Archive for June 14th, 2006
by Catherine
Here are 100 long hair tips! Some of them you have no doubt seen before on this web site or elsewhere and others are my own personal advice.
I hope you find them helpful and that they will make you enjoy your long hair (or that of your favorite lady) all the more.
I know you will all agree with my first tip:
1 Visit The Long Hair Site every week for inspiration and ideas.
The next group of tips is about washing and drying:
2 Try detangling dry hair before washing rather than after it’s wet.
3 Wash your hair in the shower. Leave it hanging down. Work the lather down the length (like milking a cow.) Never pile it up on your head while washing.
4 Concentrate conditioner on the ends.
5 Do a final rinse in cold water - refreshing in summer, worth the discomfort in winter.
6 Air dry whenever possible.
7 Get a special absorbent hair drying towel.
8 If you have to blow dry, do it for just a little while, air dry it some, and then blow dry a little more. Repeat till hair is dry.
9 If you have to blow dry, keep the diffuser on so your hair won’t get sucked into the dryer.
10 If you have to blow dry, wrap it in a towel for awhile before you begin.
11 Never, ever, brush your hair when it is wet.
12 de-tangle ends first. Then work your way up. Never try to rip through tangles from top to bottom.
13 Sit near a large electric fan (far enough away so your hair won’t get caught in it!) to speed up drying.
14 Buy trial sizes of new shampoos and conditioners - you may discover a new favorite.
15 Try rotating your shampoos/conditioners - your hair may respond well to a change in brands.
16 You may need different products for summer and winter. For example, my hair gets more dry and has more static in winter, so 2-in-1 shampoo conditioners only work well for me in summer.
17 Every scalp and its head of hair is different - so someone else’s best shampoo and conditioners may not be yours.
Here are some styling hints:
18 Braid wet hair to set waves.
19 A top knot is another good “style that sets” - you will have lots of volume when you take it down.
20 Buy a long haired Barbie doll to practice hair braiding, etc.
21 For an easy and different braid, divide hair in 3 sections as usual, make a braid out of each section and braid the 3 braided sections.
22 If your hair is straight and you want just a little curl, set it curlier than you want and comb it out before bed - it will relax during the night.
23 Learn to french braid - practice makes perfect.
24 Learn to Topsy Tail.
25 Look for non-alcohol hair sprays - less drying.
26 Use a leave-in conditioner before any heat styling (which you should avoid if possible.)
27 Use only wide-toothed combs or picks.
You’ve heard of tear-free shampoos? Here is advice on tear-free trimming.
28 Trim your own hair if you don’t have a hairdresser you can trust.
29 If you trim your own hair, put a leave-in conditioner or gel on ends before trimming to keep them in place.
30 Trim the ends of individual hairs that are split - and just a tiny bit at the bottom.
31 Frequent tiny trims are less traumatic than infrequent large trims.
32 If you can’t trim your own hair, maybe your boyfriend or husband can do it for you.
33 If you can’t trim your own hair, try asking another long haired lady to do it for you.
34 Never let someone who dislikes your hair trim it.
35 Don’t get more than a trim unless you are absolutely, totally sure you want it. If you have any doubt at all, then that proves you really want to keep your hair long.
There are a lot of good tools for styling out there.
36 Don’t wear “automatic” barrettes with sharp metal edges. You can paint the sharp parts with clear nail polish to make them dull. (Paint several coats - let each one dry before painting the next.)
37 Braid scarves or ribbons into your hair for interesting looks.
38 Chignon foundations are useful - you can make your own by rolling up nylon stockings into a donut shape.
39 Clean combs, picks and plastic brushes often with some dish shop and a soft toothbrush.
40 French twist combs work great - try them.
41 Get some chignon pins and hair sticks for top knots.
42 Perm for a Day curlers are great if you want a permed look - the package says it all - “Your Hair’s Too Pretty to Ruin”.
43 Use coated or snag free elastics only
44 Use sponge rollers; they are the gentlest.
45 Visit Claire’s Accessories shops or similar stores - they have loads of great hair accessories.
Frank has written on the web site that he tried to find books on long hair and couldn’t find any, but I own 12 different books, all listed below. (Note: several of the books have “Beautiful Braids” in their titles, but the books are different.) I have also listed videos in this section.
