Hair Help!
 

Help! I'm so sick of my HAIR! Okay, it's long all-over (about half-way down my back and no bangs), straight, and VERY *thin*. It gets on my nerves. I've always wanted to grow my hair very very long, like down to my waist, but I never was able to keep from getting a cute, shorted, layered cut about once every two years or so. I don't know what to do with my hair...I'm caught between having it look a little thicker by cutting it to maybe shoulder-length, and having it look thin still, yet long and flowing. What should I do?!?

I am very scissor-phobic when it comes to my hair, but I'm tired of it being thin. It's getting to the point now where it takes a few hours for my hair to dry (I don't like to use hair-dryers cuz they split ur ends), and it gets tangled easily, so I end-up wearing it pulled back in a tight ponytail most days. I think it makes me look like a little kid, too, but I'll be so pissed at myself if I get it cut! GRR! The AGONY!

LOL...yeah I'm a little crazy worrying so much about my hair...WHAT TO DO??? ANY SUGGESTIONS??????

tight ponytails will cause your hair to break and fall out
they are bad, they are the devil
wear your hair in lose ponytails or pinned/tied up cute

don't shoot me, but long thin hair does not look good on anyone i know. there's not enough hair there. long hair is not for everyone - even though we all want it :(

if i were you i would cut your hair a little shorter, add some long layers to it to give it some texture and definition

my blow dryer is one of my best friends (kidding) and if you know how to use it on your hair (ie: don't use it until your hair has mostly air dried and is just damp, use low settings, point the blow dryer down on your hair, not up towards your ends) then you can minimize any damage and get fabulous, FULL looking hair. if your hair is thin, a good shampoo, like matrix amplify and some mouse could do wonders for you.

you might want long hair - but what style will really look best on you? your hair should brighten and accent your face - go to a stylist that can do just that!

My dryer has a cool setting, I've haven't had any problems with split ends, I dont' know if there is a connection.

Go to a good stylist. He/she can cut your hair to give it some body and keep some of the length, IF you absolutely insist on it being long.

But I'd really listen to what your stylist (assuming they are good)says, mine kept me from cutting my hair too short, she said it would look better a little longer (than I had originally planned) based on the shape of my face. Oh, and don't let anyone cut your hair who tries to wash it before they talk to you about what you are going to do. I had someone try to do that to me, they can't tell much about what your hair really looks like if it is wet.

Whatever you do, remember this:

Bangs are silly.

Hey, hey, I have bangs and they totally suit me :)

i agree.. there are only certain face types and hair styles that can have bangs.... ask your stylist, and know how to style them please!

I have the sort of universal oval-shaped face, which, according to most magazines and books I've read, looks good with any hairstyle. However, I have small features (small nose, eyes, and ears---even tiny thin eyebrows) that make me look like I'm only 14 without any makeup on. So I definitely at least pass for my age, if not older, when my hair is a bit shorter and layered. In the past, I had my hair cut like Sarah Michelle Gellar did when she had it short in a sort of layered bob, and that looked cute on me.

Don't worry---I KNOW that *I* look AWFUL with bangs! I had my bangs cut once in 7th grade and it was awful!!! Plus it makes your forhead more greazy LOL! I know some people can pass it off, though. Bangs make me look even younger than I already do.

The main problem, however, with me getting my hair cut in layers as it has been in the past, is that my hair is VERY VERY straight, and it's VERY VERY difficult to make it curl under, so it ends up looking funky when I don't have enough time to curl it under while it's drying. Any suggestions about this??? I've tried SO many different gels, sprays, etc, but my hair just won't stay curled for like more than an hour!!!


Oh, well I'll probably go for a cut within the next week if I have time. All I needed was some encouragement, I suppose. Thanks everyone! :)

Since you want it really long, have you ever considered extensions?

I've thought about it, but it doesn't seem worth it to me unless it was for a formal or something. Besides, since extensions attach to your real hair, I doubt if it would help my hair to look any thicker. Thanks for the idea, though. :)

Oh how I wish I had your hair. Curly hair sux! can't do crap with it. Same old haircut year after year of course last time I got a few layers-MISTAKE. Want to trade hair? Mine is really thick too!

