Fashion & Beauty
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Growing My Hair Out?? WWYD?

So, I grow my hair out for about 2-3 years and then I cut it off really short once it gets to a certain length and donate it to Locks of Love. I've done it since I was a teenager. But I really hate growing it out. I love how it looks in pictures and stuff but in person its blegh. Its long and thick and beautiful at first glace but when you look closely I have CRAZY bad split ends. The last time I grew it out I would go to have my split ends trimmed to keep it looking nice, but I almost always came home with 3-4 inches of hair cut off. Once I wanted a trim, my hair was nearly to the middle of my back and when I left the salon my hair just barely brushed the top of my shoulders. I know my split ends weren't that bad. Needless to say, it took forever to grow enough hair to donate. I had to just stop getting trims and deal with the split ends.

If I styled it and used creams to disguise the split ends it looked fine, but I am a wash and wear girl. I have a toddler and can't spend 20-45 minutes just on my hair. It gets thrown up in a topknot these days. If I spend more than 5 mins on it now its probably a special occasion lol. I rarely use heat on my hair (like maybe once a month) and I try to be gentle with it as much as possible. I try to do a moisturizing mask on it twice a month to keep it shiny and protect it from split ends. That helps some but when it gets past my bra area it starts to get frizzy and straw-like at the bottom. I usually try to grow it out almost to my waist before I have it cut. So like maybe 3-5 inches is usually ratty and full of split ends. I'm not even sure if Locks of Love can even use it if it looks like that! I almost wonder if its worth it if it can't be used... but I still send it in case they can use the healthy parts.

Have I just had a some bad experiences with salons? Should I keep growing out my hair? Is there anything more I can do to prevent split ends? I've tried literally everything I've come across online and things my friends have suggested and nothing helps after it gets past a certain length.
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Re: Growing My Hair Out?? WWYD?

  • First of all, Locks for Love can NOT use hair that is damaged, so you're not helping them by sending anything that's not in good shape. Second, your friends are right -- when your hair gets past a certain point, there's really no helping it. The best thing you can do is to get regular trims and probably get a serious cut if you're getting anywhere near waist length.
  • Do you get regular trims? Like every 6 weeks? When I had long hair I had to do that. It snips the dead ends without losing too much length, half an inch or so. Takes longer to grow it out, but the end result is much healthier if you get regular trims, not just trims when you notice split ends.

    Also, shampoo less and use a sulphate free shampoo. Those can strip hair of nutrients and cause it to dry out faster. And hair does not need to be washed every day. I have super oily hair and even I shampoo every other day, which actually helps keeps the oilyness down.
  • When growing your hair out you still need to get your hair trimmed every 8 weeks.  Make sure you specify to the stylist you only want the tips trimmed.  If you are a wash and go person, you still have to put a styling cream in it after washing.  If you use pony tail holders be careful what types because some of them will strip your hair when you are removing them.  Locks of Love cannot use damaged hair.

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