45 All New Beautiful Braids by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman
46 Beautiful Braids by Patricia Coen and Joe Maxwell
47 Beautiful Braids by by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman
48 Beautiful Braids by James Takos with Karin Strom
49 Braids and More by Andrea Jeffery
50 Braids and Styles for Long Hair Andrea Jeffery and Vickie Terner
51 More Beautiful Braids by Patricia Coen and James Wagenvoord
52 Twists and Braids Made Easy by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman
53 Great Braids by Thomas Hardy
54 Hair - a Book of Braiding and Styles by Anne Akers Johnson (comes with 3 scrunchies!)
55 Salonovations’ Braids & Updos Made Easy by Jamie Rines Jones
56 The Topsytail Book by Tomima Edmark
57 If you can’t find these books at your bookstore, try www.amazon.com on the Internet.
58 Video: Buy Jim Butchee video # 2 if your hair is (or will be) at least waist length
59 Video: Buy Jim Butchee video #1 if your hair is from shoulder to waist.
60 Video: Buy Jim Butchee video #3 if you like the videos above.
61 Video: Buy Jim Butchee video #4 when it comes out - I’m sure it will be good.
Sometimes very long hair needs to be protected from safety hazards. Let’s be careful out there!
62 Be careful when sitting in a folding chairs so that you don’t get your hair caught in them.
63 Be very careful around machinery and fire.
64 Pin up or braid your hair if you are around a baby who likes to pull hair!
65 Tuck your hair down the back of your clothes if you temporarily need to keep it out of the way.
66 Watch out for tangles if you are wearing a dress that buttons up the back - lift your hair away from the buttons frequently (or wear it up).
67 Wear your hair inside your coat if it is windy.
Here is some common sense advice for the health of your hair, and in some cases, the rest of you, too!
68 Don’t color - your hair will be healthier.
69 Don’t crash diet - it can cause hair loss.
70 Don’t perm - your hair will be healthier.
71 Don’t smoke - your hair will smell better.
72 Don’t smoke - your hair won’t get dull and discolored by the tobacco smoke.
73 Don’t smoke - you will reduce your risk of cancer (Chemo is not good for your hair!)
74 Don’t hang around smokers - see previous three tips.
Long hair is beautiful! Enjoy your own! Enjoy seeing it on other women!
75 Compliment other long-haired women on their hair. Take pride in it together.
76 Feel good about how much money you save by wearing long hair. Recommend it to your friends.
77 If someone compliments you on your hair, savor the compliment.
78 Remind yourself how few women like their own hair. We do like ours!
79 Watch “Dr. Quinn” reruns and savor the scenes where Sully brushes Michaela’s hair!
80 Write to fashion magazines and urge them to feature more long hair articles (where the hair is not “made over” to short hair!)
I am 41 years old and want to encourage”older” women like me to keep their hair long:
81 There is no age limit for wearing your hair long - and if you need convincing, consider the ladies listed below:
82 Crystal Gayle - born 1951
83 Jane Seymour - born 1951
84 Peggy Fleming - born 1948. Her hair isn’t extra long, but this lady isn’t afraid to let it flow as she approaches age 50!
85 Jane Fonda - born 1937 - her length fluctuates, but lately has been beautifully long. And she is 60 years of age!
86 Did you know that silent movie actress Louise Brooks, who was sort of the high priestess of the bob, had long flowing silver hair towards the end of her life? Even she eventually knew the truth about long hair!
Unfortunately, some people will dislike your hair and tell you so, directly or indirectly. Here are some tips about that:
87 If someone criticizes your hair, try to just ignore it.
88 If someone says “Your hair is so long” but you’re not sure if they are complimenting you or not, just tell them “Thank You.”
Answers to the stupid question, “Do you think you’ll ever cut your hair?”
89 A nice, simple, truthful answer: “Probably never.”
90 Say: “I don’t think I’d be wearing it this long if I wanted to cut it.”
91 Say nothing. Just look very confused that they’d ask this.
92 Say: “Why do you think I would want to do that?”
Answers to another stupid question, “How can you stand having such long hair?”
93 “It’s no trouble at all, actually.”
94 “It’s worth the trouble.”
Answers to someone who suggests, “You’d look so pretty if you cut your hair.”
96 “Actually, I think YOU would look prettier with LONG hair, but I have my taste and you have yours.”
97 Just stare at them as if they’ve lost their mind.
98 Say, “That’s funny, most people tell me how pretty I look BECAUSE my hair is long.”
Answer to a dumb remark someone else is apt to say to you if some other lady cuts her long hair, namely, “You’ll be next!”
99 “Don’t count on it.”
And my last tip, so we can keep enjoying the Long Hair Site for a long time to come:
100 Keep sending Frank your photos, interviews, tips, and feedback!
June 14th, 2006
When it comes to hair most of us want what we haven’t got - if it’s curly we crave sleek styles, if it’s straight we want some bounce.
