Shoulder | Armpit

**browneyedsusan** · March 13th, 2013, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by imaroo

The only thing that's really changed in my routine is that my hair is finally long enough to try a few updos. I've learned to do french/dutch braids and some messy buns. Every day I work on crown braids and SOME DAY I WILL SUCCEED!!!

Right now my biggest frustration is doing a gibson tuck. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but stuffing my ponytail in the pocket only works for 15 - 30 minutes at best. The ponytail just falls right through the bottom no matter how I secure it. So, I've gotten to the point where I'm just considering that its own style. A gibson tuck ponytail? Or something...

Oh, and I think I need to lay off those. Too many pony tails of any kind (no matter what I secure them with) cause breakage in the canopy of my hair.

I may try Blax ponytail holders.

My Gibson tucks fall through sometimes, too. I try to make them up higher on my head, leave the pony in a loop (like SerenaDaith suggested), and make a wide and deep pocket for the thing. It used to be more of a problem when my hair was shorter. I think the ends were just to "pokey", straight, and short, and poked out! At any rate, pulled-through ponytails look nice too!

**SerinaDaith** · March 13th, 2013, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by imaroo

That really is a huge help!!! I love the idea of not pulling the pony through the holder all the way. That makes sense. I also hadn't thought of a horseshoe braid. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but if it's easier then I'm all over it. Off to Google...

I part my hair in front like I would if I were to leave it down for the day then do one braid along the side like you would for a crown braid then do the same on the other side, they do have to be lace braids so that you have room to tuck under then take your braid from the left and tuck it under the braid on the right and pin, repeat with right under left and pin, this equals tucked ends on both sides and on me at least no pulling tight. Today I just used a pretty hair pin to make a tiny braid at my nape instead but a full day in wind and at school with no product still has every hair in place. I use this on last day unwashed hair so my oils help keep everything in place. First day hair leaves me with the frizzies on this one.

**Neecola** · March 14th, 2013, 11:43 AM

^ I just did this for the first time the other day. I didn't realize it was called a horseshoe braid (although that makes sense); I was trying to do a faux crown braid. I like that it adds interest in the front.

I also watched a tutorial for a gibson tuck that was being done on longer hair. She wound the hair around her fingers first before tucking it in. It looked pretty secure that way. I find pinning at the elastic to my scalp hair keeps it in place pretty well.

**Medievalmaniac** · March 14th, 2013, 01:49 PM

I think I am finally in this club, after an agonizing year in the super-shorts:

I am growing my hair out from bald back to TBL. At present, I use henna (this photo is after a full head application this afternoon), wash every 3-4 days with VO5 (either cucumber or blackberry) and use Nightblooming panacea and triple moon oil every few days. It's finally long enough to pull back off my face/ into a teensy ponytail, and I can use my shortest forks again. I loved my long hair, and am looking so forward to having it again.

**Medievalmaniac** · March 14th, 2013, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by browneyedsusan

My Gibson tucks fall through sometimes, too. I try to make them up higher on my head, leave the pony in a loop (like SerenaDaith suggested), and make a wide and deep pocket for the thing. It used to be more of a problem when my hair was shorter. I think the ends were just to "pokey", straight, and short, and poked out! At any rate, pulled-through ponytails look nice too!

Try tucking a few bobby-pins in - 2-3 on the sides, spaced evenly apart, and two criss-crossing on the bottom -- that should help hold the Gibson tuck in place better for you.

**browneyedsusan** · March 14th, 2013, 02:49 PM

Welcome, Medievalmaniac! Thanks for the advice. I haven't had my hair this long in 20 years, and can't remember what I did with it before that

. The pins will probably help with the slippery sides, too. I love your curls! You grew from bald?!? Wow! I gripe a lot about growing the pixie. I can't imagine growing from bald. Shut my mouth!

**Medievalmaniac** · March 15th, 2013, 06:37 AM

browneyedsusan -- the bobby pins trick worked for me when I was starting out with Gibson tucks before, I hope they work for you as well!

And growing out from pixie is just as hard as growing out from bald -- I remember when you first joined LHC and you have already made a lot of progress!

**browneyedsusan** · March 15th, 2013, 06:46 AM

Thanks, Medievalmaniac!
That pixie had 6 or 8 weeks of growth on it when I joined. It felt sloppy and disheveled already.

Any and all advice on getting updos to stay is welcome! My hair is super slippery. I SerinaDaith's horseshoe braid on damp hair yesterday, but it slid out. I'll need more product and more pins! I'm beginning to get moderately concerned about tearing up my ends with elastics. They keep braids secure, but using them often is probably a bad idea.

**imaroo** · March 15th, 2013, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by browneyedsusan

I'm beginning to get moderately concerned about tearing up my ends with elastics. They keep braids secure, but using them often is probably a bad idea.

Yup. That's me, too. Although I'm less concerned with the ends when braiding than I am with the middle of my length up around my ears. Breakage on the ends can be trimmed off much more easily. So, I feel like braids are much easier on my hair than ponytails or Gibson tucks. That's why I want to be able to crown braid and tuck the ends in. I haven't tried the horseshoe braid idea yet.

Is all fine hair fragile, or is it just mine?!? Honestly, I'm not even sure how much of my frizz is breakage, and how much of it is new growth. My hair is fairly straight. The canopy is pretty light and floaty, and all of my hair shows a few weird waves and cowlicks throughout. All of these attributes seem to contribute to how frizz-prone it is.

**Neecola** · March 15th, 2013, 11:50 AM

MedievalManiac - your hair is looking great! I distinctly remember you from another thread awhile back - maybe a henna thread? You showed your previous long hair and I nearly fainted, it was so beautiful! It is well on its way & looking very healthy~

imaroo - I think it is pretty typical of fine hair to be fragile. I have a constant halo as well and I was scared it was breakage. I read somewhere here that if the ends are tapered, that it is likely new growth and if the ends are blunt, then it is more likely breakage.