Hi
My name is Cassandra and I am from Afro-Guyanese parentage.  I live in England, United Kingdom.  I have been natural since February 2002 and my hair length is 10 inches, measuring from hairline to hairend.  ;D

How long was your hair when you started?  If it's very curly and you started short, you have an incredible hair growth rate there!

I stopped used a mild relaxer in December 2001  and I also started taking HF 37 to allow my hair to grow out until it was 3 inches, then in February 2002, I went to barber and I had my hair cut off, so that I could grow without any chemicals. I also rinse daily which has helped my hair significantly.

WOW!  You're saying you have grown 10" of hair in less than a year?  PHENOMENAL!  ============:o

Lucky you!!

Rapunzel
I have changed my lifestyle completely. In February 2002, I was overweight, I just started swimming, once a week.  In July I hired a personal trainer and I started exercising on a regular basis, I changed my eating habits, I eat mostly vegetables, proteins and little carbohydrates, I drink more water, and hot water with lemon, and I find the lemon helps to flush my system out. I also started taking in December 2001, Hair Formula 37, which I found was very good, then I added vitamin E, cod-liver oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose, biotin and a low dosage well women multivitamin, MSM and pantothenic acid. Plus, I do conditioning washes daily, and I rinse with glycerine/rosewater and Infusium 23. I think that helps, but the problem with me. I have problems keeping up with those regimes, but I am going to try. I do hope Rapunzel, that you can keep me motivated.

Egads!  I'll try to keep you motivated, but the only thing that motivates *me* is chocolate!  ;)

Wow Cassandra,

this is full-power programm! Wished I could remain as firm  :o Even changing my eating habits is impossible for me and it would be much more healthy for me  :(

Thanks Ladies
Don't think, I don't love eating chocolate, I do, I also love ginger beer and other fizzy drinks, I drink them and have lots of water.  The last time, my hair grew well, was when I went natural and I was able to grew to shoulder length.  I drink seaweed tea and I again eat lots of vegetables, I did this for three months. Again, I got fed up and went back to perming. I got thicker hair already, but I lost the will.  This website is great, at least I have you Ladies to help. ;D

:)HEllo,
I'm new.  I was wondering what type of rinse you used to grow your hair 10" in 1 year.
I'm a natural 3a/b and my transition from a perm is complete.  I find my rate of growth faster too without the perms. lol
Oh! P.S. Please forgive.  Could you tell me what culture is Afro-Guyanese. (I'm Mestizo)

What is a 3a/b?

Guyana is a country in South America, and a lot of people went there from places such as India and Africa. Afro-Guyanese are descendants from the Africans who first settled there.

wrote on Feb 26^th, 2003 at 11:39pm:

Could you tell me what culture is Afro-Guyanese. (I'm Mestizo)

Think we are the same kind ;-) I am German but my father came from Bolivia.

E.

wrote on Feb 27^th, 2003 at 8:03am:

What is a 3a/b?

3a - big, loose spiral curls
3b - bouncy ringlets

wrote on Feb 27^th, 2003 at 8:03am:

What is a 3a/b? Guyana is a country in South America, and a lot of people went there from places such as India and Africa. Afro-Guyanese are descendants from the Africans who first settled there.

Thanks, I thought it was of African descent.  I've heard of Guyana but I guess the "Guyanese" part threw me.

Hi
England must be really nice.  My fiance and I have friends from there.  I always tell him I want to move there (Lol)...but I guess the grass always seems greener on the other side. ;D

I've got 3b/3c hair which is too thick, too much.  Any ideas on how to style it (the hair bun every day for 14+ years is getting a wee bit old)?   It drives me crazy!  

wrote on Apr 7^th, 2004 at 6:00pm:

I've got 3b/3c hair which is too thick, too much.  Any ideas on how to style it (the hair bun every day for 14+ years is getting a wee bit old)?   It drives me crazy!