Follow our guidelines and you can put in what nature left out.
Straight Hair Know How
Don’t get stressed by trying to curl very heavy straight hair.
There’s little you can do to stop the weight pulling down the curl in a very short time. If you’re determined it’s curls you want, you have to consider a perm.
For short to medium length hair, it’s best to add temporary curls with tongs. A hotbrush will also help add movement.
Try a volumising spray at the roots when you blowdry to avoid that ‘hanging’ look , or try a root perm that will add lift without adding curls.
If your hair is one length or blunt cut keep the hair regularly trimmed as split ends look more obvious on straight hair.
Condition only the ends of straight hair and mid length if long. Conditioner at the roots will simply make it look limp.
Curly Hair Know How
Naturally curly hair always looks curlier when left to dry naturally. Don’t blot excessively with the towel after shampooing - better to wrap the towel around your shoulders and allow to ‘drip’
For extra rootlift, tip head upside down, tousle crown gently with fingertips and spray with a product such as Wella High Hair Finishing spray for volume & control. Tip head upright and don’t disturb until dry.
As curly hair is often delicate, especially when wet, always use a good conditioner and taming serum.
If your hair is apt to grow ‘widthways’ have some layers cut into the top - roots will look fuller, sides slimmer. Hair will look altogether better proportioned.
Hairspray may hold curls for longer but remember it can be very drying so don’t overdo it.
June 14th, 2006
by Heidi W.,
Fundamentally, there are only 3 products, I believe, that anyone needs: shampoo, conditioner and oil.
There are only a few basic tools needed: a wide toothed comb, a regular toothed comb and a boar bristle brush.
People’s choices do vary as to what works for their hair, and only time and some experimentation will reveal exactly the right combination of products, tools will work for your hair type.
What matters most when requesting advise, for future reference, is type of hair (straight, curly, wavy, frizzy, and texture: thick, medium, fine extra fine) and hair care: products, how detangle, how wash, how one dries their hair.
Oiling is a fabulous way to keep the moisture content high all the way to the tips, and works best in combination with other details. It is the combination of the details that creates beautiful hair: excellent detangling, proper washing, good quality products in shampoo and conditioner choices, high quality detangling tools (no burrs, no seams on those combs), oiling and dusting, and wearing hair contained for the most part (updos, braids), and even at night sleeping on a smooth surface pillowcase such as a satin pillowcase—even braiding or bunning hair at night.
There are a variety of oil choices…the two main ones tend to be Jojoba Oil, and Coconut Oil. Most here do use Jojoba Oil, but I prefer Coconut Oil for my knee length, straight and quite fine hair. I like a heavier oil to provide a protective coating to my very fine hair (indeed, hold one single strand up and it’s nearly invisible in the light). HobaCare is a very high quality oil that is cold expeller pressed exactly once. When shopping for Jojoba Oil, look for an oil that is golden in color yet quite clear and rather see-through. There’s many that are muddier in their color and a tad murky looking to appear through with a duller golden hue. The Coconut Oil I choose is by Spectrum Naturals, pressed specifically for hair and skin use. It comes as a solid in a 5 oz. jar, and because it’s solid, is easy to figure out the right amount for your hair type and length. You can choose other oils such as Sweet Almond Oil. I know of one person who uses vegetable oil (she didn’t say which brand) achieving beautiful results; however, I have been advised that many such oils are pressed differently (two or more times) to withstand high heat (for frying and such) and thus, the acid content is higher. In days of yore (and likely still) other cultures have used olive oil; however, it tends to be rather heavy and is pressed differently for sustaining high temperatures (and not breaking down). Oils such as flax seed oil are not intended for hair use although they are not pressed to sustain high heat.
To oil the hair is quite easy. Take a small amount of oil, perhaps 2 drops, or if scraping a solid such as coconut oil, barely a fingernail full….and rub between the palms to warm and melt a bit. There should be a very sheer layer of oil on the palms as a result–barely discernable except for the shine or reflection in the light. Then apply the oil to pre-washed, already fully dry and detangled hair. Apply only from the earlobes on down. Do not apply to scalp hair to leave on for days as this will upset your pH balance of the acid mantle (the scalp skin). Set the palms on either side of the hair length on one side and simply downstroke through the hair. Then repeat on the other side. Those with thick hair or wavy/curly hair need to separate the hair more to get more at the deeper inward layers to get some oil there.
