The way I do S&D

[birdiefu]

I figured out a way to do S&D today that didn't drive me crazy. I took pics if anyone would like to see. I know a lot of newbies have questions about this. I'm lazy, so cut/pasting from my journal

Not much going on with my hair today. I decided to try a S&D again after seeing some splits when I went outside in the sun. I think I figured out a method for me that works for finding those buggers! I've tried the twisting of the hair strand method but it doesn't work for me very well, the splits run away from me and my hair wants to twist in weird directions. When I finally find a split, when releasing one hand to get the scissors, the twist moves a bit and there goes my split. It just frustrates me!

When I try this other method, I curve the hair under then over my finger and the hair bits stick up for me to inspect. I can use a larger section of hair with this than the twist method since I can smooth more over my finger. I let my hair slide between my fingers of one hand from scalp towards tips, slowly checking the ends that poke out, while stabilizing the end of the strand of hair with my other hand. Once I see a split/knot/broken hair I must attend to, I just clamp down with my thumb to hold the strand in place, pick up my scissors and go at it! Much easier for me, and of course I included pics since I love to take them and I suck at describing things. And please ignore my henna-stained thumbnail



It's so much easier for me to closely examine the ends and if I need to, move the strand to a different angle without disrupting the hairs and them moving away. When I was S&Ding today, I did this in one direction, then reversed to do the 'back' side of the strand. I think I've saved my sanity with S&Ds. Thank god!!

[Kitty]

That's how I S&D too!

Kitty

[Carolyn]

I do sort of that method sometimes too. I say do whatever works best. The thing is to get rid of those little buggers.

[Marisol]

Thank you for sharing this, birdiefu! Will try it on my next S&D mission. The twisting method doesn't work for me either so I did a kind of "freestyle" S&D in the past. Your method seems to be more effective though.

[Sara]

I do it that way too. I find it helps me find any splits that are higher up.

[Alaytheia]

Ooh! I'm going to try that! It sounds like a less frustrating way of finding all those splits that I know are in there.

[spidermom]

Oh my! I'm still completely overwhelmed by the idea of S&D. Like I'm going to be able to look at 100,000+ hairs! My eyes cross and blur out on me after about 10 minutes of this. Every time I see someone post on this subject, my head hurts just thinking about it. Not that I never try it... when a particular area is tangling, I'll take a look and clip off any problems that I see. But still; look at 100,000+ hairs? not in this lifetime.

[spidermom]

What I'm questioning here is whether or not S&D plays a significant role in the health of our hair. I know I can catch and correct a few hairs, but at best it would still seem such a small percentage of the whole that I don't know if it's worth the eye strain.

[Sierra]

This is the method I use! About due for another round, come to think of it.

[Teacherbear]

I do that, too.

I also will slacken the hair (not hold it taut) and turn my hand a bit to look at the hair from a different view point. That helps.

Thanks for demonstrating this for us!

ETA: Some people find success doing S&Ds in bright light, others in dim light. I find splits (on the ends) easily when the room is dark, but a predominantly light/white screen is on the computer (keep clippings from keyboard). Some people find a light/white backdrop helps, others find a dark/black backrop helps.

The key, as usual, is finding what works for you (and then sharing it with US) LOL

[DreamingLong]

That's how I do it too! I love your hair soooo pretty!!!

[Gollan]

Originally Posted by spidermom

What I'm questioning here is whether or not S&D plays a significant role in the health of our hair. I know I can catch and correct a few hairs, but at best it would still seem such a small percentage of the whole that I don't know if it's worth the eye strain.

I find that an occasional S&D session dramatically reduces the tangles in my hair. This, in turn, reduces the amount of breakage I get when I comb my hair in the morning and thus contributes to my overall hair health. Another way S&D contributes to my hair health is the very fact that I can keep growing my hair without having to get trims. I only spend ten or twenty minutes at S&D every few weeks. I find it quite relaxing and therapeutic. I stop when I feel my eyes getting tired, not when I've found every last split!

BTW, I don't look at the end of each individual hair, I scan my hair for odd-looking ends. After a little practice they stand right out.

[Ursula]

Originally Posted by spidermom

Oh my! I'm still completely overwhelmed by the idea of S&D. Like I'm going to be able to look at 100,000+ hairs! My eyes cross and blur out on me after about 10 minutes of this. Every time I see someone post on this subject, my head hurts just thinking about it. Not that I never try it... when a particular area is tangling, I'll take a look and clip off any problems that I see. But still; look at 100,000+ hairs? not in this lifetime.

If 10 min is too much, you can always work in 5 min chunks. Or start and stop. For example, S&D while watching tv for an hour, going in little bits during the commercial breaks.

Don't even try to get every hair every time. After a while, you'll know where the splits concentrate. I know mine are in the ends and throughout the length of the canopy. So most of the time, I just inspect the ends and the canopy.

Doing a complete S&D on your own is impossible - you can't see the back or side of your head! So if you just focus on the parts that can be brought around into sight, you'll have a managable and reasonable task.

[Hue]

Originally Posted by Gollan

I find that an occasional S&D session dramatically reduces the tangles in my hair. This, in turn, reduces the amount of breakage I get when I comb my hair in the morning and thus contributes to my overall hair health. Another way S&D contributes to my hair health is the very fact that I can keep growing my hair without having to get trims. I only spend ten or twenty minutes at S&D every few weeks. I find it quite relaxing and therapeutic. I stop when I feel my eyes getting tired, not when I've found every last split!

BTW, I don't look at the end of each individual hair, I scan my hair for odd-looking ends. After a little practice they stand right out.

Exactly. (and birdiefu, I do it this way too, but I never would have thought to photograph myself and explain it so clearly! Thanks for this. It is an awesome thread, and I'm bookmarking it for newbies.)

For me, S&D is a scan. Most of what I see is healthy, but the ones that aren't stand out after getting practiced at it. Kind of like finding 4-leafed clovers. I find several of these a week, just scanning the ground where I walk or take a bike break. They stand out and "trip a red flag" -- the angle of the leaves is different, and for 5- and 6-leafed ones, often a few of the leaves are smaller than the others.

When I've caugth up on S&D, my hair falls more like Pantene hair. Easy to come through, doesn't snag as much on itself or other things, and much smoother updos. When I don't S&D, the last few inches get weirdly bushy. (Mind you, I like the volume , but it is so tangled, it isn't worth it for me. And it doesn't reflect light well like that, anyway.)

[miska]

Yup, I do S&D this way too, only I wrap the strand over middle finger and hold it in place with the neighboroughing fingers. I'm nowhere near a split-free state now but at least the splits that would be noticed be others are gone (I hope).
Any way, great idea to put it up with the pictures!
(Any time I read about S&D I'll grab scissors and start snipping. Almost like contagious yawning )