Let's Chat: Do You Understand Your Hair?

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I ask this because often times, our hair is in protective styles i.e. buns, wigs, weave, braids etc. day in and day out at an attempt to retain length and keep the hair healthy.

However, constant protective styling (without some freedom occasionally) can rob us of knowing our hair because we never truly give ourselves a chance to understand the characteristics of our hair.

Not knowing our hair = no connection to our hair = greater chance of a setback!

Look at it like this, if your hair is tucked away - all the time- how will you ever know when it's dry? when it needs protein? if it's moisturized enough? if a product truly works? how to manage it when it's down/straight? etc.

I believe that one should protective style throughout their hair journey, however, one should also learn to enjoy their hair as much as they can i.e. wearing it down occasionally, try different low manipulation styles, or straighten it ever so often etc. in order to learn how it behaves outside of the predictable "protective styling environment". Learning our hair in this manner could potentially lead to a greater understanding. Just a thought.

Remember, no one knows your hair better than you!

So, do you know your hair?

Let me know your thoughts...



Sunshyne

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18 comments

  1. I believe I know my hair well enough. Ok I regularly have my hair in a ponytail, although not often as my ends tend to take a battering. But I do occasionally let it down, as having it up constantly can damage the hair (well I find it does for me personally). So it's a matter of balance I believe.

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  2. What a great post, this is so true. I use to believe that if I occassionally wore my hair down I was 'damaging' it. but learning my hair has helped me wear favorable styles still without damaging my hair. I have learned how to style it without the use of harsh sprays and gels and without all of those pins that may cause breakage.

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  3. Boy I'm so happy you posted this. I was just looking at my hair feeling like I'm loosing my youth. Protective styling for the rest of my life? :( i was wondering what's the point of the hair journey and you don't get to enjoy your hair. This is encouragement thanks Sunshyne!

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  4. I wish I could say I understand my hair but I'm always asking myself is this too much protein or moisture. I've manage to make alot of progress and I just to let my hair hang to enjoy it without it breaking. What's a girl to do? :{

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  5. I'm a halfwig lover. I actually can't stand for my hair to be let down for more than a few hours. I just want to tuck my hair away until I reach my final goal! However, I still manage to enjoy my hair along the way because I occasionally wear it down when I want to. But hey, if I wake up one day and realize my hair has finally gotten to waist length, I wouldn't mind the challenge of getting to know it :D

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  6. I'm still trying to figure out my hair. I've been on my hj almost a year and i keep my hair pin up or in a ponytail which i know isnt good. Jus want to retain length. Always wondering whether or not i'm doing to little or too much too my hair. It gets a lil hard on this hj but i want give up

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  7. Good stuff! And so true! I love wearing my hair down and my glad I do. I figured out a lot of things about my hair. I have been through protein overload, dry ends, and thinning hair at the nape. Since then I've been doing great. I now know which moisturizers works for me daily and to only use light protein product once a week.

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  8. I wear half wigs, buns, and phony ponies as protective styles. I believe I know my hair very well. I like those protective styles because they aren't long term and I take my hair down nightly to care for it. I agree wearing PS all the time would be kinda boring and not fair to your hair. lol

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  9. Sigh...My hair...I am getting to know it actually. All I knew before was that I have naturally thin,short,soft hair that cannot grow. Now I am taking things one step at a time

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  10. I can't thank you enough for recommending Scurl no drip!!! Your hairregimen has also been very helpful, are you planning to update your hair regimen-page? xx

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  11. I believe I know my hair...... My hair does not really take well to curly low manipulation styles.... it does however love buns and straight styles..... My regimen has helped it somewhat to regain health and so I am enjoying it and its progress thus far.

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  12. great blog post. You're right, after taking such great care of our hair, I think we deserve a lil "treat" every now and then. let it out and let it flow. whats the point of growing long hair if you cant show it off every once in awhile.

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  13. I'm 16 and I am very serious about starting an effective hair regimen that will stimulate growth, but i know for a fact that i don't know anything about my hair . . . I NEED HELP; Can You Be My HAIR MENTOR ? ? ?

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  14. great post. yes, i've been on my hair journey for about 2 years now, and i think i am just now learning about the characteristics of my own hair.. i'm still sometimes unsure of what i am looking for.. but its called a journey for a reason.

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  15. Hi Thanks for making such an important point.

    Everyone has different types of hair and it’s important to understand your own hair and best hair care treatment for it. Some people ruin their hair by not listening to it. Some people seem to be so focused on getting the latest hair styles to care about damaging their hair. A good example of this is; someone who does hair straightening on dry damaged hair everyday just to have straight hair. Heat can seriously damage and dry out your hair. It’s recommended, that if you are one of these people, you should give your hair a rest from the heat. Using the appropriate hair treatment can help your hair. For example, if you have naturally oily hair, you should use a shampoo for oily hair.

    Thanks for your time.

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  16. I think I would have to say sometimes. I started my hair journey almost a year ago. And I have grown in leaps and bounds in terms of understanding healthy hair protocol. My hair has gron in that time although I am not sure exactly how much as I did not properly measure. But it is thicker and healthier today. I live abroad and when I went home my mother commented that it looked thicker (she used to always tell me to never wear it down cause it is too thin, now she tells me hey why not wear your haid down). The one problem is that I don't think I have found the proper moisture/protein balance. I have been so focused on moisture and it still frizzes sooo much, but I think I realise protein plays a roll in that. Am I right? So it is healthier it is growing but clearly I am still not getting things quite right cause it gets frizzy so easy. And trust me I have tried tons of moisturisers.....but I am a work in progress, we'll see how it goes.

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  17. I believe i do and that it is a journey.Recently my hair started to break a bit and instead of freaking out i tried to identify why and quickly found the answer: lack of moisture and i did a deep conditioning treatment and it has stopped! Before i embarked on my healthy hair journey i wouldn't have had a clue and would have just run to my stylist! I am so happy i can identify what my hair needs through all the info that is provided in the Hair Community via the net,books,videos etc.... I believe all those things have helped me to know my hair better including this site. :)

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  18. Like i no how to brad other pepol hair but i dont no how to brad my hair .

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