Playing Catch-Up: Eliminating The Reasons Your Hair Isn't Growing As Fast

Phew! That's a pretty long title!

I was over on BGLH, as per usual, when I came across this fantastic article called: 4 Reasons Her Hair Seems to Grow Faster Than Yours. It's a typically brilliant, straight to the point by JC of The Natural Haven. No messing about - just direct advice and I would definitely recommend you give it a read in full if you feel you're struggling with length retention compared with you

We all know that if Lady A is the one who reaches waist length in 3 years with seemingly no effort, and Lady B is stuck at shoulder length after 5 years of intent (now bordering on desperate) care, I'm in the Lady B camp. So I wanted to look at myself next to it, to see how I'm doing.

1. She makes her own rules 

It's taken me a while to get around to this one. I used to do what I was 'supposed' to, since this was the first time handling my own hair, so I didn't want to get it wrong. Plus, I didn't have previous experience to refer to, so everything was new.  I had to experiment a lot before deciding the Denman was an over zealous,over efficient, strand eating demon; that finger detangling and not shower combs were the way for me; that it doesn't seem to make a difference if I detangle dry, damp or wet, but detangling in the shower is just more convenient. I wash when my scalp feels it needs it and yes, I do wash my hair whilst it's in mini twists - that going 4 weeks without water business doesn't work for me. Shampoo? Yes please, with or without sulphates. Actually, looking at other naturals with fine hair actually helped confirm some of these choices and 'rules' as well.

It's a process, both tiring and exhausting in the same breathe. But I'm extremely hopeful for the rest of 2013 and for 2014 too. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year.

Grade: A-

2. She leaves her hair alone

Well, I do only do my length checks intermittently - annually, in fact. And I lost my scissors earlier this year and made a pact with myself not to buy some more. 

However, on a regular basis, if my hair isn't in mini twists, my hands will be in my hair all the time. If I'm wearing buns, it seems it needs more handling: to make sure it's stretched; to make sure it's moisturised; to make sure I'm not putting too much tension on my roots and edges.. I can't help it - it's so much fun! It's more than hair - it's an entertainment system too, haha! 

Okay, maybe I should try and work on this more....

Grade: C+

3. She understands and avoids breakage 

So far, I know that continually touching my hair a.k.a high manipulation is not very good with my hair. That and being too rough. 

Sometimes, however, I admit, I don't care. Like, if I have a difficult knot and no scissors, and I've been working at it for 5 minutes with no joy nor progress, I might just tug at it to snap it off rather than looking for my scissors.
I also haven't considered what causes these knots in the first place, which seems a rather obvious thing to do to avoid breakage.

Oh, and I've been sleeping on a cotton pillowcase for the past 3 months - I tried with a satin bonnet but keeps coming off in the night.

However, even apart from my bad habits, I still suffer from random bits of breakage and I have no idea what causes it.

Maybe it's my bad habits combined....Eeeek!

Grade: F

4. She experiments with products

Well, I can definitely say I'm doing this. I've started looking at non-Curly Girl method products (products with silicones in them) over the summer to negate some of the abuse I'd be doling out whilst working out my wedding hair. What I'm hoping is that I end up with a small arsenal of products that a) work for me, b) don't cost too much (subjective, I know), c) aren't a hassle to get a hold of and d) just fit conveniently into my life, rather than me having to fit my life around my products. I'd quite like them to be eco-friendly and biodegradable as well, but that sometimes clashes heavily with the d) convenient and c) aren't a hassle to get hold of. So we'll see where I end up. But I'm having fun getting there anyway. 

Grade: A

Final Grade - C: Average.

Yeah, the combination of my awful breakage habits in the past months has definitely meant less length retention, but I knew touching my hair on a regular basis would do that and expected it, so no biggie.There's no excuse for the sleeping on a cotton pillowcase - gotta get my silk satin pillow case out right after finishing this! There's definitely a lot I can stand to improve on, habit-wise.

 I'm having fun with the experimenting and rule breaking though - feels like fun and freedom in the same room!

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