My daughter has very long hair. When I was in college I too had very long hair. MOST guys love it and if YOU love it too, keep it.
Body building shampoos always made mine look really bad.
Flip your head over blow ALMOST dry. In a hurry- hot roll keeping your head upside down, start rolling from the nape of your neck.
The roll should be toward the crown of your head in a flip rotation.
Roll like this all the way. When you get to the crown, roll the normal direction. Sides-pull them up so the curler sits near the crown. It is helpful if you use a touch of hair spray on each curl-or something similar. Once it's all rolled, spray again. A little more time add this step- If you use a shower cap, it will kind of steam heat the curl. Leave it on for a while. When you see some condensation, take off the cap and let curlers completely cool. Brush it out upside down and do a little tease. Flip back and gently smooth. Over night, use sponge rollers (easy to sleep on, but look hideous!)in the same manner...I SWEAR your curl-almost too much-will last. It's important that your hair be very-VERY near dry or you will wake up with damp spots. You can also just roll the ends, but this takes practice so you don't get roller marks.

JustaMom---I thank you for your ideas, but I only wish I had time to do any of that. :) As it is now, I just wash my hair and comb it dry with a pick. Sometimes I just stick it up in a bun or ponytail when it's wet cuz I really don't have the energy to mess with it before my 8-o'clock classes. :( I really just want my hair to be sort of wash-and-go now, but I definitely want to keep it at least medium-length. I don't know what to do...I guess I'll debate it for a while. :) I have a good hairstylist that I've gone to before. She cut my hair really cutely a few times, but that salon is more than I can afford right now. Besides, she's in my hometown, and that's an hour away from campus.

I don't even have the energy to shower before 8-o-clock classes! Oh, wait, maybe that is why I don't have any before 1.

ZLB, I think you should get it cut. I have thick but very fine, straight hair, and I've been trying to grow it long forever. I finally had it just about to my shoulders, but ended up getting a couple inches cut off because it just didn't look good, even though I spend a lot of time on it. Finally, I asked my stylist who confirmed my fears -- some people are just not meant to have long hair, and I am one of them. Next time, I'm going to go even shorter!

In theory, layers might be a good idea, but I find that my hair just goes flat no matter what, and layers kind of look dumb that way. Here's my suggestion -- a chin length (or at least above the shoulders) bob, all one length, no bangs, parted on the side. If you don't have time to do your hair and always end up with a ponytail, I think you'd be much better off to cut it and actually wear it down, since it will take much less time. It would look great and classy!

DeltaBetaBaby:

I don't even have the energy to shower before 8-o-clock classes! Oh, wait, maybe that is why I don't have any before 1.


Yeah, well I learned my lesson for my first semester of college. I'm taking classes starting at 10:30 and 11:00 next semester. I can handle those, even if I stay up late the nights before sometimes. But 8-o'clock is a MAJOR no-no for me anymore. :)

valkyrie: Yeah, I mean, sometimes, when I take forEVER fixing my hair, it looks REALLY cute---especially when I actually have time to curl it, but then it falls out quickly. It's already layered, but it looks retarded kinda because I've been growing out the layers for almost TWO YEARS---since December of 1999 (I mean, I still got trims once in a while though). It was just an inch above my shoulders, and now it is at least ten inches *below* my shoulders.
As far as the bob goes...are u sure it would look alright not layered? I really will have a major panic attack if I get too much chopped off at once. I'm thinking I will get it to my shoulders or right below, and then in a few months get it a little above my shoulders. I hope it will help me to look older LOL. Mind you, I'm 5'8", and still people think I'm like only fourteen because I have a baby-face (it kinda runs in the family). LOL! I guess I'll be glad when I'm older though---my mom is 57 years old and she doesn't look a day over 40! (she has barely ANY gray hair or anything like that!)

You know, I think you're right about cutting it off gradually -- if you get it cut to about shoulder length, that shouldn't be too much of a shock, and if you like it, you'll probably be excited to cut it even shorter the next time. :)

Here's why I think no layers can be good -- layered hair, IMHO, tends to look best when it has some body. When I got layers in my hair last time, it looked so awesome when the stylist did it, but when I did it myself, it would look great at first, but by the time I got to work, it was flat and looked stupid. (Isn't that always the case though? I wish I could have my stylist come over every morning! Or, I wish I had long, thick, curly hair!) With it all one length, if your hair is flat and doesn't have tons of body, it still looks sleek and good, and you don't have to fight with it. At least that's my thought. No matter what I ever try with my hair, I always end up going back to all one length, above the shoulders, and that always looks the best. Since it sounds like your hair is about as cooperative as mine, that might work for you, too.

