Newbie questions thread. Feel free to add your own.

[hinabelle]

Wow, thanks to all for the responses!! I truly appreciate all the help!
I've been looking around the stores to find some ACV, so I'll keep browsing.

[meteor]

^ Local grocery stores should have it (condiments sections or wherever they sell oils)! If not, check out health food stores. Alternatively, nothing wrong with simple white vinegar: it's the acidic effect that you want.

[hinabelle]

meteor: Thank you! I think ACV is what I'm most excited for when I start taking care of my own hair.

[MeAndTheMaz]

Auni, it's not like you're going to wake up one day with TBL length hair. So you should be able to adjust as you "grow into it".

So the split ends are cut to stop the damage from creeping higher? That makes sense.

Yes. A lot of people here do what's called S&D (search and destroy). Rather than getting a full on trim, you look at the ends of your hair and snip off--with sharp shears-- any splits you find.

LLL and meteor, thanks for the answers. Very helpful.

[Panth]

Ok. So, Im currently ay BSL, and am very excited at the prospect of getting to my goal of TBL, and then, who knows! However, I kinda had a freak out last night. All these questions popped into my head that had me thinking, " Do I want to do this?!" SO, here I go!
1. How do you guys sleep at night? Literally, do you braid, bun, what? It seems like your hair would be EVERYWHERE!!!
2. How do you wash your hair?! Is it easier just to do it in a sink, and if so, doesn't your hair take up the whole sink?! And how long does it take to dry?! Mine already takes up to almost ALL DAY at my current length and being healthy!
3. Braids: It seems like youd be wrestling with your hair, Braiding the top and having the ends twist and braid too, not to mention the upper arm strength! How do you do it?
4. How much conditioner do you go through in a month?
5. How does your spouse feel about all your hair, everywhere?
6. Does anyone get frequent headaches or neck aches from the weight of their hair? Anything that helps with that other than ibuprofen?
I guess I just want to know what I'm getting into, It won't affect my decision to grow it long and strong!

This all really depends not only on length but on thickness and texture. That said, here's a fine/thin haired and super-long haired (1b/F/i/ii, knee+) perspective:

1) English braid, worn down (specifically, the one I wore bunned during the day). Yeah, it sometimes wraps around me/pillows/husband, but for the most part it behaves. I tend to either throw it up on top of the pillow, above my head, or off the edge of the bed to keep it out of the way.
2) In the shower. That said, I have and can washed it in the (kitchen) sink with minimal difficulties. Shower is easier, IMO, though mainly because you don't have to keep changing basins of water. Someone with thicker hair might have more issues. Drying-wise ... a few hours? I honestly don't bother keeping track. It dries quickest if I wrap in a towel for 5-10 mins (until most of the dripping stops) then comb with a wide-toothed comb (to detangle but also to spread everything out - increased surface area for evaporation) then leave it down. However, usually I just do as much of that as I have time for then braid it and forget about it - it's often still damp when I unbraid but that's not a problem. Occasionally I'll blow dry on cool (it's not damaging on cool/warm and in the winter it's horrid to sleep with wet hair).
3) I always do low braids (from the nape) so have no issue with arm strength. Otherwise, I guess it's just practice?
4) Ummmm? Half a bottle? Maybe? I have no idea...
5) He doesn't mind it, provided it's not trying to attack him...
6) Nope, though this is partly a thickness thing and partly how you style it. Improperly positioned/secured hairstyles most definitely can cause headaches. However, with practice you just won't do those and, on the rare occasion you do, will take them down promptly before they start causing problems. I do find that if I already have a headache then I can't tolerate updos. However, that's different (and the cure is just: wear a loosely done braid or have your hair loose until the headache goes away / painkillers kick in).

Tbh, I think you're worrying too much, though. You're not going to magically wake up with TBL hair overnight. Likewise, if you get to, say, waist or hip and decide that you actually don't want it any longer, no one's going to force you to grow to TBL because "oh, you said you would!". Most of these things come as incremental adaptations - length gain is slow, so you have plenty of time to learn and adapt. Anyway, if you decide you don't like it or can't stand it that long, there's a very quick, very easy fix for that.

[Soulina]

I am not exactly a newbie anymore, but is there thread for growing beards?
Not that I have one my self but my boyfriend asked he has awesome over 5 inch long chin beard and asked tips how to grow it longer.

[MeAndTheMaz]

I haven't seen one, Soulina, but that doesn't mean you can't start one. There are fair number of men here, but I don't know how many of them have long beards.

Failing that, I'm sure you can find sites on the Intertubes dedicated to beards.

[hinabelle]

I'm back already!
Is there a thread here for beginners to buns/updos/etc? I have only ever put my
hair up in elastics and sometimes a claw clip. My hair is getting to that length
where it gets snagged on my bag straps... and on top of it all, hot days are
approaching quickly where I live. I have no idea where to begin with putting
my hair up since when I do, I often can't do much with it or do not know what
to do with it.

[Madora]

I'm back already!
Is there a thread here for beginners to buns/updos/etc? I have only ever put my
hair up in elastics and sometimes a claw clip. My hair is getting to that length
where it gets snagged on my bag straps... and on top of it all, hot days are
approaching quickly where I live. I have no idea where to begin with putting
my hair up since when I do, I often can't do much with it or do not know what
to do with it.

Hinabelle, have you tried inversion braiding? Here's a link to my tutorial:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...d.php?t=126929

[hinabelle]

Madora: I have some time, so I'll try it right now! This will be my first time
ever braiding my own hair... here we go!