Keeping Splits at Bay: Secrets of Gently Handling your Hair

[ravenlox]

teacherbear,
this info is just what I need for the long road ahead of me. My hair is only 15 inches, hey, thats already up an inch from last month.
Liana

[Carlie]

Wow, what an excellent article! So very informative! Thanks Teacherbear!

[UP Lisa]

Exclusively Di,

I am interested in your hair because it sounds like mine. My hair is also baby-fine. Is your hair thick? Mine is only a medium thickness and straight.

It's amazing that your hair has not been cut in any way for so long. I wonder how long mine would be if I had not been cutting it every too months all these years. I am 44. My hair is shoulder-length right now.

My scalp is also very oily, and I'm just starting to try the CO method.

[Elettaria]

Great article, and I've changed some of the ways in which I was offending (basically, no longer wringing it out, and switching to a microfibre towel and never rubbing), but I have had to go back to my usual washing routine. First of all I tried CWC, then I just tried shampooing the scalp only with the length down my back, then I tried shampooing all of my hair with the length down my back, and I am fed up with having greasy hair for the last few weeks. My hair will just have to survive being washed on top of my head as usual.

I'm curious as to how much damage can be done with updos. If it damages the hair to wring it out when it's wet, does it damage it at all to twist it in the same way when it's dry?

[heidi w.]

Generally speaking, updos are a key component of maintaining healthy hair that receives minimal damage from the elements or getting caught, or simply requires multiple detanglings throughout the day from being left loose and rubbing. Healthy hair tends to more easily grow to longer lengths as well.

Most of us with unusually long hair do subscribe to some system of always organizing our hair to at least keep it out of our way as we go about our daily tasks. Many even keep hair in an organized manner while sleeping.

There's only 2 concerns when wearing updos:

1) Are implements used to keeping hair in an updo or tied format damaging to hair?

Examples would be some barrette styles that easily catch hair in its springs or twisted wiring, claw clips where the tips are too sharp which can scrape hair in an unfriendly way as well as agitate the scalp skin, tie offs that are too tight and always placed in the same locale which, over time, creates a line of demarcation. Even bobby pins or any style of hair pins, if the protective bubble tip or coating is compromised, can cause damage to hair, particularly when removing these pins. Some hair sticks or combs can be unfriendly not only because of teeth being too sharp or the stick not be well lacquered (or the lacquer could eventually peel from wear) and lacking slightly rounded tips but also the faux gems (or real, if you can afford it!) catch hairs in an unpleasant way.

(Note, do not place a hair stick or hair pins in the same locale. Vary the location of an updo from day to day so that pinning or the mechanism for holding the style is changed. In this way, the scalp skin is not constantly being pressed by the objects, no matter how friendly, in the same location. In extreme cases of this, for example, hair sticks placed in the same locale over years can cause small patches of hair thinning.)

Instead, use barrettes that are more friendly; there are several manufacturers that make friendly snap systems. Seek hair sticks that are smooth and well lacquered with a good taper yet rounded tip so it doesn't rip through hair when placed in the hair (I don't like some chopstick choices since the ends are rather square and bulky and don't slide into the hair easily). Toss bobby or hair pins that have any compromise to the protective coating and tips so they won't pull or snag hair when pushed in or drawn out of the hair. Scrunchy fabrics should be chosen for smoothness as well as the elasticity should not be too tight; move the tie off point regularly.

2) Is hair pulled back too tightly from the forehead hairline or anywhere on the scalp?

Examples would be braiding a braid rather tightly (the length) as well as drawing the hair back into the ponytail form too tightly (in prep for braiding or updo)--in other words, no looseness of the hair when drawn back to place hair in an organized format.

The idea is to always have a little bit of looseness of the hair all over the scalp so that an updo is comfortable yet endures for the day. Pressing the palms to the temples (or side) and top of the skull, and firmly pressing inward and forward can loosen hair's tension just enough to impart comfort once the hair is in the updo.

Also, positioning an updo in a comfortable locale for the overall weight of your hair (which changes dramatically as hair grows longer) can matter since gravity has a subtle effect throughout a day. Often, placing hair hair and more on top of the scalp can help or dividing hair and creating 2 buns to distribute weight can make a difference to hair tension. Hair tension, if left unattended throughout a day, can cause a small headache since the capillaries are aggravated from the pull on the skin of the scalp.