I think shorter hair probably would make you look older, too. Of course, you can always ask your stylist, because they tend to know best.
:)

Don't you just hate it when you walk out of the stylist and it looks fantastic yet when you do it yourself...disaster. It takes me almost 2 weeks to get my own thing going. I agree with the shoulder length if long just doesn't work. You still have the illusion of length, but the weight of the hair won't flatten it (as much). One thing that DOES add body is color. Have you considered having your hair painted?

oh dear...
:D

pardon me while I smirk...have I CONSIDERED dyeing my hair? LOL...I have been dying my hair for FOREVER. :)

My hair was strawberry blonde when I was little, then it turned red, then it eventually became medium brown color. Well I don't think my now naturally brown hair looks very good with my enormous amount of freckles and fair skin. I really think red looks better, and it brings out the green of my eyes.

Let's just say I have experimented quite a bit of color. Once I even BLEACHED my hair :eek:! It looked HORRID and YELLOW-ORANGE!!! I will NEVER do that again LOL. I have mostly always dyed it some shade of red, however. Right now it is medium red with golden highlights. I really like the color, but it still doesn't add much depth to my horribly thin hair. It's funny though---I have a LOT of hair, but the individual follicals are still very fine, so it's just long, and straight as a toothpick and BLAH. If only this were the 60s---I'd fit in perfectly! :D

My hair has been EVERY COLOR on the chart!
When I lived in the soro house, I decided to streak my hair. I pulled chunks through the cap and brushed the peroxide on the strands. I set the timer and sat down to watch a movie. After a while I thought -gee, I've been sitting for a long time-went to the kitchen and saw it had been almost an HOUR when it should have been like 20 min. Our house mom turned off the timer because she thought someone had just forgotten about it. MY HAIR!!! It looked like one of those marbled cakes and the texture and the hair itself was FRIED!!! The next day I went to a really good ($$$) salon and they tried to salvage it. He kept picking at the strands and said "Vat did you do to ziz har?" I told him a soro sister did it! LOL

My hair is thick but stick-straight. When I was in college, it was long, about 3/4 of the way down my back. I would wash it before I went to sleep, put gel in it, let it airdry for a half hour or so and then put it in two french braids.. When I woke up, I took out the braids, flipped my head over and my hair had a little bit of wave and lots of body. Don't braid too tightly though, or you'll look like a crimped 70's refugee.

JustaMom - Do you remember when Sun-In first came out? I remember trying it in 7th grade behind my mom's back thinking I'd end up looking like a California blonde. It just made my dark hair look like it was rusted! But I wasn't the only Sun-In victim in my school so I didn't feel too bad!

I can remember when Summer Blonde came out during the height of the California/surfer craze. Many, many people who wanted to have surfer-blonde hair had pumpkin-orange hair and their parents made them leave it that way to teach them a lesson. One's a judge in Houston now, ROTFL!;)

I HATE myself! *GRR* :mad:

Sweetie, why???!

grr because I'm ugly! We have a crush party in a couple of weeks, and I don't know who to invite. The only guys I know are either taken, or if they're cute, they're complete jerks, cuz they'd think I'm ugly anyway. I know everyone says that it's all about confidence, but I don't have confidence, and how can I be confident when I honestly don't like myself?!?!

The key to being cute is THINKING you're cute. Stand up straight, smile, and just know that you kick ass :)

Have you tried a metal-barrel round brush? I use one to blowdry my hair and it makes it curl under really nicely, and makes it really full. It basically works like a big curler, but quicker.

Maybe you could try showering before bed? If you style your hair well enough at night, it shouldn't look too bad when you brush it in the morning

I can't think I'm cute...I just can't. I feel awkward when I stand up straight, and I feel fake when I smile all the time. As far as the hairbrush goes---yes I've tried that...I have at least 10 different hair brushes of all shapes and sizes. Also, take showers at night sometimes, morning other times, and afternoon sometimes. It just depends on what I have to do that day.

