week. While it's still wet I use a smoothing serum on most of the length and then coconut oil on the ends. I just got 1 1/2 inches cut off at the beginning of June. I last clarified with Sauve Professionals Clarifying 2 weeks ago.
Like mentioned above, I do think I'm in a hair rut. I wear it up 5days a week in a cinnabun. I'm happy because I love how it looks once its wavy when it first dries but then it falls to lank and boring looking hair. I think I also just notice these little changes more now since I'm home for the summer.
Thanks for the input.
spidermom
July 7th, 2008, 09:40 AM
I love the title of this thread because I thought that waist was going to be - I don't know - such a thrill. Nope. It was a PITA. About the time I got to that length, none of my go-to hairstyles worked anymore. It was such a let down!
Now I'm going through a lot of stress, and as is my usual habit, I'm eyeing my hair critically and thinking long and hard about cutting it. I'm not going to do it, I'm too close to the length I've been talking about most of my life. But I'm not exactly thrilled about this whole hair thing anymore.
DarkChocolate
July 7th, 2008, 09:45 AM
I have reached an awkward phase in which my hair feels crunchy at the bottom and it is at all different lengths. However only a few strands have reached waist length.
I am at a loss of what to do. I tried conditioning with egg but that made my hair greasy. I have been using oils but only the top of my hair seems to like them.
What is a clarifying wash?
danacc
July 7th, 2008, 09:11 PM
What is a clarifying wash?
A clarifying wash is intended to remove build-up from the hair. Build-up occurs when products used on the hair are not completely removed by your usual wash routine. Some 'cones are notorious for causing build-up, but other ingredients can build-up, too. And of course, the gentler your washes, the more types of things they might not be completely cleaning. Usually, your hair will start feeling different (in a bad sort of way), and you can learn to recognize when clarifying will help.
To clarify, first get a clarifying shampoo. These will usually say "clarifying" right on the label. Some I've seen mentioned are Suave Clarifying, Tresemme Vitamin C, Neutrogena Clarifying, VO5 Kiwi Lime. Shampoo your scalp and all of your length. Repeat.
Clarifying is stripping--the whole point is to remove everything off of the outside of the hair.
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