How about running over to the new member intro board and giving us a bit more info so we can help you?
http://www.longlocks.com/salon/?board=newmems

Hi. My name is Tatiana, I am from a mixed racial background. I just started growing my hair about a month ago, and I have stopped using relaxers, and chemicals in my hair altogether.I have also stopped using heat in my hair and it looks funny because the roots are wavy but the ends are more straight. I am thinking of puting a relaxer in it so it will look better, I am getting weak. :'(

As you let your natural hair grow more, it won't be as noticiable.  You might consider trying to get more curl in the ends to match your new growth.  You could try rag curls to get some curl.

I agree with Bikerbraid - you could try curling your hair. Braiding when damp works well. Or you could roll your hair on big rollers to smooth out the waves.  :)

Wow Cassandra!

That is really a lot of hair to grow throughout a year!!!  My hair grows like that too!!!  My hair can grow 12" a year without any trims or cuts.  I am also of mixed-race too!  I am "Creole."  That is a mxture of Spanish, French, and Negro but I also have Irish descent in me as well.  Now, as you know some mexicans, hispanics, and spanish people have curly and wavy hair.  When I was  born my hair was very wavy or it was like an Indian baby's hair.....soft, wavy,  and straight but as I gotten older in toddler years my hair started growing thicker and wilder.  So, when I reached the age of 6 my mom started putting a very mild perm into my hair.  It was a relaxer called, "TCB made just for kids."  My mom put it in one day but it didn't do a thing to my hair.  It didn't straighten it at all.  Or, the straightness didn't last too long.  Within a week or two my hair ended right back up to puffy, thick, and wild again.  When I was a little girl I had VERY BIG HAIR!!!!  But either a year or two after TCB for kids came out then "Gentle Treatment" came out.  My mom started using that on my head, and when she did we fell in love with it after the first usage.  It left my hair looking and feeling the same way it did the day I was born.  It left it nice, manageable, soft, healthy, straight, and shiny.  Ever since I was 7 or 8 years old I continued to use "Gentle Treatment," up until the age of 10.  Then after that as I got older my hair was in desire for a stronger relaxer.  So, this other perm called, "Bantu," came out my mom started using that on my head.

She only used the mild or regular level as usual, and after it's first usage we fell in love with it as well, and from since the age of 10 years old up until now I've been using BANTU."  Now, sometime during the 1990's I've switched up and used the "Gentle Treatment" too but either one works for me.  I would even use the Gentle Treatment now too but I really prefer the BANTU.  Because, the straightness lasts a hell of a lot longer than the Gentle Treatment does.  You see, Gentle Treatment is good for making my hair to grow faster.  Because, it's a more milder and gentle perm than all of the rest of the relaxers on the market today.  I often think of being natural just like you all of the time but I've learned that I can't.  My hair is TOO THICK, UNRULY, and unmanageable.  But I have noticed  a lot over the years with my hair since I've gotten older that the thickness of my hair has changed tremendously.  It's not as thick as it used to  be when I was little.  I mean, it's still thick but not as thick.  I can tell ya'.....my hair's thickness and styles used to look like the actress/singer "Diana Rosse's BIG wild long hair when I was little!!!!  Now, as I've gotten older it doesn't appear to be that thick anymore.

I always do like what you do from time to time, and that is rinse my hair out a lot.  Instead shampooing it all of the time.  I just condition it.  I've read an article in a magazine called, "Sophisticates Black Hair Styling Guide," and a black lady wrote that she does the same thing you do as far as rinsing her hair with conditioner daily.  Instead of shampooing it.  That is a very good idea to do less shampooing and more conditioning.  Because, certain shampoos are very harsh to the hair, and I think conditioning is just as good as shampooing it.  I think conditioners have a cleansing agent as well.  I also have another deep conditioning method too.  What I do is the day before I shampoo I spray a mixture of any daily conditioner, jojoba oil, and water onto my hair.....let it set in for a whole day, and then I wash it like normally shampooing it and conditioning it.  That really helps my hair tremendously!!!!

Blondie35