Oh Bunny, I'm sorry you're feeling bad! You know, those guys aren't jerks to you because they think you're ugly; they're jerks just because they're jerks. Forget about them! There are cute, nicer guys out there (believe me, they do exist but it takes some work to find them).

I can't imagine why you wouldn't like yourself! I can tell just from your postings here that you are fun, enthusiastic and an all around great person. As far as feeling ugly goes, we ALL have those times where we feel ugly -- everyone does. The trick is just to do the best you can to present yourself well. And even if you don't believe you're cute, if you ACT like you do, it works wonders.

If you're too stressed out about the crush party, just invite a friend or someone with whom you'd like to be friends, so there's less pressure.

Are you going to get your hair cut soon? Going to the salon always makes me feel better.

Yeah I'll get my hair cut when I have time (probably not until Thanksgiving break). I know I'm outgoing on here, but in person I'm shy until you get to know me really well. It seems to me like people never want to listen to what I have to say in person. I used to be a loud-mouth little girl, but I got in trouble in Elementary school way too often, so I stopped talking so much. If only I could be myself around people. The only person who knows the real me is my mother. We act stupid and crazy together, she's my best friend, but I'm afraid if I acted goofy around anyone else they'd think I'm weird (but I AM weird---I'm an AQUARIUS! LOL).

Girl, you sound a lot like me. I'm am very shy in person. It got me stereotyped as a snotty b*tch in high school and with some people in college. I am still a shy person around new people, but I've gotten a little better each year in college. I also had the most outgoing boyfriend (now husband) all through college. He was always the conversation starter and then I could just jump in when I felt comfortable. As a result, the majority of my friends are his guy friends from college. They had to take me in or else learn how to ignore me very well :D . I didn't join my sorority until my b/f graduated and I didn't fit in there immediately like I thought I would. I was hoping for instant friends since my safety net was gone. It turned out, I made my best friends in my sorority once I started opening up and acting silly like I do once I'm comfortable. I guess my point is that I have learned that holding back got me nowhere and that once I realized that and started acting the way I did at home, I made more friends. I think this is just something that you will have to learn in time. Many people tried to tell me what I'm trying to tell you, but I wouldn't listen. I hope things get better for you and that you can come out of your shell quicker than I did. I know it's tough, but I also know that once you do it, people will love your true personality and it will win you tons of friends. Good Luck and keep your chin up. ;) :D :cool:

~Mindy~

ZLB-
Sweetie, don't we all have days when we think we look like run over ass?? I know that some days I look in the mirror and wonder why on earth my Hunny loves me..and why on earth he says I'm beautiful. But you know what I do-it's going to sound chessy, but don't laugh-I leave myself little random notes that say, Don't forget you are so beautiful. I'll just write them here and there, and then forget about them. Always makes me feel nice. My friend laughed at me when I told her-but who cares, I like the boost of self-confidence it gives me. :p

Anyhoo-I'm not going to give you hair advice. I have a daily struggle about whether or not to cut my hair. I want it long, but always cut it short. But then I want it long again!! :rolleyes: Plus, when I get stressed, the first place I head to is the salon...maybe I should work on that being the gym....but anyhoo, chopping off my hair is stress relif, but just insures that I'll never have long hair-sob! :p

Thanks everyone :) Yeah, I mean...it sucks, most of the time I just think I look DISGUSTING, but every once in a while I smile at myself and then start crying thinking, "why do you hate yourself so much, you know you're beautiful!" LOL but I just wish I had more days like that. :D I guess it's the little devil on my shoulder telling me that I'm ugly :mad:, and the angel just forgets to show up a lot :confused:. Hmm...or maybe that's my mother talking in my head :D I guess I just feel so worn out lately that I haven't made much time to dress up or wear makeup (especially at my 8-o'clock classes), and so I just don't give a crap about how I look sometimes...but that's awful. I dunno...I'm crazy. :D I know I really can't be too ugly if I was chosen to be a model through a search thingy and had a portfolio of pictures taken. It's so nice when people do your makeup and hair for you...but it's rare (like prom, formals, and pictures I guess).

