| DweaM's Long Hair Care Page |
| I have been growing out my dark-brown, fine, wavy hair since 1995. I began growing out a hair cut that was just above my shoulders. I never considered letting it grow past bra-strap length. So, for many years I would do the every 6-8 weeks trim thing. For the past 2 years or so, I have set my hair goals to growing my hair to look tailbone llenth. I know I will have to grow it several inches past that, more like just above my buttocks in order for it to appear to be tailbone length since I usually wear it with some soft curls at the ends. This gives it the appearance of being shorter than it really is. At the end of 2001, I discovered a wonderful place called Long Hair Lovers and have learned a great deal not only on how to care for my long hair, but to grow it to be healthy and not just to look pretty...too bad this site was taken over and has gone thru many detrimental transitions. Long Hair Lovers.com is now LIMITED ACCESS and they encourage you to join for a minimum $30 membership fee, however, most of the regulars moved to a newer site called the Long Hair Community, which is totally FREE. and for those Multicultural Gals, there is a FREE board as well called The Long Hair Forum. |
| Hair Care Routine |
| Let me begin by stating that in order to grow long healthy locks (the easy way), you will need a few essentials: - Boar's Bristle Brush The brush should be used twice a day to distribute the natural oils from your scalp to the ends of your hair although as your hair gets longer and more used to the brush, you can get away with once a day. Although, there are many different types of BBB's for every type of hair and some prefer the Mason Pearson line (being very exclusive and expensive), I found that the brush that I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT comes from Ricky's NYC . It is model #7038 (large wooden paddle brush with rubber cushion base - perfect for fine hair - not too stiff, not too soft!) I have stocked up on these in case of emergency...hey, you never know and they only cost $12.99/ea so you can't lose here! - Monoi Oil A miracle oil from Polynesian Tahiti, which moisturizes the hair, but does not weigh it down or make it greasy. Monoi can be applied as needed daily and on damp hair after washing your hair. Monoi Oil can be obtained from some health food stores or it can be ordered online. - Satin Night Cap or Satin Pillow Case I opted for the "granny cap" since the Satin Pillow Case was too slippery for my taste and I woke up with neck cramps. The cap fits snugly around your hairline and protects your hair from breakage and tangling while you sleep. I purchased my winter cap from Maverick Wear.com . I also have one for the warmer month's, which is half satin and half chiffon (a lot more breathable) from Sally's. To view what my hair looks like under the sleep cap during bedtime, click here. - Tape Measure You can monitor the growth of your hair and congratulate yourself when reaching your hair goals. Average growth is usually 1/2" per month. - Sharp Salon-Style Scissors For "dusting" (trimming) away those nasty damaged, split ends, which if left alone, can do not look very applealing down the length of your hair. - Vitamins and or Supplements A healthy diet and lots of water is very important when growing out your hair. What happens on the inside will affect the outside. I take a multi-vitamin, a calcium supplement and MSM, for joint problems and aids in the growth process by reducing shedding.. |
| Wet Hair Care and Washing |
| This is what works for me! I came across this routine after a long period of experimentation. You should always do what works for you and everyone's routine will be somewhat different. Never Brush Wet Hair. Always detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb before and after your shower. I wash my hair every 4-5 days, any more washes than that, and my hair will be extremely dry. I use a gallon of distilled water as a final rinse and a shower filter while showering since we live in an area with very hard chlorinated water. This filter is a high output model that lasts for approximately a year. It is sturdy, effective, reliable, reasonably priced and can be purchsed with / without the showerhead. I highly recommend this model. I tried staying away from silicone additives, which in time, can be damaging to hair due to build-up. However I have found that my hair really likes "cones" and the build-up can be washed away with a mild vinegar rinse. Wet-bunning after a wash and allowing the hair to dry this way has made a tremendous difference in my hair's overall health |
| My Favorite Products |
| To view pictures of my hair, and I have this scanned image to give you an idea of its color and texture: |
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| Measurement Log - 2002 |
| February March April May June July August September October November December 26" 26.5" 27.5" 28.5" 28.75" 29.5" 29" (GM Visit) 29.5" 30" 30.5" 30." (GM Visit) |
| Hair Type |
| 2a - b / f / iii (click above to go to my hair type page) |
| Measurement Log - 2003 |
| January Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov Dec. 30.5" 31" 31.5" 32" 32.5" 33" 33.5" 33.5" (GM Visit) |
| To download the Long Hair Community cards, follow this link |