This oil is then left in as the leave-in conditioner and not removed until the next hair washing (which we recommend to attempt to do around twice a week at best). Remember, scalp hair needs to be washed; typically the length does not. The idea is to allow oils to build up that is produced naturally from the sebacious glands (on the scalp) and then distribute these oils, and probably applying some more oil to the length, to more evenly distribute the oil. To distribute the oil, this is where a Boar Bristle Brush (BBB) enters the picture.
A BBB is not intended as a detangling tool and it should not be used on wet hair. A BBB can cause damage if there’s a tangle or wet hair…and it also shouldn’t be used if the hair is not in overall good health, such as suffering from excess frizz, excess flyaway, a fair amount of damage still, damage from perm/coloring… However, a BBB can be used once the hair is stabilized in its basic strength and integrity to move the oils around. Unlike a detangling tool which is used bottom to top, the BBB is used, generally, top to bottom. If one encounters a tangle, switch back to a comb to work it out. I switch back and forth frequently. A BBB does not penetrate the thickness of one’s hair so it must be used topside and underside, separately, and this is where the 100 strokes likely derives from. A lot of strokes to work in that oil. A BBB does cause fullness of the hair but this is easily calmed by following with a downstroke of the palm.
If you’re preparing for a hair wash, it is then OK to put some oil on the scalp hair (although you probably won’t need it b/c the reason to wash the hair is there’s an excess of buildup of oil on the scalp). You can also oil length heavily on purpose prior to a hair wash.
When oiling to leave in, a small amount goes a long way! So be conservative. You can always add more, even a day or so later, you can add more as needed. But it’s easy to do too much: if the hair sections a bit or looks a tad greasy-ish, then you put in too much. Hair readily absorbs the oil. It does not rub off on clothing or linens. However, you may find you need to change your pillowcase a little more often nevertheless because of some very fine acne along the hairline (typical for some of us who go an extra day without a hair wash). With a little experimentation, you will find the right number of days to skip to build up oil and create a beautiful healthy shine and increase elasticity of the hair in due time.
In my opinion, there are no down sides to oiling: only benefits. Curly hair people will like it for the weight it imparts showing off the pattern of the curls; increases moisture content; provides a protective layer against damage such as splits and so forth; the weight helps the hair to move as one body (very appealing to the eye); frizz concerns are reduced; brittleness & dryness cease; and the hues of one hair color come forward resulting in a beautiful sheen that catches the light in interesting ways; and finally, the hair becomes supremely soft.
Oiling should be done consistently after each hair wash as a leave in conditioner. It is the consistency that matters most–not doing it once every so often.
There are those who like to put it in a spritzer bottle diluting it in water & applying after a fresh wash yet while the hair is still wet. This is fine if that works for you; however, do know, that the oil does not “capture” water to stay on the hair. Oil, especially Jojoba, is meant to mimic the natural oils produced by the sebacious glands. This oil is called “sebum” and has a waxy texture (you may note that when your hair oil builds up on the scalp that you can then remove what feels like a soft rolled bead…that is sebum.) This waxy medium is the protection for hair and the reason hair shines. Frequent washing removes this and also causes excess build up in a day or so. You can train yourself and your scalp to change its rate of production over the course of a month or so.
So, give it a whirl. Remember that you will have to do it around 2 times before you get the hang of it and find the right amount for you. A little really does go a long way. You can fan your hair out on a soft cotton sheet and oil that way if you like - I find this method gets to more of the individual strands then.
Applied oil is easily washed out in your next hair wash.
Oils can be found in aromatherapy stores, organic or whole food stores (beauty section), sometimes vitamin stores carry it, even high end grocery stores now have it. The oils we’re speaking of are not salad dressing or cooking oils: they are “carrier” oils–the kind that “essential” oils are diluted in. (Essential oils are scented oils such as rosemary, grapefruit, geranium rose and rose and these scented oils must be diluted in jojoba (or some other similar carrier oil) because if applied to the skin in full strength, a reaction can occur…including a blood stream issue for those who are more sensitive. Also those who are pregnant or sun sensitive should really read up on essential oil use to be able to protect themselves properly. Not all oils are hair friendly, either. But the ones I named above are OK for hair. Simplers offers a booklet/pamphlet if you purchase one of their oils to get a quick overview of the whole scoop with essential oils. You can also type into a search engine, “essential oils” online and find a plethora of information on the internet.)
You can mix one or two drops with your jojoba or coconut oil to scent your hair with. Do change the amount of jojoba (or whatever your choice) to accommodate this addition so as not to over-oil your hair in one sitting. (In a way, there’s no such thing as too much oil over the course of, say, a week, but in one sitting it can be too much.) Also, I notice that when I apply more to my palms for the next application (I do about 6 applications to get all of my hair length, 3 each side) that there’s a bit of buildup on my palms, so sometimes I have to pat my palms on a paper towel to remove excess so as not to apply too much oil to that section of hair.