Hey, you posted your picture on that other thread right? I think you're perfectly adorable. Also, I think something important to remember is that sometimes a big part of looks is presentation. Seriously, we've all seen those girls who aren't genetically perfect with flawless features but their hair is cut, styled and colored perfectly, make-up applied artfully, dressed stylishly. Then there are those girls who look like they really have something but aren't doing much with it. The main thing that first group of girls manage to do is carry themselves with such confidence and poise that you can't help but notice them. Pretty much everyone is telling you the same thing but it's so true... It's all about how you carry yourself!!

:confused: I don't remember posting a picture on here anywhere. Oh, well...
Last night I tried that thing that Killarney Rose said---I braided my hair loosely upisde-down and went to bed like that. This morning I took my hair out of the braids and it was cute and wavy. Then I wore a skirt , nice top, cute shoes, and my pledge pin. I think I impressed one of my guy friends who's in my history class LOL. He's okay looking, but not really. He's a sweetheart though, and he's like extremely shy, so even if he did like me as more than a friend he wouldn't show it probably.

Whatever you do, never ever put your hair in a bun or ponytail when it's wet. It stresses and breaks your hair!

Next, be sure you don't over condition your hair, which will actually take away body. Switch to the purest shampoo and conditioner you can afford, the less crap (pardon the language) in your haircare products, the less things to weigh your hair down. At the very least, use Neutrogena shampoo and conditioner at least one week each month to remove residue. Also look into the gels and other styling aids you use. As I've gotten older, I've realized that if you have a good haircut you don't need all those mousses, gels, sprays, etc. the way you used to.

Lastly, analyze your diet which does have an affect on your hair growth. Make sure you drink plenty of water and stay away from fried foods and, although I'm going to sound like a mom, eat your veggies! Hair is dead cell matter, but the higher quality cells make higher quality hair! There was an article in Vegetarian Times a few months ago that talked about the importance of diet on your hair and skin appearance.

I have been a vegetarian for 3 years + 6mo. :D I also take vitamin supplements daily to assure that I get enough protein.

What vitamins do you take daily that have protein? Are they some sort of soy supplement? Also make sure you are getting the right combination of iron, since you don't eat meat you're not getting heme iron, which is the most absorbable kind.

We are evolving veggies - we try to limit meat consumption to only once or twice each week and eat no red meat, pork or shellfish.

I just stopped eating meat all at once when I was 15. I don't eat beef, pork, poultry, or seafood (I've always hated seafood anyway). I do eat eggs on a biscuit about four times a year, if even that, and I drink milk in cereal only. I eat cheese, but I know I shouldn't cuz it's so fattening. Don't worry, I get all of my vitamins.

My mom's a health freak, so she makes me take these multi vitamins that have every single vitamin I could need in the exact amount I need for every day. They're made specifically for young adult females, too, so you know I'm getting exactly what I need. I also take, in addition to the multi-vitamins, Echinacia, extra Vitamin C, and extra Calcium and Magnesium. :D

Oops! :o Think I had you confused with someone on the What do you look like thread - someone with really long hair. Anyway, just saw your Bid Day pictures. No idea which one is you but it's a really cute group. :)

Hey girlies---check out this AWESOME website:

IT'S FREE!!! Click on Makeover-O-Matic (to the right of the page) when you get there! If you have a pic on your computer, you can give yourself different hairdos, hair color, eye color, eyeshadow, lipstick, blush, eyeliner, lipliner, and you can even accessorize with hats, glasses, and sunglasses!!! This is seriously every sorority girl's (or any girl's) dream!!! I put the long flipped-out hairdo on my face and it looked really cute. I have had makeover software that had cost me like $30 before, but this is by far the BEST virtual makeover thing I've ever done! I'm so excited, you guys! Let me know how your pics turn out. You can even give makeovers to models on there. :D Boys---go here if you want a good laugh to see yourself or a friend drag LOL! See if you would make a pretty woman or not. :D

Substance.Com Makeover-O-Matic

By the way---if you want to see what I look like (it's pretty scary!) so you can help me figure out what to do w/my hair, look at this website:

About Me

My hair's a lot longer now than in those pictures, and it's straight. In the pictures at the top of the page, a wave-crimper has been used on my hair.