Help for Damaged Hair

How often do you cut your hair? The longer you go in between hair cuts, the worse your hair gets. (I know, I'm known to go longer then a year between cuts.) What happens, is your split ends cause havoc on your hair. They begin to break up the shaft of your hair, to the root. This is what all the frizzies are. Or, if you get your hair cut on a normal schedule...do you use elastic hair ties? They cause your hair follicles to break, which makes for very unhealthy hair.

I am like you. I don't color treat, use products, or appliances on my hair. The only way I could repair my hair, was the get a significant amount cut off, and cut the ends off every 4-6 weeks as it was growing. My hair is very healthy now.

If you don't cut your hair regularly - every six to eight weeks - it can get unruly.

There is a Redkin moisturizer (I think) you can use on your hair.

I know I used to use V05 - how's that for dating myself??? :) the tube - leave it in for a while and then wash it out.

Also check your diet. Your diet has a VERY HUGE impact on your hair as well as nail growth. Are you having problems with your nails as well? If you are - it's a diet thing and I would talk to my doctor about it. Don't let them blow you off either. Get blood tests done and get to the bottom of what you might be missing in your diet!!

Braid it loosely at night so it can't tangle as you sleep.
Try to avoid tying it at your neck.
Keeping it up during the day helps keep the damage down from sitting on it, getting caught in seat belts, blowing out the window when driving, etc.
A tight bun can break hair.
I have a collection of African Butterfly clips that keep my hair up.
They are easy to use, I can have my hair up in minutes, and they doesn't pull my hair tight.
I envy people who can grow hair quickly but most people can grow about 6 inches of hair a year (1/2 inch per month).
Some excellent sites for long hair care:
http://www.longhairloom.com
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com
This place has drop dead gorgeous hair sticks (I love to look, but I can't afford them):
http://www.longlocks.com/catalog.htm

My hair is straight, all 1 length and hangs to my bra. I'm of native American heritage, it's almost black. I do play with some color and low lights and it's in great shape. I never use a flatiron

Even though you grow your hair out, it still needs a routine trimming to keep all the bad ends off, etc. do you clip it up, wear ponytail, etc? That damages your hair as well.

In October, 2011, I did a Chi Enviro treatment and my hair is still super soft, shiny and I love it. I paid about $175 for the natural treatment and supplies.

I suggest a good trim, not huge, just enough to take care of the ends. I do not wash daily.. Usually every other day and I use a high conditioning mask on my hair weekly.

Maybe some vitamins would help as well. Biotin is supposed to be good for the hair.

Good luck.

My hair us very coarse and curly. I do everything to it, blow dry, flat iron, tie it up, etc. After the shower, I rub in coconut oil or jojoba oil. It's always super soft and shiny. Good luck!

Moroccan Oil (a brand that sells argan oil) is great stuff. You should put it in your hair before you comb it out after a shower, and then again after it is dry. It doesn't solve the problem completely but it helps a ton.

It sounds like your hair is damaged from wearing it up a lot. The frizzy strains curling up sound like they are broken. Try different styles that don't require pulling it up tightly.

I have been using argan oil in my hair and it seems to help calm down the fizziness, but I don't keep my hair that long anymore. When it was almost to my waist I had the same problem and I always wore it up for work.