Hi everyone!  I'd been ghosting around this message board for a couple of days now and when I woke up this morning anxious to get back on it, decided it was time to do the deed and actually register!

        My hair is a little past bsl with awkward thick waves.  It's natural color is an odd ashy blonde/light brown/blonde streaks thing...yeah.  Now it's a gorgeous red from henna!!  Did it four days ago and love love love it!  Even tinted my eyebrows.  I did most of my research via YouTube and Mehandi.com and bought the henna from Mehandi.  Strand wise my hair is of medium thickness I believe.  Abundance wise it's fairly thick.

        Lately I've been using TRESemme Naturals shampoo and conditioner.  I'm sure it's not natural at all, but it smells so good and makes my hair feel all soft and lovely.  I worked in a hair salon as a sales person for about four years and accumalated all sorts of goodies due to the constant influx of testers and sales.  ;D  Lately I've been using (not all at once though usually!) Sexy Hair Pumpkin Potion Leave In Conditioner (I don't usually do food/fruit smells but this is one of the exceptions!), Nioxin Smoothing Reflectives (it lies when it says it mends hair but it makes an awesome smoother), Halo Curl Enhancing Cream (when I feel the need to be a little curlier), and Soma Solace Anti Frizz Serum (excelent for when my hair is being extra difficult and frizzy).  After I finally use up all my freebies and remnants I'm going to be switching to an all natural/organic regime for my hair and scalp.  This might be a few hundred years down the road!

        When I was really young I used to have hair long enough I'd accidently sit on it at times.  Then I went to my first ever stylist and she decided seven inches = trim.  I can tell you first hand seven inches = traumatized!  In her defence though, I was young (about 12?) and hadn't taken good care of my hair.  It was aweful and probably needed a lot more than those seven inches taken off!  Eleven-ish years later (and yes it took me that long to go to one again!), I let another stylist have at my hair, this time a friend and co-worker.  She's an amazing and bright person, but very modern.  Totally did not get the fact that I liked long hair and wanted it longer.  So one day she cut it in an asymetrical bob, stacked in the back.  Short hair was easy for her to take care of, I'm a total clutz at it!  I'm still trying to grow out the black streak put in it...Black!!!  *cries*  I love black hair, but my skin tone and fairness makes me look like a wraith with it.  Thankfully it's almost all out.  *cheer!*  I was introduced to another stylist and her hair story is a lot like mine in that her friend chopped her hair off and now she's trying to grow it back.  She's awesome and I plan on going to her for a long time!

        A week ago I decided that if I was going to really grow my hair out (yet again!) I was going to do the best job I could do.  Which led to a Google search which in turn led to Long Locks.  I love the internet.

        My favorite hair accessories are octopus clips and hair sticks.  Both are quick, easy, and elegant.  I've always slept with my hair up or in a braid of some kind, and have a natural abhorrence for anything that I feel is tearing my hair.  The tearing sound/feeling is just too weird!  So thankfully, outside of the healthy but unwanted chop, and a couple of previous die jobs (black?!  really?!), my hair is relatively healthy.

        I've been married for three years too an amazing man, and am owned by a 17 lb self proclaimed tabby house lion.  :-)  I prefer to call him my fur-baby though.  I tap a little on a bodhran sometimes and belly dance when I don't think anyone is watching.  I have an ocarina, but haven't practiced lately.  My kitty complains so plaintively I always end up puting it down. :-(  Poor poor kitty.  I also juggle crystal sticks from time to time.  I'm not especially fluent with them yet, but they're a blast!

        I can't wait to meet all of you!   :D

Greetings and welcome, Elaine84. Lovely to meet you.

Sounds as though your hair has been through a lot! Most of us here can relate. I definitely share your black hair woes. Some things just aren't meant to be no matter how desperately we want them. :(

Anyway, just figured I'd return your hello. :) Cute icon by the way.

Welcome to LongLocks, Elaine84! 

Sounds like we have very similar hair.  I'm happy to hear about the products you're using, I might have to seek some of them out for myself.

Do you have a hair length goal?  I look forward to seeing some pics of your hair.  How many grams of henna did you need to use?

Sounds like you might be a Rennie...there are a few of us on this board.  Huzzah!

Welcome!  I was going to ask if the tabby in your avatar belonged to you...he looks just like my Tigger. 
(The grey one up front, trying to look nonchalant  LOL)  Again, welcome!  We look forward to hearing more from you!   :)

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk1/pjsander/Kitties/100_0284.jpg

Welcome to LongLocks,Elaine84!!  I can't wait to hear about your hair journey!  I look forward to reading your journal.  Please feel free to ask questions,offer tips from your hair experiences and most of all enjoy the forum!!! :)