Gaining and Retaining Length

The real trick to "growing" long hair is retaining the length of hair that is constantly growing.  Actually, hair grows about 1/2 inch per month.  So, "gaining" hair is not a problem, it is the retention of the hair that has grown where people usually lose their way.

You are probably asking yourself "How can I retain my hair growth?"  The overall answer is to just protect, and routinely maintain your ends.

Protect your ends by following these simple rules:

*Sleep with your hair in a satin/silk bonnet or scarf ever night (even daytime napping is included)

*Avoid wearing your hair in styles that get the ends caught in a purse strap or backpack strap, or wearing clothing material that yanks or breaks your hair

*Deep condition at least once a week if your hair is dry and brittle

*Avoid combing or brushing your hair while it is dry

*Limit heat styling- ie use more protective heatless styling
******Protective styling is keeping your ends tucked away to avoid breakage (buns, braids, wigs)
******Heatless styling means not using flat irons, blow dryers, curling irons, hot curlers, etc

Maintain your ends by:


*Following the rules listed above

*Getting your ends trimmed/or self trimming every 3-6 months

*Regularly inspect your ends and use barber scissors to clip splitting, broken, or raggedy ends

Summer Hair Tips

It's Summer time again!
Summer hair is fun, easy, carefree, and cutesie!

Here are Five Tips to Great Summer Tresses:

1. DRINK LOTS OF WATER- Water is not only necessary to keep your body functioning, and to help eliminate waste, but drinking enough water will help to keep your hair from becoming dry and lifeless.
2. AVOID HEAT STYLING- Heat styling (curling irons, flat irons, blow drying) on a regular basis can seriously damage your hair, but it is especially important to avoid excess heat during the summer.  Try cute braided styles like Nicole Richie's above.  Go to the "Cute Summer Hair" tab at the top of my home page for more ideas!
3. KEEP IT SIMPLE-  Summer Hair is all about being easy and cute.  Whether you're at the beach, a pool party, or even at work, make sure your hairstyle is simple and cute like your favorite sundress :-)
4. MIX IT UP- If you are going to keep your hair healthy, you should avoid putting your hair in the same restrictive styles every day.  Restrictive styles like braids are fine, but constantly braiding your hair in the same patterns, or wearing a pony tail in the same spot can cause unnecessary breakage.
5. TRIM IT- Nothing is more unattractive or unhealthy as ragged or splitting ends.  Keep your ends trimmed every 3-6 months (ask me how to trim your own ends...beauticians can get scissor happy!).  If you are due for a trim, then don't skip it.

Have a great Summer!

Recent Hair Photos

This is from, April 2012. I was 3 months post (meaning the last relaxer I had was three months before this photo)

April 2012

January 2012

June 2011, please excuse that I am big as a house here...I had my son the next day lol!

Below, you will see a few throwback pictures just to show that my hair has come a long way :-)

2001

2008

I officially started my hair journey in June 2010.  I was shoulder length back then, probably the picture above from 2008 is about the same length I was when I started my hair journey.  I have not taken a current photo recently, but I will soon.  My hair is now between BSL and MBL (bra strap and mid back length).  I will be posting a video on Youtube about my current regimen, and to show my current length soon.  Leave a comment if you have any questions!!