Well, hope this helps you out, and Happy Oiling! And again, we hope to see more of you. Do let us know how your oiling goes!
June 14th, 2006
You may be experiencing what is known as the bad hair day. You’re not alone; most women say they have bad hair days several times a month.
It’s the euphemism for anytime something goes wrong, which is a
true tribute to just how much hair matters to most of us. National studies show that women feel more confident when their hair looks good; more than half the women surveyed say that if their hair doesn’t look right, it affects their mood for the rest of the day.
What can we do to improve our hair? The professionals agree that there is much that can be done to improve the look of your hair, but how much control we have over our hair is dependent on several factors. Heredity is a key element. We are all born with a set count of hair follicles, and unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to change that count. The diameter of each strand (texture), the amount of wave, and the hair color are predetermined as well. There are also specific changes that are genetically arranged - you produce more pigment as you get older. Pigment creation increases during adolescence and slows down during midlife. Hormonal changes can also alter hair, making it thicker, denser or curlier. Genetics isn’t the only thing that alters your hair- the environment can affect it too. Sunlight, weather, and minerals in water can add to your hair troubles.
Add to this the fact that most of us want to change what nature gave us. We attempt to make our hair into something it’s not: If our hair is super curly, we can’t wait to get it straight; if it’s straight, all we crave is curl. Never mind what type of hair we have, we all want most what we don’t have. We color, perm, relax, blow-dry, curl, brush, style, and spray our hair to try to get it the way we want it. Chemical treatments, constant heat styling, rough styling methods, and product buildup can take their toll on hair, making it dry and weak over time.
Hair care is usually annoying. When you comb your hair, you get stuck with knots. When you wash it, is doesn’t feel good. It looks unhealthy. Just “bad hair days”.
Take some time for your hair. Especially because it is long. Use some time during the weekend for your hair, and relax. Don’t believe that wonderful hair can be achieved by any product within a few hours. It usually takes a couple of weeks before you really can see a difference.
It is important that you take time for hair care - men will certainly adore your look when your hair is in best shape, and you will enjoy the wonderful tresses yourself!
The TLHS hair care section provides you with information on how to care for long hair. It will be helpful for you ladies out there (or for you gentlemen, if you have long haired partners) to obtain nice hair. The base for all this is however that you have the type of hair that is suitable for being long. Not every women can wear her hair very long - many women with short hair should wear their hair long, but there are also many women who should get a hair cut soon, as they are really not the type for long hair.
If you wish for long hair, or just like to try it, I suggest to do so. It is hard to say which hair is good to be worn long, many factors play together to let a lady with long hair appear most pleasant. If you treat your hair well, there is however a high chance that it will suit you. Be encouraged!
June 14th, 2006
Hello! Curly hair has special needs. The curlier the hair, the drier it tends to be.
For curly hair to grow long it needs the best hair care and hair products.
African Wonders Hair Products were developed to moisturize dry hair, repair damage and help black and curly hair grow long. Our products stop breakage, stop hair loss and make hair healthy, strong and beautiful
People from all ethnic groups have curly hair. African hair is the curliest. Black hair is also the driest and the most fragile. Most African Americans suffer hair damage and breakage from chemical treatments and heat styling.
African Wonders is a haircare treatment line developed specifically for curly and black hair with the finest botanical ingredients found throughout the world. The “wonder” formulas deep clean hair and scalps, moisturize dry hair, stop hair breakage, and provide hairstyle versatility. That means you can have hair that’s healthy, beautiful, and easy to style whether you wear it straight, curly, wavy or in an afro.
African Wonders is formulated with exceptional quality haircare ingredients that stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss, repair hair damage, and promote long hair and a healthy scalp. We offer everything from the basics, like shampoo, conditioner, and styling products, to specialized products, like our Braid and Afro Mist. We have a hair care solution for just about everyone.
In addition to our aromatherapy shampoo and protein rich conditioners, we have products developed to protect your hair from damage causing blow dryers, curling irons or hotcombs. Our hair styling lotions, sprays and gels keep braids moist, afros soft, frizzies tamed, dred locks and twists in place. Whether your hair is blow-dried, relaxed, color treated, permed, bleached, pressed, straightened or texturized, it can be healthy, shiny and easy to comb and style with African Wonders.
Our newest product is the Naturalaxer Kit-In-A-Jar® a gentle easy to use curl relaxer that loosens curls making curly and black hair manageable.
June 14th, 2006