One of the key components of growing longer hair that is healthy and beautiful is avoiding excessive hair loss. Generally speaking, wearing hair loose at all times does cause a rise in hair loss from sliding on the back all day, especially against unfriendly fabrics; the back of the neck hair or mid back can tangle mercilessly particularly for fine hair types just from the body's movements; the wind can be the devil itself whipping hair about; the car offers many opportunities for hair to be caught in seatbelts, kid's hands, windows..... Also, not needing to fuss overly with the hair during the day is important: excessive need for detangling increases the opportunity for lost hairs.

Learning a variety of updos, learning variations on just a few updos can provide plenty of styles to choose from so you too can avoid the ho-hum. Purchasing decorations for your hair, be it sticks, butterfly clips, making your own such as hot glue-ing faux flowers to bobby pins, headbands, satin ribbons for braiding hair at night, can help you to feel inspired and creative on a daily basis while allowing your hair to be in optimum health to enjoy loose on those more special occasions.

Overall, updos themselves cause no damage; indeed, they offer the opposite: A way of organizing hair such that all hair length is in an aligned format (smooth) so it does not have an opportunity to incur damage that needs to be dusted out. Updos also offer the benefit of the oldest hair being tucked under the rest of an updo; this older hair is most delicate and more fragile--keeping more of it healthy will help to increase horizontal volume, as well. An updo when taken down properly (in reverse order it was placed up) is a breeze to detangle, especially when braiding or otherwise organizing hair for the night.

My opinion is that hair should not require detangling any more than twice a day: in the morning for an updo and in the evening for sleep. The morning will likely have the most amount of hair loss, and the evening, when taken down from an updo, should have virtually no hair loss at all.

Never forget that hair is like a delicate fabric; delicate fabrics are placed in the wash cycle for minimal stirring. Hair is like this: fuss with it as little as possible and you will love your hair's beauty in short order. Detangling nasty snarls is not fun, so make long hair life easy with updos! Nasty snarls also cause pulled out hair straight from the scalp, even, which in turn can sometimes affect the health of the scalp.

Caring for the skin of the scalp is a huge part of creating healthy hair because although hair itself is a dead fiber that we can mostly treat externally, the roots and follicles are very much alive and even breathing.

Hope this helps answer your concerns.

[UP Lisa]

Heidi. Thank you so much. You are the same age and hair type as me. My hair is only shoulder length right now, but that's longer than it's been in years.

You give me hope and inspiration!

Lisa

[heidi w.]

Thank you, UP Lisa! That's a nice thing to read first thing in the morning!!

[MemSahib]

Heidi, my hair is the same type as yours, too, and I am so impressed with your hair. For a couple of days there your siggy pic wasn't coming up and I missed it so much. I keep looking at your gorgeous hair and knowing I'll never look like that because my grey isn't going to cooperate, but it's nice to dream anyway. Thank you for your consistently careful, considered advice. I've learned to hunt out your contributions because they are uniformly excellent.

I should also give a big thank you to Tbear who started this good thread with her terrific article. You ladies are such an inspiration to those of us who are not as far along on our long hair journey. Maybe next time there is a TX meet, I'll get to see you again, Tbear!

[squintz22]

Heidi - thanks so much! I have the same hair type - and it used to be long! But now it's short and just seeing that picture of your hair and reading about it gives me some hope!!

[UP Lisa]

You are very welcome, Heidi!

[aragornsrose]

thank you thank you! this has become a problem since my hair got waist-length. I never had trouble before with that or tangles--now they are both daily trials. :-P

[sevedra]

These posts are so helpful! I am not very far along in my journey toward long hair. I had no idea before today that there was a place to go to learn how to help my hair reach it's potential. I want to live in this community. I love this place!

[Wavelength]

Fantastic tips in here... thanks so much everyone!

[Jessica Trapp]

Thanks for all the tips. I love these boards.
jes

[fade~to~black]

after reading this thread its making me think of how i treat my hair but i cant seem to prise myself away from my hairdryer or straightners, during the week i only use my hairdryer but can anyone give me any tips for towel drying as i like to wrap it up and leave it for half an hour to an hour and i know its damaging!