Hello! I'm very new here. I've been looking at all the posting on this site (admiring everyones lovely hair pics and the various tips, etc.) for months now but have yet to register until now.

I've been trying to grow out my hair for the last year or so. My Mum has always been able to grow her hair to bum level since I was a wee bairn. Me on the other hand, I have been cursed with fine, flyaway hair my whole life. I had it short for most of my teen years (Dolores O'Riordan from the Cranberries short).

My hair is all one length now, but I have these obnoxious "baby bangs" that, when left untreated, look like I've got a bad comb-over first thing in the morning. So far, my hair has reached past shoulder level - couple inches shy of BSL. Lately, I've been having a shedding phase that has been causing a lot of hair loss (then again, because my hair is fine, if I lose 3 strands, I feel like I'm going bald!).

Are there any other fine hair lassies out there who know where I'm coming from and have succeeded or are succeeding in growing their hair long? Do I have a hope? Because at the moment, I'm feeling scissor happy!

Thanks for any suggestions and for letting me air out me flyaways....

welcome!!
ive got fine hair which can be a bit flyaway aswell...when it was shorter it was also very lank and flat.
now its 37" (tailbone length on me) and it has more volume and a slight wave, growing your hair does strange and woderful things to it  ;D

DON'T cut! maybe a teeny trim every few months, but try instead just to cut off the split ends. if you treat your hair well it shouldnt be worse off for lack of cutting. comb and brush gently so you dont pull out hairs (this has helped me a lot) and try to eat a healthy diet. im thinking about taking a multivitamin to reduce my shedding...but remember its completely normal to lose about 100 hairs a day! so dont panic  :)

whenever you need help everyone here is ready to suggest stuff and offer support.
happy growing!  ;D

Thank you very much for your post. I am mad into takin different vitamins. The ones I take currently are a combination of Folic Acid, B-12, Biotin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and Horsetail. (All which are supposed to help your hair grow!)

The shedding is what freaks me out the most. I get such a fright every time I shower because that's when I see the most hit the bathroom floor. I go through these stages where I won't hardly lose a single strand for months and then all of a sudden, I shed like there is no tomorrow. (Which is the phase I'm in at the moment.) I dunno if that normal...does anyone else get that?

I can deal with having fine hair (although i would LOVE to have thick curly hair....but ah sure, you can't have everything!). It's these shedding periods that make me want to cut it off cuz I feel I'm goin bald.

One thing I'm proud of myself for is that aside from wee trims every couple of months, I haven't cut it yet....and this is the longest it's ever been in my life. ;D

Hello Rua and welcome to Longlocks!  8) Rua means turtle in my language so that's what made me notice your thread.

Sometimes bangs will grow in wispy and slower than the rest of head hair. But "obnoxious baby bangs" are often called......  [glb]halos[/glb] on hair boards like these! ;D I have one too, and it's fun to watch them grow out (the way it's fun to watch a kitten grow up). and I also shed like crazy. It depends on the person-- some people do the periodic crazy shedding binge, and some people shed a small amount so regularly that they don't notice much.

Anais

That's so funny that Rua means turtle in your language. (What is your language, by the way?)
It means "Red" or "Red-haired" in mine (Irish).

It's nice to see that you are so positive about your halo! I suppose I should be more positive about mine!

Welcome Rua!
I have very fine, thin, fly-away hair as well.  I know
what your're going through. Don't cut it! I almost
succumbed to the scissors a couple of times this
summer because I was so frustrated but I'm determinded to grow it long.  Mine is a little below
shoulder length in back.  I'm thinking maybe it will
be better when I can braid it or bun it.   You've done
great to get yours as long as you have.  I have no
tips on how to grow it out, alas, as  I'm still still in the process myself. but-
there are some excellent tips here on the message
boards.

Hiya Babyfine! I feel the same way! If I can just get it to the stage where I can easily braid it, etc, I know I'll be grand! (I'm absolutely diabolical when it comes to french braiding right now....I end up with a big mess of knot at the back of me head!)

This site is brilliant for the tips though, I must say. I keep tellin myself to be patient and maybe I'll someday have hair as nice and long as my Mum's!

Welcome Rua!  It looks like the other fine haired ladies have stepped in to try to help.  The only additional comments I'd make are regarding the shedding.  

Shedding does seem to be cyclical.  Some people shed with the change of seasons.  Some people shed with stress.  Others shed when there are significant hormonal changes.  Generally speaking your hair will thin with age.  You are already taking the "hair" vitamins and supplements which can help minimize shedding.  Just try to be super gentle with your hair to minimize breakage and loss.  You might also try reducing the frequency of shampooing.  If you use conditioners, try keeping the amount used on the top of your head to a minimum (it can clog the hair follicles).  A general rule of thumb is to condition from the ears down.

Hang in there!  I'm sure your hair will do quite fine.

Hello Bikerbraid! I love yer picture and the site! Thank you (and everyone else!) for the tips. I didn't know that about the conditioner so I will keep that in mind.

Can I just ask....how many years has it taken you to get it to that length?

Cheers!  :D

wrote on Sep 13^th, 2004 at 8:26pm:

Can I just ask....how many years has it taken you to get it to that length?

I wish I could tell you.  My journey to long hair started out in laziness, and not intentional.  I know that 10 years ago my hair was in a very short pixie.  I think I gradually let my hair get longer after that point.  I decided to let it grow long (intentionally not cutting), about 6 years ago.

Hi.  I also have very fine hair.  Luckily, I have finally discovered that it is not thin like I always thought it must be, but actually a medium thickness.

Right now it is shoulder length, which is longer than it has been in years.  As a teenager I had it bra length.   I want to grow it out again, but I don't want it to look all scraggly and awful.  This time I have bangs because I thought I would look better with them, but they are so thin and never stay where I put them.

Maybe we can support each other in this.  I just turned 44.  How old are all of you?

I'm 22. I tend to refer to my hair as thin a lot...but it's probably a wee bit thicker than I give credit for. I haven't  investigated this however, for fear of discovering that my hair is actually even thinner than I thought. LOL

Ignorance is bliss... :D ;D

I know what you mean.  I was afraid, too.

Rua, you're twenty-two  :o  Me too!  And you're already married..  :P Lucky goose!  Hehehe...

Red

If your hair is shoulder length or little below, you can make buns and braid it to nice, French or Dutch braid that makes the hair look longer.

Try and see! :)

So you don't believe in CO washing, Bikerbraid?  I've wondered about clogging up the hair follicles with conditioner.  I don't think it was ever meant for being rubbed into the scalp.

I didn't say I didn't believe in CO washing - it works very well for lots of people.  I was only making suggestions to help minimize shedding.